The Earl Steals a Heart

CHAPTER10

The next day,the Duke and Duchess of Thistlewayte visited Billington House again, along with Lady Eugenia, Lady Matilda, and Lady Octavia. Apparently, His Grace had business which required his presence at Thistlewayte Hall, and the Duchess had elected to spend quite a lot of the time while he was away visiting her best friend, Lady Gainsbourne. They had also come to see Edward off as he left to pursue his portion of the family treasure hunt at Galleon Chase.

Lady Eugenia stood beside Susan at the drawing room window, glaring at her brother’s retreating carriage with crossed arms and a fierce frown. That was how Susan found her friend as she and the rest of the family trailed in from seeing Edward and the Duke off on their respective journeys.

Susan cleared her throat to announce her presence and moved to stand beside Eugenia.

“I am sure that Edward will return quickly with his portion of the treasure and the letter with the riddle that’s meant for you.”

Eugenia turned away from the window, then, and offered Susan a smile.

“I am sure you are right, Susan. So tell me, did you enjoy the dance you shared with the Count D’Asti last night? You looked well together, at least from where I was standing. Your gown was absolutely breath-taking.”

Susan heaved out a sigh and turned away at the inquiry, gravitating to her favourite settee near the fire and sinking onto its cushioned surface.

“I’m afraid I must confess that my thoughts were not on the dance, and I paid the Count very little mind. I was so distracted by the way that Lord Seabury stormed out after just one dance that I’m sure I was a terrible dance partner, and the Count will hardly be inclined to seek my company out again.”

Eugenia padded across the room and joined Susan on the settee as their respective mothers entered the room, followed by Georgiana, Lady Matilda, Lady Octavia, Eliza, and a housemaid with the tea service.

“Lord Seabury did seem rather upset when he left last night. He has been Edward’s friend for as long as I can remember, and I have never seen him that ruffled in all my life.”

Susan bit her lip and stared down at her hands, curling and uncurling her fingers reflexively.

“I hope that it was not my presence at the Ball which upset him so badly. However, after our exchange a few days ago, I cannot help but assume that his leaving was my fault.”

Eugenia took Susan’s hand and patted it.

“Perhaps when Edward returns from Brighton, he could talk to Lord Seabury for you and find out why he left Lady Walcot’s Ball so abruptly.

A knock sounded downstairs and a few moments later, Williams showed in a messenger with an ostentatious bouquet of white roses. Every woman in the room went still, all eyes fixed on the flowers.

“Flowers for Miss Wingfield?”

The messenger looked around, unsure which of the eight women in the room was the intended recipient.

Susan’s breath hitched as she rose, extending her hands to take the bouquet. The roses were fragrant and beautiful. For just a moment, she allowed herself to hope that they were from Lord Seabury, that he had realised that she had no interest in the Count D’Asti. She allowed herself to hope that his affections were strong enough that he no longer cared about the rumours. While her thoughts ran away with her, the messenger bowed and excused himself before Susan could manage to say a single word.

“Well?” Susan’s mother set her tea down on the side table and rose, crossing the room to join Susan in admiring the flowers. “Who sent you such a beautiful bouquet, dearest?”

“I have no idea.” Susan shrugged. “Do you see a card with them, Mama?” Without waiting for her mother to answer, Susan turned the bouquet in her hands until her fingers brushed against a small, square card tucked in among the stems. She read it quickly, then shoved it into her pocket. “Ugh,” she groaned, shaking her head. “They’re from the Count D’Asti, and he intends to call on me this afternoon.”

Eugenia tilted her head, giving Susan an incredulous look.

“You do not sound at all excited by the prospect.”

Susan chewed on the inside of her cheek and nodded.

“That is an accurate assessment.”

Eugenia rose from the settee and paused beside Susan, admiring the gorgeous bouquet before turning her curious gaze to Susan with raised eyebrows.

“You really dislike the Count that deeply?”

“It is not as much about my dislike of the Count as a person as it is about the awful rumour that I’ve been promised to him since birth. For one thing, it is patently ridiculous. My Mama would surely have known if any such betrothal existed.”

“I can certainly understand how you might feel… trapped by such a rumour. Still, if I found myself in your position, supposedly engaged to a handsome, charming man like Lord D’Asti, I do not think I would be quite so eager to avoid him, unless my affections were already engaged elsewhere.” Eugenia nodded to the roses in Susan’s hands. “Shall we have one of the housemaids put those in a vase for you?”

Susan passed the bouquet to Eugenia with a jerky nod, all the while choking back a sigh.

Could she tell Eugenia of her feelings for Lord Seabury? The Duke’s daughter had been nothing but kind to Susan ever since they first met, and yes, they were friends now — on a first-name basis, even — but Eugenia had known Lord Seabury for her entire life. What if she did not approve of Susan’s romantic interest in her brother’s best friend?

Entirely unsure of whether mentioning Lord Seabury would be a misstep, Susan chose another tactic entirely.

“I just do not believe that Lord D’Asti is the kind of man I could ever bring myself to love, well enough to marry him, despite his good looks and easy charm.”

Eugenia gave Susan a sideways look and shook her head.

“You are my friend, and I like you very much, but I must confess that I find it just a little bit mad that you are so set against Lord D’Asti when he may be as much at the rumour’s mercy as you are.”

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