Elise sucked in a breath, clearly unhappy with the idea of attending the ball. “Do you think that’s enough time for your campaign to work?” she asked. “I never liked balls before, but now . . .” she muttered.
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” Reid said as he leaned over and took her hand, “and you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I’m sorry for stepping in and not allowing you to have a say, I respect whatever you want to do. This is your life.” He searched her eyes and saw her battling the fear there. “The last thing I want to do is push you or make you uncomfortable.”
“No,” Elise said, straightening up in her chair, voice ringing with authority. “You’re working hard on this so that we might be together. I want nothing more than that. I love you, and I promised myself I wouldn’t let this hold me back any longer.” Eyes softening, she squeezed his hand. “It’s time that I fight for us too.”
CHAPTER31
Elise was nervous to meet Moira and Angeline. She had grown to love Reid’s friends while organizing for them at Cliff House and trusted she would like their wives and relations as well, but meeting other women in polite society made her uneasy regardless.
Reid must have felt her tension within the small carriage. Moving to sit beside her, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. Kissing the top of her head, he murmured, “You have nothing to worry about, they’ll love you.”
Nestling closer, Elise reveled in the feel of being near Reid again. The time apart had clarified that being able to move forward with him was what was most important to her, and she needed to get serious about finding a way to make that happen. While she had been frustrated the day before learning that he and her father had been acting without her knowledge or consent, with a bit of space to reflect and cool down, she was grateful for what they had accomplished. Her own fears and distance had kept her from being able to take a first step, and they had laid a foundation allowing her to do so today. “Thank you for putting all of this into place. I know I was upset with you, but I really do appreciate your efforts.”
Reid sighed. “I know I should have told you what I was working on, but I didn’t know if it would work and I was scared to get your hopes up if nothing came of it. That doesn’t excuse the fact that I knew you would want to be informed and proceeded anyway.”
Laughing, Elise pulled slightly away to peer up at his handsome face. “Again, it was a very ‘Captain Claybourn’ thing for you to do, charge ahead toward the objective, heedless of what else may be prudent.”
Reid looked a bit sheepish. “I was in the army for almost fifteen years, it’s difficult to tamp that down sometimes when you’re used to taking charge.” Reaching up, he stroked her cheek. “I do understand what you said about needing to handle this yourself, and I want to respect that. But darling, sometimes helping yourself means knowing when to ask for support from others.”
“I know, and it’s something I’m working on. It’s just difficult when I’ve had to look out for myself these past few years. I guess we are both works in progress.” Elise leaned further into him and tipped her head up for a kiss. Reid willingly complied and they enjoyed the few moments in the carriage alone together. Slipping her hand beneath his coat, she felt his strength and warmth. Following her lead, his hand travelled a similar path upward, caressing her breast and making her shiver at the delightful feeling of his touch. Leaning into the kiss further, Elise moved to straddle his lap when the carriage came to a halt.
Biting off a groan of frustration, Reid eased her back onto the bench and discreetly adjusted himself. “We’ll have to continue that later. I have missed you.”
* * *
In the end, there was nothing for Elise to be nervous about. Fitz had welcomed them and introduced her to Moira and Angeline, who were both easy to talk to and immediately made her feel at ease.
The gentlemen left to deliberate politics, leaving the ladies to discuss how best to prepare for the upcoming season.
“You’re not alone in this,” Angeline said, reaching out to squeeze Elise’s hand. “While it’s not the same, I’ll be returning this season as well. My husband, Phillip, died a year and a half ago, and this will be my first season since my period of mourning. I know it will feel different at events without him.”
Elise’s heart ached seeing a wistful look on the beautiful redhead’s face. It was obvious she had loved her husband and that they had a good marriage. It was what she hoped for regarding her and Reid, and why redeeming her reputation was so important.
“As you well know, part of winning over the hearts of society maidens is presenting yourself properly. Since you’ve been in Dorset, I assume you’ll need to refresh your wardrobe?” Moira asked.
“Yes, I do. Reid mentioned you would be willing to visit the modiste with me?” Elise had never had the pleasure of shopping with other women before as her mother had been ill when she was old enough to furbish her own clothing, and then gone as she prepared for her debut season. She was looking forward to their ideas.
As the ladies headed out the door to shop, Reid pulled Elise aside. “I can tell they already love you. I told you there would be nothing to worry about.”
“They are lovely women,” she said, “and I hope we will be friends for a long time. Shopping is a bit daunting, but I know they will steer me in the right direction.
“I know nothing about clothes,” Reid said. “But I do know that I haven’t stopped thinking about you in that emerald-green dress you wore at Cliff House. You were stunning then, and I know you will be stunning again in whatever you choose. It’s your kindness that shines through and makes you beautiful no matter the occasion.”
Elise felt tears gathering at the back of her eyes at his sweet words and blinked rapidly to contain them. “You’ll give me a big head with such sentiments. You shouldn’t exaggerate so.”
“I only speak the truth,” he replied, leaning in to kiss her forehead. “Now go—and spare no expense so thetonwill realize just what they have been overlooking.”
The ladies departed, and Moira and Angeline wasted no time before gushing over how sweet Reid was with her.
“We’ve both known Reid for several years now through Henry and he’s really become a friend since returning from the army,” Moira said. “I’ve never seen him like this. He paid little mind to any woman as far as I could tell, and yes, part of that was to deny his father the satisfaction of seeing him married, but no one seemed to capture his attention.”
“You most certainly have his attention,” Angeline added. “The love in his eyes when he looked at you lit the room.”
Blushing slightly, Elise smiled. “He’s a wonderful man, I’m lucky to have met him.”
Arriving at the modiste, the ladies flew into action. “We need to make a splash without being over the top,” Moira told the modiste while gesturing to Elise. “We want everyone to sit up and take notice and see she is a woman of class and substance.”
“I see,” the modiste said, looking Elise over critically. “With your coloring, we will want full, saturated colors. None of these pastels the young ladies are always wearing.” Circling, she raised Elise’s arm to better see her figure. “A classic cut, and nothing ostentatious. You must be what makes the dress shine, not the other way around.”
