“Better,” Caleb took a breath. “Better, but not enough.” His gaze travelled over her body, and she responded with a deep breath.
“I…”
“Don’t say anything, my sweet. We have to talk about this.” He swallowed roughly. “But not here, and not at this moment.”
Nodding, Elinor moved away, and sat politely in one of the chairs by the fire.
“I trust my arrival hasn’t disrupted your afternoon too badly, Sir Caleb.”
“Not at all, Lady Molliney. It is always a pleasure to welcome your presence at Tylwyth Teg.”
“You’re too kind, sir.”
Deryn entered, bearing a tea tray, face expressionless. “Tea, Sir, Ma’am. I trust it will be to your liking.” He placed everything on a side table. “Please call should you require anything else?”
“Of course. Thank you, Deryn.” Caleb nodded.
“This looks delightful, thank you, Deryn.” Elinor’s polite thanks brought a brief smile to the butler’s face and a little bow.
“You are too kind, my Lady.” And with that, he took himself off.
After the door closed behind him, Elinor looked at Caleb. “Do you think he knew what…um…” she waved her hand vaguely at him.
“I have no idea,” he replied with a shrug. “But I do know I would trust him with my life, so whether he did or not, we need not worry he’ll be off spreading rumours.”
She sighed with relief. “Good.”
“Now. Tea. You must be chilled after your ride?”
Relaxing a little, Elinor chuckled. “Not at all, sir. Not after such a warm welcome.”
“I missed you.”
His words surprised her, and her face must have given it away, since he raised his eyebrows at her. “Should I not have said that?”
“No, no…I mean yes, of course you should…” She sighed, then tried again. “I value honesty, Caleb. So, for my part, I will admit I missed you too. I was just surprised to hear you say that, since I thought gentlemen were supposed to keep their sentiments to themselves.”
“Some gentlemen do, I’m sure.” He paused. “But only the ones who don’t know what they’re feeling.”
“Oh.” Elinor knew her cheeks were heating. “Caleb…”
“Forgive me,” he moved to the tray and poured tea. “I’m going too fast, I know. But…” He offered her the plate of biscuits, and she absently took one. “But I’m not one to waste time shuffling around something that I know is right.”
“Um…” She blinked and took a bite of the biscuit.
“And you are right, Elinor. Right for me, that is.”
She sucked in air, and a bit of biscuit, and started coughing.
Caleb thumped her on her back, nearly knocking the tray of biscuits to the floor. “Are you alright?”
She nodded, coughed once more, then looked at him. “Caleb. I’m quite all right. It’s just that hearing you say such things has caught me by surprise.”
“Would you rather I not say them?”
“God, no.”
Surprised at her own response, she blushed again. “I’m just not…not accustomed to anyone thinking about me that way…”
