Chapter Thirty
The ball that night was grand. And unbearably dull.
Ralston had been in a wretched mood for the last several days.
And Eleanor was quite certain she knew the reason why.
Even in Eleanor’s own distraction it was rather difficult to miss how often he’d scan a room until his gaze fell upon a particular dark-haired woman.
And if she was not present at an event, he inevitably grew grumpy and desired to leave early.
He’d even danced with the lady on one occasion. Something the gossips made quick note of. His interest in Miss Dickson was becoming more and more obvious.
She’d considered saying something to him once or twice, but then changed her mind.
His life was his own, just as hers belonged to her.
She wouldn’t desire his interference in her activities, so she decided not to interfere in his.
Besides, her brother’s behavior was the least of her concerns considering her other… interests lately.
Something her cousins had also noticed.
While the musicians took a break, Bridget joined Eleanor along the wall.
Lydia had given some excuse to avoid attending tonight.
Only Eleanor and Bridget knew it was so she could slip off to some lecture she’d been excited about but had been forbidden to attend by her mother.
And Ralston had taken himself for a walk—no doubt in search of Miss Dickson, leaving the ladies alone for a bit.
Bridget sipped her lemonade, eyeing Eleanor curiously over the rim. Lowering the glass just enough to mutter quietly, she said, “He’s not here tonight, is he?”
Eleanor considered feigning ignorance, but gave it up with a roll of her eyes. “No, he’s not.”
Her shrewd cousin arched a brow. “And yet, you don’t seem concerned. You haven’t even bothered to look for him.” There was a thoughtful pause, then Bridget’s eyes widened. “You’re meeting him later,” she whispered in shock.
“Shh,” Eleanor quietly chided, glancing about. How did her cousin see so much?
“You hoyden.” Bridget’s tone was filled with awe and humor. “Tell me you haven’t…”
Her voice dropped off as Eleanor met her gaze. The other woman knew instantly that she had.
“Bloody hell,” Bridget exclaimed in a heavy whisper, the expletive drawing the sharp, censorious gaze of an older lady passing by. Bridget, quickly lifted her glass for another sip, though her eyes never left Eleanor’s.
“I can’t believe it.”
Eleanor was almost offended by her cousin’s level of shock, but quickly acknowledged that it was warranted.
“Has he—? Do you—?” Bridget stuttered before giving up.
“It’s complicated,” Eleanor answered, inspiring a snort from the other woman. “I’ll explain it all to you and Lydia when I have the chance,” Eleanor muttered quickly as she spotted Ralston coming toward them again. “A lot has happened.”
“An understatement,” Bridget retorted. “Lydia is going to lose her sanity.”
As Ralston reached them, Eleanor gave her cousin a fierce stare, silently ordering the other woman to keep her mouth shut.
Judging by her brother’s tense manner and ferocious scowl, he hadn’t found Miss Dickson.
Eleanor suddenly wondered if the young woman might be avoiding her brother.
The thought annoyed her. Ralston was a bit stiff and focused on duty, but he was also loyal and steady, and many claimed him to be quite handsome. He was a catch by any standards.
Before she could dwell too long on her brother’s romantic entanglements, the music started up again. Bridget was quickly approached by an eager partner and Ralston took up position beside Eleanor as she prepared to watch the dancing from the edge of the room, as usual.
A moment later, however, she was stunned to see Lord Ackerly striding toward her with an uncharacteristically focused expression. She instantly tensed. She’d hoped he’d respect her wishes and refrain from future interactions.
Apparently, not.
In fact, he walked right up to her and bowed before offering his hand. “Would you grace me with this dance, my lady?”
The request shocked her. Not only because she’d made it clear at their last encounter that she would not welcome any advances from him, but also because he’d never once before in their acquaintance asked her to dance. He’d always played the wallflower, like her.
She considered that maybe he simply wanted an opportunity to apologize for his prior behavior. But when she met his gaze, she discounted that theory.
How had she never noticed before how calculating his stare was? A shiver coursed over her skin.
Eleanor wanted to refuse. But with her brother right there and others nearby watching the shocking event, she couldn’t do so without causing a scene. By the look in the lord’s eyes, he knew it. He was intent upon getting his way and apparently had no trouble trapping her into compliance.
Deciding she had no choice, and suddenly wishing to just get the interaction over with, she put her hand in his and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor.
Considering how rare it was for her to have a partner, people took notice.
Their peering glances shot through her like icy spears and her insides started to shake.
Not now.
Forcing herself to take long, slow inhales, she lowered her gaze. She could not allow her weakness to present itself now. Not while in Lord Ackerly’s hands, where she suddenly felt so unsafe.
The dance was a waltz and Lord Ackerly swept her gracefully into the steps.
His initial silence almost lulled her into thinking she may have been a bit foolish in her initial reaction. She even glanced up at him, allowing the possibility that the scheming look she’d seen in his eyes had been a trick of the light.
It hadn’t been.
The intensity of the man’s focus sent a frisson of alarm straight through her center. An iciness flowed through her veins, but it wasn’t her usual fear of social judgment. This was sharper, more direct and piercing. Something was off.
Instinctively, she pulled back. She wasn’t sure if she intended to leave him there and then on the dance floor. But it didn’t matter, because his grip on her tightened and his expression hardened instantly.
“You’re going nowhere,” he said in a clipped but quiet tone.
Panic threatened for a moment before Eleanor recalled with a flash the way Phin had looked at her last night in the garden when she’d lifted Aadesh’s blade against him. He’d called her brave.
She lifted her chin and narrowed her gaze. “What do you want?”
His hand curled painfully around her fingers and his eyes flickered dangerously. Again, his voice was low and filled with intensity as he replied. “I want what is mine by right and destiny.”
Eleanor stiffened so sharply she felt a stab of pain along her spine as thoughts spun wildly in reaction to the oddly familiar phrase.
“What?” she murmured softly.
Lord Ackerly bent toward her. His lips curled as his next words slid from clenched teeth. “You’re mine. As you always should’ve been. You cannot deny karma.”
With a burst of clarity, Eleanor remembered where she’d heard similar phrasing before. It was in the notes Phin had shared with her and Aadesh earlier today as they’d debated her plan. He’d received them as warnings, presumably from the British nobleman who coveted the necklace.
It couldn’t be a simple coincidence that Ackerly’s words so closely resembled the phrasing in the threatening notes. She thought of his shift in behavior toward her when she began interacting with the viscount. Could it be that it wasn’t simple jealousy that had upset him?
Could Lord Ackerly be the mysterious British nobleman behind it all?
The revelation was astonishing enough that, for a second, she doubted herself. But it made sense.
A shiver slid down her spine.
If he’d known all along that Waring had the necklace, he’d have been watching him closely. He’d have gotten reports of each time she and Phin had interacted.
She thought of the messages Phin had received.
They belong to me.
Was that refencing the necklace and her?
She felt so close to understanding. It was right there, dancing on the tips of her fingers, yet couldn’t quite connect the pieces.
Forcing herself to meet the man’s stare, she said quietly but firmly. “I do not belong to you.”
His smile was slow and far too confident. His voice was threaded with darkness and desire, “Not yet. But you will. It is fated.”
A delayed burst of panic rushed through her. She was convinced.
It was him.
Despite the trembling fear rising in her stomach and the icy panic she somehow managed to contain, she asked, “What is your intention?”
He simply smiled in reply. A disturbing, chilling smile.
Though his grip on her was unyielding, she sent her gaze about the room.
She spotted Ralston immediately, standing at the edge of the ballroom, gazing outward with a scowl of distraction.
He didn’t see her, but as long as he didn’t move, she could make it to him easily enough once Ackerly released her.
To her intense relief, the song faded to an end a moment later.
When she pulled from his arms then, he had no choice but to release her or risk causing a scene.
She didn’t hesitate to stride swiftly away.
She didn’t care if her actions appeared rude or odd to anyone observing.
Her only thought was to get away from him.
She reached Ralston without incident, only turning to look behind her once she was at her brother’s side.
Ackerly was nowhere in sight.
For some reason, his lack of pursuit was almost more distressing. As if he felt confident in having another opportunity.
As she contemplated that thought, she suddenly became aware of all the curious stares and surreptitious glances being cast her way. No doubt, there would be a great deal of speculation about her dance with the earl, considering she hadn’t danced since the start of last season.
Fortunately, Ralston took her obvious distress for her typical social panic and quickly rounded up Bridget to take them both home.
Her cousin, however, studied her for a long moment, seeming to understand that there was more to the situation than assumed.
But she said nothing about it in front of Ralston.
After taking Bridget home, Ralston took Eleanor to their father’s house. When he asked if she was alright, she could see the genuine concern in his face. She did her best to reassure him and sent him on his way.
It wasn’t until she was home and alone in her bedroom that she allowed the shock of her discovery about Lord Ackerly to fully claim her.
As her insides began to tremble and her mind whirled through the possibilities of what she strongly believed to be true, she sank down heavily on the edge of her bed.
“What happened?”
Eleanor gasped at the sound of the viscount’s voice as he swiftly approached from the shadows of her room.
She’d completely forgotten that he was coming to her tonight. But seeing him filled her with instant relief and gratitude and somehow fortified that inner source of strength she’d only recently discovered.
“Phin,” she sighed as a smile curved her mouth, quivering a bit at the corners.