“I understand.” Elizabeth nodded, then with a twinkle in her eye, she added, “In efforts to befriendyour sister, I may not defend you…” She gave a soft laugh. “But I understand, Collin.”
“Those are terms I can accept.” He grinned.
Elizabeth released his cheek and smiled shyly.
“Thank you,” he said softly, lifting her hand and kissing it slowly.
She inhaled a shaky breath, her lips blooming with color and tempting him beyond what he thought he could endure.
“For?” she asked breathlessly, her gaze darting between his lips and his eyes.
He groaned. Blast her father for being so vigilant.
“For listening, for understanding. It’s not something that’s easy to speak of, but when you talk with the right person, that makes all the difference.”
“I’m honored,” she replied, her face a well of deep emotion.
“I sincerely don’t want to watch you leave,” he whispered softly, caressing her hand with his fingers.
“I truly don’t want to go,” she responded, her voice low and raspy.
“And yet…” He studied her, every nuance of her expression burning into his soul. “You must.”
“I must,” she agreed. “But only for as long as necessary.”
“Yes.”
She pulled away her hand and pointed at him. “And you’ll write and let me know how you are faring.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes,” Collin replied, grinning.
“And you’ll—”
“Are you always going to be this demanding?” he asked playfully, kissing her hand again just for the pleasure of it.
“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly.
“I’m sure I’ll find my own ways to be demanding as well,” he said with a wicked grin.
Warmth suffused Elizabeth’s face.
A footman entered the parlor. “My lord? The carriage is ready.”
Collin stood and helped Elizabeth to her feet as well. He nodded to the footman and then to Elizabeth’s father, who had taken up another book in the far chair.
Collin gestured to the door and followed them out into the hall and then to the front stoop. Gently, he aided Elizabeth as she stepped into his well-sprung carriage and then stepped back as Professor Essex shook his hand, said his goodbyes, and followed his daughter into the conveyance.
There was something deeply personal about having her ensconced in his carriage. Seeing the Penderdale crest painted on the side and having her watch him from the window made his heart pinch with how right it felt. If he was having this much of a reaction with her merely using his carriage, he couldn’t imagine what it would be like to see her interact with his sister. He made light of how muchthey’d overtake the world once together, but truly he couldn’t imagine a better friend for Joan, or for Elizabeth. Both were women before their time, women who weren’t afraid to be unconventional, women who were far more intelligent and witty than most. They were unique.
He was only deeply regretful that he couldn’t be there to watch their first interactions. Rowles’s face he could imagine, and he likely would hear a very specific, detailed account from his sister about the whole thing, but it was different, not being there.
But Elizabeth would be safe.
And that was what mattered.
He lifted a hand in farewell as the carriage rolled forward. Elizabeth’s eyes were on him, not wavering until he couldn’t see her any longer and the carriage had disappeared around the corner.
It was done.
