PROLOGUE
“Eleanor?”
His whisper made her jump, her skin prickling as she smiled into the gloom. “I can hear you, but I cannot see you.”
A low chuckle made her heart leap up, anticipation building. It had been nearly a month now since she had first come upon a gentleman riding through the woods that were on the far edge of her father’s estate, and since that time, her entire world had changed.
“The clouds are very low in the sky this afternoon, are they not?” he said as Eleanor tried her best to spy him amongst the trees. “I am sure it will threaten rain.”
“I care not.” Lifting her chin, Eleanor spun around, but she saw nothing aside from branches and leaves. “Even if I get soaked to the skin, it will be worth it because I shall be with you.”
There came a moment of silence.
“With such sweet words upon your lips, what could prevent me from coming to you?”
As Eleanor turned around, she saw the gentleman she had come to adore stepping out from behind a large oak tree, a smileon his face, his eyes twinkling with both good humor and, she hoped, a sense of anticipation such as she felt. Rather than go to him, however, Eleanor tilted her head and clasped her hands behind her back, watching him.
“Oh, you will punish me now?” he teased, coming slowly towards her as Eleanor’s heart quickened all the more. “You will not come to me? You will not step into my arms as I know you have been longing to do?”
Her eyebrow arched. “Asyouhave been hoping for also, I pray?”
The look in his eyes changed from teasing to tenderness. “But of course.” Lifting his hand, he let his fingers run down her cheek and to her jawline, making Eleanor shiver lightly. “You know very well that you have quite captured me, Eleanor.”
Unable to stay back, Eleanor melted into him, her arms going up around his neck as his hands captured her waist. Their kiss was long and sweet, gentle and yet with a hint of the passion that would soon come, should their path continue on together. That was a subject that had not yet been breached, but Eleanor’s conscience would not let her stay silent about the matter for long. Shehadto know what it was the Marquess of Finchley intended for her.
The kiss ended, and Eleanor let out a slow sigh of contentment and rested her head on his chest for a moment. Usually, they took a walk through the woods together, discussing all manner of things, carefully avoiding the subject of their potential future together. Eleanor had not thought it right thatsheshould be the one to bring up the matter, but given Lord Finchley’s silence, she now felt as if she had no choice.
“Eleanor?”
Her head lifted. “Mmm?”
Lord Finchley took in a deep breath and then let it out, his expression becoming a little more severe. “Eleanor, there is something I think we should discuss.”
The look on his face was so serious, Eleanor pulled back quickly, suddenly afraid that he was about to end all that they had shared. Had she been a fool to let herself be taken into his arms? He had reassured her he was no rogue, and she had believed him, for he had never urged her to do anything more than share an embrace, but what if she had been wrong about that? What if she should never have allowed herself to trust him?
“We have not yet told your parents about our connection,” he said, slowly as his fingers brushed back a stray curl from her temple. “I know that your father gives you a good deal of freedom at present, especially when your mother is away from home with your sister, Lady Watten, and her new husband.”
Eleanor smiled at him, glad to know that he had taken in all that she had shared with him these last few weeks. He had even remembered the name of her sister, which was most encouraging indeed!
“All the same,” Lord Finchley continued, rubbing one hand behind his neck, “there could very well be questions about where you have been and why you have so often come to the woods. The servants will know, I am sure, for they always know everything!”
“And you do not want word coming back to my father,” Eleanor said, a dull pain beginning to hammer its way into her heart as she took a step back. “I can assure you, Lord Finchley, that you need have no concern. My servants are very quiet and will not say a word to anyone.”
Lord Finchley caught both of her hands in his, an exasperated sound in his voice. “Do not step away now, Eleanor. You have misunderstood me.”
Eleanor, who had been trying to tug her hand free gently from his grip whilst inwardly calling herself all manner of names for her misplaced trust in him, stopped short and looked up at him instead. “Misunderstood?”
“It is not because I do not want your father to know,” he said, quickly but with a softness to his tone that begged her to listen. “It is because I am tired of this… of this skulking about. I understand that we did not intend for this connection to happen – though I am glad that it did – but whilst we might have been enjoying it, it is important for me now to speak to your father. Things must, if you would wish them to be, Eleanor, a little more formal from now on.”
Not fully understanding him, Eleanor gazed back into his eyes, seeing the light lingering there. “You want to speak with my father about our connection?”
“Yes.” Lord Finchley smiled. “You are of age, are you not?”
To marry?The words almost left his lips as Eleanor’s eyes flared, astonishment rushing up through her. They had only been acquainted for a little over a month, and now he was considering marriage? Her heart pulled back only to then leap with a sudden, furious joy as she realized just how strongly she felt about this gentleman.
“I am out, yes,” she responded, her voice in a whisper as emotions began to rush through her, one at a time. “I made my debut last Season and now, with the London Season soon to be upon me again, I must begin to prepare for it.”
“UnlessIcan find a way to keep you back from it – and from all the gentlemen who will, no doubt, have a keen interest in you.” Lord Finchley ran one finger lightly over her lips, and Eleanor wanted to throw herself back into his arms, such was the wave of happiness and anticipation that rushed over her. “I want you all to myself, Eleanor. Therefore, I think it is time that I speak to your father and ask to court you, with the expectationthat an engagement will soon be forthcoming.” His green eyes twinkled. “We must pretend that we are not well known to each other, my darling. I should not want your father or mother to think that anything untoward has been going on, else they will think very poorly of me indeed!”
