“That’s very enlightened of you,” Viscount Taylor said, studying her over the rim of his glass.
Ellie frowned. “In what manner?”
“Not many ladies are pleased to compliment another.”
“The ladies of my acquaintance do,” she said with a small smile, thinking the viscount silly.
A footman begged his pardon to interrupt them and handed her a note.
“If you will excuse me, it seems my sister is not feeling well. I must attend to her.”
“Which one,” Viscount Taylor said with a chuckle, “There are somanyof them.”
That brought forth a smattering of laughter, and she arched a brow. “Hardly an amusing observation and that you laugh merely informs everyone that you have little wit.”
A shocked silence descended before Mr. Hayford laughed and Lady Jane considered Eleanor with an expression that looked like respect. Ignoring Viscount Taylor, she said, “I regret that I must leave. If you will all excuse me.”
She dipped into a curtsy and turned around, aware of eyes boring into her shoulders. When she glanced around, it was to find Mr. Hayford staring at her with an admiring smile. Looking forward, Eleanor frowned, wondering why she wasn’t thrilled that he seemed to like her. Exiting the ballroom, she opened the note.
Her heart fairly slammed into her throat.
Come out in the back gardens.You will be safe. It is quiet and peaceful.
She ripped the note to pieces before scattering them at the base of a potted plant in the hallway. Whatever could he mean? Meet him alone? It was safe? That they would be alone and assured of privacy was dangerous. Eleanor placed the back of her hand over her forehead. Even through the gloves, she could feel the heat on her face and knew that to any observer she would appear decidedly flushed and out of sorts.
Ugh!With a silent, tortured groan, she walked along the hallway, smiling at the few guests she encountered. What she hated the most was the desperate ache to throw caution to the wind and actually meet the man out there. She was perhaps overthinking the matter. They had been alone together before, and he had been courteous and very pleasant. He surely did not mean anything nefarious by suggesting she come outside.
What would my sisters do?
That was the wrong question to ask. Not one of them, even Julia, would have exercised caution and refused going to meet someone they liked. Eleanor stilled as if she had run into a concrete wall. Pressing her hand over her chest, she breathed deeply.
Like? Do I like him?
Suddenly she understood the restless sleep and why she thought of him so much even in the days. Though their encounters had been brief, they had also been wonderful. She had smiled, even laughed, her heart had soared, and her belly had felt queer with so much fluttering.
“Oh, God, Ilikehim,” she whispered to the painting in the hallway.
Refusing to dwell on it anymore and acting before she could convince herself to be sensible, she hurried down the hallway and away from the merriment of the ballroom. Most townhouses appeared to be in a similar design to that of Colin’s, and so she tested a few doors until she encountered a room that indeed had a terrace door leading out to the gardens. In her brother’s townhouse, this was the music room; the pale light from the moon showed a room filled with several Egyptian artifacts and scrolls littered about the place. Careful to not disturb anything, she went over to the door, opened it and slipped outside.
Eleanor waited a few beats, inhaling deeply and letting the cool night air wash over her, cooling the heat in her body. It was also refreshing to be away from the overcrowded ballroom and the scents of so many perfumes. A figure emerged from the dark, and she swallowed the startled sound that rose in her throat. He held out his hand, and she stared at it until he lowered it.
“I am here,” she said.
He nodded and looked away from her toward the ballroom. They stayed in silence like that, but she was painfully aware of how close they were.
“Will you dance with me, Ellie?”
She thought back on her grandaunt’s words and winced. “I was told should you ask, I must refuse,” Eleanor said honestly.
“Ah…and you are very obedient aren’t you?”
“Most of the time,” she confessed softly.
“I did not mean inside the ballroom, buthere,” he said with quiet emphasis.
“Here?” Ellie could barely lift her voice above a whisper.
“Yes.”