Page 25 of A Question of Worth

"My dear Eliza! You have come."

The warmth of Lady Sarah's voice pushed back the chill that threatened to sweep over Eliza's frame. A long, ragged breath escaped her as Sarah threw her arms around her shoulders, embracing her warmly. "Sarah. I — I am glad indeed to see you."

Sarah's eyes rounded as she took in Eliza's expression. "You are concerned about being here this evening, it seems."

"Yes, I am."

"You need not be," Sarah replied stoutly. "I have heard many a muttering about Lady Ravenshill's manner towards you and how inappropriate it was for a lady of society to speak so." She smiled. "Not every person present thinks ill of you, Eliza."

"That is precisely what I have been saying," Lady Newark added, sounding triumphant as Eliza managed a rueful smile. "Not everyone present is an enemy."

Sarah took Eliza's arm. "Come, let us take a turn about the room and I will prove that to you," she said, giving Eliza no choice but to step out with her, her aunt giving her a nod of consent as she remained where she was. "Besides, I must askyou if you have made any further progress in the matter of Lady Warrington's will."

"Some," Eliza admitted, her eyes darting from left to right and then back again, afraid of who else might be watching her with darkness in their gaze. "I believe that Lady Warrington might have been of aid to my father when he was in the very depths of debt and shame." Seeing Sarah's eyebrows lift, she managed to smile a little. "I do not know why she would do so. Lord Ashcombe, however, is doing all he can to discover whether or not that is true and, if it is, the purpose behind her actions."

"That is good." Sarah smiled, a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. "Lord Ashcombe has become a close companion of yours, I think."

"You know that he offered to be of assistance to me in this," Eliza responded quickly. "That should come as no surprise."

Sarah's lips curved. "That is not what I meant," she said plainly as they continued to meander slowly around the room. "When he came to your defense at the picnic, I thought I might have detected a little more in his voice, something that did not come solely from a sense of duty."

The memory came before she could stop it — how he had stood, tall and strong, in front of her, shielding her from Lady Ravenshill. He had not only come to her defense, but he had made certain that everyone present knew precisely what he thought of Eliza — and how he wasnotgoing to step back from her.

"In case you are unaware, you are smiling at present."

Quickly wiping the expression from her face, Eliza shot what she hoped was a hard look towards her friend, only to make Sarah laugh.

"Your attempts to pretend that there is nothing in your heart for Lord Ashcombe will not do anything to prevent me from believing it to be true," Sarah said, pitching her voice low so thewords fell only between them. "I am afraid I will not relent, my dear friend." She drew Eliza's arm closer, tilting her head near. "Tell me the truth: are you as taken with him as I believe?"

Heat curled in Eliza's stomach at how near her friend had come to the truth.

Hesitating, Eliza bit her lip, glanced at her friend and then averted her gaze to the floor. She had not spoken of her feelings for Lord Ashcombe to anyone, had barely even admitted them to herself. There were so many other things to consider, so many other matters that required her full attention, but here, in this moment, she found herself faced with the opportunity to speak freely.

She could not lie.

"When he first came to speak with me, I could not have thought anything good of him, I confess it," she said slowly, making sure to keep her voice soft and quiet. "Now, however, I must admit that my feelings have... changed. I did not expect them to change, to alter with such strength. They have taken me quite by surprise, to the point that I do not even want to admit to them for fear of what that will do."

Sarah's gaze softened. "Do?" she asked, as Eliza, her face hot, struggled to look at her friend. "Whatever do you mean?"

"I can never admit to them," Eliza responded quickly. "He has done so much for me; he has given me so much of himself, and if I were to tell him of my heart... I fear that it would send him back from all we have built."

Much to her surprise, Sarah threw back her head and laughed, making Eliza's face burn all the hotter. "My dear Eliza!" she exclaimed, although Eliza quickly quieted her with a grasp of her hand and a tiny shake of her head. "My dear Eliza," Sarah said again, a good deal more quietly this time, "if you believe that Lord Ashcombe has nothing but duty or a sense of gentlemanlybehavior as his motivations, then I must assure you that you are quite mistaken."

Eliza blinked, her chest tightening. "Sarah, he desires to protect the good name of his family and — "

"So why speak with such forthrightness at St James' Park, when all and sundry could see him do so?" Sarah asked, turning to Eliza, stopping in their walk as she steadied her gaze. "That does not protect his family name but protectsyou. Why should he do such a thing as that? It is no longer about duty, Eliza, but about something more than that. Something a good deal more powerful."

Eliza nodded slowly, absorbing her friend's words. Her fingers had tightened around the edge of her fan — she noticed the grip and, after a beat, loosened it, letting the fan rest lightly in her lap. Could it be true? Could Lord Ashcombe have even the smallest sense of affection for her? She wondered just how such a thing would be expressed — and if she ought to be the one to speak of it. "I should not tell him of my heart, however," she said, frowning as Sarah tipped her head to one side, considering. "There is still more for us to work through as regards Lady Warrington's will. I do not want to make things all the more difficult or confusing by expressing my feelings at this particular time. Mayhap I should wait?"

Sarah sighed. "Yes, I suppose it would be prudent to do so. But promise me this, Eliza," she said, reaching out and taking Eliza's hand. "Swear to me you will not keep it quiet and silent in your heart, that youwillspeak of it."

Eliza closed her eyes, her hopes swirling alongside anxiety. "I do not know if I will have the courage, Sarah," she admitted softly, "but at the very least, I can promise to try."

Sarah's hand tightened sharply on hers, and Eliza, her eyes flaring open, was about to ask why she had done such a thing, only to see Lord Ashcombe approaching them, a smile on hisface that sent a swirl of warmth into his eyes. Her heart fluttered, her throat going dry as he approached, stopping only to bow low towards them both.

"Good evening, Lady Sarah, Miss Fairleigh."

"Good evening, Lord Ashcombe." Sarah was the first to speak, perhaps anticipating Eliza's need for a few moments to gain her composure. "How pleasant to see you this evening."