They both turned to Eloise, who nodded, her expression distant. “That explains something one of the boys said, which did not make much sense at the time.”
“What?” asked Robert.
She refocused on his face. “He said that they had sneaked in with a group of older men who were going directly to the, um, women’s side. That they had tried earlier but could not get in.”
Rose reached up and gripped his forearm. “You must inquire. You must.”
Running his hands through his hair, Robert swung away from the women, his chest aching with frustration. Five months ago, he had spent his time easing between being Robbie Green and sleeping with his mistress. No worries. No responsibilities.When did my life become a series of “musts”? I must go to the ball. I must produce an heir. I must look for this wayward child—
Who was notherchild. Lord Timothy Surrey was Lady Eloise’s brother.Why is she fighting so hard—
The thought that hit him then was so ugly and vile, so cruel, that he felt both guilt and shame that it had even slid into his mind. But it was there, and Robert knew it would linger like the taste of soured milk.
Robert turned slowly around, dropping his hands to his side, examining Lady Eloise Surrey more closely. She had risked everything by coming here—Robert was not convinced his own sister would be willing to sacrifice as much for him. And Lady Eloise certainly seemed the worse for it. Gone was the defiant and independent woman of business from last night. Now her shoulders hunched, and she had twisted her fingers in her lap to the point that her gloves were half off her hands and gripped against her palms in tight clusters. And the fascination he had felt for her the night before returned in full flare, causing a growing heat deep in his core, along with an unexpected urge to protect her.
“Why Timothy?”
She looked up at him, her eyes crinkled in confusion. “What? He’s my brother. And the earl’s heir.”
He shook his head, then crossed to sit next to her. He leaned closer, keeping his voice low and even. “No. If this was about his being the earl’s heir, then Pentney would be here. Not his daughter. Tell me about Timothy. Why is this so important to you? Not to your family. To you.”
She looked down at her hands. “Is it not enough that he is my brother?”
“No.” Robert reached out and pulled one of her hands free. “Tell me about Timothy.”
As she spoke, Robert eased her glove back over her fingers, pressing out the wrinkles, his hands massaging the joints and muscles as he smoothed the sheath up over her forearm. She smelled like nasturtiums, slightly floral with a hint of musk and cinnamon, a scent both alluring and calming, as much a paradox as the lady herself. Behind him, Rose cleared her throat but said nothing. Lady Eloise’s maid took one step toward them, but stopped as Lady Eloise began to relax, her voice gaining more strength, even though she continued to focus on her hands and what he was doing to them.
“After Judith was born, the fourth girl, Mother did not think there would be any more children. No male heir. So she began preparing me to marry the next in line after Papa, one of his many cousins, a widower with no children. Papa believed there would be consolation if I could deliver a son, so that his bloodline would live on in the new heir. But then Timothy was born. I was only five and ten, but it was a great relief to me. I did not want to marry. I wanted to have a season and go to parties. But Mother’s confinement was exceptionally difficult, and she remained ill a long time afterward.”
She paused for a long breath, and Robert reached for her other hand. Rose made a low noise of warning, but Robert ignored her. “Go on,” he whispered, beginning his ministrations anew.
Her amber eyes now peered up at him from beneath thick brown lashes tipped with gold. “Timothy was such a beautiful baby. A good child but restless, even as an infant. I felt horrid that Mother had been taken low by this, and I spent a lot of time in the nursery. I could calm him when Nurse could not. By the time I had my first season, we were... entrenched. I would come home from the balls and regale him with outrageous tales of glittering ladies and dashing gentlemen. I even turned Mr. Brummell into a knight in gleaming armor, and his fight with the Prince Regent into a battle of the ages.”
“So it was,” murmured Rose.
Lady Eloise smiled, a shy glimmer in her eyes. “Timothy was enthralled. Then his lessons took precedence, and I became more spinster than spinner of tales. Eton beckoned. But we are still close.”
As Robert finished with the second glove, he realized that Lady Eloise was trembling under his touch, and he cupped both her hands in his, one thumb rubbing the back of her left hand. He tried to ignore the growing heat in his chest that touching her so intimately had begun to stir. “So he told you what he and his friends had planned?”
“Yes. I tried to dissuade him, but I’m afraid the words of his older sister have lost their allure. I have become one more adult to squash his sense of adventure. I refuse to believe—” She swallowed. “The constable insists that he will be home soon, none the worse for his adventuring, like his friends. That he is not lying dead in the street or bound for some overseas port. That’s just our imagining. But I cannot accept that. I know—Iknowsomething has happened to him. Please understand—”
“I believe you.” Robert squeezed her hands. “I will send a note to Bill Campion right away, and I will visit him tonight after the ball. I make no promises, but I will see what I can discover.”
Eloise blinked and her eyes narrowed. “I thought you would not be attending the ball.”
Robert released her hands and stood. “Unfortunately, my mother had other ideas.”
Rose looked up at him. “The duchess changed your plans?”
Robert almost laughed at her look of disbelief, and he knew her thoughts were on the virtually mute condition of her mother-in-law. She would learn soon enough that Emalyn Ashton determined her own way—even while incapacitated. “Indeed. It seems that I am far more needed as Beth’s escort than as a malingerer around Mother’s bed. Thomas should not go and Michael is not prepared to go. So I am to go and safeguard my sister’s reputation.”
“That is a risk of a superior nature.” Rose’s tone held the sarcasm he was accustomed to—and adored.
He put his hand over his heart. “You wound me to the quick, sister.”
“Oh, I doubt that in its entirety.” Rose stood and went to Lady Eloise, who rose as well. “I have already sent out a few notes in inquiry. I should have answers—if any are to be had—by tomorrow morning.”
Lady Eloise nodded. “I am more than grateful. I do know this is a trying time for all of you. I appreciate your willingness to help.”
