Rising, Elinor smoothed down her pale pink gown. “You are much more tolerable.”
Alden rose with her. “Only tolerable?”
Elinor came around her desk and stood in front of him, a playful smile on her lips. “You still vex me.”
“I have to keep things interesting between us,” Alden responded as he offered his arm. “Shall we adjourn to the dining room now?”
She took his arm, and the smell of lavender drifted off her person. He resisted the urge to lean closer to her.
As they walked towards the dining room, Elinor asked, “Do you have any Christmas traditions that I should know about?”
“I’m afraid not,” Alden responded. “I have spent more Christmases alone than with my family.”
“That is awful.”
“No, it is familiar,” Alden said. “I don’t know what I would do if my parents suddenly wished to spend time with me.”
Elinor glanced over at him, her eyes softening with sympathy. “I’m sorry,” she said, knowing her words were wholly inadequate.
“Do not feel bad for me. I have learned to make do,” Alden remarked. “I prefer spending Christmas alone.”
“Well, you aren’t going to be alone tomorrow. We will spend the day together,” Elinor insisted.
Alden tipped his head. “I have no objections.”
“Good, because you have little choice in the matter,” Elinor joked. “What should we do? We could start with a morning ride?”
“In this weather? I think not,” Alden asked.
Elinor stepped into the dining room and dropped Alden’s arm. “It is not that bad,” she attempted as she went to sit down.
Alden claimed the seat next to her. “Although, going on a morning ride does sound more enjoyable than listening to your aunt playing the bagpipes.”
“You make a good point,” Elinor said, reaching for a cup of chocolate. “And I will be sure to protect you from any spiders we see.”
“How are you not afraid of spiders?”
Elinor took a sip and returned the cup to her saucer. “Oh, I am terrified of them. I just had to tease you about them.”
Alden chuckled. “So you recognize how immensely large house spiders are?”
“They are ginormous,” Elinor declared. “I once woke up to one that was in the corner of my canopy bed. I think I woke the whole household with my screams.”
He tsked. “Yet you made me believe I was the only one who was afraid of them.”
“I had to humble you one way or another.”
Shifting in his seat, Alden asked, “Why did you need to humble me?”
“You were just like every gentleman in high Society when you first arrived,” Elinor responded. “Cocky. Inconsiderate. Thinking you were god’s gift to women.”
“And now?”
Elinor met his gaze. “I told you- you are tolerable now.”
He huffed. “I am more than tolerable.”
“What are you then?”
