"Oh," Lilyanna said, grateful she had not taken part in Muriel's ruse for attention.
A comfortable silence arose between them, and Lilyanna, amazed at their ease of conversation, compared it to how she spoke with Mr. Quigley. No time passed before she already knew whose company she preferred.
"Are anymore of your family planning on visiting your sister while you are both here?" she eventually asked.
"My parents are in London," Elijah replied, "but they mean to visit here in a month or two. As for other family, Hazel is my only sibling."
"You are fortunate to have her, for I have no brothers or sisters at all to entertain me," Lilyanna said. "I certainly hope you all have a wonderful stay here. If you need any assistance in finding leisurely pursuits, please, do not hesitate to ask. I fancy myself quite knowledgeable in Bath's amusements."
"I shall have to take you up on your offer then," he said, smiling a grin that caused her pulse to quicken.
Within a few moments, the music ended, and they joined the crowd in applauding the musicians until Elijah escorted her off the floor.
As they made their way back to her friends who had not moved since Lilyanna had left them, Elijah said, "Would you care to save the last dance of the evening for me, Miss Crosgrove?"
"Of course, Mr. Bainbridge. I would love to."
Elijah excused himself as soon as they reached Muriel and Charlotte, and Lilyanna felt their eyes peering into the back of her head as she watched Elijah walk away, noting his confident stride.
As soon as he was out of sight, she turned around to face her friends, unable to wipe the smile from her lips.
"Good evening," she said, her brain incapable of producing any other words.
"Oh, Miss Crosgrove," Charlotte began, approaching Lilyanna with an excited smile, "you two looked like a dream dancing together. I cannot believe how handsome a couple you make. Tell me, how was his dancing? And his manners during? He seemed quite amiable, did he not?"
"Calm down, Miss Rosebury," Muriel said, rolling her brown eyes at Charlotte.
Despite Muriel's attempt to appear uninterested, however, Lilyanna noticed her eyes also searching Lilyanna's for answers.
Lilyanna sighed, feeling much more at ease with the conversation centered around Elijah rather than Mr. Quigley. She looked over her shoulder to where Elijah had walked away, and she nearly jumped when their eyes met across the room. He smiled before disappearing into the sea of people once again.
"Forgive me," Lilyanna said, feeling quite airy, "what was your question, Miss Rosebury?"
Charlotte giggled, and Lilyanna joined in, unable to control her giddiness at having danced with, and caught the eye of, such a handsome man.
"Lilyanna. Lilyanna!"
She turned around when she heard her mother's frantic voice, and her laughter stopped instantly.
"Who was that man you were with? Tell me at once, for I must know," Mrs. Crosgrove said in a hushed tone, pulling Lilyanna away from Muriel and Charlotte without so much as a glance toward them.
Lilyanna nodded her head hurriedly to the girls as she was rushed away to a quieter area of the room.
"Quickly, Lilyanna," Mrs. Crosgrove continued, "I must know such a fine gentleman's name."
"Mr. Bainbridge," she answered simply. "Mr. King introduced us before he asked me to dance."
"And?" Mrs. Crosgrove said impatiently. "I need more, Lilyanna, quickly."
But before Lilyanna could say anything else on the matter, she saw Mrs. Reynolds approaching them with a satisfied smile.
"I saw you dancing with Mr. Bainbridge, Miss Crosgrove," she said.
Lilyanna hid her frustration with a polite smile. "Indeed," she replied, feeling the desire to share more information with Muriel than Mrs. Reynolds.
Her mother's attention moved to the gossiping woman, and Lilyanna knew she would be ignored from that point on.
"Dear Mrs. Reynolds, tell me, what do you know of him?"
"Well, I know he is visiting Bath with his sister and her husband," she said, her thin brows raised high above her eyes. "They are staying at the Royal Crescent."
Mrs. Crosgrove gasped with delight. "My goodness," she said. "They must be wealthy."
Wincing with embarrassment, Lilyanna looked around her, trying in vain to spot her friends, for the room proved too crowded to see any of them.
"I believe they are very wealthy," Mrs. Reynolds said, the white feather in her hair bobbing with each nod of her head. "I have heard Mrs. Godfrey has brought quite the fortune to her marriage. And a fine family they are, as well, I am sure, for only the best can afford to stay in such an establishment."
"Oh, absolutely," Mrs. Crosgrove said. "He is very handsome, and his dress is quite nice. I wonder that I have not been introduced to his sister yet."
"Mrs. Godfrey has not been married long and has only been in Bath a few months. You are well aware of how busy the city becomes during the season with so many people to know and see. Do not worry yourself for not having managed an introduction as of yet."
Mrs. Crosgrove nodded. "At any rate, I am sure we will be introduced soon, now that Mr. Bainbridge has shown an interest in my daughter."
Despite her annoyance at being talked over, Lilyanna then listened with a fine-tuned ear. Mrs. Reynolds proved insufferable whenever she knew more of Bath's happenings than Mrs. Crosgrove, but every positive thing said in Elijah's favor made Lilyanna's heart leap. She knew if her mother approved of Elijah, then Lilyanna would be allowed the opportunity to get to know him better, and the prospect elated her.
"Lilyanna," Mrs. Crosgrove said, finally directing her attention to her daughter, "was he a fine dancer?"
Lilyanna knew Mrs. Crosgrove only asked her for a first-hand account, for Mrs. Reynolds could not answer in such a way, and the woman seemed to know it when she looked to Lilyanna with indifference.
"Yes, he was, Mother," Lilyanna said, not bothering to hide her smile. "And he asked me to dance with him once more before the evening ends."
"Oh, my, my, Miss Crosgrove," Mrs. Reynolds said. "I am sure we can safely assume he has taken quite a liking to you."
Even though the comment sounded unenthusiastic, Lilyanna smiled, hoping the woman was right.
"Yes, I believe he has," said Mrs. Crosgrove. "It is quite forward of him, though, is it not, to ask Lilyanna to dance with him twice in one evening?"
Mrs. Reynolds looked deep in thought. "Yes, quite forward, I daresay. However, if he has as fine a fortune as his sister, which we can safely assume he does, then we should be happy for his singling your daughter out so quickly."
"You may be right," Mrs. Crosgrove said, returning her attention to Lilyanna. "Well, I simply must be introduced to him before you dance again, Lilyanna. I would like to examine his behavior for myself."
"Of course, Mother," Lilyanna said, her heart swelling with hope.
The evening progressed slowly as her mother dragged her from one gossiping woman to the next until being relieved by one young gentleman's request to dance with him.
Afterward, during the evening meal, she looked around her, hoping to spot Elijah. However, only when the last song of the evening was announced did she finally see the handsome gentleman approaching, her heart fluttering with excitement as he strode toward her.
"Miss Crosgrove," Elijah said after his initial bow, "I hope the evening has been pleasant for you."
"It has, thank you," Lilyanna said. "And have you enjoyed it, yourself?"
"I have."
"Good," she said with a smile.
Mrs. Crosgrove cleared her throat, and Lilyanna nearly jumped, having forgotten her mother stood by her side.
"Oh, Mr. Bainbridge," she said, "allow me to introduce my mother, Mrs. Crosgrove. Mother, this is Mr. Bainbridge."
"It is a pleasure, Mr. Bainbridge," Mrs. Crosgrove said with a nod of her head.
"How do you do, Mrs. Crosgrove?"
"Very fine, thank you. I understand you shall be my Lilyanna's la
st partner of the evening?"
"Yes," Elijah said, "unless she has made other plans."
"No, of course—" Lilyanna began.
"Oh, do not be silly, Mr. Bainbridge," Mrs. Crosgrove interrupted. "My Lilyanna would never do such a thing after promising herself to a gentleman. She is as fine a lady as they come, in manners, conversation, looks, and dancing. Would you not agree?"
"Mother," Lilyanna quickly said, trying to stop her mother's doting that only ever appeared while trying to impress a gentleman, "I believe Mr. Bainbridge and I had better move to the dance floor, or they shall start without us."
"Of course, dear," Mrs. Crosgrove said with a smile. "Do enjoy yourselves."
"Thank you, Mrs. Crosgrove," Elijah said as he held out his arm to Lilyanna. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"And you."
Lilyanna followed Elijah away from her mother, but she glanced back to see a proud look on her face.
Mother, proud of me? she thought, shocked at the idea.
Soon, however, she forgot about all else as she and Elijah faced each other on the floor, carrying on in conversation as if they were old friends.
"You will have to forgive my mother," Lilyanna said after the music started and they began the first movements.
"For boasting about her daughter?" Elijah questioned. "I hardly think it a sin."
Lilyanna smiled as he continued.
"And I must say now, for you did not allow me the chance earlier, I agree with everything she said concerning you."
She nearly laughed aloud. "How can you, Mr. Bainbridge? You have hardly known me very long. Perhaps I have some dark secret inside me you have yet to discover?"
Her jesting did not seem to reach Elijah, for when she faced him again, she saw his brown eyes cloud over and his smile disappear from his lips.
"Mr. Bainbridge, I am sorry if I have said something to upset you," she said slowly. "I assure you, I was merely teasing."
She waited, holding her breath and wondering what had caused his sudden change in mood.
"Of course," Elijah said, but his shoulders seemed more stiff than before.
After an awkward silence, Lilyanna determined to change their topic of conversation.
"If you would not mind," she said with a soft smile, "I would like to hear more of Warwickshire. I have never been there, you see, and I would love to hear about your childhood there."
Knowing her request might have been too forward, she breathed a sigh of relief when a smile softened his face, and he soon described what living with his sister and parents was like.
Their conversation continued afterward as they took turns speaking of their likes and dislikes from food to concerts to books.
Lilyanna was relieved to find Elijah relaxing as each moment they spent together passed quickly by, but disappointment filled her when the dance ended and he led her back to her mother.
As they drew nearer to Mrs. Crosgrove, Elijah paused, turning to face Lilyanna as he spoke softly for only her to hear.
"Thank you for the dances this evening, Miss Crosgrove," he said. "I have quite enjoyed myself, though I was fully expecting the opposite to occur."
"I am glad I could help in some way."
"As am I," he said. "I do wish I could stay and speak with you longer. However, I must see to my sister. She left earlier, but she made me promise to give her an account of the rest of the evening."
"Of course," Lilyanna said. "I hope I make it in your description."
She felt her cheeks burn red at her presumptuous words, and her mouth hung open. "I, I only meant…"
Elijah reached forward and touched her elbow gently.
"Do not worry, Miss Crosgrove," he said softly, "you most certainly will."
He bowed and walked away without another word, leaving Lilyanna to watch his tall figure disappear out the ballroom doors, her arm tingling with delight.
***
Just as he had promised, Elijah recounted the evening to Hazel as soon as he and Isaac returned that evening.
"And who did you dance with first, Elijah?" Hazel asked.
"Miss Lilyanna Crosgrove," he replied, "then the remainder of the evening was spent speaking with Isaac and his company before—"
"Wait a moment," Hazel interrupted. "What about this Miss Crosgrove? I have never heard of her. Have you, Mr. Godfrey?"
Isaac shook his head as he yawned.
"She is not one of the women I introduced you to," Hazel stated in a sort of shock.
"No, she is not," Elijah said. "I asked Mr. King to introduce the two of us this evening."
He watched as Hazel's eyes rounded. "Did you?" she asked, a smile slowly spreading across her face. "And where is Miss Crosgrove visiting from?"
"She resides in Bath."
He knew Hazel longed for more of an explanation, but taunting her with as little information as possible seemed to give him a sort of morbid pleasure.
"Oh," Hazel said, recognition suddenly dawning in her brown eyes, "of course. She is from the Crosgroves of Heatherhill."
"I believe she mentioned the name, yes," Elijah said with a nod.
"I do not know much more than that. Is she amiable?"
"Yes, she is," Elijah said, pausing before he thought of how kind and forthright she was, and he smiled. "Very much so."
He knew he had given too much of himself away as he noticed Hazel's smile increasing.
"Well, I can see by Isaac's watering eyes he is exhausted," Elijah said as he stood. "I shall leave you two alone."
"But you have not told me who else you danced with," Hazel said, frowning.
Elijah walked to the door, debating on whether or not to answer.
"You promised, Elijah," Hazel said, "to give me a full account."
"So I did," he responded, sighing. "I shall admit to you then that I danced with no other woman during the evening, save the first and last dance with Miss Crosgrove. Goodnight."
He turned away and walked out the door before he could see or hear Hazel's reaction.
After reaching his bedroom and undressing, Elijah stretched the length of his bed, resting his hands behind his head as he thought of the woman he had finally been introduced to.
Lilyanna Crosgrove seemed well-informed and was far more interesting to speak with than any woman he had ever met. He enjoyed her pleasant temperament, and her smile seemed ready to appear at all times. He knew he needed more happiness in his life, and so far, Lilyanna had already brought plenty to him.
His heart quickened as he thought of how she had clearly made her interest in him known, though fear gripped him when he admitted to himself that he reciprocated those feelings.
His mind traveled to Miss Billings, and he attempted to compare the two women, but even before beginning, Elijah knew no comparison could be made. Yes, Lilyanna's joke of having a dark side had caught him off-guard, but from the rest of their conversation, he could tell she was a kind and pleasant woman, and nothing like Miss Billings, which he numbered as Lilyanna's greatest asset.
Chapter Three
"Mother says to send you both her love," Elijah heard Hazel say when he, his sister, and her husband sat in the drawing room one morning. "Her letter also says she and Father will arrive in Bath within a month."
Elijah nodded his head, though he kept his eyes trained on the book in his hands.
"Excellent," Isaac said as Hazel continued sifting through the day's post. "It will be good to see them again."
"Oh, and we have received a dinner invitation," Hazel said after she broke open another red seal.
Elijah nearly groaned. How many more parties can we possibly be asked to attend? he thought.
"Who has invited us, darling?" Isaac questioned as he stood and walked to the fire.
"Why, it is from the Crosgroves," she said.
The book nearly dropped from Elijah's hand. "The Crosgroves?" he blurted aloud, clutching the book tighter.
"Indeed," Hazel said, her gaze focusing intently on E
lijah.
"Now why does the name sound familiar?" Isaac asked.
"You and I have not met them, my dear," Hazel answered, though she remained staring at Elijah. "However, I believe it was Miss Crosgrove who Elijah danced with twice the other evening in the Upper Rooms."
"Ah yes, I remember now."
Elijah stayed silent, though he could feel his sister's eyes peering at his bowed head.
"It is very kind of the Crosgroves to extend the offer to us all," Hazel said, "is it not, brother?"
"Yes, it is," he said.
"And it would be a shame to send them your regrets, but if that is what you wish…"
Elijah read and reread the same passage in his book, trying to retain the words on the page rather than listen to his sister. He had shared many times with Hazel his dislike for parties and had requested more often than not for his family to leave him at home. Expressing his desire to actually attend the Crosgrove's dinner party would undoubtedly give Hazel reason for suspicion.
Yet, he could not convince himself to miss out on the opportunity of seeing Lilyanna again, so with as much indifference as he could muster, Elijah sighed and said, "I suppose there would be no harm in attending one dinner party. After all, I would not wish for people to think less of you for having a brother who declines the invitations given him."
"Oh, you are quite right," Hazel said, though she smiled slyly. "I shall write them to accept then."
"Allow me to respond, my dear," Isaac said as he moved from the fireplace to the desk. "You stay seated near the fire."
"Thank you," she said with a smile at her husband. "I am most looking forward to meeting the Crosgroves. I am sure Mrs. Crosgrove is a very fine woman."
"And what of her husband?" Isaac asked from behind Elijah.
"I believe he is a captain in the Royal Navy," came Hazel's reply, "and has been for quite some time, I am told."
Elijah turned the page of his book, though he had clearly not comprehended a single word of the previous page. He had instead been wondering why a man who owned an estate had chosen a career in the navy. His mind then wandered to who Hazel had obtained such a knowledge of the Crosgrove family from, when she had barely recognized even the name beforehand.
When Two Rivers Meet (Regency Romance) Page 4