AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Eleanor glanced sideways at him. “You cannot be surprised, surely? I have seen how you look at me.”
He cocked his head. “How do I look at you?”
“As though I am some sort of oddity. As though I do not belong in your world.” She waved a hand, making the bracelet slide down her forearm. “I have seen the same look many a time.”
“Believe me, you have not.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
He took the bracelet between two fingers and slid it back to where it belonged, allowing his fingers to linger and wish there was not satin between her skin and his hand. When he lifted his gaze, he found her staring at his fingers, her lips slightly parted.
“If I am guilty of looking at you, Ellie, it is because I find you ridiculously beautiful.”
Her lashes fluttered a few times. “B-Beautiful?”
“You cannot be in ignorance of it, surely?”
“I do not think about it much but there’s my sisters who are all—”
“Decidedly not you.”
She tilted her head. “You think I’m beautiful?”
“Amongst other things, yes.”
“I—” Eleanor pressed her lips together. “Thank you,” she said softly. “It is a nice thing to hear.”
“Well, I’m only sorry I did not tell you sooner.”
He eyed the bracelet and where his fingers lingered. If he skimmed his hand higher, all the way to her shoulder, he would be within reach of her lips—lips that were slightly parted and incredibly tempting at present. He could run a finger over them and watch for her response and know if she would welcome more from him.
He released the bracelet and moved his finger an inch.
“Come quick!” Aunt Sarah popped her head into the doorway then darted off.
He released the bracelet and grimaced to himself. That had been close.
Chapter Ten
Eleanor shot to her feet so swiftly, her head swam and her vision blurred. She reached blindly out, and her hand connected with a firm chest. Snatching her hand back, she cradled it against her body, feeling as though she had come into contact with fire.
“Demeter,” she gasped, and pivoted when her vision returned.
Oliver’s footsteps echoed behind her as she made her way down the long corridor to spy Aunt Sarah darting through the door to the gardens. She moved as swiftly as her soft shoes would carry her, but they slipped on her heels and were useless for anything other than sitting around. When she finally caught up with her, Aunt Sarah had traversed the patio and was heading into the shadowy depths of the gardens.
“Aunt Sarah! What’s happened? Is Demeter well?”
Aunt Sarah stilled, twisted, and headed back to Eleanor. She gripped Eleanor’s arms. “A redheaded woman. I saw her!”
Eleanor scanned her aunt’s expression. Knowing of her aunt’s love of creating situations between her nieces and men, she saw no word of a lie. “The redhead?”
“Yes, I was coming to find you and I saw her slip past the window here, but I lost her.”
“Where did she go?” Oliver demanded, stepping so close Eleanor smelled his clean-scented cologne.
Aunt Sarah pressed fingers to her forehead. “I’m not certain. I only caught the briefest glimpse.” Hands to her hips, she studied the gardens. “We must search for her.”
“Perhaps we should get the others,” Oliver suggested, maybe cognizant of the fact they were almost all alone in the garden and what a scandal it could cause should they be caught.
