“He has everything to do with this. He is interested in her. Seriously so and this could be good for Penelope. I’d hoped you would be too focused on finding your own match to interfere —”
“And I am!”
Nora scoffed, taking her drink back with one hand while the other gestured around them.
“Of course you are. I couldn’t tell from the corner you have chosen that easily obscures you from sight. Silly me.”
Cecil took in a deep breath and tried to reassure her once more.
“I am merely gathering my thoughts, sister. I do have someone I am interested in and I will dance with her later but for now, I merely wanted to get my thoughts in order. As for Penelope… we have never really gotten along. I suppose it only makes sensethat our friendship was meant to last only for a time.” Cecil told her as though the words didn’t cut into his insides.
Nora regarded him for a moment before she sighed deeply, emptying the contents of her glass before she said.
“You have always supported me, Cecil. I hope you know I am prepared to do the same if ever you needed it.”
Cecil smiled, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close until she was tucked into his side.
“I am all too aware, dear sister. Thank you.”
Nora raised a hand to his cheek, patted him twice, and then flicked his forehead with a finger. When he recoiled at the sharp pain, she told him,
“That is for the trouble I know you’ll cause anyway. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
She scurried away, giggling, and Cecil stepped after her, only to see Lady Heather standing a few feet away. She waved demurely, looking pretty and just as excited as she had been earlier that day.
But Cecil wasn’t ready to speak with her, still working on the mask he was forced to keep up during such events. He nodded at her and tried to find an excuse to buy himself some time before he had to speak with her.
As he glanced around, he caught sight of something more exquisite than any excuse he could have formulated.
It was Penelope, making her entrance into the ballroom.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Cecil was certain he was not breathing.
He likely wasn’t blinking, given how stiff his whole body felt. But truly, he was not one to blame. He had never seen – he had known, though.
If there was anyone who knew just how beautiful Penelope was, Cecil was willing to bet his title that he did. He had spent countless minutes running his hands over her gorgeous frame, and countless more fantasizing about it.
However, it would seem he did not know the extent of it, given how stunned he was now at the sight of her.
Penelope looked like an otherworldly creature as she walked further into the ballroom, smiling as Jane approached her with glee. Her dress was made of chiffon with light shades of blue and lilac, and her hair was done into an intricate bun upward with diamond-studded pins that looked like constellations.
She looked as though she was made of everything Cecil did not know he wanted.
“Your Grace?”
Cecil turned around, far too winded for some reason to smile at Lady Heather as she drew closer to him.
“Lady Heather. Good evening,” he bowed, managing to tug his lips into something that he could tell resembled a grimace. “You look lovely.”
She blushed, lowing slightly into a curtsey, peering up at him through her fluttering lashes.
“You look quite dashing as well, Your Grace. I am glad to you that you were able to attend. For a moment there, I was not sure I could count on your attendance.” She admitted softly.
The guilt Cecil had been struck with earlier in the evening returned, and he nearly sent her on her way.
But still, he stifled the discomfort, managing to put on a more convincing smile as he shook his head.
