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However, first she needed a little time to herself. No matter how many times she partook in the Season, Eleanor could never fathom how people could dine and talk and dance night after night after night.
Not to mention she was tiring herself with constantly looking for Oliver—despite her better judgement. He’d been seated far away from her tonight, all the way down near the end of the long table and next to Sir Fairfield’s curvaceous niece. Why she had even taken note of any of it, she did not know, but her gaze would not cease skipping to him. It left her with a strangely tight sensation in her chest and she longed to rid herself of it.
Cassie gave Eleanor’s arm a squeeze and headed back toward her husband who was conversing with a group of men.
Before anyone else could stop her, Eleanor slipped out of the room and down the darkened corridor, past several medieval tapestries and into a small chapel, tucked into the side of the house. The room offered a simple altar, lit with two candles, and many devotionals hung upon the walls, carefully framed in matching wood. A wooden cross hung above the altar.
Eleanor picked up a Bible and eased down to perch on the raised plinth. The light made for difficult reading, and she squinted at a passage, running a gloved finger over the text, for a few moments before giving up and slapping it shut.
“Not feeling very religious?”
She jerked her head and gasped, spying Oliver, his shoulder resting against the doorframe. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
His gaze struck her hard, the warm candlelight deepening the color of his eyes. Her heart gave a little jolt at the response, and she frowned. Could he not have said he’d come upon her accidentally? Or made some other excuse? Did he have to be so boldly honest and make her feel...feel...
Well, something. Something she had no business feeling. Had she forgotten she did not even like the man already?
Oliver pushed away from the door and entered the room, his tall frame seeming to suck the air from the tiny chapel. He eased down next to her, his jacket sleeve brushing the bare skin between her arm and gloves. A shiver ran through her.
“It’s much warmer in the saloon.”
“It is also much more crowded,” she countered.
“Ah.”
Several moments of silence passed, interrupted only by the faint crackle of the candles burning. “Did you need something?”
“I wondered how your investigation into this wedding business was going?” He twisted to look at her, forcing her to meet his gaze, and Eleanor instantly regretted it when the tightness in her chest warmed and loosened. The candlelight not only flattered his eye color but smoothed his skin and emphasized the perfect cut of his jaw. No wonder he had a reputation—what woman in their right mind could deny him?
She inhaled but it didn’t fill her lungs as much as she would have liked. The room grew smaller, warmer, closer with him in it.
She could deny him, Eleanor reminded himself.Notthat she would need to. The man flirted with every woman in existence, and she was nothing special. Lady Julia might be a toad, but she was not wrong—spinsterhood was very much on her horizon.
“I have a plan,” she managed to reply through a tight throat.
“And?”
“Chastity is hosting a ladies luncheon shortly, and there I shall question and listen for information. I believe it is most certainly a woman behind this sabotage business.”
“I think you might be right. I spoke with Blake, and I think it unlikely anyone is targeting him.”
“Of course, it could be a scorned lover.”
Oliver shook his head. “I thought of that. Blake is certain it is not, and I believe him.”
“Well, you would, naturally. I imagine you believe every woman you’ve scorned still adores you.”
He grinned. “They do, but I have never scorned any of them. I’m not in the habit of trying to make enemies.” His gaze flicked over her, making another shiver skip through her. “Besides, I think it far more likely it is you and your sisters who have more enemies than either Blake or I.” A brow lifted. “Given that you run an investigative society.”
Eleanor opened her mouth, closed it, then narrowed her gaze at him. “Now how do you know about that?”
And why did the thought that he might know her even better than she realized both terrify and thrill her?
∞∞∞
Oliver smirked. He didn’t know why shocking this woman amused him so much but considering Eleanor kept surprising him at every turn, it seemed suitable revenge. “Were you going to keep it secret from me?”
