“Understood.” Elizabeth nodded sagely. “I’ll endeavor to be trustworthy of it all.”
“Why do I feel like I just signed a deal with the devil, and when is dinner so I can extricate myself from this situation I don’t know how I created?” He turned to the door, as if trying to conjure up a servant to invite them to the table.
“Is this that charm you were talking about?” she asked, teasing him.
“Yes,” he said tightly, turning back to her, his eyes daring her to continue.
“Noted. It’s a good thing you’re handsome.” She giggled, then pressed her fingertips to her lips.
Her father coughed as if choking on a laugh. “There are few places more entertaining than this room right now.”
Collin turned a dry expression on her father and then turned back to her. “You’re enjoying this too much.”
“I am, and I don’t regret it.”
“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. When you meet my sister, the world will shudder that you two have joined forces.”
“I’ll probably like her more than I like you,” Elizabeth dared to say.
Collin eyed her suspiciously before answering. “Challenge? I accept. You’ve been warned.”
“I have been. However, I don’t foresee this being a problem. I rather like the idea of your constant effort for my affections,” she replied saucily.
“As if I haven’t tried already?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest, an amused expression in the twinkle of his eye.
However, Elizabeth could see what he was doing, and she was deeply thankful he was drawing her out, helping her to move past the earlier events of the day that had left her so empty. He was giving her a distraction, a bit of fun, and she fell a little more in love with him for it.
As she thought the words, she paused and swallowed, glancing down and away from him.
Love?
That’s what this was, wasn’t it? She took a few seconds to collect herself, to think, to evaluate. She’d read a million books, seen it displayed in millions of ways, yet…it was something one couldn’t merely read about.
It had to be experienced.
And as she glanced up to meet Collin’s curious gaze, she knew.
It was, indeed, love.
Well, if it was a day where her soul was to be laid out naked, then it would be only fitting to add this truth to mix. She offered Collin a reassuring smile, speaking that same reassurance to herself.
It wasn’t one-sided.
He was courting her, seeking her hand. It wasn’t one-sided, she repeated to herself. Because the only thing more terrifying than realizing she was in love was the fear she was in it alone.
Twenty-six
Collin escorted Elizabeth to the dinner table, her hand resting on top of his as he walked with her through the hall, her father following behind. When he’d first arrived, he had hardly recognized the subdued woman that Elizabeth had become. It had jolted him, and his one goal from that moment was to tease her out of the shell into which she’d retreated. He was surprised to see that aspect of her character. He’d rather expected her to be fierce and defiant, which she was, unless it was against those she loved. It was an aspect of her character that spoke deeply to him: loyalty.
It was a rare commodity, and all the more precious because of that. He offered her a playful smile as she walked with him, and jostled against her shoulder lightly, earning a playful glare in response.
“Problems walking straight?” she quipped.
“I’m merely drunk on your presence,” he whispered softly.
“Is that so? I’ll make sure my father removes the wine from the table before we begin dinner, if I’m merely enough,” she teased.
“Oh, you’re enough,” he whispered back.
