Chapter 193: v2- - 12: the opening ball V

Marianne let her feelings settle.

Perhaps Adrian really no longer cared.

He had seen her.

He had noticed her.

And then his attention had moved on.

That was all she had to go by.

She had spent so much time imagining what his attention might mean that she had forgotten how easily silence could answer a question she had never dared ask aloud herself.

Well, it’s not like she did not anticipate him ignoring her. Though admittedly, it stung.

Clara looked at her.

Marian felt the look before she turned.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Clara had seen Adrian look at her.

She had also seen Marian look away.

She knew exactly what had happened.

Marian gave her the faintest shake of her head.

Clara’s expression softened for only a moment.

Then it changed.

A small smile appeared.

"Well."

Marian glanced at her.

"What?"

Clara looked toward the dance floor.

"Perhaps we should reconsider our options."

Marian almost laughed.

"Our options?"

"Yes."

Clara nodded toward Adrian.

"We considered the best man in the room."

Marian followed her gaze.

The Emperor was still dancing with Lady Ophelia Rosemont.

Her chest tightened faintly.

Clara continued.

"Now perhaps you should consider the second-best."

Marian turned toward her.

"Clara."

"My brother."

Marian stared.

"You’re serious?"

"Perfectly."

Marian looked toward the gentlemen gathered along the edge of the ballroom.

And then she saw him.

Julian Wiltshire.

She had known him for years, of course.

He was Clara’s older brother.

Twenty-seven.

Tall, with dark brown hair and striking gray-brown eyes.

His complexion was fair, healthy, and clear, and his features had matured into the sort of handsome appearance that became more distinguished with age rather than less.

He carried himself with the quiet confidence of a man who had never needed to prove his position.

The heir to the Marquessate of Wiltshire.

And still unmarried.

Marian had simply never thought of him that way.

He had always been Julian.

Clara’s brother.

Someone familiar.

Someone who had been around for so long that she had stopped noticing him as anything other than part of the landscape of her life.

Now she looked at him again.

Properly.

He was, admittedly, very handsome.

Marian glanced back at Clara.

"You really mean this."

"I do."

"Why?"

Clara gave her an incredulous look.

"Because he’s handsome."

Marian laughed.

"That’s your argument?"

"It’s a very good argument."

"It is not."

"Fine. He’s handsome, he’s twenty-seven, he’s the heir to a marquessate, he’s intelligent, he’s perfectly respectable, and he’s still single."

Clara paused.

"That’s actually an excellent argument."

Marian shook her head, smiling.

"You are impossible."

"I’m your friend."

"Those aren’t mutually exclusive."

Clara laughed.

Then her expression softened.

"Come on, Marian. You know Julian."

"I do."

"You know his family."

"Yes."

"You know what he’s like."

"To some extent."

"And I know what he’s like better than you do."

Marian raised an eyebrow.

"Obviously."

"So let me make my case."

Clara leaned closer.

"He’s kind. He’s responsible. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. He isn’t an idiot. And unlike half the men here, he won’t spend an entire evening talking about his own accomplishments."

Marian smiled.

"You’ve rehearsed this."

"I’ve had years."

That made Marian laugh again.

Clara’s eyes brightened.

"And if you married him, I’d become your sister-in-law."

Marian looked at her.

Clara shrugged.

"Wouldn’t that be convenient?"

"Convenient?"

"We’d practically be family."

Marian shook her head.

"You really have thought this through."

"Of course I have."

Clara glanced toward Julian again.

"I happen to love my brother."

"I know."

"So I would like a sister-in-law I actually like."

Marian’s smile softened.

There was something disarmingly sincere about that.

Clara wasn’t trying to push her into anything.

She was simply offering an option.

A very reasonable one.

Marian looked toward Julian again.

He was speaking with another gentleman now.

He smiled at something that was said.

She had seen that smile before.

She simply hadn’t thought much about it.

Perhaps she should have.

Clara nudged her lightly.

"Consider him."

Marian sighed.

"You’re very persistent."

"Only when I’m right."

Before Marian could answer, a gentleman approached them.

"Lady Marian."

He bowed.

"May I have the honor of the next dance?"

Marian opened her mouth.

Clara answered first.

"I’m afraid she’s spoken for."

The gentleman blinked.

Marian turned sharply toward her.

"What?"

Clara smiled sweetly.

"She is."

The gentleman looked between them, clearly uncertain whether he had misunderstood.

Clara continued.

"Her next dance is promised to my brother."

Marian stared at her.

"Clara."

The gentleman’s expression changed immediately.

"Of course. My apologies."

He bowed.

"Perhaps another time, Lady Marian."

"Yes. Thank you."

He retreated.

Marian waited until he was safely out of earshot.

Then she turned slowly toward Clara.

"You did not."

"I did."

"I haven’t promised Julian anything."

"Not yet."

"Clara."

"Come on."

Clara linked her arm through Marian’s.

"If you’re going to give someone here a chance, consider my brother first."

Marian looked at her.

Then, despite herself, laughed.

"You are shameless."

"I prefer practical."

Marian glanced toward Julian again.

This time, she didn’t immediately look away.

Perhaps Clara had a point.

The Emperor had been the obvious choice.

The strongest one.

The man she had come here intending to consider.

But if that possibility was already slipping beyond her reach, there was no reason to stand still and stare at a closed door.

There were other men in the room.

And perhaps the second-best man was worth a closer look.

Clara watched her expression.

"Well?"

Marian smiled faintly.

"Perhaps."

"Good."

"But I haven’t agreed to anything."

"I know."

Clara looked entirely satisfied anyway.

"That’s why I’m going to make sure Julian gets his dance."

Marian laughed.

"You really are impossible."

"I told you."

Clara glanced toward her brother.

"Besides, if you’re going to make a sensible decision tonight, you might as well start with the man I know best."

Marian followed her gaze.

And for the first time that evening, she looked at Julian Wiltshire not as Clara’s brother—

but as a man she might actually consider.

--

Tbc