Page 37 of The Reclusive Earl’s Scandal (Vows and Vanity #1)

With one last, lingering look, Edward ducked out of the room, leaving Rebecca standing watching him leave, her heart torn up about her future with him.

As she turned back to her embroidery, she allowed herself the thrill of the night at the opera, but she could only hope that Edward did not push himself too hard to keep proving himself after every mistake he made.

Sighing, she continued weaving and threading, and found that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking of his gentle smile and how it made her heart twist.

***

“Heavens, I have heard so much about Idomeneo , but to see it in person is quite another thing.”

Rebecca was breathless as they left the auditorium, applauds still ricocheting through the opera house. Her arm was tucked into Edward’s, and her dress, a shimmering, deep purple, that caught the light when she walked and made her feel elegant and pretty.

Soon, she would be the Countess of Thornshire, and she was starting to feel as though she would be good at it.

Edward’s arm was tight against hers, as he had been all night. Despite asking her to accompany him, there had rarely been a moment where he had relaxed.

Rebecca nudged him now as they descended steps bathed in a low, golden light from above. “You did very well,” she assured him. “I recall you saying how you could not endure the last play you sat through. But… you stayed. Did you enjoy it?”

“Very much,” he answered her, giving her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

He wasn’t quite distant in the way he had been last week, where that had seemed more bravado.

This was more a defeated sort of distance, as though he had merely succumbed to his panic, and had nothing left to give.

“I did not like the love triangle aspect, however.”

Rebecca giggled, a gloved hand pressed to her mouth. “Neither did I.”

At that, Edward looked at her, and she frowned at his surprise.

“Yes?” she challenged.

“I thought…” He shook his head firmly. “Never mind.”

“Oh, no, I shall mind,” she laughed. “What makes you believe I have a penchant for love triangles?”

But before he could answer, Rebecca heard a shout over the crowd, similar to the one that had interrupted them last night at the ball.

She froze, her arm tightening on Edward’s, likely hard enough to squeeze painfully.

Slowly, she looked towards where Lord Billy lingered just outside the main doors of the opera house, and on his arm was Lady Catherine.

Rebecca’s breath loosened.

“We shall keep walking,” Edward said. “I cannot handle them right now.”

“Well, it is good to see you stayed in your seat for the duration of the opera,” Lord Billy laughed.

“I did hear reports of the skittish Earl of Thornshire not even being able to sit through a play . Terrible disposition, this thing of yours, is it not? Still, it is good you can do it for your betrothed.”

A muscle in Edward’s cheek twitched, and he forced a breath through his nose, looking at Lord Billy.

The man keeps himself wound up as tight as a clock ready to chime.

He is bound to lash out. Rebecca traced Edward’s side profile for hints that he was about to snap, but all she saw was a man trying to remain calm.

Not quite at the peak of losing his composure, but not unbothered, either.

She tapped her fingers on his arm, not to draw his attention to her, but simply to keep something on his mind that was not the taunting.

“So silent now, Thornshire?” Lord Billy asked.

Rebecca suddenly had the feeling that he was no childhood enemy, that she had greatly underestimated how he had affected Edward’s life.

“You were not so silent when you shouted at Lady Catherine. I have told her already how lucky she is to have dodged a married life with you. I can provide for her. What can you do for your wife?”

The confrontation was too much, and Rebecca reminded herself of the claims that Edward had started fights when he was younger. She felt all his muscles, coiled and tense, and gripped him harder, tugging him away.

“That is enough,” she hissed, glaring at Lord Billy. Her resentment then turned on Catherine. “And you , going along with this.” She shook her head. “You deserve better, Catherine.”

“As do you, Lady Rebecca.”

Again, that formality solidified the fact that there was no coming back with their friendship.

Wasting no more time, Rebecca pulled Edward closer to his awaiting carriage.

Once inside, Edward released her and let out a ragged gasp as if he had been holding his breath for a long time.

His whole body shook, and Rebecca took it upon herself to order the carriage back to Thornshire House.

She crouched before him, not caring if it was awkward to do so in her dress and she reached for his trembling hands that clenched together so hard she feared he’d snap a bone.

“Edward,” she tried. “Edward, please look at me.”

He hunched over himself, his head hanging between his shoulders so deeply his hair obscured his face. He shoved it back as he lifted his head slightly, his gaze narrowed and vacant.

“He is right,” Edward whispered. “He is right to ask what I can do for you.”

And then Rebecca noticed how a tear slid down his face, but before he could angrily wipe it away, she brushed her thumb over his cheek.