Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
“Well, how do I look?” Esther asked hesitantly as she stepped inside the drawing room, where her parents were waiting for her.
They were all dressed up for the engagement ball, and Esther had never felt more nervous.
The gown she was wearing was a dark burnished gold that brought out the honeyed flecks in her eyes.
The bodice and small puffed sleeves were overlaid with a gold netting stitched with thousands of tiny crystals that sparkled in the light.
The skirt looked like molten metal when Esther moved, giving her an ethereal quality.
Her hair was upswept and glimmered with diamond and pearl pins.
Her only other adornment was a beautiful pearl and diamond necklace sent as a gift from Ian.
Esther wished Ian had come to give it to her himself but knew that he was probably very busy.
Despite that, she had wanted to wear the necklace to show him that she adored it.
She wanted him to know that she was happy that the two of them were getting married.
Her expressions on the day of the engagement had probably given him the wrong idea, and Esther hoped to have a private conversation with him today to express her happiness.
“You look like a princess, my dear,” her father said, a smile playing at his lips. Esther enjoyed his praise and looked down, slightly flustered.
“Or perhaps exactly like a future duchess,” her mother chimed in, making Esther laugh a little.
“Well, shall we leave?” Wilson asked, and the three of them walked out of the drawing room where they met with Astrid.
Esther smiled at her sister, but Astrid only glanced at her once and silently joined the group to walk out of the Hathershire Manor.
Esther once again wished she had some sort of support from her sister.
She wanted to confide to someone about everything Beatrice had told her.
Astrid would have been that person if the sisters had had any semblance of a relationship between them.
As they all settled into the carriage and began to make their way towards Gilendale Manor, Esther felt her heartbeat accelerate.
She was nervous, though it wasn’t the usual feeling she got before meeting with Ian.
Her engagement with Ian had been announced in the London Times, and everyone in England knew.
Today was all about the two of them, and she knew that the entire ton would have their eyes fixed on their tiniest movements.
It was the first time since the announcement that they would be together in front of London society.
Esther was well aware of how vicious these people could be and how even one single mistake would make her the talk of the town.
She must be perfect. She was so busy considering everything wrong that might happen that she failed to notice when they arrived at Gilendale Manor.
“Esther dear, we are here,” her father announced.
She stepped down from the carriage with her father’s help and stared at the crowded driveway and the heavily decorated exterior of the mansion. Despite everything, Esther still couldn’t wait to see Ian, her soon-to-be husband.
Ian was busy mingling with his guests in the drawing room, though his eyes, ears, mind, and heart were all trained towards the entrance. One whole week without seeing Esther even once had felt like far too long.
Just then, the butler announced the name of Lord Hathershire, and Ian breathed a sigh of relief. He walked towards the front of the room to watch as Esther entered the drawing room.
Ian sucked in a sharp breath.
She has never looked more beautiful.
He laughed for he had recently confessed to himself that for some reason she looked more and more beautiful to him with every passing day.
However, tonight Ian felt as if she was glowing differently.
A small smile adorned her lips, and the gold dress she wore made her skin luminous.
Ian smiled to himself as he noticed the pearl necklace he had sent her as a gift around her neck.
He hoped that it meant she was truly happy about the marriage.
She was the most beautiful woman in the world.
Everything about her appealed to him, from her eyes to her hair to her hands.
She was plain perfection and Ian couldn’t help but continue admiring her.
He couldn’t believe that his father’s ultimatum had gifted him with Esther, the most precious thing to him in the world.
He promised himself that he would never mess things up with her. A woman as kind and loving as Esther deserved happiness. He had no idea when she had become so important to him, all he knew was that she had. She was the woman of his dreams, the girl he wanted to marry and make his for eternity.
He would not let things go wrong between them, he promised himself before walking towards Lord Hathershire to greet him and the rest of the family.
“My Lord,” Ian addressed his future father-in-law, who smiled at him.
“Ian,” Lord Hathershire greeted him with an affectionate pat on his back.
Ian greeted everyone else and nodded at Esther with a smile.
She didn’t meet his eyes, and Ian wondered if she was nervous or flustered.
He was glad to see the blush he loved so much stain her cheeks as he stared at her.
It assured him that Esther was indeed happy about the marriage and that all his assumptions on their engagement were meaningless.
He had been overanalyzing, just as he had thought.
“My Lady, may I escort you around the ballroom? I wish to introduce you to a few of my guests,” Ian asked Esther, and she nodded. He extended his arm towards her, and she took it with a smile.
Ian once again felt the very familiar shock that always ran through his body whenever he touched Esther.
“How have you been, My Lady?” Ian asked as they walked about the ballroom.
“A little busy with the preparations and dress fittings, but I have been well. And you, My Lord?” Esther asked, and Ian turned sideways to glance down at her. She had looked up at him as she asked the question, and Ian could see the affection in her eyes.
“I have been busy too. I am sorry I couldn’t come to see you,” Ian said honestly.
“Oh it is perfectly all right, My Lord. You have no need to apologize,” Esther said with a smile.
They stopped after walking a few steps and stood facing one another.
Ian only wanted to be with her alone. He had no desire to introduce her to anyone or even mingle with the guests.
If he could, he would send everyone home and spend the rest of the evening with Esther only.
Every conversation with her made him feel complete, and he craved that feeling.
“Do you like the necklace?” Ian asked, staring at the pearls and diamonds that were beautifully displayed on Esther’s neck.
He had noticed the low neckline of her dress and how splendidly it accentuated her collar bones.
He felt desire pooling inside his body. Esther’s hand instinctively went up to touch the necklace, and she thumbed it delicately.
Ian wished to follow her movements with his own hand, but he couldn’t possibly touch her in a ballroom full of guests.
“I love it, My Lord, thank you so much,” she replied with a shy smile.
Before Ian could say anything, Lord and Lady Walter walked towards them and congratulated them on the engagement.
It was probably an signal, for everyone in the ballroom, one by one, came to congratulate them.
Ian was upset that there was no way he could get a private moment with Esther but he had no choice but to play the part of the newly engaged Marquess.
The few moments of privacy with Ian had been the highlight of the evening for Esther. She knew that everyone congratulating her was sincere in wishing them the best. She was enjoying herself and the attention she received alongside Ian, but her heart was still distressed.
Adam and Lisa were also present at the ball, and Lisa look magnificent. Ian hadn’t glanced at her once, but Esther still felt insecure.
Esther wanted Ian to introduce her to them, but it hadn't happened yet, and it disturbed her, for one thing was certain: everything Lady Beatrice had said was true.
There was no other explanation for Adam and Lisa to avoid them.
Esther remembered how close the brothers had been during their childhood.
Only something as significant as a woman coming in between them could strain the relationship they shared.
Thus, Esther decided to take matters into her own hands.
“My Lord, shouldn’t we…” Esther started to ask Ian to introduce her to Adam and Lisa when his confused expression forced her to stop. She had no idea what he was staring at but she noticed was that he suddenly looked apprehensive.
“My Lady, if you could excuse me for one moment. I promise I’ll be right back,” Ian said, his words rushed. Esther couldn’t understand why he was acting so hastily. Before she could say anything, he turned around and walked quickly in the opposite direction, leaving her worried and confused.