Page 6 of The Earl’s Marriage of Convenience

Eliza decided he was also one to calculate. This could be in her favor or not, and with a welcoming smile she offered a curtsey to the gentleman and studied him. He was shorter than Gabriel, with thinner, lighter hair, but seemed to be of the same age. His blue eyes were neither bright nor dull, and they evaluated her with interest.

“Ah, Lord Wakefield, allow me to introduce my cousin, Lady Eliza Montford. She is the daughter of my mother’s brother, the Baron Tonson.”

Wakefield grasped her hand lightly and kissed the air above her wrist. “A pleasure, Lady Eliza. May I be so bold to ask for a dance?”

“I’d be honored, my lord,” she replied, and fanning her lashes demurely, she offered her dance card and willed some pink into her cheeks.

“Have you been enjoying London? I assume you’ve just arrived. I do believe I’d have remembered you had you been in town earlier.” Wakefield gave a quick glance to Gabriel, as if quickly assessing his reaction to the slight flirt.

Gabriel’s lack of reaction must have encouraged him, and he continued, not giving her a chance to answer. “It’s a rather delightful time of year, so many parties, and the weather has been lovely.”

Eliza nodded, then answered. “I’ve only been in town a short while, but I’ve been impressed with what London has to offer, and this being my first ball since arriving, it’s remarkable,” she finished, adding just the right amount of soft excitement into her tone to appear eager but not enough to appear desperate.

“London can be very diverting, especially with the right company,” he added, then stepped back. “I’ll see you for our dance.” He bowed once, nodded to Gabriel, and took his leave.

Eliza watched him fade into the crowd and then followed Gabriel toward Pere. Eliza noted that Pere’s brow arched slightly as she regarded her husband, and as they stood beside her, she lowly spoke. “That didn’t take long.”

“It won’t, but you, dear Eliza, will have to be somewhat selective. The season is rather thin, and so you’ll have more than one suitor, you must be … discerning.” Pere coached.

“Understood.” Eliza’s hopes soared at their words.

All she needed was one proposal. To think she might have a choice of who she agreed to marry was almost too much to hope.

“Wakefield is decent enough. Boring, but decent,” Gabriel whispered.

Pere nudged him in the ribs and gave him a scolding glare.

“It’s true,” Gabriel defended himself.

“Boring is actually on the list,” Eliza stated softly, scanning the room.

When silence met her words, she glanced to her family. Pere was hiding her smile behind a gloved hand, and Gabriel was regarding her like she’d sprouted wings.

He quickly schooled his features. “Pardon?”

“I have a list.” She lifted a dainty shoulder and resisted the urge to fidget.

“And … boring is on the list,” he asked softly, but with an edge of disbelief.

“Yes.”

“What else is on this list? I’m curious now.”

“She can tell you later,” Pere interjected, giving a smile as she welcomed an approaching gentleman.

“Later,” Gabriel quickly whispered, offering hand to the older gentleman, his dark hair graying at the temples and his face lined with creases, but the kind that came from smiling.

She bobbed a curtsey as he came to stand beside their little family circle.

“Hawthorne,” he greeted.

“Langshire,” Gabriel replied, offering his hand. “May I introduce my lovely wife, Lady Hawthorne, and my recently arrived cousin, Lady Eliza Montford, daughter of Baron Tonson.”

“Lady Hawthorne, a pleasure, and Lady Eliza, a pleasure indeed, and how do you find London since you so recently arrived?”

Eliza decided that this would likely be the most often question of the evening, and so she replied the same way as before, keeping to the script. “It’s been remarkable. The weather’s been lovely,” she answered, lowering her eyes just slightly, enough to appear slightly embarrassed, but she then flickered them back up to meet his gaze, allowing a slight blush to stain her cheeks. “Do you often stay in London, my lord? Are you only here for the season?”

Langshire gave a soft chuckle, and she decided she liked the sound. “I’m here as long as required by the House of Lords, and then I’m off to my country estate in Surrey. London is a lovely place to visit, but I’d not want to live here all year.” His answer rang with confident honesty, as one who didn’t like to mince words.