"We're beyond that now," Catherine said crisply. "He's not merely paying you compliments, dancing with you, driving in the park, calling… It appears that he's set himself the task of helping you. He's very kind to you. How many other young ladies has he courted?"
She looked up at that, and met her sister's grey-green gaze. "What?"
Catherine rolled her eyes, and laughed. "Don't be disingenuous with me, my dear. You know that Sommerforth is courting you."
"No, of course he is not. There's Miss Minty. And the Countess of Hazelbridge."
"Well, if you want him, you will need to fight for him. He can't make the running on his own."
"I don't want him," Elaine protested.
Catherine merely shrugged. Neither said another word and within a few moments, they'd reached the park.
Sommerforth was already there. Elaine's heart lifted. She admired him before he saw her. In his buckskins and riding jacket, he looked tall and commanding; the perfect Corinthian.
Did she want him to court her? For some reason she didn't comprehend, Elaine was frightened.
Catherine was right, she realized. She had formed a tendre for the duke. How silly that was. She told herself sternly that she would have to overcome it. It was enough that Felicity had lost her head over a man. She could not follow her friend down that particular road to madness.
The duke bowed over her sister's hand. "Mrs. Grove, how charming you look. You grow more beautiful by the day."
"I'm sure that I do, your grace, for if you say it, it must be true," Catherine said drily.
Then he took Elaine's hand, and looked at her inquiringly.
Elaine felt herself blush again, and snatched her hand away from his at the tingle. "Miss Eardley, a pleasure," he said. "We've brought Joy for you. Will you ride her? My stable master will ride with you."
She nodded, and quickly hurried to Joy. When she reached her horse, she realized that she was holding her breath and inhaled deeply. What was the matter with her?
Joy tossed her head at Elaine, and nosed at her waist. She wanted the carrot which Elaine had in her pocket. Elaine laughed, and took Joy's reins from the stable master. "Thank you."
Cormac placed the mounting block for her, and helped Elaine into the saddle.
To her amazement, Joy stood patiently, and then walked calmly away from the other horses.
After half an hour, Elaine was forced to admit that her schooling at Sommerforth's stables was turning Joy into a different horse. Not once did Joy shy. She accepted Elaine's commands and obeyed instantly.
"She's a different horse," Elaine said when she rode back to the stable master. She'd ridden ahead of him, with Joy obedient to all her commands.
"Not a different horse, ma'am," the man said, a note of warning in his tone. "She's still young, and like all young horses, she's apt to want her own way."
Elaine laughed aloud at that. "You think that she's waiting for me to let my guard down, so that she can turf me off her back?"
His kind brown eyes shone. "Indeed, ma'am… Be wary of her. She's still a spirited mount. She'll never be a plodder, no matter how much schooling she has — she's too clever for that."
When Sommerforth and Catherine rode up to them, the stable master and Catherine dropped back, while Sommerforth rode at Elaine's side.
"Well?" He asked. "How is she?"
Elaine found that she couldn't meet his gaze, and to her horror, she blushed again. What was the matter with her? She inhaled deeply, and told herself to be calm. This was Sommerforth.
She was finally able to converse sensibly with him, but she was pleased when they arrived at the carriage again, and their morning ride was over.
The duke told them that he looked forward to dancing with them at his aunt's ball, three days hence.
In the carriage, Catherine was silent. Elaine didn't feel like speaking either.
She had to admit it to herself. She was as foolish as Felicity. She had also formed an attachment to an unsuitable man. What had Catherine said — that if she wanted the duke, she would have to fight for him? Did she want him?
She told herself that she did not, but she realized that she was lying to herself.
Elaine and Catherine joined Mrs. Eardley and Anne who were breakfasting in the small dining room.
Anne smiled at Elaine. "How was Joy?"
"Amazing," Elaine said. "She's a completely different horse." She nodded to the footman, who added scrambled eggs to her plate.
"I'm glad you're here," Mrs. Eardley said. "We can decide what we will do today."
Catherine groaned aloud. "No…"
Elaine looked up from buttering her toast. Her sister was reading a note.
"It seems that my dear husband has returned from the north. He's in town, and wishes to see me at the solicitor's tomorrow..." Catherine looked at Elaine. "I'll have to put him off. I don't know what he wants, but likely as not, his solicitor will ask to look at the account books. So we'll have to make sure that they're in a fit state before he does."
"You're not working on the books today," Mrs. Eardley said firmly. "Both Felicity and Elaine have fittings this morning, and there's the silk that we must have made up. So Catherine, I want you to accompany the girls to Madame Lola's. Anne, you're visiting Kingston house?"
Anne nodded. "The tenants asked to change the curtains in the main drawing room, so I need to approve their choice." She shuddered. "They're as likely as not to choose purple, or scarlet."
"Very well..." Catherine said, looked distracted. "Could you help me with the books this evening, Elaine? I'll send a note to put Grove off for a few days. He can't expect me to jump to do his bidding just because it suits him."
10
The night of Lady Merrill's ball arrived. Elaine was nervous, and she suspected that Catherine was too, because Catherine's fingers trembled when she fastened an ivory and gold hair comb at the back of Elaine's curls.
"Remember that the duke is detained at the House," Catherine said, meeting Elaine's gaze in the dressing table mirror. "Parliamentarians tend to be long-winded, and his grace is sponsoring a bill. I've entered his name on your dance card, as he requested. He wishes to dance both waltzes with you."
Elaine sat at her dressing table. She stared at her sister in the mirror. "You're nervous — why?" She asked.
"Grove," Catherine admitted. She sighed.
"Lady Merrill invited him?"
"He's in London my dear, so she's invited him, because I will be there... It's a matter of appearances. I just hope that he won't come. But he may do. When I put off taking the accounts to his solicitors he sent me a threatening note."
Elaine stood up, and took Catherine's hand. "It will be all right. If Grove arrives I'll tell Cormac to watch him. I don't trust him at all."
"It's those books." Catherine shuddered, and smiled ruefully. "If he discovers that I have the estates, he'll plunder them. And he'll discover sooner or later."
Elaine hugged Catherine. "Nonsense," she reassured her. "The books are masterful, sister. He won't suspect a thing — how could he?"
"Stop," Catherine pulled away, laughing. "You'll ruin my gown."
"You look lovely," Elaine assured her. "I'll go and make sure that Fee is ready to leave."
Elaine wanted to remind Felicity about Volkov again.
Felicity was in her dressing room.
Elaine entered, and dismissed Felicity's maid with a smile. "I will see to Lady Foxton."
"Please, not again," Felicity frowned at Elaine when the door had closed behind the maid. "I know. You've already told me three times. Volkov has been warned not to come, but he may do... And if he does, I am not to show that I am aware of his existence, not by so much as a flicker of my gaze..."
"Sir Oliver will be there."
Elaine assumed that Sir Oliver had been trying to make amends. He'd sent Felicity a parure of wonderful sapphires. The parure included a necklace, two bracelets, a pair of diamond and sapphire drop earrings, and a tiara o
f diamonds and sapphires.
"The man will be in hock for a thousand years," Elaine heard Catherine tell Anne the day after the jewels arrived. "My spies tell me that first payment doesn't come due for two years, but still..."
Later that day Catherine had taken Elaine's arm and pulled her into the library. "I fear that Grove will be at Lady Merrill's ball. That's another man to be wary of — Volkov has been warned away... But listen to me, Elaine. Stay with Felicity. It's vital that if Volkov should appear, Felicity must ignore him. Sir Oliver will be there, and he will be on the watch for any communication — a nod, or a smile, between Felicity and Volkov."
Elaine nodded. "I'll remind Fee again."
"You look lovely," Elaine said now to Felicity, who was dressed simply, in a gown of embroidered white net, over a dark blue silk under gown. She wore one of the bracelets and the pair of earrings from Sir Oliver's parure.
"And you, too. Green suits you."
Compared to Felicity's, Elaine's gown was plain, but elegant: silk on silk, dark hunter green over pale forest green. Her hair had also been styled simply. Catherine had instructed Denise to pull Elaine's hair back from her face and neck, then create a waterfall of flame-red curls down Elaine's back.
Catherine had given Elaine a three-strand emerald choker. "A gift for your first season, my dear, but mainly a gift of thanks. Without your talent and cleverness with numbers, I'd be completely under the wretched major's control… You have saved me, sister."
Elaine's eyes widened, and she gasped. The necklace was expensive and elegant. Catherine laughed, and fastened it around her neck. She whispered in Elaine's ear, "perhaps Sommerforth will give you a bracelet to match, one day."
Elaine reminded herself to focus on Felicity.
A moment later, Cormac knocked on Felicity’s door to tell them that Mrs. Eardley had ordered the carriage to be brought around.
"Elaine," Felicity took Elaine's arm. "You know that I don't want to marry Sir Oliver, and — "
"Not now, Felicity. Not tonight. Please. You know that if you wish to be free of him, you must speak to your guardian."
"I can't — Sir Oliver — "
Elaine squeezed her friend's hand. "Not tonight," she repeated.
At Blackwood House, in St. James's Square, Lady Merrill welcomed the Eardleys graciously, and within moments, the housekeeper had organized footmen to take their shawls.
"Now my dears," Mrs. Eardley said. "I want you to enjoy yourselves."
Her mother said that at every ball, Elaine thought, however, with the threat of Volkov and Sir Oliver, as well as Major Grove hanging over them, it promised to be a tense gathering. She would need to be watchful.
Elaine immediately looked for Sommerforth, even though she knew that he was still at the House. Whoever he married would need to understand politics, she thought. And why was she thinking that? She didn't understand herself… She sighed, and reminded herself that although her father's brother was a duke, she was plain Miss Eardley.
Earlier that evening, when David dined with Lord Worley at his club before returning to the House for the vote on the bill, he'd reminded Worley to keep Volkov from attending his aunt's ball.
"David, you're my best friend," Cam said quietly, "we were at Eton and Oxford together — but how do you suggest that I do that? Lady Merrill very kindly sent him an invitation."
"It would be thought odd if she had not, since he's staying with you. But Lady Foxton is pressing Elaine, and I won't have her peace cut up. Nor will I allow a scandal, if Destry should be there — and I know that he will be."
His friend smiled at him. "Elaine?"
David shook his head and didn't respond to that. He reminded his friend that he wouldn't leave the house until after the vote. "So if I miss my first waltz with Elaine, I count on you to tender my apologies and dance with her."
So far, Elaine hadn't enjoyed the ball. She watched Felicity, but to her relief, although she'd seen Lord Worley, she hadn't seen the count. Nor had she seen Major Grove.
Finally, the next dance was the waltz, but she was sure that Sommerforth hadn't arrived. She looked at Lord Worley in surprise when he bowed to her, and said, "Sommerforth's regrets, Miss Eardley. He asked me to dance with you if he should be delayed."
Elaine smiled at Worley. She liked him, and was thankful that Count Volkov hadn't appeared with him.
Perhaps she could sound him out on the count's feelings? She frowned. She knew that she should not, but Sir Oliver had just presented himself to Felicity for the waltz. Sir Oliver had not danced with anyone else, staying close to his intended. She knew that his hovering was causing talk. When she glanced at Catherine, her sister shook her head slightly.
"I hear that your mare is behaving well?"
Elaine welcomed any opportunity to talk about Joy. She was thrilled at the change in her. She and Worley were deep in a discussion of horses when he led her out onto the floor.
Suddenly she looked up, a tingle alerting her that Sommerforth was close by. Then Lord Worley released her, bowed, and moved aside. Sommerforth took her into his arms just as the music began.
She quivered, her throat tight. She was intensely aware of him. Everything else seemed to fade away.
"My apologies for my tardiness," Sommerforth smiled down at her, his slate-grey gaze warm. "I am relieved that the vote is over. I confess that my mind was not fully on the matters at the House."
She smiled in return, and felt the blush covering her face again. He laughed at that, and it seemed to her as if his arms tightened around her, as they whirled and dipped.
The duke was a superb dancer. He guided her effortlessly, and she felt as if she'd never danced as well. His scent of sandalwood and cedar, combined with his own scent, was becoming familiar to her.
"Everything is well," he said softly. "I see that Sir Oliver is here."
She nodded.
David danced her to the side of the room, right to the long doors which were open to the garden. "Shall we walk for a few moments?"
She nodded.
He tucked her hand into his elbow. Other couples who were walking in the gardens bowed to him. He acknowledged them, but didn't stop to speak.
Finally they were far enough away from others not to be overheard. "How is your friend?"
"I haven't seen…"
"The count."
Of course he knew of whom she'd been speaking, she thought. But she knew that he would say nothing.
"Your friend is still pressing you for help?"
Elaine nodded. "She wishes Catherine to speak to her guardian, but he would tell Sir Oliver immediately, and Sir Oliver is already angry with me."
"And the guardian is —?"
"The banker, Robert Baynes." She frowned. "Mr. Baynes told Lady Foxton that her father had wanted the match with Sir Oliver, because his lands march with Foxton Park."
"The betrothal has been formally announced," he said.
She nodded. "Yes. Months ago, before Christmas."
"If your friend no longer wants the match, she must cry off," he said gently.
"She may yet decide that she would prefer England over Russia — should the man make her an offer. But," she glanced around to make sure that no one was close enough to overhear their whispers over the music from the ballroom. "As far as I'm aware, he's said nothing to indicate that he will. My sister believes that his family would not countenance the match."
Sommerforth nodded, and started walking again.
Elaine was surprised that she wasn't worried any longer. As soon as Sommerforth had taken her into his arms, she had felt safe. He was a duke, she thought wryly, and no one says no to a duke. She smiled to herself.
"Yes?" He asked.
She laughed aloud at that. "My thoughts, your grace…"
"And they are?"
"My concerns have flown, because as my family always tells me — no one says no to a duke."
He laughed too, and she saw other couples in the garden glancing at them.
<
br /> Blackwood House's large garden was lit with flambeaux and lamps. However, there were areas of darkness.
Suddenly, the duke turned, and she was in his arms. Unlike in the dance, there was no space between them. She felt his body against hers. Elaine gasped. Sommerforth's warmth engulfed her. She was aware of the strength in his arms, and looked up at him.
She couldn't see his features clearly in the darkness, but felt his breath on her face. He hesitated. Her thoughts had fled, but she was aware that he meant to kiss her. If she wished to avoid that, she would need to move away.
He held her loosely enough that she could step away from him, but she stayed where she was. She wanted this. She wanted his kiss.
"Elaine…" he said softly, and then she felt his lips on hers. She had expected them to be hard, but they were soft, and warm. They merely brushed own her lips — once, and then again.
Instantly he stepped back, holding her hands.
She was disappointed. His lips had felt so warm, and she'd felt them right throughout her body, even down to her toes. Why had he let her go?
A moment later, her hand was tucked into his elbow again, and they walked into the light of one of the flambeaux.
The waltz had ended. The duke returned her to her mother. He bowed over her hand, and reminded her that she'd promised him the second waltz.
Her mother stared at her, her eyes wide, when she realized the way that the duke had looked at her daughter. She watched the duke walking away.
"Mother," Catherine said gently, to cover her mother's moment of realization that the duke was courting Elaine. "Do turn around for a moment, and allow me to adjust a curl for you… It's escaped from its pins."
Felicity and Sir Oliver joined them. He bent to speak to Felicity. Immediately, all expression left Felicity's face.
"Leave them," Catherine whispered to Elaine.
"Elaine —" her mother said.
"Not now, Mother, later," Catherine gave Mrs. Eardley a warning glance.
Elaine saw her mother nod, then Elaine's partner for the next dance, a country dance, arrived.
Something had changed. Elaine was immediately aware of it during the dance. She felt eyes on her, and wondered why. Was her hair coming down? Surreptitiously, she touched her curls, and looked down at her gown.
The Lady and the Duke: A Dangerous Season (The Eardleys of Gostwicke Hall Book 2) Page 12