Chapter 5 #2
The splendor of the dining room had long ceased impressing Elias, but it seemed to work well enough on his guests.
As all those invited took their places around the table, he once again regretted that it was not possible to suddenly withdraw Lord Frenwick’s invitation.
The old stooge brought his wife along, too.
Now, both of them sat sour-faced as Elias applied all the social graces he could to make the event a success.
His attentions were better spent on the esteemed peers present, because every person in his household seemed intent on plucking his nerves.
His sister, tonight’s honoree, seemed awkward and on edge.
She performed the hostess’s duties with all the aplomb of an automaton.
He’d seated her and Lord Spencer apart on purpose, but he was swiftly coming to regret it.
Because there was no ignoring Lady May, a vision in a punch-colored gown, who was seated several seats away, doing exactly what he asked her to do in the first place: pleasantly chatting with Lord Spencer.
Yet she did not look at him once.
Elias applied astonishing restraint in refusing to grind his teeth. He’d really bungled it yesterday. What was happening to him?
He knew next to nothing about Lady May, beyond her willingness to seduce his sister’s fiancé without qualms. So why did she haunt him so?
He was so occupied with her and the haunting wave of want that wrapped around his lungs, that he did not notice the table conversation veering into dangerous waters.
Lord Frenwick smirked. “I suppose, Lady Hannah must have had her fill of cultured society, to abandon us in favor of the North.”
“It is not as primitive as you think it.” Elias answered, restraining himself.
“I cannot imagine living in the middle of nowhere myself with nary a gentleman to be found,” scoffed Lady Frenwick.
“She’ll have me,” remarked Lord Spencer.
“As I said…”
“What could you mean by this?” though Lord Spencer’s voice was devoid of emotion, Elias did not doubt he would not let an insult lie.
A hushed silence fell across the dinner table, the air growing charged before an oncoming deluge.
Hannah’s face could have been carved from marble.
Elias really should have seen this coming.
His own doubts were seeded by experience, but he knew Lord Spencer earned merit beyond his newly acquired title.
After all, he was distinguished by His Majesty himself for his military accomplishments.
Yet Lord Frenwick’s narrow-minded and easily incited wife would undoubtedly find the sudden change in Lord Spencer’s standing an affront.
He would not stand for this mistreatment on a day meant to celebrate his darling sister. No one else had the right to pass judgment on her choice.
The silence broke, but it was not on his account. Heads turned in Lady May’s direction as she audibly slurped the soup course. Once every eye in the room was firmly upon her, she demurely lowered her spoon and armed herself with a dazzling smile.
“I do apologize for my overzealousness. Lady Hannah, this broth is simply delicious. I must beg your cook for a recipe.”
Elias’s lips twitched.
She was a genius.
Lord Frenwick’s wife stared down at her, aghast. Her slimy husband seemed similarly affected.
His sister, however, broke into her first genuine smile of the day. “I am so pleased you enjoyed it.”
Low murmurs spread across the table. It was deeply ironic that a single sound could cause unrivaled scorn when everyone was content with letting an insult pass without remark.
Yet nothing but pure warmth filled Elias to the brim as he took it all in—the confusion and shock of the guests, and the perfectly composed Lady May, who caught his eye.
You are something special.
“I do not think it appropriate—” Frenwick’s wife piped up once more, but this time, it was Elias who slurped the soup with gusto.
“I declare, you must stop feeding us so well, Sister, if you expect us to fit into our best for your nuptials.”
The effect was immediate: the guests followed suit, adopting this breach of manners as if it were the latest fashion. He was, after all, a duke.
Elias could not help but wink at Lady May and had the joy of seeing her eyes widen and the corners of her lips turn up in response. Then, she schooled her features back into propriety, and Elias’s sweet warmth turned into a roaring fire.
Was he imagining the furtive looks she sent him for the rest of the night? Was he being too bold for attributing her nervous fidgeting with the edge of her napkin to his account?
He would not, if not for the blush that filled her cheeks every time he caught her looking.
He knew she had not forgotten the other night. But could it be that she was reconsidering her decision? Elias ought to let the matter lie, but how could he let her exit his life as if nothing happened?
The dinner came to an end with agonizing slowness. He picked his moment to pull Lady May aside as the last stragglers were bidding their goodbyes to Hannah.
“I have learned much about you tonight, My Lady.”
“Now you know my good breeding has been vastly exaggerated. I beg the duke’s forgiveness.” She seemed resigned on the surface, but that clearly was just an act—nervousness still haunted her limbs. Was she so concerned with his judgment?
“Tonight, especially, I find you without fault.”
This woman, who was a mystery, filling his mind and his body.
It was as though he reached to peel back a sliver of her mask but saw right through it instead.
Elias did not need to know every detail of her existence, not when he knew what truly mattered.
She was kind, generous, and protective… If he did not know she was a professional seductress, he’d never have believed her capable.
“You do?” She held onto her own forearms as if they were the only thing keeping her upright.
“You need only say the word, and I would worship at your feet.” His voice dropped, heavy with feeling. What he wouldn’t give to hold her.
“You are teasing me.”
“It is no secret I hold you in high regard, but as for you... I do not ask for anything, except… would you tell me if you’ve had a change of heart?”
Consequences be damned, he knew what he wanted. But was he the only one? He could have sworn by Lady May’s whitened knuckles that she was holding on to her propriety with difficulty.
“I promise that I would.”
Before either one of them could say anything else, the return of his sister cut their conversation short.
Would, not will. As the night drew to a close and they withdrew into their separate wings and suffocating rooms, Elias realized he had never loathed grammar this much before.
Had May really had a change of heart?
Or was it just that her defenses wore thin at the duke’s onslaught?
He just had to match her insane attempt at a diversion at the dinner, sending butterflies whirling through her insides. She still blushed at the memory of it: a duke, abandoning all social graces, for her.
May patted her cheeks in vain.
And then, he had the gall to tell her how highly he thought of her.
Why was this man eschewing every reasonable expectation of a duke’s behavior?
How was she meant to resist? The worst part of it was, this time she had been as true to herself as she could be, and still, he was not deterred by her lack of manners.
It made her want to believe in a world where they could be something.
Morning light streamed through the sheer curtains as May attempted to get herself together for the day ahead.
However dire the state of her heart, she still had a job to do if she was to recover her mother’s necklace.
What she needed right now was to stop daydreaming about Elias and obtain proof of Lord Spencer’s nature, preferably in direct proportion to his faithfulness.
When May descended into the breakfast room, Lady Hannah and Lord Spencer were laughing warmly, sitting next to each other at the table, shoulders together, his fingers brushing stray crumbs off Lady Hannah’s lips.
As their heads whipped in May’s direction, the couple broke apart.
Lord Spencer immediately busied himself with a newspaper.
They were not meant to be left unchaperoned, but clearly, they were growing more and more bold in stretching the bounds of propriety.
Much better to discover them like this, than… .
“Cousin! I did not think you’d return so soon.” Despite the interruption, a genuine smile blossomed on Lady Hannah’s lips.
May frowned, confused. “I apologize for disturbing you.”
“Not at all. Lord Spencer was just going.” With a meaningful frown, the lady of the house motioned her betrothed to make some vague excuse to depart. Then, her gaze was right back on May. “Sit next to me?”
She did.
“I wish to thank you for what you did yesterday. It meant more than I can possibly say. You made the evening bearable.”
It never failed to shock May how the ton’s most illustrious members could be the most cruel and heartless. “I am sorry that your celebration was spoiled by such inconsiderate fools.”
“It was never truly mine.” She smiled wistfully. “My brother can be very single-minded. I know it meant a lot to him. I just wish that he would see that he is not toiling for my sake… Never mind. Let him have his way. There are only three weeks left.”
May frowned. “I am sure the duke only wants what’s best for you.”
“He’ll be glad, then, for I already have it.
But never mind that.” Lady Hannah affectionately squeezed May’s hand.
“I am sorry, I have not been as supportive upon your arrival as I ought. I know it must be hard to be plunged into the maws of London’s upper class.
I have grown up part of it, yet I can’t quite get used to it myself.
But for you to come to London for the marriage mart—you need to brace yourself for its brutality. ”
“Isn’t that how you met Lord Spencer?”
“Oh, no! We met up North while I was visiting a friend. I’ll tell you the full story one day, but for now, let me assure you I’ve known him in my childhood and had absolutely no expectation of seeing him again until he turned up at a ball.
He was the most dashing and brave colonel I’ve ever seen…
and the worst dancer. Truth is, if it were London, he would not have even been invited to attend.
It does not matter an iota what they think, for I would not have anyone else but him, but my brother is having a hard time believing in honesty these days.
He’s only ever known London society, and everyone here keeps their true heart concealed.
I cannot blame him for protecting his own. ”
Lord Frenwick’s biting words from the altercation in Elias’s study came to May’s mind. That walled look on the duke’s face when she asked him if he was fine…
“Is it something to do with his past engagement? What I heard of it made it sound… hurtful.” May shouldn’t have asked. Not knowing made it easier to keep her distance. And yet… she couldn’t help wanting to learn every little thing about him.
“He told you, then?” Hannah looked aside. “I was quite young back then, but I do remember. Elias was so in love—you know, I’ve never seen him that happy since. Then my father intervened, and I never saw her again. I heard she was after the money. That’s all they’ve told me of it.”
May quieted. These added details filled out an already sad picture.
“I have to thank you for cheering Elias up. It was so nice of you to invite him out today. He looked quite happy.”
“Invite him out?”
Lady Hannah frowned. “I thought you summoned him to the gallery? He left as soon as he got your note.”
What note? “A note? From me?”
“Yes… It was delivered at breakfast.”
May stood up abruptly. Something was very wrong. “In that case, I should not keep him waiting.”
She left the confused Lady Hannah in the breakfast room as she rushed to Elias’s chambers. The opened note still sat on the table.
Your Grace,
I humbly ask the chance to make up for my disappearance the other night. Should you wish to give this another chance, I will be waiting at the Dulwich Picture Gallery at midday.
Your devoted accomplice.
May forgot to breathe. She’d never stopped to think of the woman who was supposed to meet Elias that night at the ball. It was naive of her to expect that the true seductress would never appear again. And now that she had, Elias would know May for the impostor she really was.
This was very, very bad.
But if Elias thought that the note was from her… that meant not all was lost. If she could make it there before the woman who wrote to him, she still had a chance to tell him herself.
May hiked up her skirts and ran for the stables.