“Alistair, dear,” she spoke with urgency, “come along with me, please. You must greet Miss Kingman.” With a gentle nudge, she directed him toward the entrance, leaving Cecilia and the rest momentarily forgotten.
Cecilia felt an odd beating in her chest, a mix of anticipation and dread. As the lady got closer, her features came into view. She was stunning, a breathtaking beauty with long, flowing hair that shimmered like spun gold.
Her light features, delicate and ethereal, framed a face that seemed to glow in the dim light of the hall. Time seemed to slow as Cecilia watched her approach, her every step measured and elegant.
Alistair stood beside the dowager duchess, waiting for her. He looked every bit the gentleman, exuding an air of sophistication that would make any woman’s heart race.
A perfect match.
As they drew closer, Cecilia strained to hear their conversation. The dowager duchess’s voice rang out, clear and melodic. “Your Grace, allow me to introduce you to Miss Diana Kingman, daughter of the Marquess of Blackbrook.”
Diana curtsied, her movements fluid and graceful, and a light blush creeping across her cheeks as she met Alistair’s gaze. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace” she said, her voice soft yet enchanting.
“Likewise, Miss Kingman,” Alistair replied, his tone warm and inviting. Cecilia swallowed as he leaned slightly closer, his eyes sparkling with interest.
Conversation went on and Lady Diana’s chaperone, her mother, beamed with pride as she observed the interaction between her daughter and Alistair. “Oh, just look at them already! You two make such a charming pair, Your Grace!” She gushed, her voice filled with excitement.
The dowager duchess nodded in agreement, her expression one of approval. “Indeed, they do seem to complement each other beautifully,” she added, a knowing smile gracing her lips.
Cecilia’s chest dropped at the words, a sudden wave of uncomfortable emotions washing over her. She couldn’t pinpoint why, but the sight of Alistair and Miss Kingman together sent a jolt of annoyance through her. The ringing in her ears intensified, drowning out the laughter and chatter of the hall.
As if in a trance, she watched the duke step forward, offering his arm to Lady Diana. With a gentle smile, she took it, and together they glided toward the dance floor, leaving Cecilia rooted in place.
The sight of them, so perfectly matched, felt like a cruel twist of fate, and her heart sank further as they began to dance, the world around her fading into a blur.
“Cece dear, look at you! You’re practically drooling over the sight, you wish you’d find a match like that, do you not?” Tristan’s sudden whisper and nudge caught Cecilia off guard.
Her gaze remained fixed on Diana and Alistair, who glided effortlessly across the polished floor, their movements synchronized like a well-rehearsed dance.
“Stop it, Tristan. I don’t care about the duke or his potential wife,” she replied, her voice a little too sharp, betraying the turmoil beneath her calm facade. Yet, as the words left her lips, she felt a pang of shame, knowing she was lying.
Diana, with her delicate frame and soft, timid demeanor, seemed to float rather than dance and Cecilia couldn’t help but notice how Alistair’s blue eyes sparkled with interest as he engaged with her, making her stomach twist in knots.
“Honestly, she seems so boring, does she not?” Tristan continued, oblivious to Cecilia’s internal struggle. “I mean, look at her! She’s just standing there, following hie every lead in movement. How dull.”
But that’s exactly what most gentlemen desire.
That’s what… he desires.
Cecilia felt a deeper wave of annoyance rise within her, quickly accompanied by an unsettling jealousy.
“Brother, must you be this way?” she murmured, trying to maintain her composure. “The lady seems nice enough. She’s might just be… shy.” But even as she defended Diana, she couldn’t shake the feeling of inadequacy creeping in.
The tension in the air seemed to get heavier around her, and Cecilia felt a wave of panic.
What is happening to me? Why does the duke’s attention on her make me feel this way?
I should not care.
She turned away from the scene, her breath quickening as she fought to suppress the emotions swirling inside her.
“Let’s just find somewhere to socialize, brother,” she suggested, desperate to escape the sight of Alistair and Diana together.
The laughter and music faded into the background as she tried to soothe the storm brewing within her heart, knowing full well that the truth was far more complicated than she dared to admit.
None of that matters.
I shall enjoy this evening myself as well.
