“I do not know, but she insisted that she wasn’t his mistress.”
“And you believe her?”
“I do.”
Lord Rushcliffe ran a hand through his dark hair. “I was told that Lady Eugenie was rather possessive of my brother.”
“That does not sound like Lady Eugenie,” Enid said. “She is generally practical and logical in her approach to things.”
“We might be going down a dangerous path on this one,” Lord Rushcliffe warned. “I need to prepare you that you might not like what I find.”
“I understand.”
Lord Rushcliffe held her gaze for a moment before asking, “What is troubling you?”
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I can see it in your eyes,” Lord Rushcliffe said. “You are terrible at hiding your emotions.”
Enid should have known that she couldn’t hide what she was feeling around a seasoned investigator. With a glance at the doorway, she replied, “My father spoke to yours and they have decided that it would be best if we did not associate with one another.”
“I see,” he responded, taking a small step towards her. “Is that what you want?”
“No, it is not, but I think it would be for the best,” Enid replied. “I do not want you to damage your reputation by associating with me.”
“Do I not get a say in this?” Lord Rushcliffe asked.
Enid bobbed her head. “Yes, but I do not want you to be friends with me out of pity.”
“Is that what you think I am doing?”
“I cannot presume to know what your intentions are,” Enid admitted.
Lord Rushcliffe’s eyes crinkled around the edges. “I am friends with you because I want to be, not because of some misguided notion that I pity you. And I do not abandon my friends, for any reason, no matter the repercussions.”
“But your reputation—”
“I care more about you than my reputation,” Lord Rushcliffe said, speaking over her.
Enid stared up at him, unsure of his meaning. Did he care for her as a friend or, dare she believe that his feelings extended beyond that? Did she want that?
Lord Rushcliffe’s eyes grew intense, more so than she had ever seen before. “I will decide who I associate with, not my father, and most assuredly, not theton.” His words were firm but held a gentleness to them. “Do you understand?”
All Enid could do was nod her head in understanding.
“You will not rid yourself of me so easily,” Lord Rushcliffe said.
“I do not want to rid myself of you,” Enid admitted, pleased that she found her voice.
Lord Rushcliffe smiled, and her heart took flight. “I am pleased to hear that, and I hope I am not being too presumptuous, but may I call you by your given name?”
“You may,” Enid replied.
“Then you must call me by mine,” he said.
Enid felt herself smiling in response. “I would like that… Greydon,” she said, tripping up on his given name.
“That was a good first attempt, and I do believe it will get easier every time you say it, which I hope is often."
