It was suddenly difficult for Eliza to breathe as her gaze locked with the Duke’s. She offered him a soft smile, but his expression remained stony and impassive. The Duchess, however, scowled openly, glaring first at her daughter, then at Eliza, and finally at Lord Edward Melthorn. Then, to Eliza’s horror, the Duchess made a show of turning her back on all three of them.
Eliza stared across the room at the Duke of Elkington, her chest aching with the need to be near him, craving even the slightest hint of an acknowledgment from him, but he turned his back on them as well.
Eliza trembled and wrung her hands, looking from Lord Edward to Lady Catherine, her eyes wide.
“Have I done something wrong? I feel as if I have somehow managed to offend half the people in this ballroom, and yet I have no idea how I could have managed to do such a thing.”
“No, you haven’t done anything wrong.” Lady Catherine’s face softened, and she shook her head, reaching over to give Eliza’s arm a reassuring pat. “If my mother and brother are behaving strangely tonight, believe me when I tell you that it is not your fault, Miss Wingfield. They are just worried about Gabriel, that is all.”
Eliza frowned.
“What has happened to Lord Gabriel? Lady Matilda was most disappointed that she did not see him here tonight, and she will be even more upset if something is amiss.”
Catherine chewed on her bottom lip, not quite meeting Eliza’s gaze for a moment before she spoke.
“Gabriel had an accident. His cane slipped and he fell and struck his head quite badly. It knocked him unconscious. It took the physician longer than any of us would have liked to rouse him, and we’re making sure he’s attended to around the clock since the injury, of course. We almost refrained from attending tonight at all, but Gabriel insisted that we come and give him at least a couple hours of peace and quiet in which to recover.”
“Please send your brother my best wishes for a speedy recovery, Lady Catherine."
“And mine, as well.”
This was the first thing that Lord Edward had dared to say directly to Lady Catherine, and she sucked in a breath, darting a glance around, as if checking to see whether anyone had overheard him speaking to her.
“That is very kind of you, Miss Wingfield.” Lady Catherine darted another furtive glance around before acknowledging Lord Edward Melthorn with a quick glance. “And you, Lord Edward.”
It was then that Eliza saw Lord and Lady Rosebury pausing by the refreshment table for longer than it should have taken them to each pick up a glass of orgeat. It did not take a Bow Street Runner to see that they were desperately trying to overhear the conversation passing between Eliza, Lord Edward Melthorn, and Lady Catherine Stewart.
Eliza coughed pointedly to get her companions’ attention and inclined her chin in the direction of the refreshment table to point out Lord and Lady Rosebury’s closeness.
If ever there was a time to be careful about what they said, it was certainly now. Lord and Lady Rosebury were well-known for being inveterate gossips. It would not be wise to say anything around them that you did not want the entire ton to know.
Lord Edward and Lady Catherine both turned to see what Eliza was trying to tell them, then immediately whirled back around, grimacing in unison.
“Shall we take a turn about the room?” Lord Edward offered.
Eliza nodded.
“That sounds lovely, thank you.”
Lady Catherine looped her arm through Eliza’s and the three of them set off, chattering about nothing and everything until the Duke of Elkington stepped into their path.
Eliza stopped short, her breath hitching in her chest. She looked up, but he seemed to avoid her gaze, choosing to focus his attention exclusively on his sister.
“Mother has need of you, Catherine.”
Lady Catherine heaved a long-suffering sigh and did not bother to hide the fact that she rolled her eyes as hard as she possibly could.
“Can Mother not see that I am busy conversing with my friend, Miss Wingfield, at the moment?”
“Now, Catherine. It was not a request.”
Catherine groaned and stepped away from Eliza.
“I am sorry, Miss Wingfield, but it seems I must depart, though I certainly do not wish to leave such good company so soon. I do hope to see you again when the London Season resumes.”
Lady Catherine curtsied, and Eliza returned the gesture.
“I look forward to seeing you again, as well. I have very much enjoyed making your acquaintance.”
