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“And I’m beginning to wonder how,” Ellie muttered.
North laughed, which made Ellie cringe. Both because it was loud, and because it made her heart miss a few beats. She was having a hard time putting one foot in front of the other with a laugh like that.
“You, Lady Eleanora, are a mystery. You don’t seem to know what you want.”
“I know what I want. I want my sisters to find themselves husbands, and I want them to be happy.”
“And what about you? What is going to make you happy?”
Ellie glared at him. “Not having gentlemen asking inappropriate questions.”
“Ouch. You know how to make words sting.”
Even as he said it, his eyes were twinkling. He seemed to be enjoying this. Ellie looked away.
“As long as those I love are happy, then so am I. My happiness can wait.”
“I don’t know about that. What’s wrong with looking for happiness on your own?”
“It’s not that simple, my lord.”
“It would be easier for you if you stopped putting on that disguise and pretending you’re older than you actually are.”
Ellie flinched and looked around. There was nobody close by, and the music was loud enough to drown them out within a couple of feet. Even so, she lowered her voice.
“You needn’t say that so loudly, my lord! And how I dress is none of your business.”
“Maybe not, but you have me intrigued.” North stopped and turned to her. “I want to know what’s going on in that head of yours. What you really look like when you’re not putting on a persona. I’m sure you’re prettier than you’re pretending to be, and given how attractive you are in front of me right now, that feat would be impressive.”
Ellie’s mind stopped, and she lost the ability to speak. He actually thought she was attractive with her disguise on? They couldn’t have worked hard enough to make her look older and plain.
She swallowed. “You… you wouldn’t be impressed with my looks, my lord.”
“How do you know? You won’t know until it happens.”
“But it’s not going to happen.” The thought of not having her mask around him left her trembling. “I won’t be in your company when it’s not a situation where we’re pushed together.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Why did that sound like a challenge? The look glinting in North’s eyes said he was not put off by her at all. He should be giving up on her and walking away—after all, from an outside perspective, he was conversing with a chaperone and being polite. Up close, people would have noticed the flirting.
Ellie didn’t know how to react to it all.
“I… I thought you were helping me to the chaise, my lord,” she croaked, clearing her throat. “I’m still feeling a little weak on my feet.”
“Oh! Of course.”
At least they weren’t too far away from the chaise, and it was still free. North led her over and Ellie sat, trying not to collapse heavily onto the cushions as her legs threatened to give way.
“Are you sure you don’t want to do something? Like dance?”
“Dance?” Ellie tried not to scoff. “Who would I be dancing with? I’m the chaperone, not someone trying to find a husband.”
“Well, I would like it if we danced?”
Ellie stared. “You would?”
“Of course.”
