AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Charles’s indignant snort would have wounded him had he not been anticipating it. “Not bloody likely,” said his friend, chuckling. “All of London knows you’re an old friend of the family’s, a sort of older brother to Ellie. I’ve no worries over the rumor mill saying anything to the contrary. She’s safe with you, and that is my chief concern.” He paused and cleared his throat. “I don’t suppose there’s any chance you might be willing to help with a bit of matchmaking while you’re ‘hovering’?”
Sorin forced a negligent shrug. “If you think she’d be receptive to such guidance, I’ll certainly do my best to steer her aright.”
“Excellent! You’ll be my eyes and ears on the front, then,” said Charles, his eyes twinkling. “If you see any likely prospects and are able to make any progress with getting her to consider them, you’ll let me know, eh?”
It really was quite difficult to smile when one truly wanted to scowl, but Sorin made the effort and brought one to his lips. “Naturally.”
Deeper and deeper seemed the hole into which he’d dug himself. Still, there might be a way to turn this around to his benefit. The letters they’d exchanged were all well and good, but what they really needed was time spent together in meaningful conversation. Now that Eleanor was an adult, she needed to get to know him as an equal
. As a man. If she could but see him in a different light, it might engender romantic sentiments toward him. He needed to open her eyes.
It must be done gradually, so as not to shock her. Changing her view of him from “brotherly friend” to “potential lover” would take time.
It would have to be done subtly, as well. Ideally, if all worked out as he hoped, she would be the one to tip her hand first. If he could make her fall in love with him, then, as his mother had suggested, Charles would gladly give his blessing.
It must be done with utmost care for her reputation. The last thing he wanted was for her to accept his offer of marriage only to avoid a scandal. He wanted her to choose him of her own accord.
Chaperoning Ellie would provide him the opportunity to be close to her without raising suspicion. Now he just needed a means by which to gently remove the veil from her sight and make her see him as a potential husband.
Chapter Ten
Stepping down, Eleanor breathed a sigh of relief as her legs, stiff from remaining so long in the same cramped position, slowly un-kinked. While the horses rested, she would take advantage of the welcome, albeit brief, respite from the close air in the box—and from the dreadful Lady Yarborough. An area of smooth grass ran along the wayside, away from the dust of the road. She made for it. “We’ve come farther on this leg of the journey than we did last year,” she remarked as Sorin joined her.
“Well, the weather appears to be cooperating, which helps,” he said, matching her stride as she marched along the hedgerow toward a shaded copse a little way beyond. “God willing, it will stay fair the whole of the journey.”
“If my prayers have any influence in heaven, it will,” she muttered, sending up another silent one.
“That bad?”
“Bad enough that I wish horses could fly.”
“If wishes were fishes,” he said, laughing. “I’ve heard it said that anticipation only lengthens the road.” His hazel eyes crinkled at the corners, the tanned flesh contrasting sharply with his white smile, making it appear all the brighter. Somewhere along the way, he’d removed his jacket and cravat and had loosened his shirt about the throat, leaving it bare. He must have gone without a cravat for an extended period of time recently, for the skin there was just as sun-kissed as that above.
To her shock, Eleanor found herself wondering if it was the same golden hue all the way down to—
“Wherever it is you’ve gone, it must be far away from here,” murmured Sorin.
Heat flooded her cheeks. “It’s not anticipation that makes me long for speed. I—I’m simply weary of riding in the coach.”
“A rather ill omen this early in the voyage, if I may say so,” he said, his smile widening a fraction. “But in light of your confession, perhaps my news will be welcome.”
“News? Do tell,” she replied, glad to latch onto anything that might distract.
“My mother is regretting her lack of a traveling companion and has asked me to invite you to share a seat in our coach. If you are amenable to the idea, of course.”
Amenable? She could have kissed him, she was so happy! An image of her flinging her arms about his neck and doing exactly that popped into her mind. Heat again flared in her face. For shame, Eleanor—discipline your mind! Whatever was the matter with her? Ever since the preposterous idea of marrying him had occurred to her, her thoughts had run wild. She struggled for composure. “I would be absolutely delighted to join her,” she said, privately wondering if her face would hereafter ever lack a blush in his presence.
“Excellent. Then I shall inform Charles and Rowena of the change and fetch your things.” His mouth twitched, and his eyes lit with amusement. “I’m sure Lady Yarborough will be glad of the additional space as well.”
He knows! The dam burst. “Oh, if you’d heard some of the things that woman said to me about—”
His laughter cut in, a low rumble that made her insides quiver in the oddest manner. “If she’s anything at all like her odious offspring, I can only empathize. Give me but a moment to relay my mother’s wishes and I shall rejoin you.”
The tension drained out of her as he turned and strode back to the coaches. Of course he would understand her. Despite his disapproving demeanor, she knew he’d always understood her, sometimes better than she understood herself. She watched him, marking that he took no time to linger but came back straightaway. “Has he been awful?” she asked as he approached, jerking her chin back toward Yarborough.
“Insufferable.” He offered his arm, which she took, and his smile returned as they began to walk. “Charles is praying for a plague to strike him dumb the length of our journey. Personally, I’m praying for something a bit more permanent.”
Smothering a laugh, she looked at him with sympathy. “If it is any consolation, I don’t believe they will be accompanying us for the return.”
