“Where were you?” she demanded again.
“At theCrooked Swan,” he answered.
“Are you foxed?” Maybe that was why he appeared in good spirits. He certainly had not been when he marched away from her earlier.
“I can assure you that I am not,” he said as he untied his cravat then tossed it on a chair.
She really should not stand at the entry to his bedchamber while he was in the process of disrobing, but Eliza could not make herself leave.
“I am hungry, however,” he said as he started to undo the buttons on his waistcoat.
“Cook said that she would keep a plate set aside for you if you wanted to eat when you bothered to return.” Her tone of disapproval should make him realize that his not alerting Cook to his change in plans had been rude.
He grinned instead of being ashamed.
“Be a love and ask a footman to have it delivered to the sitting room.”
“This sitting room?” Why would he not eat in the dining room?
Eliza pulled back. Had he just asked her to be a love? Something was terribly wrong with Lucian, or he was foxed, even if he denied that he was.
“Yes, please.”
“Very well.” She returned to the sitting room and yanked on the bellpull. When a maid knocked on the door, she told her of Lucian’s request.
All the maid did was bob a curtsey and leave, not that she should curtsey to her.
“Your supper will be here shortly. I will leave you to enjoy it,” Eliza called because she was too afraid to go near his chamber as Lucian had been undressing and he had not closed the door.
Foxed!
“I would like company while I dine,” he called back.
“If you wish,” she offered.
Maybe after he filled his belly with food instead of ale, he would return to himself.
Chapter28
Lucian neededto get out of the clothing because he had been soaked by the time he returned home. He had not been expecting Eliza to be in the sitting room or demand where he had been. He rather enjoyed the fact that she had been worried about him for a change.
As she had already seen him in his robe, Lucian had no concerns about removing his clothing in her presence, though had she remained, he may not have taken off his trousers. As soon as she was gone, he stripped completely and tossed his clothing into a pile for his valet to clean then shrugged on his dressing gown since there was no point in putting on a new set of clothing when he would be retiring soon.
However, he waited to leave his chamber until the maid had delivered his supper and left because if she were to see him dressed as such in the presence of Eliza, they may assume the two shared a more intimate relationship than they do and he would not have his servants gossiping about Eliza.
When he entered the sitting room, Eliza’s eyes widened as she took in his appearance. A blush staining her cheeks soon followed. “Your…um…dinner has arrived.”
“Thank you.” He crossed to the table to note a plate of chicken and potatoes. They were likely not very warm either because it would be Cook’s way of reminding him of her displeasure at his not appearing at dinner without notification to her.
He chuckled, because he and his brothers had often eaten cold meals when they were young and after his parents had passed, because they’d been out, usually riding, and did not return on time. He was an adult now and as the earl could have her sacked for disrespect, but he would not because she had become almost a second mother to him after he had lost his own and Cook sometimes still tried to be that to him.
Beside his plate was a bottle of wine and one glass. He crossed to the sideboard and returned with another and then poured a glass for himself and Eliza. She had not moved since he entered the sitting room, but simply watched.
He’d never known her not to be more active, or talkative. Had his state of near undress disturbed her?
He bit back a grin and hoped that she grew as frustrated as she had been making him ever since she took up residence in Greenhaven Cottage.
“Please, join me.” He held the glass of wine up.
