Chereads / The Earl’s Deception / Chapter 25 - Fascination

Chapter 25 - Fascination

People stared at the two when the made their way inside, some whispering about how they look good together while some could not help but send series of profanities Nesta's way because as it looks she has reduced their number of potential suitors for this season, that too, the one that appears to be the most promising of this season.

She just came back and she is already living their dream.

Tessa came and took Nesta away for their girl talk while Quinn went to chat with some of the lords.

"You two can't keep your hands off each other." Tessa said to Nesta while she blushed.

"You've got it all wrong, Lord Quinn just wanted to make sure I was ok after my encounter with those ladies." Nesta tried to explain.

"But the pink colour on your cheeks say otherwise. You know you can tell me anything that is going on between you two, he is my brother and you are my friend.

Besides I know how you too feel about each other, something I can say these people in this room have witnessed for themselves tonight. Even your father is not blind." Tessa said while winking at the surprised look on Nesta's face.

"But we only danced and when we went out for fresh air, no one saw us in the garden. So why would they know anything." Nesta said confused

"My dear Nesta, both of you do not have to be alone for them to know anything. They can see you both, my brother hasn't left your side since you arrived except for now that I took you away from him.

You two have danced, chatted, laughed, shared drinks and even went out for fresh air together and you need them to seek out a fortune teller before they guess something." Tessa explained to her while she continued, "these ladies of the ton and their mamas have been on your topic since you arrived, while some of them pitied you of the unfortunate fate you have had to suffer since the news of your father's scandal, some have appreciated how beautiful you look while a lot more of them have cursed you for returning and stealing what appears to be the most prized jewel of the season which is my brother.

They can't stand that you have returned and that too, more beautiful and relaxed." Tessa said filling Nesta in with all the gossip that had been going on since the night started.

Nesta took a moment and looked at all of the people Tessa mentioned. It's better to know your enemies and your friends because very soon there will be a lot of activities in the ton. She needs to know who to turn to and who to befriend this season, she will not make the same mistake twice.

"It is quite surprising to know some of them still have something good to say about me after such a long time. These people would not even look at me after my father's scandal before I decided to return to Devonshire in the middle of the season.

And as expected, the traitors have shown their faces, I must say I am not surprised for the likes of them that heard bad things to say. Now tell me, for someone who doesn't enjoy gossip and doesn't do most of the things ladies do, how do you know about all of these?" Nesta asked, looking at Tessa with the corners of her lips slightly moving up in a smirk.

"Well, I have been doing some mingling when I was casted aside by someone to spend and enjoy time with my brother.

But not to worry, I am not the jealous type. Instead I used that time to get to know about these people and what had their mouths moving and their face developing in a painful scorn.

Alas, their gossip was all about you, it is quite amusing to know they talked about you more than they talked about your father who was involved in the scandal, makes me wonder how much you will suffer at their hands if you were to ever get involved in a scandal yourself." Nesta shook her head at what Tessa just said not wanting to imagine what she would have to go through.

"Besides, my brother was with you outside and I was the only one left with all these people. Imagine how much they will have to say if they found out that both the hosts have left them unattended." Tessa said while the two of them laughed, drawing more attention to them.

Some of the lords came to ask Nesta to dance and she turned them all down with the excuse of not feeling too well to dance.

"Can you believe all of them, coming to me like they did not act as if I never existed. The audacity to ask me to dance, those hypocrites!" Nesta exclaimed angrily to Tessa in a low voice so she didn't draw attention to herself yet again.

Tessa looked at her and smiled, "Calm down now, these people do not deserve your anger." She said rubbing her hands on her back while a thought crossed her mind.

"You know what, I have something crazy in mind. I think I should take you to dance myself, so these shameful lords know they don't stand a chance with you.

Do you want to come?" Tessa raised her head to Nesta in a challenge.

Nesta smiled when she realised what her friend wanted to do, she placed her hand in Tessa's extended hand and said, "why not."

The two laughed as they made their way to the dance floor with everybody staring at them. Lord Weaver saw his daughter and tapped Quinn's hand to tell him to take a look as well.

Quinn turned back and saw what the two were up to. He was shocked like everyone else but recovered from his shock quickly as he stopped his conversation and focused on the two women instead.

He smiled as he took a sip of his drink and watched his sister free herself up so much and Nesta enjoyed the night as if all the people in the room were not talking about her and her father, as if she could not fascinate him enough, he liked her confidence and self esteem.