Page 49 of The Duchess and the Beast
“I would,” he affirmed, his decision firm.
That… was unexpected. Although, from the wolfish manner in which he was gazing into the fire where the letter burned, perhaps it wasn’t entirely surprising. Did he mean to coax out the person who sent the letter and dissuade them of their foolish pursuit? Or was he merely trying to prove to Virtue that he was all that she needed and he would gladly make any concession for her… even attending a socialite ball which she knew he loathed?
Well, truthfully, the reason behind it mattered little to her.
They would attend the Rochester Ball together, their first social engagement as a married couple. The prospect filled Virtue with such excitement that, as they departed the room to bathe, she all but forgot the unsettling letter. Life was simply too splendid to be overshadowed by such trivialities.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The grand façade of the Rochester estate.
For what else could it be called? Sebastian’s family had been closely acquainted with the Rochesters once. Before they had transformed into the notoriously wealthy machiavellian they were renowned for as of today. Another family who undoubtedly profited off the war effort—the bitter reason Sebastian had cut ties with them long ago. For Virtue’s sake, he had decided to make amends.
In the not-too-distant past, Rochester Estate had been a humble abode. But now, the place was a beacon of luxury, its towering white columns stark against the twilight sky. Sweeping marble steps lit by an array of lanterns that flickered like stars led to the grand hall. As Sebastian approached, Virtue on his arm, the faint sound of the ongoing concert wafted through the great French doors. Through them, the grand ballroom sprawled, its floors gleaming marble, vast chandeliers dripping with crystals casting a radiant light over the assembled guests. Rich tapestries hung from the walls, and the air was perfumed with the scent of freshroses and lilacs, strategically placed in ornate vases throughout—strategically, for they were an amateur’s display of wealth.
Sebastian adjusted his own mask, a simple white affair, suddenly feeling very out of place, as he and Virtue passed under the stone archway. Immediately, he was struck by the sight. The sight of what he had missed out on for the last decade. Men in finely tailored coats, from deep blues to vibrant maroons, mingled with women whose gowns billowed around them in a cascade of silk and satin, adorned with intricate embroidery and sparkling with jewels. Masks, ornate and mysterious, hid faces but not their owner's status—each a careful choice of feathers, gold, and gems that whispered of vanity and conceit. His gaze flickered over the faces, the intricate dance of courtship and politics playing out before him. This, by all means, ought to have been where a man of his ilk supposedly belonged. Yet, the reality was far different.
For, the moment that he and Virtue walked through the great doors that led into the grand hall, Sebastian could feel all eyes on him. He could hear the whispers too. He could sense the attention of those in the immediate vicinity turn on him—some gasped, others sneered, the bold simply stared in shock.
In such an intimate gathering, where everyone knew everyone, his presence stood out as a crow among doves.
Yet, it was just as he had anticipated. Feeling himself followed and spoken about as if he didn’t belong, as if he was an animal that had wandered in off the street and was now trying to blend in, almost had him turning back and leaving. He mighthave expected it, but that did not make it any more bearable. If anything, it only made it worse for it confirmed what he knew all along.
In fact, theonlyreason he did not turn and leave was the reassuring presence of Virtue beside him. She linked her arm through his, holding him tight, silently urging him to disregard the stares and whispers. He was there for her, not for them.
“Isn’t it just remarkable?” she whispered in stupor as they ventured further into the grand hall. “Have you ever seen anything quite like this?”
“It is… something,” he said stiffly, doing his best to pay her attention while ignoring the masses about them.
“I had never attended one hosted by the Rochesters—my family was never so well off. But I had heard all about their lavish affairs from Prudence. I thought they might go all out, but this...” She grimaced. “It is a little ostentatious, no? I mean, who are they trying to impress?”
“Everyone, I would think.”
“Areyouimpressed?”
“Not really.”
“Well then, they have failed in my eyes.” She smirked, then leaned in and discreetly kissed him on the cheek—his exposed cheek, for she walked on his left side.
She seemed keenly aware of how nervous he must have been feeling. It was not as if he was attempting to hide it. And it was for that reason that she was trying to engage in lighthearted conversation, pretending that nothing was the matter, that this was just another evening between the pair. Her hope, he guessed, was that he might relax under her gaze and forget where he was and who he was surrounded by.
“Amazing,” she said again, head swiveling as she looked about the high ceilings. “Just… stunning.”
“It is nothing compared to you,” Sebastian murmured, his eyes never leaving his wife’s.
“Oh, stop it, you charmer.”
If Sebastian hadn’t been feeling so withdrawn, he might have taken better notice of the great hall and those in attendance too, but it would have taken a lot more for him to engage in compliments for anything or anyone else with his wife by his side. He had eyes for Virtue only and he made sure to tell her as often as possible. This last week especially.
Tonight, for example, she was dressed in a dark crimson gown with golden hems and stitching; a floral pattern that looked as if vines were creeping up her dress and sprouting a canopy of flowers about her neckline. Her jewelry too, that was mostlyrubies, while her headdress was golden and plum, and her mask white to match his own.
She was a prize and she needed to know it. Especially when taking into account the happenings of this past week, the letters that had arrived every day now, each as fawning and loving and provocative as the last. She claimed she had no idea who they came from, and he believed her. He did. But that did little to put his mind at ease, for it suggested that anyone anywhere might be vying for her affections.
The situation angered Sebastian in ways that were predictable. Jealousy consumed him, and he felt an innate desire to find the culprit and tear him limb from limb. Worry overtook him, as he feared that whoever it was might stop at nothing to see he and Virtue together. And guilt followed him, for he truly believed, deep down, that if he faltered, or if he gave Virtue a reason, she might see those letters as an opening…
That was partially why Sebastian had agreed to escort her tonight after all, an acknowledgment that Virtue’s affection was not to be taken for granted and that he was a man worth keeping to.Partially, for he would have likely relented to his wife’s stubborn insistence eventually anyway—though she needn’t know that.
“Is my wife pleased?” he asked her sweetly, only for her face, lit up as it were, to meet his gaze in giddy excitement.