Two Vows and a Viscount by James Eloisa

Author:James, Eloisa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2023-12-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

IN WHICH STARS FALL

It was after eleven o’clock when the butler appeared in the drawing room door. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have received reports of several falling stars,” he announced.

In a babbling wave, the guests flooded toward the French doors that led to the garden. The viscount caught his daughter’s arm, saying loudly that Fulvia wasn’t going into the dark garden without a chaperone.

Fiennes registered that with ironic disdain: it was a bit late for the viscount to suddenly claim that he gave a damn about his daughter’s reputation.

He found Ella in the crowd as easily as if there were a tightrope slung between them. Their eyes met, and she shook her head, saying silently, “Stay away.”

“I refuse,” Fiennes said back, silently.

She turned away, her shoulder saying the obvious: He was no more to her than a future cousin-in-law.

He ignored that, drifting after her like a fox on the trail of a rabbit. She had her hand wrapped around Devin’s arm, and Fiennes found himself grinding his teeth.

He swallowed back a groan. He had to marry Fulvia.

But everything in him wanted to marry Ella.

Outside, the sky was unexpectedly clear for a London night, with neither coal smoke nor clouds blurring the stars. Fiennes couldn’t bring himself to speak to anyone; he backed into the shadow of the house and watched guests milling around the lawn. Even the Regent had emerged from the card room and joined Fulvia and her father.

A light streaked across the sky and was greeted by excited shouts.

The night was warm, but not warm enough, given that Ella’s entire chest was exposed. Fiennes caught the butler’s eye and nodded at Ella. Jarvis whisked away, returning with a wrap.

Ella appeared to be introducing Devin to the butler, an unusual action. She smiled up at his friend, and a tremor went through Fiennes’s body, his fist curling at his side.

He forced himself to look toward his fiancée instead. Belying the dislike he’d seen in her eyes when looking at St. Trevelyon, Fulvia was playing a charming Cordelia to her father’s Lear, clinging to his arm as if she loved him more than words could express.

Footmen were carrying chairs and blankets onto the lawn. The guests spread into groups, younger people sitting down as if they were at a picnic, watching the sky with excitement and shrieking at each falling star.

Devin and Ella drifted further down the lawn toward the shore of the Thames, so Fiennes followed. More stars fell.

Fiennes ignored the sky, watching Devin to make damn certain that he didn’t try to hold Ella’s hand. They joined a group including Devin’s sisters, seated on quilts and excitedly wishing on each star.

Fiennes stood in the shadow of a fragrant lilac bush. As if she were as aware of him as he was of her, Ella turned her head and looked at him, eyes wide, lips parted.

“Come,” he said silently. “Please.”

“No,” she retorted, her beautiful lips still.

“Please.”

She leaned over to the young lady beside her and whispered something. The miss was busy charting falling stars and merely nodded.

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