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He saw her soften. Her body language and her eyes gave her away, and he was again struck by the knowledge that she was a kind-hearted girl ready to see the good in people, always ready to be reasonable. She said, “Well, perhaps we were wrong to cause you so much concern, and I was wrong to ask Freddy to meet me. I had not realized he made a promise to you … at any rate, I take the blame. It was all my fault.”
“Will you trust me enough to tell me why—what is going on, love?”
Love? Would that he meant it. She could not meet his gaze, “I … I am not ready to tell you, and I don’t wish to lie to you.”
Damn but he loved her. Honorable little chit. “Come now, trust me, Serena.” He could see that both his nephew and Serena could not meet his gaze. Just what were these two up to that they felt they couldn’t confide in him? Why all the secrecy?
“Sorry, Uncle, but I don’t think we should be standing about on the open road. I suggest we see Serena home.”
“Ah, am I now to be allowed to accompany you two?” He smiled, now determined to find out what they were up to, one way or another. “Thank you.”
Serena eyed Freddy, and because her face gave so much away, he could see she was torn with indecision. One of them was bound to give over and confide in him. He was sure of it, but which one?
* * *
It was early afternoon of the same day that Davis announced the Reverend Eustace at the library door.
The squire was out for a visit to a neighboring friend, and Serena was curled upon the sofa with a collection of Byron’s narrative poems. She looked up from “Don Juan” and felt a certain trepidation when she met Eustace’s gaze. Did he know? Had he seen her and Freddy at the tomb?
Eustace inclined h
is head as he entered, and she unfurled to sit straight up on the sofa and greet him politely. He bent over her extended fingers, and his eyes were warm with something she recognized as admiration. She breathed a sigh of relief. He showed no sign of knowing.
“Exquisite,” he said softly. “When I first came in you looked like a veritable kitten, all soft and lovely.”
Something about him was different, though she could not say what. She smiled a welcome and said, “Eustace, as always, so gallant.” She waved him to the leather-bound wing chair opposite her and was surprised when he sat instead on the sofa by her side.
He had not yet released her hand, and she gently pulled, but even so, he did not release it. She arched a brow but felt a tremor of nerves shake her.
“Serena, you must know why I am here,” he said on a low note.
“Must I?” she returned cautiously.
“Indeed, I believe I have made it obvious. I have displayed my decided partiality for your company in the hopes that you might give me a sign.”
Serena almost sighed with relief. He didn’t know; this was about a proposal. She rushed in to stop him. “Eustace … do not—”
He cut her off. “I must. I believe our friendship has grown to the point where I might have a hope that you hold me in the esteem with which I hold you.”
“Eustace, you are too good, but I … well …” She did not wish to hurt him but had to nip this. “I don’t wish to leave my uncle.”
“Serena, I don’t mean to whisk you away to a foreign land,” he said and chuckled. “Your concern for your uncle does you credit. I have been hopeful, however, that I might have won a place in your heart. There will be time enough—”
She cut him off again. “No, stop, Eustace … don’t say anymore. I can’t.”
His lips tightened. “’Tis Pendleton, isn’t it? He has turned your head. I knew it yesterday when I saw the way you looked at him.”
“Don’t be absurd,” she answered but did not meet his eye.
“I wasn’t worried about the boy. I knew you were just humoring him, and Warren … well, Warren needs to make a marriage of convenience. Thus, I took my time with you …” He stopped himself then as he feverishly kissed her fingers.
She pulled them away roughly, and he exclaimed, “Serena. Don’t you see? He won’t marry you. He will only rake your heart and leave it broken.”
The door opened, and Davis announced, “Lord Daniel Pendleton.”
Serena saw his lordship’s eyes flicker from the reverend to her. He had seen her pull her hand out of Eustace’s hold. Her cheeks felt as though they were on fire. Her eyes opened wide, for as Eustace got to his feet his entire face looked to be on fire.
“My lord,” Serena greeted him gratefully. “What a pleasant surprise.”
