“Is it? I rather thought that everyone in your family — besides Lady Catherine, that is — had taken up the habit of studiously avoiding me of late.” The words slipped out before Eliza thought to stop herself, and she reached up, pressing her fingers to her lips. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she looked up at Lord Gabriel, her eyes wide and apologetic. “I’m terribly sorry, Lord Gabriel. I did not mean to take the frustrations I’ve experienced recently out on you. Please, accept my most sincere apologies.”
Eliza dipped in a curtsey, staring down at the floor and hating herself for being so thoughtless.
Surely, if the Duke of Elkington’s family had not been intentionally snubbing her before, they certainly would now.
Lord Gabriel laughed, deep and hearty and resounding, until he was leaning on his cane for support and gasping for breath. Eliza stared up at him, her eyes wide and horrified. Was he laughing at her? Oh, God. What had she done, speaking so thoughtlessly?
“I like you, Miss Wingfield. I’ve always found your honesty refreshing, and I suspect there’s quite a lot more sharp wit where that came from. There is something that I feel you and Lady Matilda must both be made aware of, but your wicked sense of humour has attracted a bit too much attention for my taste at this point, Miss Wingfield. Promise me that neither of you will leave before I get the opportunity to speak with you without the risk of… problematic parties overhearing us.”
“Of course.”
Eliza bobbed another curtsey, as did Lady Matilda, and Lord Gabriel bowed to them both, his blue eyes dancing with mischief and mirth.
“I hope you enjoy the evening, then, fair goddesses.”
Lord Gabriel’s amused farewell floated down the hall behind them, and Lady Matilda looped her arm through Eliza’s as they entered the ballroom and strolled over to their standard post in the shadows near the refreshment table.
“Well… that was intriguing to say the least. I wonder what he needs to tell us?”
“I have no idea, but it is going to drive me mad until we find out.” Eliza groaned and plucked a glass of orgeat off the refreshment table for herself. She motioned to them and arched an eyebrow at Matilda. “Would you like one?”
“No, thank you.” Matilda smoothed a hand over her stomach, shaking her head. “Too many butterflies in my stomach at the moment, I’m afraid. Did you notice Lord Gabriel’s cravat pin?”
Eliza shook her head and frowned.
“I was too busy being mortified by the fact that I accidentally blurted out one of my innermost thoughts which should have been left unsaid. What was it?”
“It was an anvil.” Lady Matilda paused to chew on her bottom lip, obviously lost in thought. “Which means he chose to come to this costume Ball as Hephaestus.”
Eliza canted her head, studying her friend, the deep, thoughtful furrow between her brows somehow making her even more beautiful than she already was.
“An interesting choice, to be sure.”
“Indeed it is.” Matilda’s voice had taken on a quiet, faraway quality, and her gaze was roaming the room, probably searching for Lord Gabriel.
“It was a touch of black humour, I assure you, and intended entirely to infuriate my mother. A lame, disfigured god felt appropriate.” Lord Gabriel’s quiet voice came from deep in the shadows behind them.
Eliza and Matilda whirled to face him in unison, and he beckoned them deeper into the shadows, keeping his voice low.
“Come now, Lord Gabriel, you cannot think so little of yourself—“
Gabriel shook his head and held up a hand to cut Eliza’s protest off. She bit the inside of her cheek and nodded for him to continue.
“Allow me to impart my message before we are spotted together, ladies.” There he paused and nodded to Eliza. “You were right about my family avoiding you, and I feel that you deserve to know why.”
“What?” Eliza and Matilda gasped in unison, drawing closer to Lord Gabriel.
Eliza squeezed her eyes shut and bit her bottom lip to hide its trembling.
“I knew I must have done something wrong, something to offend you all.”
“It wasn’t your fault, not really.” Lord Gabriel spoke in a low, urgent rush. “Your sister, Lady Seabury, interfered with my sister’s planned betrothal to Lord D’Asti. When Mother found out, she was positively furious. Then, when she realised that you were Lady Seabury’s sister, she forbade us from having anything further to do with you.”
Eliza felt lightheaded, as if she might swoon, and she shook her head, uncomprehending.
“But Lady Catherine has continued to speak to me—”
“Against our mother’s wishes. Raphe, on the other hand, is a far more dutiful child than Catherine or me. I would have continued to speak to you, too, if I hadn’t been ill disposed to be around others of late. I only came here tonight with the express purpose of speaking to you, so that you would know what has happened, and that the treatment you’ve received from our family of late is through no fault of your own, save that you are Lady Seabury’s sister.”
