And that was his sign to keep his eyes from her mouth for the rest of eternity.
He cleared his throat and brought his gaze to her eyes instead. Unfortunately, they were also intriguing. Was there no safe place for him to look?
Honora glanced around before idly stirring her ice again. It was quickly becoming a pool at the bottom of her glass. “No. I did not.”
He pulled a face. She really made no sense to him, and he found himself more and more curious as to what made this woman tick or motivated her actions. “Then why go back to it?”
“I told you. I get bored.” Her stirring increased in speed. “Which is why I forced you to get ice with me today.” She tucked her chin down, lifting a shoulder and smiling at him.
“Perhaps you should find a hobby so you don’t find yourself so bored all the time. Your lack of a social life is rather dangerous to yourself and others.”
Her smile remained, but the corners softened as if she were now only doing so for appearances.
“What?” he prodded.
“Oh, nothing.” She shook her head. “It is only that I do have a friend. Laura. At least, I did. I haven’t heard from her in weeks. Perhaps that is the reason I did what I did. A rash decision to distract myself from the fact that my one friend in life may have moved on.” She looked down at her cup, her mouth pulling to the side.
“Did your husband not participate much in society?” Surely they would have had friends or family. Had her husband kept her under a tight watch? Leonard couldn’t imagine Mrs. Gillingham choosing such a man. And yet, nothing else would explain her lack of a social life, even after her husband’s passing.
“He—” She bit her lip, looking up and around at their surroundings. “No, he was social.”
“So why do you not have friends?”
She was silent for a moment, then turned her face to him. “Why the sudden interest in my life? Have you become smitten?”
While Mrs. Gillingham had no qualms about flirting with him, something was off about her question. The attempt at flirtation seemed forced and ingenuine. “I am only asking you a question. You know more about me than I do about you. I only wish to even the scales.”
“Then you may ask away. Just not about that.”
He watched her, and while he was extremely curious about her evasion of the topic, he decided to leave it be. There may be old wounds there that she wasn’t ready to discuss yet, and who was he to force her?
Once Mrs. Gillingham finished her confection, they took their cups back and returned to Leonard’s coach along with her maid. When they arrived at her townhouse, he escorted her to the door.
“I hope that wasn’t too awful of an afternoon for you,” she said, stopping with her fingers grasping the handle.
He wanted to lie. Wanted to say he hated every moment of it.
“I enjoyed it too.” With a small smile and a bow, he left her gaping after him.
Chapter Sixteen
Staring out the window was usually Honora’s favorite pastime, but today, she found herself staring without really seeing. Her thoughts were fixated on something else entirely, and no matter how much she tried to concentrate on the people walking outside her window, all she could think about was Leonard.
He had seemed to enjoy his time with her yesterday, and while that thought should have elated her, she felt quite sick about it instead. True to herself, she had rushed into a situation without thinking it all the way through. His handsome face and difficult disposition had intrigued her, and she had always liked a puzzle. But now, Leonard was asking her things she could not answer. Such as any details regarding herhusband, and why she had no friends.
Like she had told him—she did have one friend. Or, she did. Now she worried that even that acquaintance was to be severed forever.
As if her gloomy thoughts had conjured images, a familiar face exited a carriage just outside her townhouse. Honora’s mindflipped through names and faces until she came upon the correct one.
Mrs. Sophie Langford.
Honora watched her walk to the door, knock, and then produce a card to Wilson.
What could she want?
Honora waited until Wilson came in, holding the card in his hand. “A Mrs. Langford to see you, ma’am.”
With a swallow, Honora nodded. “Of course. Bring her in, please.”
