Eliza could hardly believe her luck. Then again, that was because her riding with Philip wasn’t solely due to fate but partly due to careful planning.
She’d overheard him speaking to Lord Bolton about riding and early mornings and had hoped to come across him. She’d nearly arrived too late. Her guilt at the calculated move dimmed her enjoyment of his presence, but how else could she spend time with him if she didn’t plan it?
At last, she slowed her pace to a walk, pleased when Philip rode alongside her. “Thank you for your help last evening,” she said.
“Ah, yes. The favor. Was our dance effective?”
“I’m not yet certain, but I like to think so.” That was truer than he could know.
“Did your gentleman make an appearance?”
His question made her regret raising the subject. She needed to proceed cautiously. Miss Melbourne’s remark about implementing the agenda being more difficult than expected came to mind. How right the lady was.
“Yes.” Eliza preferred to speak the truth when possible.
“Why don’t you tell me who he is? I’d be pleased to make certain he’s worthy of your attention.”
She smiled. “Perhaps at some point, but not yet. I would prefer to see where it leads first.”
“Does Winston know him?”
“I’m not certain. Winston rarely comes to the same events I do.”
“Or any, you mean.”
“True.” She glanced at him again. “Did you enjoy yourself at the ball? I noticed you danced with the same ladies you spoke with at the musicale.” She hid a grimace, wishing she hadn’t mentioned it.
“Parts of it, I suppose.”
“Oh?” She hoped it wasn’t the part where he’d danced with Lady Alice or Lady Constance. Of course, he had danced with others as well.
“What of you?” he asked, making it clear he didn’t intend to provide details.
“The same, I suppose. It can be exhausting to visit with those you don’t know well. Of course, I’m not familiar with anyone here as of yet.”
“Surely some of the ladies you attended finishing school with reside in London.”
She considered how best to answer. “Yes, but I wouldn’t call any of them friends.” At his questioning look, she added, “I didn’t fit in well with the others there. We had differing interests.”
The dull ache in her chest should’ve been familiar enough not to hurt anymore. But it still did.
“I’m sorry to hear you were unhappy there.”
She didn’t want his pity but if she wanted a connection with him, she needed to share some of herself. She just had to take care not to offer too much.
“I suppose I wasn’t particularly happy in England either. Living with various relatives wasn’t ideal.” She forced a smile. “My youth was a difficult time.”
“Losing your parents couldn’t have been easy but came at especially the wrong time for a young lady.”
“My mother didn’t seem pleased to have children to contend with.” She waved a gloved hand in dismissal. “I’m sure you’ve heard some of that from Winston.”
“Actually, no. He doesn’t speak of it.”
“Oh?” She’d always imagined the two of them sharing confidences of that sort and had been envious. The information made her wonder about Winston. Was it any surprise that he continued to try to escape his thoughts with his questionable activities when he hadn’t worked through the past?
Perhaps she should try to have a meaningful conversation with him about it. That might help heal them both.
“I must take some of the blame,” Philip added. “I don’t know that I spoke of my parents much either.”
