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Elise simply stared at him, stunned into speechlessness on realising he’d meant his proposal. She sensed the tension in her limbs melting away, warmth and calmness coming over her.
‘Tell me when you intend quitting town! Your sister and aunt are almost upon us!’ Alex insisted.
Elise jerked to attention beneath his rasping authority, sure his frustration meant he was already reconsidering his spur-of-the-moment solution to their dreadful predicament. A welcome pride swelled in her chest, overcoming the warring emotions clogging her throat. If he were worried she would tie him to his word, he need have no fear on that score! A moment ago a spark of blissful optimism had put a glow in her eyes, but it had only briefly flickered before dying.
‘I have asked you before not to order me about,’ Elise quickly croaked, very aware of her kith and kin coming within earshot. ‘I appreciate the great sacrifice you’ve indicated you’re willing to make to protect my reputation, but you may rest assured it will not be necessary,’ she continued rattling off. ‘As for quitting town—if we can get our places booked on the coach we will leave the day after tomorrow.’
Alex’s mouth thrust in sardonic acknowledgement of her icy rebuff, but there was no time left to continue the battle. ‘We’ll speak further about this another time. For now...I’ve no doubt you will be required to account for my urgent interest in you.’ His mouth pursed in consideration. ‘I might have felt compelled to apologise to you about my friend’s poor behaviour towards your sister. But I’m in no way ordering you to use that excuse—’ Alex broke off his ironic speech to politely nod to the ladies.
‘It is a fine day, is it not, Lord Blackthorne?’
‘Indeed it is, Mrs Pearson. Unfortunately I have to forego enjoying the rest of the afternoon outdoors. I’m on my way to visit my attorney in a stuffy office.’ His manner was suave and encompassed them all. Then in an agile spring he was on the phaeton and soon steering the greys away from the kerb.
‘Oh...he is so wonderfully distinguished,’ Edith Vickers breathed. ‘Hugh is lucky indeed to have such a friend.’
Elise became aware of three sets of eyes on her.
‘Well?’ Dolly Pearson prompted, keen to know what was making her younger niece look shell-shocked. ‘What made him take you out of the shop like that? What has he said?’ She tapped Elise’s forearm to hurry an answer.
‘Such a masterful gentleman...’ Edith sighed, recalling the incident.
Elise was unable to formulate a better excuse than the one Alex had supplied, so reluctantly used it. ‘The viscount wanted to say sorry for Mr Kendrick’s unwise attention to Beatrice.’ Her voice sounded high and unnatural, but she retained sense enough not to want to upset her sister.
Beatrice pulled a forlorn little face, then peeked inside her paper bag containing her purchase of ribbon.
‘I’m not sure the viscount should have blamed all of that on Hugh.’ Edith’s loyalty to her nephew caused her to review his good fortune in having a turncoat for a best friend.
‘It certainly isn’t an innocent young lady’s fault if a gentleman singles her out for particular attention.’ Dolly took up the cudgels on behalf of her niece. The two older women exchanged combatant stares. Edith sallied forth first, leaving Dolly to trail in her wake.
Elise linked arms with Beatrice and urged her on. Her heart was still racing from the vital news received from the viscount. Putting aside his marriage proposal, she knew there were other momentous facts that she must set her mind to. But not yet. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. ‘Let me see what you’ve bought.’ She took Bea’s paper bag and discovered inside a coil of thin turquoise velvet. ‘It would look very fine stitched around the hem of your new lemon dress,’ Elise said, handing back her sister’s purchase.
‘Oh...what is the point? There will be nobody to see it.’ Beatrice sighed dolefully. ‘Not that I care about going out now...’
‘Oh, do cheer up, Bea!’ Elise said with an impatience born of anxiety. ‘I have had enough of your sulks and will be glad to be home!’
* * *
‘It is good to be back, Papa.’
Walter Dewey patted at the slender white fingers resting on his shoulder. ‘And it is good to have the two of you home again. I have missed your company, my dear.’ Walter put down his pen on the ledger and turned stiffly. He had been logging household accounts when Elise softly approached to stand behind his chair.
