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She had vowed not to marry until her sister had returned home, but now she had come to realize the importance of finding her own happiness. Alice might never return, and Eloise had a choice – she could spend her life waiting for her, or she could honor her memory whilst seeking her own happiness.
“Then we shouldn’t delay it. It need not be a large ceremony. Your father, my uncle, one or two others. We’ll marry and then I’ll have my inheritance. We can go where we wish. We can search for your sister in every corner of the land,” he said, raising his glass in a toast.
Eloise did the same, and she was filled with such happiness at the prospect as to be almost overwhelming. She had never imagined she would feel as she did at that moment – happy and content. The loss of Alice had always weighed heavily on her, but to share that burden with Jackson gave her hope for something better.
“You’re so kind,” she murmured, and Jackson laughed.
“It’s not difficult to be so, Eloise. I’m so glad I met you by chance on that first night. It was as though it were meant to be. I think… I know, I’m in love with you,” he confessed, and Eloise’s heart skipped a beat.
Did he really mean what he said? If so, this was no longer a ruse. It could not be a ruse. If they were truly in love, then nothing else mattered. She took in a deep breath and beamed at him, their hands still clasped together across the table.
“I’m in love with you, too,” she said back.
For a moment, they said nothing but only looked at one another, each, it seemed, thinking the same as the other.
“Then we need not pretend anymore,” he voiced out.
“I’m so glad you feel the same way.”
“There’s something else I want to tell you. It was going to be a surprise, but after your ordeal at the hands of Lord Crawford, I thought I’d tell you now. I’ve engaged the services of someone who might be able to help in the search for your sister. He’s helped other members of the ton in the past. He finds people. A friend of mine put me onto him. I’ve asked him to begin work at once. We might have some luck with such a man as this helping in the search,” Jackson added.
Eloise could hardly believe what she was hearing. Her heart skipped a beat, and her eyes grew wide with astonishment.
“Do you… really mean it?” she asked, and Jackson nodded.
“I promised you I’d help you, and I meant it. You’ve had a terrible ordeal these years gone by. I want to help you, Eloise. But writing letters to members of the ton isn’t getting very far in the search for your sister. We need to do something more, and I’m certain this man can help us. His name’s Dobson, Arthur Dobson. He was a member of the King’s militia and often helped track down undesirables. In his later years, he’s turned to finding those who are lost, whether by accident or design. A sort of investigator, if you like. He’s had considerable success. We can trust him, I know.”
Eloise rose to her feet, and she put her arms around Jackson and kissed him. There was no compulsion on his part to help her in this way. He owed her nothing, and yet he had gone beyond himself to do this for her. If she had doubted the sincerity of his previous words, she could not doubt his feelings for her now. He had proved his love for her, and for that, Eloise could only be grateful.
“I can hardly believe it.” She shook her head.
“I promise you it’s true. I’ve told him everything I know about the case. But perhaps we could meet him together. He’s eager to get started. I was going to wait until after the wedding, but it seems pointless. He can begin at once. I could bring him to see you on Monday if you like,” he suggested.
Eloise nodded. She could hardly believe what Jackson was saying. He was right. Writing letters to members of the ton was getting her nowhere. As a woman, mounting such an investigation was nigh on impossible. Women did not search for lost relatives. But her father would have nothing to do with the matter, and Eloise was her sister’s only chance. If this man, Arthur Dobson, could go to the places she could not and ask the questions, which from her mouth would fall on deaf ears, then there was a hope – however slight – of something better to come.
“Bring him, yes. I’ll tell him everything I know. Oh, Jackson, you’ve lifted a terrible burden off me. I can’t thank you enough. You’ve given me hope, and that’s worth more than anything.”
They held hands, gazing into one another’s eyes, their hearts fluttering uncontrollably. There was no doubt about their feelings any longer.
When Eloise arrived home later that evening, she was met by Delphine at the door. The clock had just struck eleven, and her maid took her shawl, glancing nervously over her shoulder as she did so.
“Is everything all right, Delphine?” Eloise asked, but the maid shook her head.
“It’s the master, My Lady. He’s been in a terrible mood tonight. There was a visitor earlier. I heard raised voices… they were both very angry,” Delphine whispered.
“Angry about what? Who was it?” Eloise demanded, as she and Delphine made their way upstairs.
“Lord Crawford, My Lady. It was around an hour ago. I heard Mr. Anderton letting him in. I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I just happened to be on the landing and… well…” she began, but Eloise interrupted her.
“But what did he say? What did he want?” Eloise pressed.
Her heart was beating fast. She had not noticed Lord Crawford leaving the pleasure gardens, instead feeling only grateful she had not encountered him – or his sisters – again. But why had he come here to see her father? A hundred terrible thoughts rushed through her mind.
“I didn’t hear everything, My Lady. But they were talking about you. Your father emerged from his study before Mr. Anderton could show Lord Crawford in. They were shouting at one another. Lord Crawford told your father you’d behaved like a… well, I won’t repeat the word, My Lady. But he was so angry, and he demanded you marry him,” Delphine recalled, shaking her head.
She was carrying a candle to light their way, and now Eloise could see tears rolling down the maid’s cheeks.
“Oh, Delphine, I saw him tonight. There was a fight. Jackson intervened when Lord Crawford tried to seize me. But he can’t demand that. I’m going to marry Jackson, the Duke. There’s nothing more to be said about it. I won’t do what my father demands or what Lord Crawford demands, either,” Eloise declared.
