It was reassuring enough to make her smile, a little relief settling in her chest. It didn't feel so overwhelming anymore; although to say she was looking forward to the ball was perhaps too optimistic.
"The dress really is lovely," she murmured, turning to admire it.
Even just hanging from the banister, it was stunning. The lace around the sleeves was dainty and light, not overpowering; there were a few hints of it here and there, but it wasn't too over the top in its extravagance. It wasn't too showy, with a modest neckline like the dresses Aurora preferred, and a slightly lower waistline to accommodate her...to put it bluntly, lack of chest.
It must have cost Elmore a small fortune, even for a Lord like himself. Yet he'd picked it out for her, knowing it was something that she would love; few men were so conscientious and generous.
When she glanced up from the dress, Elmore was smiling too. There was a gentleness in his deep brown eyes, and his lips were parted as if he wished to speak but couldn't figure out what to say.
So she spoke on his behalf, saying the words that she had wanted to say all afternoon. "Thank you so much, Elmore. What you've done today was so incredibly kind — you didn't need to buy me something so pretty."
His smile was almost shy, which was strange to think about because he was always soconfident.Then he ruffled his own hair and turned to Father to say, "we should get back to discussions, no? Perhaps we should decide how we will get to the ball, as I presume that we will all go together?"
While the two men talked, Aurora took a moment to take the dress carefully to her bedroom. Although her bedroom was spacious, well decorated with fine wooden furniture and decorations all in soft violet, the dress looked so out of place. It likely cost more than everything else in this room combined. Atleast.
Yet it felt like more than just a dress, somehow. It was a symbol of much more, an important piece of proof of how far she and Elmore had come. For men didn't buy dresses for women they didn't like, and they certainly didn't look so sweetly shy when thanked for the dress.
There was more to Elmore than she had first assumed; the more she saw, the more that Aurora started to like him. There was a softness that he tried to hide at first, under his sarcasm and stiff nature; but bit by bit, that was fading away.
It wasn’t the dress itself that Aurora was grateful for — although itwasbeautiful — but the thought behind it. He knew that she was worried about the ball and helped in the best way he knew how. Oh, and it had been such a wonderful gesture.
Aurora rather liked this new Elmore. Or was this therealElmore all along?
Chapter 24
Elmore Winters
It was already dark before Elmore returned to his London home that evening. They had stayed late again to discuss the ball, and time had flown by before anybody had realized. Sleep clung to the back of Elmore's mind as he climbed the manor steps, and slipped inside.
Fires were lit, because the entrance was warm and smelled of pleasant, warm wood fire. The doorman greeted him with a bow, before Elmore released him from his duties for the night. It was too late for guests now.
A maid brought him tea and a quick supper of sandwiches, because he was too tired to eat a proper meal. Then he retired to his room with more tea; but it was only English tea with sugar, and he found himself wishing for some of Aurora's delicious apple or herbal teas.
As soon as he thought of Aurora, Elmore knew that any chance at real sleep was gone. She had looked so happy today, so beautiful, when he showed her the gown. He had known the moment he saw it, that it was perfect for her; the blend of pink and cream was just like the angel's trumpet, and the style was perfect.
The fact that she had loved it, only made him happier. It felt as if they were finally getting somewhere, their friendship truly starting to solidify.
Friendship.Elmore would have loved for it to be something more, but he wasn't so naïve. She had no interest in him like that, they had only just started to hold real conversations without a fight.
Still, he couldn't help but hope for more. That silly, selfish part of him hoped that Aurora would begin to see him as he saw her.
He perched on the edge of his bed to change into nightclothes. His shoes tucked neatly beneath the bed, and his clothes hung neatly inside the wardrobe. His hair was too short to need a brush, not like Aurora's golden locks, but he ran a hand through his curls to dislodge any knots that had grown throughout the day.
As he went about his nightly routine of washing his face and hands, and donning night clothes, his mind still remained fixed on Aurora.
She worried that nobody would want to dance with her, but it was such an absurd thought! She was beautiful, with her bright green eyes and dimpled smile. She had round, flushed cheeks and a laugh like honey, sweet and soulful. What wasn't to love? Whether she was of high society or not, she was lovely.
Any man would be a fool not to wish to dance with Aurora. Which was why, as he climbed into bed, he decided to ask her to dance at the ball next week. He had been thinking about it all day, since he bought the dress.
It was a thought that lingered with Elmore as he drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Elmore beamed as he caught sight of Aurora from across the ballroom. He had lost her at some point when she wandered off to fetch champagne, and for a moment he worried that she had disappeared. Now that he saw her, so radiant in her angel's trumpet dress, he felt an immense relief.
"Aurora," he said happily, accepting the champagne from her outstretched hand. When he took a sip, it was perfectly sweet and bubbly, absolutelydelicious.He rarely drank, except for the odd glass or two at functions such as this; but given the good news, he had decided to indulge.
It was only fair, after all, since—