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No. He wouldn’t do that. Not when there were lots of people in the house and there was a chance of being caught. Ellie didn’t need all of that on top of the stress of being looked down on.
Slowly, and very reluctantly, Derrick pulled back from the kiss. Ellie buried her face against his chest, her fists bunching in the back of his shirt. She was breathing heavily.
“This… this is too much for me,” she said in a muffled voice. “I just don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything.” Derrick kissed the top of her head. “Just leave everything to me. That’s the best you can do.”
They stayed like that for a moment longer, Derrick wishing he could do this for the rest of the afternoon. Having Ellie in his arms like this felt natural. She fitted against him so well that he didn’t want anyone else. He just wanted her.
God, you’re starting to sound like a sap now.
A knock at the door had them jumping apart. Her face turning bright red, Ellie turned away and moved towards the window. His heart racing, Derrick adjusted his jacket and made sure he didn’t look like he had been almost caught in the clinch.
“Yes, what is it?”
The door opened, and Randall stuck his head around the door. His eyes were glinting as he caught sight of his friend.
“Your mother’s looking for you, North. I think you need to stop hiding and show your face, otherwise she’s going to send the servants off to look for you.”
Derrick groaned. He hoped his mother wouldn’t be like this when he got married. They would never get any peace.
“Alright, fine. We’re coming.”
“I’ll make Lady Northampton aware that you’re coming. Oh,” Randall hesitated, glancing at Ellie, “I think I should warn you that Catherine is here.”
Derrick froze. “She’s what? Why is she here?”
“Your mother invited her, apparently. She’s here alone as well, no husband in sight.”
What was his mother up to? Why would she invite Catherine? Derrick didn’t like this at all, but he couldn’t hide away forever. He turned to Ellie.
“Shall we head back? You don’t have to stay for much longer. You can use your great-aunt as an excuse to leave.”
“I might just do that.” Ellie was frowning as she approached him. “Who’s Catherine?”
“I’ll explain later.” Although Derrick wasn’t entirely sure how he was going to explain what he’d had with Catherine before. Certainly not to his future wife. He cleared his throat and held out his arm. “Shall we?”
“I’d rather not,” Ellie muttered under her breath as she took his arm.
Derrick couldn’t blame her. He didn’t really want to be face-to-face with Catherine, certainly not in this situation. While he might not have any feelings left for Catherine, and he wasn’t about to start anything further with her, having her present around Ellie was really not a good idea. What was his mother thinking? Perhaps she hadn’t been.
Derrick would have a word with her about inviting Catherine. The dowager countess didn’t know about their affair, but she had to be aware that Derrick and Catherine weren’t really friends.
Something was going on here.
The three of them left the study and went back to the morning room. Randall went on ahead while Derrick slowed to match Ellie’s pace. She had withdrawn into herself, her head down and none of her confidence present. Derrick stopped and turned to her.
“Ellie, look at me.”
Slowly, she did look up, her expression unsure and her eyes fixed warily on him. Derrick cupped her jaw in his hand.
“Just another half an hour. Then you can head home. I’ll make the excuse that your great-aunt needs to go home and rest.”
“You’ve met Lady Diane. She’s not going to go so easily.”
“I’m sure she’ll agree once I’ve spoken to her. I can be charming when I want to be.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
