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Hilaria couldn’t prevent her amusement. “You are truly devious, Eastwood. But I see your point. And while strolling, we may see even more people to talk about us,” she added with a laugh.
“So, you are in agreement?” he asked in a low tone, searching her face as though to better ascertain her thoughts. Hilaria fought the shiver of delight that wished to disconcert her. At her nod, he rose to his feet and approached her mother.
Hilaria watched in fascination as he seemed to perform for their audience. He appeared to be trying to be discreet, but his deep voice still carried throughout the room.
“My dear Lady Sherton,” he began with a flourishing bow. “Might I have your permission to escort Lady Hilaria for a walk around the block? Perhaps we might find a park to stroll through. I am certain Lady Hilaria will know of the perfect place.”
Lady Sherton fluttered her eyelashes as well as her hand at Lord Eastwood but still managed to cast a shrewd glance over at Hilaria. Hil tried not to squirm under her mother’s scrutiny. She refused to be cowed, despite the fact that she was practicing a deception of the vainest sort. Even though their mother didn’t impose too many strictures upon her daughters, the lady had a few strange notions about what was appropriate conduct for the daughters of an earl. Hilaria couldn’t predict which way this was going to go. But then she saw the winning smile Eastwood was blessing the countess with, and she was again forced to stifle a snort. No woman would be able to resist that, Hilaria thought with an inward roll of her eyes. She was not surprised when her mother nodded.
“But she must bring her maid,” Lady Sherton decreed. “And Tom Footman,” she added with a firm nod.
Hilaria was surprised by the addition. She rather thought the footman had feelings for her maid. Neither of them would be overly attentive if they were able to flirt together. Perhaps her mother was shrewder than she let on, Hilaria thought with admiration as she curtsied to the room and hurried away to collect her maid and don a spencer and hat as quickly as possible. She suspected it would be awkward for Eastwood to remain in the receiving rooms without her, after having been so obvious in his attentions.
The viscount was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs with Tom Footman waiting by the door. Both servants appeared pleased with their assignment. They wouldn’t be bothering the conspirators. Hilaria stifled her giggle as she joined Eastwood.
“I’ve never seen a woman get ready as fast as you just did,” he commented with a note of admiration that made Hilaria’s face heat.
“You’ve probably only known fashionable women,” she said, dismissing his compliment.
Eastwood frowned as he examined her appearance carefully. “Why do you insist that you aren’t fashionable? You look completely normal and perfectly acceptable. In fact, with the pink in your cheeks and the green of your spencer bringing out the colour in your lovely hazel eyes, I would even go so far as to say you look radiant.” He paused as Hilaria fought her embarrassment over his scrutiny. “Or it could just be that conspiring agrees with you,” he concluded with a wink.
Hilaria was relieved that he had turned it into a joke. She grinned at him and took his elbow as he escorted her from the house. Tom and Sally fell into step behind them, keeping a discreet distance. Hilaria wasn’t sure if that was for her sake or their own, but she appreciated it none the less. She was looking forward to the stroll. It was a beautiful day, almost summery in the sunshine and warm breeze. Unusual for the capital. She was determined to enjoy it as much as possible.
After a few minutes of companionable silence, Eastwood cleared his throat. Hilaria took that to mean that he was about to tell her something he was uncomfortable talking about. She was relieved that he didn’t leave her waiting overlong.
“I expect my mother to arrive tomorrow or perhaps the next day, depending how long she stops and so on.”
Nervous flutters took off in Hilaria’s midsection, but she swiftly tried to quell them. They were expecting this. There was no reason to overreact. But she couldn’t quite convince herself. Eastwood’s hand settled over hers where it rested in the crook of his arm.
“You aren’t nervous are you?” he asked with a bracing tone.
“Of course not.” She did her best to scoff but from the sympathy etched on his face, Hilaria was reasonably certain she had failed. She frowned. “Are you? From the little you’ve said, I take it your relationship is somewhat contentious. I would think that would cause some qualms on your part.”
It was impossible for her to interpret the confusing mixture of sentiments that competed for space on his face and in his gaze, but she knew he was not as indifferent as he would like to claim.
“Not a single qualm. At least, not on my own behalf. For you, perhaps.”
Hilaria tried to ignore the weight of his gaze by looking about them as he seemed to try to see into her soul.
“I know you agreed to this, but I’m starting to wonder if I’ve asked too much of you.”
This brought Hilaria’s gaze back to collide with his. “Do you suspect I’m not up to the challenge, Eastwood?” she demanded before softening slightly. “Or are you realizing that it might not accomplish what you hoped?”
“Not in the least. On either count, in fact. I know you’re up to the challenge. But it isn’t likely to be an enjoyable experience. And if it doesn’t accomplish what we’d hoped for you, I will feel that I have taken advantage of you.”
Hilaria was touched despite herself. But she quickly waved her hand as though to dismiss his concerns.
“Do not trouble yourself over me, my lord. I shall be just fine. It cannot possibly be worse than it is presently. I haven’t yet had a single offer. While I know that the study of mathematics allows for negative numbers, in reality, it cannot happen. I cannot receive less than zero offers.” When she encountered his sympathetic gaze, she refused to meet his eyes, and continued in a bracing tone. “Besides, I am certain to garner sympathy from others when it becomes known that you’ve lost interest in me. That might prove to be interesting. Or some might suspect that I had grown tired of your insistence upon such brightly coloured waistcoats, and no one will think anything of it.”
Eastwood laughed right out loud with those words, which was exactly what Hilaria had intended. His sympathy and warm gaze did strange things to her midsection, and she had no desire to allow them to continue.
She couldn’t wait to go home and hide in her father’s study. Surely the columns and statements would soothe her troubled spirits. But she didn’t really want to escape from Eastwood’s presence, though, either. Since she had never before been courted, she was unfamiliar with such focused male attention. It was far different from that of her father. When they worked together on estate affairs, their focus was directed to the matters at hand, not really each other. Although, Hilaria would surmise that part of the attraction to helping her father was having him to herself.
As soon as Lord Eastwood bade her farewell, Hilaria hurried up the stairs and headed toward the back of the house, only pausing to leave her hat and spencer with her maid.
“I was hoping you’d be here,” she said with delight as she caught sight of Lord Sherton seated behind his large desk.
“Are you hiding from your mother again?” he asked with a smile.
