Rosalina had come to help Ophelia dress up, and the pair had got ready together. To Ophelia’s surprise, Rosalina had also brought her a beautiful necklace adorned with pink stones, which she had graciously placed on Ophelia’s neck.
Ophelia felt royal tonight.
“You must trust me when I tell you that someone is going to take one look at you tonight and will fall in love with you for a lifetime.”
Ophelia chuckled, her heart aching at those words.
The only person she wished to love her was the one who would never love her. Hence, it hardly mattered if someone else suddenly grew to have feelings for Ophelia. It was not in her fate to love them back anyway.
“How does it matter?” she sighed, standing up from the cushioned seat and turning around to face Rosalina. “Although, I am looking forward to one thing.”
“And what might that be?”
“Finally, being able to meet your beloved fiancé! I cannot believe Lord Syke is here.”
Rosalina blushed a pale pink at his name, laughing softly. “I almost cannot believe it myself. We have only been away for a few months, but it made me realize I can never live without him. Whoever said absence makes the heart fonder was absolutely right. I am never letting Randolph leave me again.”
“To have your heart with him must be the most precious thing to have, Rosalina.” Ophelia smiled, “He is a very lucky man.”
“He is indeed.” Rosalina returned to her charming manner, immediately laughing at her own comment.
Both the young women turned to look at themselves one last time, surveying their reflections before stepping downstairs, where the men were waiting to escort them to the ball. Ophelia felt slightly nervous, remembering that she was once again going to spend another evening with Edward. She also knew that Alice would be there, and now that she knew Ophelia’s secret, she would be even more annoying than she once was.
It was a disaster.
But Ophelia was not afraid. She was certain one evening could go by uneventfully. Or at least, that was what she hoped.
“Shall we get going?”
Ophelia nodded at Rosalina’s question. “Absolutely. It would be horrifying if we make them wait any longer.”
“Perhaps you are right.”
They finally stepped out of Ophelia’s bedchamber, straight towards the staircase as Rosalina stepped down first. Ophelia did not know what the matter was, but her heart kept beating loudly, as if she was almost scared to see Edward. She did not know why her expectations with him were growing every day, but she wanted him to find her beautiful tonight.
As if she had only got ready and dressed up for his eyes.
A part of her kept telling her that she had indeed got ready for him only.
As she finally reached the bottom of the stairs, Ophelia looked up, finding two young men standing in the hallway, one of them Edward. He looked exceptionally handsome in his tux, the perfect gentleman. His eyes were on her as she stepped down, and Ophelia could not help wondering if he did indeed find her beautiful.
Rosalina almost ran downstairs and jumped straight into Randolph’s arms, who held her close. Ophelia’s eyes melted at the love the two of them shared.
Although her gaze was still strictly stuck on Edward.
She hoped for nothing more but for him to show her even an ounce of affection or simply even tell her that she looked beautiful tonight. She needed to hear it from him and him alone. As she finally walked towards him, his face still remained expressionless, and Ophelia curtsied wordlessly.
“Good evening, Miss Jennings.”
The smile on her face disappeared as she heard the coldness in Edward’s voice, unsure what was wrong. She almost felt like weeping and returning to her room, but Ophelia was notgoing to be a sobbing mess over a man. A man that could never be hers because of the difference in their social standing.
She needed to keep control of herself. She had hoped for too much.
“Good evening, My Lord.”
Rosalina walked towards them, perhaps sensing the unsaid tension swirling between them as they looked at one another. Hence, she immediately came to the rescue, Randolph right behind her.
“Ophelia, I must introduce you to my fiancé, Lord Randolph Syke.”
