Elaine sank into her chair, sighing softly. Reality crept over her senses, chasing away the dreamy memories of her night with the duke. James was right. But… “Wouldn’t it be nice if I married someone who was kind, wealthy, and closer to my age?”
“Certainly. There are several eligible gentlemen available to you in London and I believe you have made your mark this evening.”
“But you needn’t make your choice so soon, my darling,” Lorna chimed in. “Who knows? You may meet someone who is far more charming and more handsome than His Grace. There is no need to put all of one’s eggs into one basket.”
Except, she might have no other choice. Elaine knew she would not have the luxury of having another Season if she did not find a husband during this one. She simply had to. Which meant that she had to accept any good card dealt to her.
But the Duke of Ryewood could be that good card. If he was, would James oppose him?
Elaine snuck a glance at her cousin, who was now staring out the window with that tiny little frown always present on his face. She wondered if he was thinking about her future, if he was making a mental list of all the gentlemen she should not get involved with. And was His Grace on that list? Did it have to do with the scandal that apparently surrounded him and his title?
Elaine had caught bits of what others were saying about him as they left the drawing room, but not enough to tell her what he’d actually done to warrant such judgment. Perhaps it would be a good idea to learn that before she let her feelings get out of control.
Thinking about the way his lips brushed against her hand sent those feelings into haywire once more. Oh, she wished she hadn’t been wearing gloves. What would that have felt like?
I certainly hope so, he’d said.
Elaine settled into her seat, looking blankly out the window as she made a decision for herself. If he truly fancied her, then he must prove it. Otherwise, she would refuse to entertain any delusions about their relationship.
Tomorrow, at least. For tonight, she would surrender to her dreams.
Chapter Nine
Sleep came more easily to her last night. So easy that Elaine couldn’t remember arriving at her bedchamber in the first place. She yawned, stretching her arms above her head as she blinked into the hazy sunlight filtering through the partly drawn drapes. For a few seconds, her mind was empty, her limbs sated.
And then there was the duke.
A slow smile crept across her face as she recalled the way he’d looked at her as she’d left. He stayed there, she recalled. She watched his figure fade into a silhouette until she could no longer see him. He stood there like a man clinging to every precious second he had to behold her.
She sat up, hair tumbling down the side of her face. She could not think like this, she knew. It was dangerous to entertain such thoughts about the duke, especially since he was likely just being polite last night. Taking pity on the shy lady standing in the corner of the room watching everything with wide-eyed trepidation. She knew that, deep down. And yet, when she thought of how he stared into her eyes as she spoke, how his gaze dipped distractedly to her lips now again, how could she assume anything else?
What shedidknow for certain was that she was forgetting something important.
Elaine climbed out of bed, realising absently that she had even managed to change into her nightgown despite her exhaustion last night. She padded over to the vanity table and began running her brush through her hair.
Her father!
Elaine dropped the brush, racing towards the door. Just as she was about to barge through, the door swung open to revealone of the maids. She was one of the newer ones who had accepted the position despite the growing likelihood that she may have to leave as well. Elaine hadn’t had the chance to learn her name, as preoccupied with her father as she’d been.
“My lady!” the maid gasped.
“Father!” Elaine panted. “Is he up yet? Has he eaten?”
“Yes, my lady,” the maid hurriedly assured her. “When we saw that you were sleeping in, we dressed and fed Lord Suthenshire. He is resting once more.”
Relief washed over her so swiftly that it nearly left her breathless for a moment. Elaine leaned heavily against the door. “Oh, thank goodness. I hadn’t intended to sleep in, I…well, I suppose I am not accustomed to being out so late.”
The maid gave her a look crossed between pity and understanding. “It does the body good to sleep in now and again,” she said.
“It most certainly does,” Elaine couldn’t help but agree. She made her way back to her vanity table, picking up her discarded brush.
The maid didn’t follow. They were short-staffed anyway, so she likely had a number of other things she needed to do. Elaine hadn’t had a lady’s maid since childhood.
“Lord and Lady Abney are here as well, my lady,” the maid informed her.
Elaine paused, frowning at the maid’s reflection in the mirror. “So early?”
“Well, it is nearing midday, my lady. They have asked me to inform you so that you may all have tea together.”
