Chapter 122: Founder’s Ball XVII

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Founder’s Ball XVII

The melody drifted softly across the balcony.

Anthony’s hand rested lightly at Evelyn’s waist.

Her own hand lay in his.

They moved slowly beneath the moonlight.

Evelyn almost couldn’t believe this was real.

She had met Anthony when she was thirteen.

By then, everyone at Ashford Manor already adored him.

The servants spoke of him with esteem.

The estate workers respected him.

Even the children looked up to him.

Lord Anthony Ashford.

Kind.

Patient.

Reliable.

The young heir everyone trusted.

And she... she had only admired him at first...

But somewhere between his polite smiles...

His subtle but gentle care...

And the countless little kindnesses he never seemed to notice...

She had fallen hopelessly in love.

For years...

She had dreamed of dancing with him just once.

Not as the little girl who had arrived at Ashford Manor.

Not as someone under his family’s care.

But simply...

As a young woman.

And now...

He was holding her.

The realization alone made her heart race.

Not because there was anything romantic about the dance.

She knew Anthony didn’t see it that way.

But to her...

It meant everything.

"...Anthony?"

"Hm?"

"...Thank you."

Anthony smiled.

"For the dance."

She lowered her gaze, smiling shyly.

"It means more to me than you know."

Anthony let out a quiet chuckle.

"I’m glad."

"I thought it would be a shame if your first Founders’ Ball ended without a dance."

Evelyn looked up at him.

"...I’ve always dreamed of this."

Anthony blinked.

"Dancing?"

She laughed softly.

"...Something like that."

There was another brief silence.

The music continued around them.

Evelyn took a slow breath.

This was it.

If she didn’t say it now...

She never would.

"...Lord Anthony."

"Yes?"

"I’ve wanted to tell you something for a very..."

The balcony door opened.

The quiet click echoed through the night.

Anthony and Evelyn instinctively stopped dancing.

Anthony took a polite step back, and turned towards the door.

"Lady Beaumont?"

Anthony said in surprise.

Vivienne stood framed by the soft light spilling from the ballroom.

For a heartbeat...

No one moved.

Then she smiled.

"Anthony."

She walked directly toward him.

Unhurried.

Confident.

As though she belonged exactly where she was.

Anthony remained where he stood.

Before he could even apologize...

Vivienne had already reached him.

"I’ve been looking everywhere for you."

"My apologies."

Anthony smiled sheepishly.

"I seem to have lost track of time."

"I noticed."

Her voice was as warm as ever.

Before Anthony could say another word...

Vivienne reached out and lightly caught the sleeve of his coat.

A tiny tug.

Instinctively...

Anthony leaned just a little closer.

Vivienne rose onto her toes.

A featherlight kiss brushed against his cheek.

"...Found you."

Silence.

Anthony froze.

Every thought vanished from his mind.

Heat rushed across his face so quickly that even his ears turned bright red.

He could still feel the warmth lingering against his cheek.

Vivienne froze as well.

...

I...

I actually kissed him.

She had walked onto the balcony determined to remind everyone of one simple truth.

Anthony Ashford...

Was her fiancé.

She had intended to stand beside him.

Perhaps take his arm.

She had not intended...

That.

Yet somehow...

She didn’t regret it.

Not even a little.

Anthony was still standing perfectly still.

Looking thoroughly bewildered.

The sight almost made her smile.

Only then did she turn her head.

As though she had only just remembered someone else was present.

"Oh."

Her gaze settled upon the young woman a few steps away.

"Lady Sinclair."

A brief pause.

"I didn’t realize you were here."

Her tone remained perfectly courteous.

Perfectly pleasant.

Yet...

She had walked past Evelyn.

She had greeted Anthony first.

She had kissed him.

Only afterward had she acknowledged Evelyn.

The meaning was unmistakable.

Evelyn lowered her gaze with impeccable composure.

"...Lady Beaumont."

Outwardly...

She remained every inch the proper young lady.

Inside...

Her heart burned.

Lady Beaumont...

Her eyes drifted briefly toward Anthony.

Just an hour ago...

Vivienne had danced with Lord Blackwood before the entire ballroom.

The whispers had barely faded.

Now...

She stood here as though none of that had happened.

Kissing Anthony.

Holding him close.

What exactly was she trying to do?

A knot tightened in Evelyn’s chest.

Lord Anthony deserves someone who treasures only him.

Not someone who drew the attention of one man after another.

Anthony was still trying to recover from the unexpected kiss.

His thoughts remained hopelessly scattered.

After a long moment, he finally managed to speak.

"...Lady Beaumont."

He cleared his throat.

"You said you were looking for me?"

Vivienne smiled at him.

"I was."

A tiny pause.

"I simply didn’t realize..."

Her eyes shifted toward Evelyn.

"...that you were keeping Lady Sinclair company."

Silence.

The words were perfectly pleasant.

Perfectly elegant.

Yet neither Anthony nor Evelyn missed the implication behind them.

Anthony’s brows drew together ever so slightly.

For the first time that evening...

He felt a faint sting of offense.

He had only been showing kindness.

Nothing more.

Before he could answer—

Evelyn stepped forward.

"It was my fault."

Her voice remained composed despite the emotion tightening inside her chest.

"Lord Anthony merely noticed that I hadn’t danced all evening."

"He was kind enough to invite me."

"I was the one who accepted."

Vivienne regarded her quietly.

"I see."

A gentle smile curved her lips.

"I’m relieved."

Evelyn frowned almost imperceptibly.

"...Relieved?"

"Yes."

Vivienne’s gaze returned briefly to Anthony before settling on Evelyn once more.

"For a moment..."

"I wondered whether my fiancé had forgotten about me."

Silence.

Evelyn answered almost immediately.

"Lord Anthony would never intentionally neglect anyone."

"He has always been considerate."

"I know."

Vivienne smiled.

"I’ve known that for a very long time."

The words were simple.

Yet they quietly reminded everyone present of one fact.

She had known Anthony long before either of them had entered Saint Albion.

Evelyn understood the implication.

So she replied just as calmly.

"His kindness is one of the qualities everyone admires."

"Yes."

Vivienne nodded.

"It is."

A tiny pause.

"Which is why I hope no one mistakes his kindness for something... more personal."

The sentence landed gently.

Like a feather.

Yet it carried unmistakable weight.

Evelyn met her gaze.

"I don’t believe kindness should be misunderstood."

Another pause.

"But neither should genuine concern."

Vivienne’s smile remained.

"Of course."

"I simply wouldn’t wish for Lord Anthony’s thoughtfulness to place him in an awkward position."

Evelyn answered without hesitation.

"Lord Anthony is perfectly capable of deciding whom he wishes to help."

Another silence.

Anthony looked from one young woman to the other.

Neither had raised her voice.

Neither had spoken discourteously.

Yet every sentence seemed sharper than the last.

For the first time...

He realized this conversation was no longer about the dance.

It had become something else entirely.

Something that should not continue.

"...Lady Sinclair."

Both women turned toward him.

Anthony’s voice was calm.

Measured.

"I believe we’ve kept you long enough."

A slight pause.

"If you’ll excuse us..."

"I’d like a few moments alone with my fiancée."

--

TBC