Edward let her talk, paying little attention, his eyes always scanning.
He was caught in two minds that night, and as they fought against each other, Edward was yet to determine which he wanted to win.
One mind was the one of practicality. He was there tonight for Millicent and Millicent only. Thankfully, his broken engagement had done nothing to affect her reputation, and already there were whispers and rumors of various lords about the ton who were single and might wish to meet with her. Naturally, Edward assessed them as they came, ticked them off, and had decided already which were suitable and which she would avoid.
Thus, his mission tonight was his niece. They walked arm-in-arm, sweeping through the ballroom, making sure to be seen. Her gown was silver and black; the silver sparkled in the light, while the black was so dark that it seemed to absorb it. As for her mask? That was white with feathers whose tips were black. She truly did look beautiful.
As Millicent was his mission, he determined at the same time that the one thing he could not do was become distracted, and no greater distraction existed than Celestine. So, while he scanned the ballroom in search of Celestine, he made sure to look vaguely, never focusing on one person, doing his best to not find her.
Although maybe I should find her? Just so I know where to avoid.
That was the other mind with which he wrestled. Constant thoughts of Celestine and what he would do if he saw her. Helooked throughout the ballroom, doing his best not to find her, while secretly hoping that he did.
Once again, thank God for masks.
Of course, Edward had spent the week forced to listen to rumors about his and Celestine’s broken engagement. Those he could handle. What he could not handle were further whispers which suggested that she was already looking to be courted – that she planned on attending the ball for that very reason.
If I had any doubts at all about how Celestine felt about me, that settles them truly.
Did it though? Even before their fake engagement, she had never wished to marry. So, that she was apparently searching to do so now was strange and made little sense. Her mother must have been behind it. Likely, Celestine wanted nothing to do with it at all. And perhaps –
No! Focus, Edward. Do not go down that path. Not tonight.
“Edward, you are hurting me…” Millicent said from beside him.
“Wha…” He turned to find Millicent pulling on her arm. “Oh! Sorry.” So distracted was Edward that he had not realized how hard he was holding onto his niece.
“Are you feeling all right?” she asked worriedly. Behind her white mask, he saw the worry reflected in her eyes.
“I am fine.”
“Are you sure?”
Smiling, he lowered his black mask and showed his face. “I am fine, Millicent. And do not distract yourself with thoughts of me. You are who tonight is for.”
“I just wished to –”
“I know what you wished,” he cut her off gently as he put his mask back on. “But as I have told you all week, I am perfectly well. Truly, I am just so proud of you, Millicent. Do not let my horrid week take away from what tonight is about.”
Still, she looked at him with worry.
Despite her initial anger toward him, Millicent had quickly returned to the sweet girl who he knew so well. She worried about him, and all week she had done her best to help him recover from what she assumed to be a broken heart.
He told her often that it was not so bad as that, but she did not believe him. Then again, she had always been perceptive like that…
“Come now, let us…” Edward trailed off and sneered when he saw a lord in a dark suit with a red mask approaching through the crowd. Even with the mask, there could be no denying who it was, and Edward’s hackle’s rose as he braced himself.
“What?” Millicent asked. “Who are you… Oh!” She gushed and her cheeks colored pink. “He recognizes me.”
“Unfortunately,” Edward growled.
It was Lord Grundon, of course, and he stalked toward Edward and Millicent as if he were a hunter and they were prey. He wore a smile below his eye-mask, but it was false and emotionless, just like the man himself.
“Miss Witcher,” Lord Grundon greeted as he approached them both. “I was hoping to see you here this evening.”
“Really?” Millicent blushed shyly.
“Of course,” Lord Grundon purred. “For a chance to see your beauty, even if it is only a second’s worth, I would cross the widest ocean. Lucky for me, arriving here this evening wasn’t quite so arduous as that.”
