He was a walking anomaly. So why did her heart beat a little faster when he was around? It would do no good for her to develop feelings for Lord Rushcliffe because she would never act on them. She couldn’t. She had learned the hard way that giving her heart away would only end in heartache and sorrow. That is why she had vowed never to trust her inconvenient heart again. It had deceived her once before.
Enid closed the book and set it down on the table. There was no point in trying to pretend to be reading, especially since she kept reading the same page, over and over again. No matter how hard she tried to banish Lord Rushcliffe from her thoughts, he was ever prevalent there, tormenting her, relentlessly.
She was grateful for his assistance in helping Lady Eugenie, and she believed him when he said he would investigate with an open mind. Why did she trust him so easily? She always had; from the moment she had first met him.
Rising, Enid ran a hand down her pale pink gown with a square neckline. She needed new gowns in darker colors, ones that reflected her widowed status, but those could wait. Her first priority was helping Lady Eugenie so she could return home to her sister, especially since she knew how her friend felt about her uncle. He may be Eugenie’s guardian, but she had practically raised her sister since their parents had died.
Enid walked over to the window and stared out to the street. A coach came to a stop in front of their townhouse and a footman stepped off his perch to open the door. Once the door was opened, Lord Rushcliffe stepped out onto the pavement and approached the main door.
He cut a dashing figure in his fine clothing and she realized he looked really smart, indeed. He definitely looked the part of a lord, and she knew he would have no issue with finding a bride. Women would flock to him now that he was an heir to an earldom. She grew somber at that thought. She knew she had no right to him, but she also didn’t want him to be with another.
Osborne stepped into the room and announced, “Lord Rushcliffe has arrived, my lady. Would you care for me to show him in?”
“Yes, please,” she said.
The butler tipped his head in acknowledgement before he departed from the drawing room. It was only a moment later when Lord Rushcliffe stepped into the room. He stopped and bowed. “My lady,” he greeted, cordially.
Enid dropped into a curtsy. “My lord,” she murmured.
“I hope I am not too early.”
“Not at all,” she replied. “The dinner bell should be rung shortly.”
Lord Rushcliffe looked at her the way all women want to be looked at, making her feel beautiful. “You look lovely this evening,” he said.
“Thank you,” Enid said, suddenly feeling very nervous. “Would you care to sit and have a cup of tea while we wait?”
“I would like that very much,” Lord Rushcliffe responded.
A maid slipped into the room and went to sit in the corner, ensuring they were properly chaperoned. It was rather silly in her opinion but her mother insisted.
Lord Rushcliffe waited until she sat down before he claimed the seat across from her. “I spoke to Mr. Moore earlier and we are going to visit my brother’s apartment tomorrow morning. With any luck, we will discover something that could aid in proving Lady Eugenie’s innocence.”
“That is wonderful news.”
“I do not want you to get your hopes up, though,” Lord Rushcliffe said. “We might find nothing of importance.”
“I understand.” Enid reached for the teapot and poured two cups of tea. Then she extended one towards Lord Rushcliffe.
As he accepted the cup, their fingers brushed up against one another and her breath hitched. Good heavens! This would never do. She needed to protect her heart, at all costs.
“Thank you,” he said as he leaned back in his seat.
“You are most kindly welcome.”
They both sipped their tea and Enid was worried that the silence had stretched on for too long, causing her to blurt out the first thing she could think of saying. “It was a fine day today, was it not?” Drats. Did she just say something so incredibly dull?
“It was a fine day,” Lord Rushcliffe agreed.
“I do hope tomorrow will follow suit.” When the words left her mouth, Enid immediately wished she could take them back. What must he think of her?
Lord Rushcliffe nodded. “I agree.” He leaned forward and placed his teacup and saucer onto the table. “But I would prefer if we discussed something else.”
“What would you care to discuss?”
“Anything but the weather,” Lord Rushcliffe replied with a smile.
Enid felt herself relax. There was no reason to be nervous around him. He had seen her at her worst, and he still came around.
