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While she hadn’t expected a return to this conversation, at least it had moved him away from the subject of her virginity. “Yes, Will.”
“Would you tell me what you were looking for? I might be able to help.”
There was no point in denying him. He knew the truth now anyway. And finding herself unable to resist the sincerity in his voice, she nodded.
“I found several of my mother’s journals. There was nothing in them about my father, but she made reference to a hidden diary. I’ve searched all the estates and just needed to recheck a few rooms here.”
“So you thought to inspect your parents’ bedroom while I was gone last night,” Will added.
“Yes,” she admitted. “It makes the most sense that the journal would be there. But sometimes I wonder if perhaps the duke found it and destroyed the evidence.” Elizabeth moved to the chair closest to the pianoforte. Somehow, the sofa just didn’t seem like the correct place for such a conversation.
“When your father, excuse me, the duke told you that he wasn’t your father, did he mention anything about evidence?” Will asked before moving to the pianoforte bench.
“No. That’s when I started to review my mother’s diaries. I thought she might have mentioned something in one of them.” Instead, all her mother left was this mess. Elizabeth had no idea which gentleman was her father. Every ball she attended, her gaze searched out some similarity between the older men and herself.
“You said you searched in all the rooms in this house, then?” Will ran his fingers up the keys of the pianoforte. The sound resonated in the room.
“As I reread the diaries, one entry made me think she might have hidden it in a secret compartment. So I checked the boys’ room a few days ago when you took the children to Hyde Park.”
Will smiled over at her and her heart jumped. “So that explains your disheveled appearance at the time.”
Elizabeth smiled back at him. “Yes. You came home earlier than I’d expected.”
“I would like to help you, Elizabeth,” Will offered.
“How could you help me?”
“I was thinking that maybe tonight instead of a history lesson, you and I could check my study. Perhaps your mother thought if she hid it under the duke’s nose, he would never find it.”
“I think it would be very helpful to have some assistance.”
And didn’t that sound like a witless thing to say.
This whole situation seemed entirely like an odd dream. They had made love, or was that sexual congress if you weren’t in love with the man? And she was not in love with Will. Period. Which meant what they just did was a simple case of lust.
Not love.
She had only known the man for a little over a week. That was hardly enough time to fall in love with a person. Desire was one thing, but love another thing completely.
So if she wasn’t in love with him, why was she sitting here staring at him like an adolescent girl? Why did she think his offer to help her find the diary one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for her?
Why did she want to take his hand and lead him back to his bedroom, lock the door, and stay in bed with him for the rest of the day?
Lust, not love.
She didn’t believe in love at first sight. And a week was first sight in her opinion.
“I believe the children have returned,” Will said, interrupting her musing. He rose from his seat and held his hand out to her. “Shall we see how the outing went?”
“Yes. I’ll be there in a moment. I need to put my hair back up.”
“Of course.” Will walked to the door and opened it before looking back at her. “Is two weeks enough time to plan our wedding?”
Will watched Elizabeth’s bemused expression and smiled inwardly. As much as she’d tried to be calm and emotionless about making love with him, he was certain it had upset her. It was only natural after a woman’s first time.
“I beg your pardon?” she finally managed to say.
“Our wedding? We need to set a date.”
