Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
F elix glanced around the dining room as the servants set the last dishes on the table. Candles flickered, casting a warm glow over the close-knit gathering.
It had been, to Eloise’s surprise, his idea to throw an informal dinner party for their close friends and family.
Although he wanted nothing more than to keep her all to himself, especially after he lost their little wager at that chess match, he thought it would be nice for her to enjoy some company other than him.
Lady Brimsleigh and Percy were already in good spirits, swapping stories over glasses of wine, while Lady Danridge and Hannah engaged in light conversation, carefully examining the room around them and discussing Felix’s choice of décor.
Eloise sat beside him, her laughter joining the others’, her eyes bright with warmth. Felix found himself watching her, savoring the sound of her laugh and the instinctive way she leaned toward him, seeking his closeness without even realizing it.
Since the night of Lady Brimsleigh’s ball, everything seemed to have changed for the better. Everything they shared now; the closeness, the intimacy, the bedroom adventures, had always been there, waiting for them to tap into it. But now the sluice had been opened, and it flowed rapidly and energetically to its willing recipients.
As they began their meal, Lady Brimsleigh’s eyes sparkled with delight. “Tell me, Eloise, did Felix tell you about his ill-fated attempt to join a foxhunt when he was fifteen?”
“Oh, he has not yet mentioned that particular escapade,” Eloise replied with a grin, glancing at Felix with mock suspicion. “Do tell.”
Felix rolled his eyes good-naturedly. This was a story his aunt loved to tell, and he always pretended to hate it. “A gentleman’s secrets are supposed to be sacred, Lady Brimsleigh.”
Lady Brimsleigh raised an eyebrow. “You call yourself a gentleman now, but back then, you were a disaster. Oh, Eloise, he spent half the day trying to impress everyone by staying at the front of the hunt.”
Percy chuckled, cutting in, “Only to have his horse throw him when it spotted a mouse! A foxhunt ended by a mouse!”
Laughter erupted around the table, and Felix couldn’t help but join in. Eloise reached for her glass, but it was just out of her grasp.
Without thinking, he picked it up and handed it to her, catching her soft smile as she whispered, “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” he replied, his voice low.
Lady Brimsleigh caught his eye, her expression thoughtful as she watched the exchange. He met her gaze briefly, noting her interest, before turning back to his plate. Was he being too obvious?
“Do you remember, Mother, when that troublesome maid accidentally dyed all the linens pink?” Eloise asked.
Lady Danridge laughed dramatically. “Dear me, I thought your father was going to have a fit of apoplexy when he saw the bed sheets.”
“I take it she was quickly out of a job,” Percy said.
“Goodness, no,” Eloise replied. “Father could never be so brutal. It was a mistake after all. She was made to spend an entire week shadowing the housekeeper, though, in the hopes of learning some skill.”
“Which I think was more a punishment for the poor housekeeper,” Lady Danridge said, causing another round of laughter.
As his wife spoke, Felix found himself absorbed in her voice, listening as if every detail mattered. He nodded occasionally, a faint smile on his face, his hand resting gently on the back of her chair.
Percy, noticing his attentiveness, grinned. “Felix, you look as pink as a linen yourself. I daresay, you are positively spellbound.”
Felix rolled his eyes, pulling his arm away from Eloise although he couldn’t suppress his smile. “And if I am, Percy? Surely a husband may admire his wife without comments from nosy guests?”
Percy gave him a mock salute. “Yes, Your Grace. Though I will say, it is a pleasant change to see you paying such rapt attention. Might do you some good in the long run.”
Sitting beside Lady Brimsleigh, Hannah exchanged a knowing glance with her friend. Lady Brimsleigh’s mouth curved into a sly smile as she leaned closer to Hannah. “Have you ever seen him so attentive? It seems our dear Duke is learning the finer points of admiration.”
Hannah chuckled quietly. “He has fallen for her. It is as clear as day although he will likely never admit to it.”
Lady Brimsleigh nodded sagely. “He does not need to admit it. We see it well enough.”
“No whispering in the corner,” Felix called out in jest as he noticed their conversation. “If you have something to say, share it with the group.”
“We were only saying how pleasant it is to be here, Your Grace,” Hannah replied with a polite smile.
The meal continued with comfortable ease, laughter punctuating the warm conversations, and as the evening wound down, Felix realized that Kingswell Hall felt more alive, more whole, than it ever had before.
As they rose to leave the table, Lady Brimsleigh stepped close to Felix, resting a gentle hand on his arm.
“Felix, my dear nephew,” she said softly, “Eloise has brought out something truly special in you. I see it clearly.”
Felix hesitated, caught off guard, but he managed a small smile. “You are imagining things, My Lady,” he replied lightly.
While her words rang true, he wasn’t quite sure he was ready to share it with the world.
“Oh, I am not simply imagining it, my dear,” she replied. “You are different with her. And dare I say, all the better for it.”
“How dare you!” a voice boomed across the halls of Kingswell Hall, and Eloise’s head snapped up.
She had been sitting at the drawing room after their breakfast, losing herself in the pages of another story.
After a lovely dinner with all their closest friends and family, Felix had pinned her once more to the bed and not letting her leave—much to her satisfaction—until they were both breathless and sore in the early hours of the morning.
She had slept in a bit later than usual, needing the rest, and after going downstairs, the butler had informed her that Felix was busy with estate work in his study. So, not wishing to disturb him, she broke her fast alone and headed to one of the libraries to pass some time with a good book.
Now, it seemed, a good couple of hours had passed.
She thought she had imagined the loud noise at first, but she was proved wrong when she heard it again.
“HOW DARE YOU!”
This time, it was angrier, louder. Clearer.
And Eloise recognized the voice instantly.
“Jeremy,” she breathed out, her heart suddenly beating at a dizzying rhythm.
She quickly set down her book, her stomach lurching with growing anxiety, then hurried out into the corridor towards the commotion, hoping it was all in her anxious head.
But as she arrived, all her hopes were crushed.
She gulped.
There he was, clear as day.
Jeremy.
Her brother was back.