“The Earl of Lexham, Oliver Pembroke. We were close friends once—shared our childhoods even, but I have not seen much of him for many years now. I suppose we somehow… drifted apart.”
Charity wondered if the true reason was that Seth had made himself into a hermit in Axfordshire Manor.
“What do you say we attend?” Seth spoke again, his voice tight with unmistakable nervousness.
“You would do that?” Charity squeaked out.
“For you? I would do so much more.” He shifted closer to her, his voice growing nearer. “I will not be your captor as your fatherwas. Everything you wish to do in this life, you will do, Charity. On my arm too. And, we shall start with attending a ball. But first, I cannot use your Christian name while we are out… so I will call you…Cherry.”
She clasped her hands together excitedly and so suddenly, that she achieved in knocking her glass over this time. To her delight, Seth found it as amusing as she did, and they laughed together.
“Well? What is it like?”
Seth was distracted as he guided Charity into the ballroom. Regularly, he glanced over his shoulder, on the lookout for this evening’s host. It had been a considerable time since he had last seen Oliver, and he was not entirely certain how their sudden re-acquaintance would be received.
“The room? We have only just entered it,” Seth said to her with a whisper. “And… it is a room full of masked fops and dollys. I cannot tell one from the next. In fact, I don’t believe I could, even if their faces were bare as day.”
“Seth!” She elbowed him in the rib, drawing his attention toward her.
She was quite breathtaking tonight in one of the new gowns he had specially crafted for her, having hand-picked her favorite colors from one of their many conversations. Adorned inelaborate layers of pure crimson, complemented by a black and red mask that concealed much of her face, she appeared the picture of seduction. The white gloves she wore stood out against her ensemble, her slender fingers gently clasping his arm. Her lips and her eyes were just visible beneath the mask, her eyes glittering in his direction, even if she couldn’t see him.
There was something about the way Charity spun to face him that he was finding quite addictive. It scarcely mattered that she could not see him, for she paid perfect attention to every movement he made, and every word he said. Never before had he experienced such undivided attention and engagement.
“Would it make a difference if I told you my distraction stems from my inability to cease admiring you,Cherry?”
She smiled.
“Perhaps,” she said with a giggle.
“Well, it is the truth. I amverydistracted. If you wish me to behave at this ball tonight, then you would do well to keep us in clear view of all these fine people. For despite it not being our house, I fear I will not be able to keep my hands off you if I got you alone,” he murmured into her ear as he led her forward, passing some of the newly arrived guests.
A flutter of realization seized his heart as he realized he had instinctively called itourhouse, and nothishouse. He smiled to himself, for in a matter of days, that was precisely what the manor had become. Charity, with her eagerness to decorate andbreathe new life into the place, had made it into a true home for the both of them.
“Please, describe it to me,” Charity nudged gently, a delicious apple flush in her cheeks. “My father never allowed me to attend balls. Despite my nonchalant demeanor, I must confess I’m bursting with excitement on the inside,” she whispered with a barely suppressed beam. “I wish to learn everything I can!”
Seth gritted his teeth, having to clamp down his anger at her father for essentially keeping her like a prisoner at their house. For some strange reason, that simple fact was beginning to bother him more than everything else her father had inflicted on his own life.
Then, with great details—and embellishing a touch at times if only to marvel at the wondrous awe that lit up her countenance, he began describing the ballroom to her, from the great swathes of cloth cascading down the ceiling to the magnificent crystal chandeliers that sparkled with her gown. He painted a picture of the dancing, the attire of the attendees and violinists, and even the tables, festooned with towering pyramids of shimmering glasses.
“It is all quite stunning,” Seth had to admit. “Oliver has gone to great lengths to embrace the Yuletide spirit too. There are evergreens at every nook, between the glasses on the tables, on the mantelpieces above the hearths, not to mention the countless paper chains, not too dissimilar to the ones you have been decorating around the manor.”
“Oh, how enchanting…” Charity murmured with a contented sigh.
“I am pleased it is to your liking, old friend.” A cool voice, rich with familiarity and a hint of mischief, cut through the festive air.
Seth stiffened and pivoted around, steering Charity with him as he searched for the bearer of that voice.
Oliver Pembroke, the Earl of Lexham, stood before him. Much shorter than Seth, his face had matured significantly since Seth had last seen him, with growing lines in his face. He was smiling at perfect ease, his dark auburn hair swept back neatly.
“I am truly honored you have decided to attend tonight.” Oliver stepped forward and rather than bowing, took Seth’s hand to shake. “It has been far too long that you have kept yourself locked up in that house of yours. You are making it… well, never mind. You are here tonight. That is all that matters. Oh, and I see you have brought a lovely lady with you. Who might this be?”
“This is my betrothed,” Seth said hurriedly, wishing to introduce her as she was, though he was nervous of saying her name, just in case Oliver had overheard the gossip in the ton about the Earl of Holmwood’s daughter being missing.
“You are betrothed? This is wonderful news! You have unearthed quite the beaut.” Oliver clasped his hands together, beaming at Charity. “And, what might your—”
Oliver seemed to catch Seth’s offbeat glance, and thought better of finishing the question for now, much to the man’s credit.
Far behind him, a lady called his name and beckoned him over. Oliver rolled his eyes. “You will soon see as a husband, Seth, you are always in demand. Not that I would have it any other way, of course. Let us talk more later, if we…whenwe get the chance. That goes for the both of you.” He shook Seth’s hand again. “In the meantime, please, enjoy the party! You still owe me for that first drink and it has been twelve years coming—don’t think I’ve forgotten about that one old boy.”
