Page 16 of The Earl's Christmas Deal
“You enjoyed it then?”
The hesitancy in her words gave him pause, and he looked down at her in surprise. Their gazes caught, and all the reassurance he wished to provide her with seemed to pour through that look and mix between them.
“Very much,” he said softly. “I have not allowed myself to listen to music often in recent months. It has some painful memories, but I believe I could listen to you play that piece, or any piece, all day long without losing interest.”
Emilia’s heart fluttered in her chest as she listened to Adam’s words. She had always been told she had a talent for music, but there was something in how he expressed it that made her truly believe it.
“Do you play?” she asked.
“No, I confess, I have never had much talent for music. I believe my mother wished to burn my violin when I was a lad.”
She laughed lightly as they briefly swapped partners with the other couple in their group, and he watched her elegantly navigate the steps.
“You are a talented performer.”
“Thank you, my Lord. I have often wished to compose my own music, but I cannot help but compare it with the masters. My own tinkling tunes seem too simplistic by comparison.”
Adam moved through the centre of the square and out again, the two couples coming together once more.
“I can understand your hesitancy, but one can never achieve anything for fear of failure.”
“You are right, of course. Perhaps once the season is over, I shall try to revive my old pieces.”
“I should like to hear them,” Adam said eagerly, realising he meant it. Unlike his automatic responses to Seraphina Cheswick, there was no pretence with Lady Emilia. Her bright eyes sparked as she looked up at him, and Adam’s heart was pounding so loudly that he wondered if it did not drown out the lively music all around them.
From the other sideof the dancefloor, unobserved and partnerless for a short while, Frederick Bentley watched Adam moving across the floor with Emilia and tried not to snap the stem of his glass.
Adam’s movements had changed considerably since he’d been dancing with the Cheswick chit. He was more fluid now, happier, lighter on his feet, and that was a worryingsign. Frederick’s teeth dug into his lip as his eyes followed them around the room. Emilia, in turn, was all smiling openness around Adam, and Frederick’s shoulders tightened incrementally at each pass about the floor.
“I have such hopes for him.”
Frederick’s ears pricked up as he noticed Lady Spencer, Augusta standing beside Lady Sternwood, watching the dancing couple just as he had done.
“I long to see Adam happily married again after the losses in his life. He deserves to find contentment once more.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Lady Sternwood replied, “such an affable and kind man; I would wish him nothing but happiness and am so glad he could attend our little party.”
Frederick took a sip of his wine. The prospect of Adam marrying again was a terrible blow that he had not anticipated.
Why can’t the man remain locked in his study for the rest of time and wither away as I had expected?
Adam had not been seen outside the house for years, and suddenly, Frederick had walked into the ballroom to find him looking better than ever. The last he had heard, Adam was two steps from a nervous collapse, and Frederick had been waiting in the wings ever since.
Now, he looked like a spritely youth, a faint smile on his lips, poised and collected. It was infuriating. If Adam were allowed to remain in Lady Emilia’s company for too long, Frederick could well imagine an attachment forming between them—and with it, his hopes of inheriting the earldom would be dashed forever. He could not afford to let such a prospect unfold.
His throat tightened around a nervous swallow as he thought of the debts awaiting repayment back in London, and his resolve sharpened.
Moving slowly through the crowd, nodding to each vague acquaintance and keeping a bland smile on his face, he considered his options carefully.
Positioning himself behind the Duke of Elderbridge and his prim, priggish daughters, Frederick observed the duke watching Lady Emilia. The man had the expression of someone who had already staked his claim on her.
A plan slowly formed in the back of Frederick’s mind, and he sipped his drink, realising that there may well be a way to ensure that they could be pulled apart forever.
That is the trouble with scandal,Frederick thought happily;it never fully fades away.
CHAPTER SEVEN
After the joy of the dance with Lord Bellebrook, Emilia was elated. As he led her from the floor, returning her to her mother and father with a perfect bow, Emilia tried to conceal the blush she knew was painted across her face.
