Page 17 of The Earl's Christmas Deal
Her mother watched their approach excitedly and smiled as Lord Bellebrook removed himself from their company.
“I am most pleased, Emilia, " her mother exclaimed as she watched Adam’s back glide through the crowd.“He is such an excellent dance partner.”
“Do you think so, Mama?”
“Of course! And his daughters are themost elegant women, are they not? Why, I believe the duke is already taken with you. You must ensure that you use the Christmas party to get to know him.”
Emilia clenched her fists at her sides. Her association with Lord Bellebrook might be fleeting, but he was at least someone she could look forward to spending time within the coming days. The duke was the opposite of that. Smelling of brandyand constantly followed about by his judgmental daughters, Emilia had no desire to spendmore time with him than was necessary.
To her dismay, the decision was taken out of her hands while she was at the refreshment table. She had been admiring the kissing boughsand the effort her mother had put into them when a light touch to her elbow made her turn, and her stomach plummeted to the floor.
It was evident the Duke of Elderbridge had indulged in more alcohol since the dance. His eyes were glassy, and his jaw wobbled beneath his beard as he smiled at her. Emilia had anuncle who drank heavily, and she recognised the signs of a man who pretended to be sober in public, even when he was not.
“Your Grace,” she greeted him with a tight smile.
“You are in need of refreshment, I see,” he said as though it were an impressive observation. “One mustn’t drink too much at these sorts of things, of course, no matter your nerves.”
The absolute hypocrisy of the man,she thought furiously.
“Indeed, my Lord, I am drinking the fruit cordial only.”
“Good girl,” he said, reaching for the decanter of wine. It was tied beautifully with a red ribbon trimmed with gold. As the duke’s meaty fingers seized upon it, the bow fell forlornly to the surface of the table, where it absorbed the splash of wine he then managed to spill across it.
I could never desire this man,she thought desperately.How can my parents believe he is a suitable husband for me?
She wanted to tell him to leave her alone, to turn her back and cut him completely, but her options were limited. She could not simply brush him off. If he chose to make an offer to her father, she knew it would be accepted without question. Given her current status in society, turning down a duke’s proposal was almost impossible.
She felt increasingly ensnared by the events spiralling around her, a mounting sense of fear taking hold. Her life no longer felt her own, as though she were merely a spectator to her own fate.
Across the room, Adam watched Emilia flinch away from the duke and felt an overwhelming urge to intervene. She looked miserable.
He had wondered whether Lady Emilia approved of the duke’s attentions, given their age difference. Elderbridge was wealthy, to be sure, but there were over twenty years between them. Adam knew plenty of mothers who would prefer a younger candidate to secure a good marriage.
He had been surprised, therefore, to see Lady Sternwood’s enthusiasm for the match. She had barely spared Adam a glance when he had returned from the dancefloor.
He frowned as the duke swayed alarmingly toward Lady Emilia, his body brushing against hers. Her back stiffened visibly, her eyes glazing over as though she were picturing herself somewhere else. Adam was desperate to step in so she might escape.
He took a step forward, determined to follow through with his plan. However, just as he did so, Anastasia’s face loomed in his memory, and he felt a jolt of intense guilt. He stopped, paralyzed by grief and indecision.
This is not my place. Her affairs are not my concern, and I must not presume she would welcome my interference in any case.
Having convinced himself his services were unnecessary, he turned away, burying his discomfort in a glass of wine.
***
As the ball transitioned to a formal dinner, Adam found himself seated beside Lady Seraphina Cheswick. It certainly felt deliberate this time, and he glanced up the table at his aunt, irritated that she continued to manipulate him, even when they were not at home.
Lady Seraphina was the height of gentility and polite, aristocratic conversation. Before Adam could sit down, she had commented upon the cutlery, the pinecones placed beside the fire in the scuttle, and almost every napkin on the table.
The conversation remained stilted and awkward as Adam struggled for an interesting topic, acutely aware of all the other guests conversing easily around them.
“Have you travelled much, my Lord?” Seraphina asked as the starters were served.
“Not in recent years, but I did travel extensively in my youth.”
“I adore travelling, although I am not so comfortable on a ship. My stomach does not agree with the jostling of the sea,” she tittered in a way that might have been pretty if it weren’t at such a high pitch.
Adam glanced down the table to where Emilia was seated. She was opposite her friend Miss Fairfax and sitting beside Lionel. The three of them were in a lively debate, and Adam was rather envious of their easy conversation.
