Millicent giggled at the comment, a clear sign that she could not see through Lord Grundon’s obviously false charm.
“Lord Grundon.” Edward stepped between them and looked warningly at Lord Grundon. “I wish I could say it was a pleasure to see you, but such lies taste too bitter to waste time with.”
Millicent gasped. “Edward…”
“I merely wished to give my salutations,” he said, holding onto his emotionless smirk. “And, of course, to bask in your niece’s radiance for a moment. Miss Witcher…” He bowed for Millicent, and when he rose, he was sure to smirk at Edward before turning and vanishing into the crowd.
Edward watched him go, a glare that burned all those who were unlucky enough to be found in its way. He had hoped that Lord Grundon might distract himself with someone else this evening, enough that he would forget about Millicent entirely.
Now, it was clear, that he had eyes for Edward’s niece. Worse still, Edward suspected those eyes existed only to frustrate Edward and undo him.
“Edward, what was that?” Millicent snapped at him. “You were so rude to Lord Grundon.”
“He is lucky that rude is all that I was.”
“But why?” she asked. “He has been nothing but kind to me. And he is rather charming.”
Edward turned and was about to tell Millicent exactly what he thought of Lord Grundon. Before he got the chance, Celestine’s warning echoed in the back of his mind. To try and push Millicent away would only drive her into the man’s arms. Such was the way of young women.
“You are right,” Edward said with a grimace that he felt in his chest. “I was…” He cleared his throat. “I will do better the next time I speak with Lord Grundon. You have my word.”
“Good,” Millicent said. Then she smiled wistfully as she searched through the crowd. “I do hope that he finds me later. Perhaps he will even…” She trailed off and her mouth fell open.
“What?” Edward turned to see what she was looking at. “What is it?”
“Oh… nothing.” Millicent said awkwardly. “Come, let us walk a little.” She pulled on his arm as she tried to lead him.
It did no good, and no sooner had Edward turned did he see the reason for Millicent’s strange behavior. As busy as the ballroom was, as loud and bustling, the entire room seemed to quiet in that moment, and the crowds faded into nothingness as his attention became fixed on a single occupant.
She wore a gown of yellow and gold and silver. Her chestnut hair was pinned back by a sparkling tiara. Although the gown flowed around her legs, it was tight at her waist, cinching it so that her bosom could not be ignored… nor should it be. Her mask was silver, a simple design that hid her eyes, but there could be no denying who she was.
Edward watched Celestine float through the ballroom, her mother and sisters with her, but that hardly seemed relevant. She stood apart from them, a light seeming to shine across her, and the world stood perfectly still.
“Edward…” Millicent tugged on his arm. “Let us go this way.”
“I…” He knew he should have allowed Millicent to pull him. To stare as he was, to allow his obsession to grow, was dangerous and would do nothing but bring him pain.
Yet, he could not stop staring at Celestine. His mouth hung open. His chest thumped. His eyes were wide and unblinking.How did I have her, only to let her go? What was I thinking?
And just like that, all the hard work he had done this week to forget about Celestine was smashed into a million little pieces, turned to dust so that he might as well not have bothered.
Things only got worse from there.
Through the crowd, Lord Grundon suddenly appeared and he made straight for Celestine. Edward chuckled at first when he saw the look of revilement cross Celestine’s masked-face, and he was certain that she was about to turn him away. Only then, her mother swept in, and within seconds the three of them were engaged in a conversation.
Walk away, Celestine. You know better than that…
He wished that he could hear what was being said because a second later Lord Grundon linked his arm with Celestine’s and lead her toward the dancefloor.
“No…” Edward said.
“Oh…” Millicent pouted. “I am sorry, Edward. I wish he had asked me instead.”
Edward slowly followed them, not even realizing what he was doing. Millicent called out after him but he did not turn back or stop. Soon, he stood on the edge of the dancefloor and he watched with contempt, with frustration, and with unabated rejection as Celestine and Lord Grundon danced together.
This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. And this certainly wasn’t how he was supposed to feel. The engagement had been fake, his feelings were meant to be the same, but as he watched them begin their dance, Lord Grundon’s hands on her waist and their bodies close, Edward’s stomach twisted into knots and his chest tightened so that he could hardly breathe.
“Even with the mask, that glare is unmissable…” Percival appeared beside Edward, looking rather pleased with himself.
