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“Sometimes. Just now, you actually do, even as you are horrified at the thought.”
“Ignore that then, and ask. I shall perish of curiosity if you don’t after all this build up.”
Hilaria grinned. “That would never do.” But she still hesitated. She had realized that she didn’t quite dislike Eastwood as much as she had thought at first. And she truly didn’t want to cause awkwardness between them, as they were entering into this project together. But if she couldn’t ask him, she couldn’t ask anyone.
“Very well, my lord, here it is: why are gentlemen so eager to discuss their stupid exploits, but not actually the things that matter? And should I just not ask? I thought it was good to express an interest in someone else’s interests. But Lord Sterling seemed appalled by my questions.”
“Whatever could you have been asking him?”
“I asked him about a Bill he had presented in the House. My father had mentioned it to me, and I had read about it in the paper. But when I asked, he seemed very strange. So, I tried to turn the subject and asked him about his estate. Why wouldn’t he want to discuss that? It seemed to me to be exactly what a titled gentleman would want to discuss. I certainly would love to talk about Sherton or Glendale, and they won’t even ever be mine.”
When Hilaria finally managed to get her tongue to stop flapping, she had the sensation that she had laid herself bare before Eastwood. Luckily for her, he didn’t seem to realize that she had revealed her innermost desire, as he had become stuck on the first of her questions.
“I’m surprised you even know about his Bill.”
“Yes, it would seem that is the common reaction, my lord.” Hilaria’s dry tone made Eastwood grin. She couldn’t decide how she felt about his amusement. She finally began to slowly eat. Either she was hungrier than she had realized or their host’s cook was more skilled than usual, for the food was going down more readily than expected at such an event.
“No one expects me to know about it. But there you have it, I do know at least a little bit. But no one seems inclined to tell me about it. I hadn’t thought it to be a secret. And I meant absolutely no offence by asking.”
“Surely, Sterling wasn’t offended by your question.”
“I hesitate to argue with you, Eastwood, but you weren’t there, so how could you know?” Hilaria scowled at her companion even as she knew she ought to be smiling. She was starting to think she would be unable to succeed at this endeavour.
Eastwood inclined his head as though in agreement. “You’re right, my apologies, Lady Hilaria. I cannot possibly say why he would hesitate to discuss it with you. Perhaps he has just never been asked by a woman before.”
“But surely lots of women take an interest in the goings on of the House.”
“None that I’ve known.”
Hilaria stared down at her plate, disappointed to know that once again she was the strange one. It was disheartening. Why couldn’t she be more like Rosabel? She tried to keep a smile on her face but suspected it was a failed attempt.
“My lady, do not take it so hard. Why did you care so deeply about that particular Bill?”
Hilaria lifted one shoulder in half a shrug. “I didn’t particularly. It was more the awkwardness of his refusal to tell me anything. I felt as though I had once again done something socially unacceptable.”
Eastwood frowned, confused. “I haven’t heard of you having a reputation of unacceptable behaviour.”
Hilaria offered him the one shouldered shrug once more. “Why do you suppose I’m still unwed?”
“Because no dukes have offered for you?”
Hilaria tried to smile. “It’s because I’m strange and don’t know how to act.”
Eastwood’s frown deepened. “You haven’t seemed so terribly strange to me. Aside from your fixation with becoming a duchess. Truly, my lady, asking a gentleman about his politics isn’t anywhere beyond the pale and if someone tries to tell you such, they are the ones in the wrong, not you. And asking a gentleman about his estate shouldn’t be considered strange either. I could wax poetic about Eastwood, if you’d like to hear it.”
“Really, Eastwood? You’d allow me to question how you breed your sheep or which type of mining you prefer?”
“Why not? Do you actually have an interest in such?”
Hilaria felt heat creep up her neck, and she couldn’t meet his gaze. “I do.”
“Very well, my lady, perhaps you are a trifle strange,” he said with a smile. “I cannot fathom why you have become embarrassed about such an interest. I’ll tell you all about it when we go driving next, I promise you. But for now, try to smile and eat a little more. No one will be writing to my mother about our supper assignation except to tell her that I bored you to tears.”
To her surprise, Hilaria laughed. She hadn’t been on the verge of tears, but perhaps a bout of melancholy, and she appreciated him putting a swift stop to it. She picked up her fork and ate a little more of the meal.
“That’s better,” he said with satisfaction. “Now tell me, which of those dandies you danced with were most to your liking this evening.”
“Dandies? Are you including yourself or only the others?”
