This time, it did not feel like nothing.
CHAPTER 17
When Nathaniel arrived, Eliza stood near the window, adjusting a vase that did not require adjusting. She did not turn immediately when he entered.
“You are late,” she said.
“I did not give an hour.”
“You are later than usual, then. You know what I mean.”
He removed his gloves and set them aside.
“You sound displeased.”
“I am not. I had simply thought that you would be here by now. Your nephew was asking for you again.”
She turned then. She had not changed much in the past year, in spite of it all. She did all that she could for herself, and since the one occasion where she had accepted his assistance, she had kept him at a distance again. There were times where Nathaniel thought she might at last wish to keep him close, but it never came.
“Am I too late to see him?”
She nodded, and it hurt his feelings more than usual. He had not meant to arrive after he had fallen asleep, but he had enjoyed his time with Miss Fairleigh and time had escaped him. He did not regret it, of course, but he knew it had upset his sister. She had been his only priority before, and she was not going to take sharing him lightly.
“You look distracted,” she said.
“I attended a garden party today.”
“That explains nothing.”
“It rained.”
“That explains even less, Nathaniel.”
Despite himself, he almost smiled. She crossed to the small table and poured tea without asking whether he wanted it. She knew he would, and he did.
“Did you come straight from there?” she asked.
“Almost. I stopped to change my coat and tell my staff that I would be away for the night.”
“For the night?”
“Yes. I thought I might break my fast with you both tomorrow, if you wish to house me that is.”
Eliza handed him the cup and studied his face as he accepted it.
“The house is yours. You need not wait for an invitation.”
“I prefer to have it.”
“Very well. What of the young lady? Was she suitably impressed?”
“She was not overwhelmed by the eyes of the ton, so that is a start.”
“That is also unusual.”
“Indeed, but I found it rather admirable.”
Eliza sat opposite him, folding one leg neatly over the other. A small silence passed.
