She needed an escape. The moment he was settled, his eyelids growing heavy once more, Elaine slipped away to the pianoforte on the other side of the room.
Music filled the room, her fingers flying over the keys as the notes soothed her troubled mind. Elaine closed her eyes and let every chord resonate with her, let it replace the doubt and uncertainty that had been plaguing her all morning. She began to rock back and forth, the world forgotten around her.
A sharp knock on the door jolted her back to reality. Paul entered as she cut her playing short. Elaine shot to her feet, herheart hammering against her chest, expecting to tell her that she had a visitor.
But…“Lord Abney has arrived, Miss Elaine.”
Elaine sighed softly, returning to her chair by the pianoforte. She began her playing once more as the door swung open, and James entered, his face as hard as ever. Elaine watched as he approached her slowly as if gauging the atmosphere before speaking.
“Elaine,” he began, his tone low and urgent. “Are you well?”
“Quite so,” she answered, turning her eyes back to the keys.
“And what of Uncle Edward?”
Elaine paused for a moment, then continued. “He has been better. He is sleeping far more often lately.”
“I see.” James was hovering, walking back and forth. Elaine tried to ignore him. “I have been meaning to speak with you about the Duke of Ryewood.”
Elaine’s heart skipped a beat. She tried not to glance at the clock, though she knew very well that it was approaching thefashionable time for a caller. Would the duke show uptoday? “What about the duke?” she asked, her voice steadier than she felt.
James didn’t stop his pacing, arms crossed. “There are whispers, as I’m sure you know, in certain circles. Rumours about the Rycroft family’s past—about Michael’s reputation for ruthlessness. And the apple certainly had not fallen far from the tree, if you know anything about what his father had done. And when I see you speaking with the duke, I cannot help but worry for you.”
Elaine let her hands fall into her lap, her racing heart echoing James’ warning. “Do you know exactly what he and his family has done? Or are you simply repeating that he is of ill-reputation without knowing the reason why?”
James frowned. “Is that not reason enough?”
“Not for me,” she insisted. She knew of the rumors clinging to Michael’s name but no one seemed willing to speak anything aloud. How could she ignore the kindness and laughter he had shown her simply because others said that he was not to be trusted?
“I am certain it is simply a misunderstanding,” Elaine said as calmly as she could muster. “He is not what you think. I do not doubt that there is a complicated matter surrounding the duke but it should not matter if he has a good heart.”
“Complicated?” James echoed, his brows knitting together. “Elaine, I know that you may feel drawn to him, but surely you must have considered the consequences of being attached to his name? It may very well ruin your chances at a good match. For your own happiness—”
“You cannot tell me what will make me happy,” she snapped. “Only I can.”
James sighed impatiently. “I only want what is best for you.”
“I know.” She tried to calm herself but it was hard. “I want what is best for you as well. I saw you with Lady Clarissa. It is easy to see that you desire her.”
Elaine didn’t think she would ever witness a blushing James and yet there he was, blinking rapidly at her as if he hadn’t a clue how to process what she’d just said. It was enough to make her smile for the first time that morning.
“James?” she probed, tilting her head to the side. “Has a cat gotten your tongue?”
“I do not know—” He was interrupted by the butler’s reentrance to the drawing room.
“Lord Weatherby has come to call on you, my lady,” he announced.
Elaine stood as her heart sank to the floor. Not the duke but Lord Weatherby of all people. She couldn’t resummon her smile no matter how hard she tried.
The door swung open and Lord Weatherby bustled in with his cane, wiping his sweaty face with his handkerchief with nothing but nervous energy. He gave her a genial smile that didn’t quite touch his eyes as he said, “Ah, Lady Elaine! What a pleasure to see you again!”
She curtsied. “My lord,” she greeted. “What brings you by today?”
“To see you, of course. And it is a good thing Lord Abney is here as well. That way I only need to speak once.”
Elaine met James’ eyes, her throat growing thick with fear at what was to come. “Is there something you wished to speak with us about, my lord?” James asked.
“Yes, yes. I think I have waited for far too long.” His stubby fingers fumbled with his cravat and he kept wiping his face. “If I am being honest, I have been considering the merits of a match between us, Lady Elaine. And I believe that such an alliancewould certainly prove advantageous to us both. A rather sensible arrangement, would you not agree?”
