“Are you certain?” she asked with hesitation.
“I do not like dining alone,” he answered. “I am also certain that you wish to yell at me.”
He placed her wine glass in the space before the opposite chair and then took a seat without waiting for Eliza to be seated first.
“Why would I yell at you?” she asked, coming forward and finally sitting down.
“You did demand to know where I had been.”
“You should not have disappeared, and for so long, and leave your servants worried.”
Lucian arched an eyebrow. “I am certain they gave no thought to where I went or when I would return. I am not in the habit of approving my schedule with them.”
“Cook was displeased,” she stated.
“Thus, the cold food.”
Eliza’s eyes widened. “Should I ring for the maid so it can be taken back?”
Lucian laughed. “If I were to do so, then I would likely be served cold porridge.”
“Truly?” she asked in shock.
“One day I will explain.” He took a bite of the room temperature potatoes. “You were going to yell at me,” he reminded her.
“It is not my place,” Eliza said quietly then sipped her wine.
This was not like her at all.
“I should not have reacted as I did,” Lucian explained though he had no regrets. “I was angry that you viewed me in such a negative manner. Insulted actually,” he acknowledged before he took a bite of his supper.
“I am sorry. It was never meant as disrespect.”
“Only the truth,” Lucian acknowledged.
“No. Not that either. It is just that….”
“What?” he asked before he took another bite of the chicken.
“I was hurt,” Eliza blurted out.
“Hurt?” he asked with a frown. “How?”
“How?” she returned in outrage.
“It is the question I asked,” Lucian said slowly, though he had a very good idea why she washurt,which had not been his intention.
“I was infatuated with you!”
He blinked and set his fork aside and picked up the glass of wine. He was not expecting Eliza to admit such.
“I took a chance and kissed you and you kissed me back and it was wonderful and then my brother had to come along.”
Was she pouting?
Lucian tried his best not to smile. “Is that when I hurt you?”
“No, you idiot.”
