Page 31 of The Earl's Christmas Deal
Adam’s fingers clenched at the injustice of it all. He found himself lost in her words as she continued, watching her mouth move around the stanzas, the poise in her figure, the lightnessin her tone. Her confidence grew from the beginning to the end, the slight shake in her voice fading as she reached the conclusion.
With a sigh of relief, she lowered the book, and everyone began to clap in earnest. She glanced at him, as his heart kicked hard in his chest and a blush suffused her cheeks as she curtsied and sat down. Adam was captivated by her and had to drag his gaze away to focus on Charlotte Fairfax as she rose to read her poem.
Charlotte’s reading was by Keats and Adam knew that Lionel had been touched by the gift of the poems from her. He glanced at his cousin to see what he thought of the reading, but Lionel only had eyes for Miss Fairfax.
Lionel’s posture was just as Adam’s had been as he had listened to Emilia. His cousin was leaning forward, his handsome face poised in deep concentration, his fists clenched so tightly Adam could see the whites of his knuckles.
“Wonderful,” Lionel whispered breathlessly as the poem concluded and was the loudest in the applause by quite some way.
The two men looked at one another in that moment, and a wealth of emotion was passed between them without words. They looked back to Lady Emilia and Miss Fairfax sitting together after their readings, and both of them sat back in their chairs in tandem as though exhausted by it all.
“I am genuinely glad we came,” Lionel said softly. Adam could only reply with a wan smile—he most heartily agreed.
As Charlotte settled beside her, Emilia squeezed her friend's hand and murmured her congratulations. Charlotte was adept at reading aloud and the ability came far more naturally for her. Even so, Emilia was always surprised by how much she enjoyed the aftermath of a challenging experience.Before every performance, she was always horribly nervous, yet the excitement at the end was always worth the fear.
As the recital ended, however, and the guests began to disperse. Elderbridge was at her side in a moment, and Emilia watched Charlotte give him a stiff glance before her friend reluctantly had to leave them alone.
“That recital was exquisite, my Lady,” the duke said, leaning into her, his heavy bulk causing her to step lightly to the side as his torso almost brushed her arm. “You have a true passion in your words and a depth of feeling. I was quite moved.”
“Thank you, your Grace.”
“My daughters adore reading aloud, and we always have many occasions to do so at my estate. I would dearly love to hear you read again; I have never been so captivated.”
Emilia smiled. “You are too kind.”
Too kind and insincere. Emilia knew she had read without too many errors, but her cadence was often not quite as it should be when reading poetry—the emphasis on the words a little stilted. The duke was complimenting her to get into her good graces, and she did not appreciate it.
As Adam moved to leave the room, he noticed that the duke had cornered Emilia again. The man simply would not leave her alone and must have had the intelligence of a dullard to think she was encouraging him. He glanced at Lord and Lady Sternwood and realised that it did not matter. The duke did notneedEmilia to want him, her parents approved and that was all that was required.
Adam clenched his jaw in irritation at the predicament Lady Emilia found herself in.
“You look positively murderous, Adam,” his aunt said suddenly beside him and he glanced at her, schooling his features as best he could.
Her intelligent eyes moved to Emilia and back to him, and she hooked her arm in his pointedly steering him out of the room. As he looked back, the duke rested an arm on Emilia’s elbow, and Adam had to force his feet to keep moving out of the door before he ran back and wrenched him away from her for good.
Perhaps there is a way that I can save her,he thought.Perhaps there is a way that I can save us both.
CHAPTER TWELVE
That evening her mother had arranged a small soiree in the ballroom. It would not be as grand as the first ball of the house party, but there were still some guests joining them for the evening which meant there would be some variety in those attending.
Emilia fussed with her gown as her maid put the finishing touches to her hair. Her mother had ordered her dress some weeks before for this very occasion and Emilia loved the look of it.
It was dark green in colour with a hint of purple in the train and it picked out the copper strands in her hair. As she descended the stairs, she stopped halfway down, noticing the duke hovering outside the ballroom. The remaining guests were already inside as newcomers began to draw up in their carriages in front of the doorway. Emilia could see Lionel and Charlotte laughing together just inside the room.
There was no reason for the duke to be waiting outside unless he had intended to speak with her. As soon as she took another step, he glanced up with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes and walked over to her.
“Ah, Lady Emilia, you are a vision,” he said, putting her teeth on edge.
“Your Grace,” she said and was forced to take his arm. Emilia tried to remain relaxed but could feel the tension growing in her shoulders.
“Let me get you a glass of punch; your mother has infused my soul with Christmas these last few days. I have never seen such beautiful and abundant decorations.”
Somewhere in the compliment, there was a hint of reproof, but Emilia could not put her finger on what it might be. Many households did not decorate to the extent that her mother had done, but Lady Sternwood adored all things during the festive season, and Emilia was proud of her for all the work she had put into the ball.
They walked inside, Emilia feeling a pang of longing as she saw Adam across the floor. He was standing with his aunt, leaning in and whispering something in his ear. Adam’s gaze was fixed on Lady Seraphina Cheswick on the other side of the room, and Emilia’s heart clenched.
She would be a far more suitable match.She thought sadly.No hint of scandal, and she is younger even than me.
