"Well, I am sure I do not know," Mr. Quigley said, "but one can only imagine the flaws she must be keeping hidden, for at her age, and with such supposed beauty, there must be something dreadfully wrong with her."
"If you had taken the time to know her character," Elijah began, his voice holding an unmistakable coldness, "you would not speak so carelessly about such a woman."
"I am sure we may all safely assume you claim to know her better than the rest of us," Mr. Quigley asked, a sneer emblazoned on his long face.
Mr. Quigley looked to Mr. Hodges and Mr. Charleston for support, but the gentlemen maintained their silence and waited for a response from Elijah, who still stared coldly at Mr. Quigley, his brown eyes absent of any kindheartedness.
"I do not profess," Elijah began, his voice calm but firm, "to know everything about Miss Crosgrove, but with the time I have spent with her, I have discovered her amiable in all regards, looks, temperament, and manners included. Any gentleman would be very fortunate to have Miss Crosgrove as a wife, and you would do well, Mr. Quigley, to cease in flapping your tongue, as you do, so you may learn to recognize a respectable woman when you see one."
He turned around without another word, storming through the nearby open doorway to search for his sister, determining to inform her of his intent to leave the ball at once.
Lilyanna pressed her back against the wall as she watched Elijah's figure fly through the open doorway next to her and march across the floor in the opposite direction of where she stood. She noted the frown etched across his distracted face before his broad shoulders disappeared through the crowd of people.
Her heart beat furiously against her chest at nearly being caught eavesdropping, but as soon as Elijah was out of sight, her mind inevitably returned to what she had heard.
She had not meant to listen to any of it, but as she had walked through the scores of people in the Hearnshaw's large estate, dodging gentlemen's dance requests in hopes of finding Elijah to sit next to during the meal, she had heard her name spoken aloud, and curiosity got the better of her good sense.
She had paused on the other side of the wall where the men had stood speaking of her, and she leaned close to the doorway in order to hear their words.
When she had heard Mr. Quigley criticize her looks, she had not been surprised, however, when Elijah's voice revealed to her his presence, Lilyanna had stopped breathing altogether as she hung upon every kind and protective word he spoke until he had stormed away.
Lilyanna waited until after the other gentlemen departed, their voices fading in the distance, to move from her position against the wall, feeling suddenly claustrophobic with the amount of people in the room around her.
She tried to keep her expression unaltered as she moved silently through the crowd, eventually reaching the outskirts of the dance floor where two large doors stood open to let the night air permeate throughout the stifling room.
Knowing the coolness of the spring breeze would keep most guests indoors, Lilyanna found herself heading to the privacy of the darkness outside.
She glanced behind her to ensure her escape would go unnoticed before exiting through the door and walking out onto a large balcony that stretched forth with staircases leading down both sides. Scanning quickly to make certain she was alone, she moved to the far side of the stone landing, stepping slightly into the shadows before thinking back on what she had heard.
To listen to Mr. Quigley speak so unkindly about her, though as unsurprising as it was, came as somewhat of a betrayal.
However, his unkindness left her mind in an instant as she was encompassed with humbling thoughts of Elijah and the words he had spoken in her defense. Never had she received such support from anyone, and the thought caused tears to brim in her eyes and her soul to warm, though she shivered as the chilly wind caressed her bare arms.
"Miss Crosgrove?"
Lilyanna jumped as she heard the voice behind her of the very man she had been thinking of.
"Mr. Bainbridge," she said with surprise.
She attempted to blink away the moisture in her blue eyes as she looked behind his tall figure to see if anyone had followed him. Should anyone, even Mrs. Crosgrove, happen upon the two of them alone in the dark, they were sure to be the talk of the whole of Bath by the end of the evening.
When no one else appeared in the doorway, Lilyanna directed her attention back to Elijah and waited patiently for him to speak. The light from inside the ballroom shone behind him, making his face hard to see, but she was content to merely study his broad shoulders and long legs.
"I…" she heard Elijah hesitate before he closed the distance between them, standing near the edge of the balcony as he looked out into the darkness.
His gaze was averted, but she could still see his strong brows pulling together in a frown.
"You see, I…" he started again, "I saw you parting on your own, and I wanted to be sure…I wanted to ensure myself of your well-being."
Lilyanna smiled softly, humility enveloping her again as she thought of how gallant he was, first defending her honor, then making sure of her safety.
"Thank you, Mr. Bainbridge," she said. "I assure you I am quite well. I was simply in need of a bit of fresh air."
He faced his body toward her."Are you certain?"
"Yes," she said. "I find a cool breeze is all I need to clear my mind when muddled."
He moved closer to her, step by step, and with what little light shone their way, Lilyanna could see concern in his scowl.
"And you, Mr. Bainbridge," she asked quietly, "are you well?"
Elijah nodded, though his eyes looked out into the darkness. "I was afraid you might have heard…"
His words trailed off, but Lilyanna knew to what he referred. Her tongue itched to admit her guilt in having overheard his previous conversation, but her courage failed her. She continued to search his indecipherable face and was again humbled at his kindness.
Tears gathered in her eyes, and she tried once again to blink them back, looking down to her gloved hands as they laced together tightly.
"You do not have to hide your emotion, Miss Crosgrove," Elijah said gently, reaching out with his hand and letting his fingers softly urge her chin upwards, "not with me."
Her heart hammered at his tender touch, and as their eyes met, she felt a tear escape, sliding down her cheek.
Voices outside the door suddenly sounded, and Elijah's hand abruptly dropped as Lilyanna's throat constricted with panic. She looked up at him in a silent plea for help.
Only a moment passed before Elijah swiftly pulled Lilyanna toward a remote corner of the balcony where no light touched. He pressed her gently against the ivy-covered wall, stepping closer to her to ensure his dark clothing shielded as much of her white gown as possible.
Lilyanna's breathing intensified from fear of being in such a compromising situation, however, as she felt Elijah's chest near her own, rising and falling slowly with deep, calm breaths, the warmth of his body radiating through her thin gown and chilled person, her anxiety lessened.
She slowly turned her head to the right, feeling an ivy leaf tickling her cheek as she looked to see if she could spot either of the women speaking as they made their way onto the balcony.
Hearing their footsteps stop, Lilyanna relaxed even more as the women remained out of her sight.
"And did you see the bandeau she wore?" one woman spoke.
"Oh, yes, I am sure I saw that exact shade nearly two seasons ago."
Lilyanna recognized Mrs. Reynolds's throaty voice instantly, and she craned her neck to look up at Elijah in fear. However, the women's gossiping soon faded from her mind as she gazed at Elijah's handsome face, her eyes finally adjusting to the thick darkness around them.
He looked down at her, and they stared silently into each other's eyes, Lilyanna's heartbeat increasing once more at having seen his gaze drop to her mouth.
She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry, and she fought the urge to lick her lips.
Her legs weakened as Elijah moved even closer to her, his head slowly drawing nearer her own. Her mouth opened only slightly, and in that moment, she yearned for nothing else but the feel of his lips on her own. She held her breath as he moved ever closer, a delightful anticipation enveloping her soul.
"Oh, my goodness!"
Lilyanna gasped as she looked in the direction where Mrs. Reynolds's voice had come from, fear and regret shooting throughout her entire body as she expected to see the woman's shocked and judgmental face.
"They are about to serve the meal!"
Just as soon as the fear had encompassed her, relief replaced it, and Lilyanna let out a sigh as she realized she and Elijah had remained unobserved.
She heard the footsteps retreating into the house, the women's shadows growing longer until they disappeared altogether, but her relief was shortly lived as she realized what had nearly transpired between Elijah and herself.
A wave of embarrassment rushed over her, and she looked to the ground, muttering, "Excuse me."
Elijah took a step back before she herself moved a good distance away from the handsome man.
"Miss Crosgrove," he began.
"We had better return inside," she said hurriedly. "My mother is sure to have noticed my absence, and I do not want her coming in search of me."
"Of course," Elijah said quietly, but Lilyanna had already turned on her heel to make her way inside, afraid he might notice her reddened cheeks or speak about what had almost occurred.
However, the moment the inside air washed over her warmed face, Lilyanna regretted leaving him. She longed to thank him for his chivalrous defense of her honor, longed to stay with him the entirety of the night, to ensure him she was only leaving for fear of being caught, but the truth of the matter was, however, her embarrassment at having had such a strong desire to kiss him had scared her into running away.
She walked to the dining area, searching out her mother as she hoped and prayed her sudden departure had not caused Elijah as much pain as it had caused herself.
Elijah gritted his teeth.
"You fool," he muttered to himself as he leaned against the ivy on the outer wall of the Hearnshaw's home.
He rubbed his hands against his face as he berated his actions yet again. He knew he should not have followed Lilyanna outside in the first place, even if it was to ensure she had not heard Mr. Quigley's words, though seeing her tears had hinted to him of her awareness of the conversation.
Elijah had only made the situation worse, however, when he had pulled her near him in the shadows, tempting himself with her closeness, her perfectly pink lips so inviting upon her beautiful face. He had been trying to save her reputation, but would hiding her with him deep in the darkness protect her character from ruin anymore had she been discovered?
He pushed himself away from the cold wall and moved toward the stairs leading down to the Hearnshaw's back gardens. Having already informed Hazel of his intent to leave before approaching Lilyanna, Elijah could think of no other reason to stay, and so he began his lonely walk home.
He rubbed the back of his neck as he made his way around the large estate, knowing he was in for a long journey. He welcomed it, however, if only for the chance to be alone in the hope of clearing his mind.
Again chastising himself, Elijah shook his head, still regretting his clear intent and desire to kiss the woman. He knew she had wanted to kiss him in return, for he had seen her own longing written clearly upon her face, however, he knew he should never have put her in such a position.
"You are no gentleman," he said aloud, and his scowl increased as he feared his actions might have lost him Lilyanna's trust forever.
With his stomach churning and mind swirling with regret, Elijah made his way home, the darkness surrounding him echoing the emptiness in his heart.
***
Lilyanna stifled a yawn as she sat in the parlor listening to her mother and Mr. Quigley converse. She looked down to the sketchbook in her hands and thumbed through the drawings until she found a blank page.
"I know what you mean, Mr. Quigley," Mrs. Crosgrove said. "I find it difficult to look beyond one's clothing. If one has chosen an outdated color or fabric, I simply will not, nay, cannot, tolerate their company."
"Exactly," Mr. Quigley said emphatically.
Lilyanna felt Mr. Quigley's eyes on her, but she picked up a drawing pencil and began to sketch a patch of forget-me-nots she had seen on her walk that morning. She had no interest in returning his gaze.
She knew it was best to forgive, but she hardly felt the desire to do so after Mr. Quigley had arrived at Heatherhill that morning filled with his usual compliments toward Lilyanna as if he had never spoken an unkind word about her.
Her brows pulled together in a frown, an expression she had grown accustomed to for days, ever since she had left Elijah so abruptly in the dark at the Hearnshaw's ball. Each day that had passed since then had proven to only increase her frustration with herself, thereby worsening her mood greatly.
"I, of course," she heard Mr. Quigley say, "do not have the same problem while speaking with you and Miss Crosgrove, for I always find you both dressed most fashionably."
Lilyanna's lip curled up in disgust until she cleared her face of any emotion, not wanting her mother to see and later rebuke her for such a look.
She continued drawing the small, five-petal flowers, looking up to find Mrs. Crosgrove and Mr. Quigley consumed in their conversation about fabrics. After ensuring their attention would not move to her, Lilyanna lifted the corners of a few of the pages in her book until she found what she searched for, the likeness of Elijah she had been working on for weeks.
She shielded her drawing of the handsome gentleman with the other pages in her sketchbook while shading the edges of his strong jaw. She had hoped to feel better by seeing a likeness of the gentleman, but even the mere thought of Elijah proved to make her heart ache with even more regret.
"You have been awfully quiet, Miss Crosgrove," Mr. Quigley said, jarring her out of her thoughts. "I do hope it is not because you are focused on drawing myself."
Lilyanna glanced up to see a confident smirk on his face, revealing his clear wish for the opposite of what he had said to occur.
"Do not worry," Lilyanna said before returning her attention back to her drawing of the flowers. "I am not sketching you."
She kept her gaze down, knowing Mrs. Crosgrove already sent a reproving look in her direction, when Mr. Harper appeared in the doorway.
"Yes, Mr. Harper?" Mrs. Crosgrove asked after the butler bowed.
"Mr. Bainbridge calling, ma'am," he said. "Shall I show him in?"
Lilyanna's stomach lurched forward, and she feared she would lose what little breakfast she had managed to eat that morning.
"Oh, please do," Mrs. Crosgrove said, and Lilyanna noted the obvious sense of excitement in her voice, her mother no doubt happy with Lilyanna still having two suitors.
As Elijah appeared in the doorway, Lilyanna closed her sketchbook and stood, nervously staring at the handsome man. She sent a slight smile in his direction, and relief enveloped her when she received a genuine smile in return.
He is not unhappy with me after all, Lilyanna thought with glee as her heart raced within her chest.
"Mr. Bainbridge, do come in," Mrs. Crosgrove said as they took their seats again. "I daresay, you have arrived at the perfect time, for Mr. Quigley and I were speaking of the latest fashion in town, and you are sure to add a great deal to our conversation, judging by your fine-tailored jacket."
"Thank you for your confidence in me, Mrs. Crosgrove," Elijah said, moving to take the only seat available which was next to Lilyanna on the sofa, "but I am afraid I lack a great deal of knowledge when it comes to London fashion."
Mrs. Crosgrove's smile faltered. "Indeed?" she asked.
Before her mother could say anything else, Lilyanna faced Elijah. "How are you, Mr. Bainbridge?" she asked.
Elijah's brown-eyed gaze moved to h
er direction. "I am very well, thank you."
Lilyanna heard Mrs. Crosgrove carry on her conversation with Mr. Quigley, who had ceased speaking altogether upon Elijah's arrival, so Lilyanna took advantage of her slight privacy with Elijah and leaned slightly closer to him.
"I am glad you have come calling, Mr. Bainbridge," she said, not caring if he found her too forward.
His warm smile caused Lilyanna's remaining fears of Elijah's potential unhappiness to flee.
"I hope my presence may be of some relief to you," he said quietly and with a slight grin. "After all, I am sure you do not find the topic of linen and cravats to be as invigorating as your mother does."
Lilyanna shook her head. "You know me well, Mr. Bainbridge."
"I like to think so," he said, staring into her eyes before he cleared his throat. "Now, do tell me what has managed to capture your attention above London's fashions."
Lilyanna placed a hand over the book in her lap. "I have been sketching," she said.
"I see," Elijah said. "And what have you been sketching?"
"Oh, only…only flowers, I suppose."
"May I?" Elijah asked, motioning toward the book.
Lilyanna hesitated. "I am really not very good," she said, fearing Elijah's discovery of his likeness.
"I hardly believe that, Miss Crosgrove," Elijah said, his brows furrowing together. "And after all, you of all people should know I would be the last to judge you in your ability to draw."
Lilyanna smiled as she recalled his drawing of her profile at the dinner party weeks before.
"All right," she said, placing the book in Elijah's outstretched hand. "You may look through them. Only remember they are simple sketches. Most of them I have not yet completed."
"Of course," Elijah said, nodding as he opened the leather-bound book.
She bit her lip nervously as he turned each page, slowly examining every one of her drawings.
"Is this one of the books your father has given you to fill for his return?" Elijah asked as he scanned a sketch of a crumbling stone fence.
When Two Rivers Meet (Regency Romance) Page 11