Chapter Twenty-One
D anni tugged at the collar of her shirt, scowling into the mirror as Indi fussed over her tie. “Isn’t it too tight?”
“It’s fine,” Indi said, slapping Danni’s hand away. “You’re going to a fancy event, we don’t go looking like we just wrestled a sheep, remember?”
“I did just wrestle a sheep,” Danni said with a grin. “One got stuck on the cattle grid coming over from the front field and the damn thing wouldn’t keep still while I freed it.”
“Of course you did,” sighed Indi, standing back to look at her work. “Not bad.”
“And, to be clear, I don’t object to wearing the fancy suit,” Danni said, looking at herself in the mirror. “I like wearing the fancy suit. I’d wear the fancy suit every single day if I could, due to the fact that I look hot as all get out in it. I just want it to look perfect.”
She turned side to side, eyeing her reflection.
The suit was black, tailored so that it hit every single curve thanks to Indi’s clever needlework.
The tie was slightly loose, just the way she liked it, her boots were heeled and polished to a shine.
She looked like she could take on the world, like a Georgian rake with her curls slipping over one eye. She grinned at herself.
“Not bad,” Indi said .
“You’d jump me if you were at all into girls,” Danni said.
“I might jump you anyway,” said Indi. “You look like an evil villain in that suit.”
“Think Eleanor’ll approve?” Danni asked with a smirk.
Indi gave her a knowing look. “Oh, she’ll approve alright. Whether or not she’ll resist is another question. But I’m guessing from your look that you don’t want Eleanor to resist, right?”
“I… I want Eleanor to do what she wants,” Danni said, looking away from her reflection. “But if you’re asking whether I’d throw her out of bed, the answer’s no.”
“You’re sleeping on the couch,” Indi pointed out.
“She’d be the one throwing you out of bed.
And it looks like the jury’s still out on that one.
” She hesitated. “Just… be careful, Dan, alright? Eleanor seems nice, but she’s from a different world, you know that.
You don’t want to get your heart broken. ”
“Eleanor’s not like that,” said Danni. “She’s different. Not like other rich people. As for getting my heart broken, not going to happen. My heart’s made of steel, can’t be broken even if you tried.”
Indi crossed her arms. “She’s only sticking around temporarily, Dan. Don’t go falling for someone that can be gone tomorrow.”
“I can handle myself,” Danni said.
Indi sighed. “Fine, fine. I know you can. I’m just trying to give you some wisdom, that’s all. Tommy says you’ve been waltzing around the farm like that woman out of The Sound of Music all week.”
“Tommy should learn to mind his own business,” Danni said.
Just then, headlights swept through the window, and Indi nodded toward the back door of the pub. “Sound like your ride’s here. Now go and charm your lady.”
With a grin, Danni practically skipped out.
?? ?
Eleanor sat in her car, fingers drumming against the steering wheel.
This was a mistake. It had to be a mistake.
A massive, ridiculous mistake. What had she been thinking inviting Danni to the Hunt Ball?
Alright, she’d done fine at the country club, but this was a whole different level of society. This was…
Danni stepped out of the pub door.
She stepped out and strolled in front of the car, lit by the headlights, and Eleanor lost the ability to think. She lost the ability to breathe.
The tailored suit fit her like a second skin.
The white of the shirt against her tanned skin made Eleanor’s mouth water.
The tie was slightly undone, like someone had just pulled it, dragging her in for a kiss.
And those high heels at the end of long, long legs encased in the tightest trousers Eleanor thought she’d ever seen.
Danni opened the car door. “Not bad, eh?”
Eleanor squeaked. Actually squeaked. She cleared her throat. “Get in the car.”
Danni chuckled, but obeyed, settling into the passenger seat. As they drove, Eleanor could feel Danni glancing at her, taking in the midnight blue dress she was wearing, the way it clung to her until it flared around her hips into wisps of material so light they were barely there.
For a second, she thought she might have to stop driving, might have to pull over.
“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” Danni said, finally tearing her eyes away from Eleanor’s dress. “Are we expected to chase foxes around in ballgowns? Or do the foxes chase us?”
Eleanor shot her a look. “It’s a social event. The social event of the summer, actually. A chance for those of a certain level of society to drink very expensive champagne and gossip.”
Danni pulled a face. “Sounds unbearable. How much champagne will I need to drink in order to survive?”
Eleanor smiled. “At least three glasses.”
Danni grinned. “Noted, Princess.”
?? ?
The Hunt Ball was even more extravagant than Danni had expected. It was held on the estate of someone that Danni immediately forgot the name of, some distant relative of Eleanor’s. But then, as Eleanor pointed out, she was related in some way, shape, or form to everyone at the ball.
There were grand chandeliers, flowers in vases bigger than Danni’s entire body, their scent mixing with that of expensive perfume and aged whiskey. Couples waltzed to the sound of a string quartet, and waiters in crisp uniforms floated through the room with silver trays of champagne glasses.
Danni, standing close to the entrance, let out a low whistle. “And here was me thinking that your old pile was fancy.”
Eleanor smothered a laugh. “Try not to look too impressed.”
“I’m not impressed, I’m wondering how much their electric bill must be,” Danni said.
Before Eleanor could reply, a too-familiar voice cut through the crowd. “Eleanor, darling, and you’ve brought the help.”
Beatrice Allenton.
Both Danni and Eleanor turned, and Danni could feel Eleanor tense. Beatrice, her supercilious face over-made up, was standing in front of them, looking Danni up and down with a disdainful smirk.
“Farmers at the Hunt Ball,” she said. “How… modern.”
Danni saw Eleanor’s temper flare, saw the flush rise in her cheeks. “At least Danni owns her farm. That’s more than can be said for most of the people in this room. I hear that a lot of these big estates are being mortgaged nowadays.”
Beatrice turned red and then mauve as Eleanor looped her arm through Danni’s and swept them both away.
“You do know that the farm’s mortgaged too, right?” Danni said once they were out of hearing range.
“Not the point,” Eleanor said. “Honestly, she makes me so… ”
“So it was your turn to defend my honor,” said Danni, grinning. “Can’t say I don’t like it.”
Eleanor turned to her and, to Danni’s surprise, grinned right back. “I suppose I did do that, didn’t I?”
“You really do care,” Danni said.
Eleanor rolled her eyes. “Come on, let’s dance.”
???
On the dance floor, Eleanor felt strangely… light. Danni’s hand was firm at her waist, grounding her, their fingers were entwined as they moved together. Danni’s fresh scent was in her nose, and it was all she could do to keep from pressing against her.
Danni didn’t help.
“So,” she said, moving in, voice low. “How scandalized do you think the aristocracy would be if I kissed you right now, right here?”
Eleanor’s heart pounded. “Don’t you dare.”
“Just asking,” said Danni innocently, pulling away slightly again. “Hypothetically, of course. Purely for scientific and cultural study reasons.”
Eleanor laughed, and they danced as Danni grinned and, for the first time in years, Eleanor found that she was actually enjoying the Hunt Ball.
In fact, she didn’t want the night to end.
But eventually, the string quartet stopped playing, and the guests began to drift away and it was time to go.
The drive home was quiet but comfortable. Danni hummed softly under her breath and Eleanor gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly, thinking about the warmth of Danni’s touch on her waist.
And when they reached the farm, Eleanor stopped the car, listening to the engine ticking for a moment before she opened the door.
She stepped out, inhaling the cool of the night air, turning to find that Danni had quietly come around the car and was right behind her, far closer than she’d expected. The air between them was thick.
Eleanor bit her lip, her breath hitching in her throat. Danni stepped in, tilted her head just slightly.
Do it, said a voice in Eleanor’s head. Just do it.
But panic flared.
She took a step back. “I, um, I think I need some fresh air before bed.”
“Eleanor—” Danni began.
But Eleanor was already walking away, calling goodnight over her shoulder as she practically fell over the cobbles of the farmyard.
She made it as far as the gate into the paddock, stopping and taking deep breaths, looking out into the night, hoping to get control of herself.
She could hear Danni’s footsteps on the cobbles, following her, could hear Danni come up behind her. But she didn’t turn.
“Eleanor,” Danni said softly. “What’s wrong?”
Her heart beat hard in her chest and now she did turn, she had to turn, and Danni was there, those curls framing her face, her eyes dark and concerned, and the question hung between them.
The night was so still, the tension thick. Eleanor opened her mouth, but no words came.
Danni simply waited.
But Eleanor had nothing more to say.
She simply nodded.
And Danni’s face cleared in understanding.