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William slowly descended the main stairwell in Woodlock Manor, fidgeting with the buttons on his jacket. He had felt uncomfortable in his own skin since he had left the study the week prior, and he was well aware of why, although he would most certainly not admit it to anyone.
He had barely seen Emma since their day together, and it truly bothered him. His peace had been disturbed by the thought that he would not see her again if she left the estate forever.
What of what he wanted?
Did it not matter to her?
Did he not matter to her?
His thoughts trailed off once more as he absent-mindedly descended the stairwell, and his body jolted suddenly as he noticed his siblings standing at the foot of the stairwell.
“Brother, sister,” William greeted them with a charming smile, which was not in the least genuine. “It was not necessary for you to meet me, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
“Oh, William. You should realize by now that everything is not always about you and that the world does not revolve solely around you.” Elizabeth shrugged, looking magnificent in a rose-coloured gown and her golden hair interweaved with flowers from the garden.
The duke was dressed in dark grey formal wear, his hair parted to the side, and his jaw clenched in his usual manner.
William grinned and placed his hand against his heart. “Oh, how you hurt me.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and turned to James. “Perhaps we should take two coaches, brother? One coach would be much too crowded, and we would not want our lovely gowns to become creased.”
“Very well.”
“Brother, if I may,” William interjected and glanced at James. “There is no need for two coaches—”
“You are such a brute, William. Honestly, do you even care about anyone else except yourself?” Elizabeth exclaimed haughtily.
“I simply feel it is unnecessary for two coaches to be used,” William pointed out, but he noticed the duke’s attention was elsewhere.
As William followed James’s glance, he noticed the duchess dressed in an exquisite mauve gown with embroidery on the bodice. Her long, onyx tresses were delicately piled on the crown of her head, and her cheeks were pink.
The duke’s eyes sparkled as the duchess reached the bottom of the stairs and he gently took her hand, their love radiating throughout the entire hall.
Movement at the top of the staircase caught William’s eye and as he glanced up, the universe came to a halt. Emma slowly descended the staircase as well, and William’s heart started to pound.
She wore an emerald green gown with soft muslin sleeves that delicately draped over her pretty shoulders. The skirt of her gown was soft and embraced the curvature of her body as she moved.
Her red tresses were pinned at the nape of her neck, tendrils framing her beautiful face. William was mesmerized and sadly, there was nothing he could possibly do to make her his.
A few moments before Emma reached the foot of the stairs, William cleared his throat and stepped away.
“Sister, shall we take my coach?” William asked.
“Very well,” Elizabeth answered with a furrowed brow and turned to the duchess. “Ladies, you are both visions in those gowns. Truly.”
“I could certainly say the same about you, Elizabeth,” Kitty reciprocated, and Lizzie smiled.
“Thank you, my lady,” Emma answered gratefully.
“Do they not look utterly ravishing, brother?” Lizzie asked and glanced at him expectantly.
“Yes, indeed. Utterly ravishing,” William muttered, and as the last word left his lips, he recalled Emma’s words in his head.
“Now ravish me until I beg you to stop.”
William cleared his throat loudly, shifting his weight in discomfort and turned to the door. “Shall we go?”
William didn’t even wait for a response when he opened the door and stepped outside.
Two coaches stood in the driveway, ready to leave for Retford Manor, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Waltham. The sun was low in the sky, on its way towards the horizon, and soon the sky would be dark and littered with bright stars.
William hurried to his coach and opened the door for Elizabeth.
Lizzie finally emerged from the house, and did not utter a word as she climbed into the coach. William simply nodded at the duke before he also climbed in.
She glared at him from the seat opposite him, with narrowed eyes, but remained quiet until the coach began to move. “What on earth is the matter with you?”
“Nothing is the matter with me,” William muttered and glanced out the window.
Lizzie scoffed. “You are a terrible liar.”
Her comment caused his jaw to clench and he turned towards her.
“Yes?”
“What ails you, Will? First, you were rude and obnoxious at the wedding, not even to mention foxed most of the day. Then, I hear from James, you were rude to Emma as well.”
Will shrugged. “I am merely in a mood.”
“If you are in a mood, please do not direct that frustration towards people who have nothing to do with it. Father would slap you on the back of your head if he were here.”
“But he is not here,” William grumbled and crossed his arms.
“You are such a child today,” Lizzie muttered. “Or rather, more than you usually are. Perhaps you should have refrained from joining us at the ball.”
“Spare me the lecture, Elizabeth,” William muttered.
Lizzie pointed her finger at him. “I will not allow you to spoil this ball, even if I have to lock you inside a linen closet. Is that clear?”
Will straightened on the seat where he sat, heat flaming his cheeks. “That will not be necessary.”
“Good,” Lizzie answered with a satisfied nod and sat back against the velvet seat.
When the coach came to a stop at Retford Manor, William climbed out first and then assisted Elizabeth. They were ushered inside the large manor house and led to the grand ballroom, which was elegantly decorated with chandeliers and candelabra. The marble pillars were draped with soft cloths and bright green vines. Guests were elegantly dressed in gowns and formal attire, conversing animatedly in groups.
Just like every other ball designed to trap husbands.
William purposely avoided being in Emma’s sphere and sought out his single, male associate.
Mr. Carson Wallace, a neighbor and old friend, quickly unraveled the mystery of why William was behaving so strangely.
“It must be a woman.”
William glanced at his friend in exasperation and shook his head. “What do you even speak of, Carson?”
Carson chuckled heartily and motioned vaguely across the ballroom. “The young woman wearing the green gown. Is she the one who has you acting like a fool?”
“She is no one,” William grumbled.
“I see. If she were no one, why do you keep glancing in her direction? And when an eligible gentleman approaches her, why does your jaw clench? Jealous, Will?” Carson inquired.
William glared at him.
“If you have feelings for the young woman, there is no shame in making it known,” Carson pointed out, “before another man claims her.”
“Says the man who has been hiding his feelings for my sister for years,” William countered.
Carson’s jaw clenched and his eyes widened.
Before he could respond with a lie, Will scoffed at his friend. “It seems as though I am not the only coward here.”
“It is more complicated for me. She is the daughter of a duke, and I do not possess a title. I am not worthy of a woman such as Lady Elizabeth.” Carson sighed, then turned to William. “Why does this particular young lady have such an effect on you?”
“She infuriates me. Every moment we are together she cuts up my peace,” William admitted.
“Women do that, more often than you would imagine. But I shouldn’t have to explain that to you, Will.”
William shook his head. “None of them compare to Emma.”
“Ah, the lady has a name,” Mr. Wallace grinned. “What does she do to infuriate you so?”
Where to begin?
“She is strong-willed, and she doesn’t bow down to anyone. She speaks her mind, even if it isn’t appropriate,” William grumbled. “But she is radiant when she laughs, and her smile can light up the world. Look at her, Carson. Is she not the most magnificent creature you have ever gazed upon?” William asked, knowing he sounded tainted beyond compare. Then he winked at his friend. “Apart from my sister, of course.”
“Will, forgive me for speaking so boldly, but it does sound to me as though you have strong feelings for her,” Carson said.
“Nonsense. I cannot possibly have feelings for her...”William’s voice trailed off as he noticed Emma conversing with a young nobleman. Her eyes sparkled brightly as she clearly found what he was saying amusing.
Will’s chest tightened with rifts of jealousy.
“Green certainly is a good color on both you and her ladyship,” Carson cackled.
“Your wit, while it is above expectations, is completely unnecessary,” William muttered.
“Not to mention underappreciated,” Carson chuckled. “Perhaps, if you do not wish for other suitors to approach her, you should ask her to dance.”
William glanced at Carson for a moment and his brow furrowed. “And if she declines?”
“She will not,” Carson answered with the utmost confidence.
“You cannot be certain she won’t,” William said, sure he was right.
Carson grinned at him with a knowing smile. “While you and I were conversing, the lovely Emma has glanced at you perhaps fifteen times. The next glance always longer than the previous. It is obvious you affect her as well.”
William pursed his lips and nodded slowly. “Very well.”
“Simply be your usual, charming self.”
“Indeed, as it has helped me so much up to this point,” William answered sardonically.
Carson Wallace smiled sympathetically and patted William’s shoulder encouragingly. “You are the most charming man alive. You can have any woman you wish, Will.”
William smiled gratefully at his friend and confidant and glanced across the room at Emma. He straightened his shoulders proudly and made his way across the ballroom towards her.
Perhaps he could have any woman he wished, as Carson had stated, but the only woman he wanted, did not want him in return.
That was rather ironic, he thought to himself as his heart pounded in his chest and Emma’s bright gaze settled onto his.