“What are you up to, Lady Seabury?”
God above, Eugenia loved that lilting, exotic Italian accent of his. Somehow, it made everything the man said sound romantic. Or perhaps Eugenia romanticised everything about him because she liked him and wanted to pursue a relationship with him, although she wasn’t at all certain that he still had any interest in her.
Susan giggled and leaned forward, as if to impart an important secret.
“We are sneaking out of Lady Bellingham’s clutches for a few hours to visit my mother and sisters, and of course Edward, at Ashbrook, which is quite a short ride from here.”
“But you don’t have to go with us if you don’t want to!” Eugenia blurted. Everyone turned to look at her, and her cheeks burned even hotter. She was sure her face was crimson, now, and she rushed to explain her outburst. “What I mean to say is that we won’t force you to come with us if you’d prefer to stay at Bellingham Park and try to catch up with one of the other parties exploring the property. But you’re welcome to accompany us on our visit if you’d like to.”
Susan shot Eugenia a disbelieving, wide-eyed stare, and Eugenia looked away, suddenly quite interested in the passing countryside. It wasn’t that she didn’t want the opportunity to spend time with Lord D’Asti, away from the confines of the Bellingham house party, but she didn’t want to practically have to kidnap the man to make it happen, for heaven’s sake!
“Well, if the three of you are sneaking off for a bit of unsanctioned adventure, I certainly don’t want to be left out!”
Lord D’Asti chuckled, and Eugenia blew out a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding.
“Excellent!” Susan clapped, clearly delighted that Lord D’Asti had chosen to go with them. Out of the corner of her eye, Eugenia saw Susan lean forward, grinning like a fiend. “Georgiana said that she had some news to share with us. Is it terrible that I’m almost more excited about the excuse to get away from Lady Bellingham than I am about whatever news Georgiana has for us?”
“Lord and Lady Bellingham really aren’t that bad, darling. Lady Bellingham is, perhaps, a little overbearing, but they aren’t atrocious enough that we need to run from Bellingham Park screaming, never to return.”
Lord Seabury’s voice was gently chiding.
“Their daughter, however, is an atrocious creature.”
Susan’s mutinous mutter was too funny for Eugenia to resist allowing a soft laugh to escape her lips.
“While that may be true, I see no need to speak ill of our hosts’ daughter in front of other guests. It’s not wise, Susan.”
Lord Seabury’s voice had gone from gently chiding to hard and urgent. Lord D’Asti cleared his throat then.
“Your secret is safe with me, I promise.”
Eugenia and Lord Seabury both flashed the Count a grateful smile on Susan’s behalf. Then, deciding that it was high time they changed the subject, Eugenia tapped Susan on the knee.
“Why do you think Georgiana sent for us?”
“I haven’t the foggiest.” Susan shrugged, turning to look out of the carriage window with a broad smile. “But I’m sure we’ll find out momentarily, since we’re arriving as we speak.”
As the carriage bumped to a stop, the fine hairs on the back of Eugenia’s neck stood on end and she turned her gaze from the carriage window to find Lord D’Asti’s dark, unwavering gaze locked on her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. Even when her gaze met his, the count did not look away, did not even blink, until Eugenia’s cheeks turned pink and butterflies erupted in her stomach.
Once the coachman opened the carriage door, Lord Seabury jumped out and extended a hand to Susan, eager as ever to dote on his wife. Eugenia watched them, taking in every nuance of the married couple’s interaction as Susan stepped down from the carriage to join her husband. The way that Lord Seabury’s eyes crinkled at the corners with genuine delight every time he looked at Susan. The way that Susan seemed to glow from within at the slightest touch of her husband’s hand. A longing ache built in Eugenia’s chest, and she pressed her hand against her breastbone, as if that might do something to ease the ache.
She didn’t envy them, couldn’t call what she was feeling jealousy, exactly. It was just that she desperately wanted that kind of happiness for herself, too.
Lord D’Asti rose and climbed out of the carriage with the sort of fluid grace that could easily mesmerise a girl if she weren’t careful. Still, Eugenia couldn’t seem to take her eyes off him as he alighted on the ground and extended a hand to help her out of the carriage.
“May I assist you out of the carriage, Lady Eugenia?”
She opened her mouth to reply, but all that came out was a garbled, strangled sound, as if she was choking. Her cheeks flamed bright red, and she squeezed her eyes shut, as if that might block out her mortification at behaving so awkwardly in front of him. His fingers closed around hers, and he gave her hand a firm squeeze. She could feel the heat of his skin, even through her gloves, and her eyes flew open, locking on the point of contact between them. His gaze, however, was trained on her face, a fierce frown tugging his mouth down at the corners.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Eugenia let out a small sigh of relief at having managed to actually form a coherent response.
“I am glad to hear it.” Lord D’Asti smiled, then, his dark brown eyes twinkling with good humour as he helped her down from the carriage. Eugenia’s heart fluttered madly in response, her cheeks reddening with an enamoured flush now, rather than awkwardness or embarrassment. Once she was standing beside him, Lord D’Asti didn’t immediately release her hand. Instead, he dropped his voice low enough that Susan and Neville would most likely have trouble hearing him, despite how close they were, and spoke. “I feel compelled to apologise to you, Lady Eugenia.”
Her eyebrows shot up and her mouth formed a small, shocked ‘O’ for a moment before she gathered her wits enough to respond.
