He should be free to select a bride for no other reason than love and happiness. Would one of the sisters provide that?
Luckily, someone asked her to dance followed by another. The evening passed quickly until her breath caught at the sight of Philip standing before her.
“Your Grace.” She curtsied even as she tried to read his expression.
“Lady Eliza.” He smiled, his gaze lingering on her lips. Then he greeted her aunt before turning to Eliza again.
“May I have the honor of a dance?”
“Of course.” She took his offered hand, her heart warming when he tucked it beneath his arm. She did her best to hide how he made her feel even when they were only walking alongside one another. “Are you feeling better?”
“I am, thanks to you.” He tightened his elbow on her hand but didn’t look at her.
She was pleased to hear it but couldn’t help thinking of him speaking with the Graham ladies and wondering what they’d said.
“I hope my behavior didn’t alarm you,” he whispered.
“Not at all.” Her face heated at the reminder. Hopefully, anyone noticing her pink cheeks would blame the warmth of the ballroom.
“It occurred to me that I didn’t ask what happened that caused you to also be outside.” He glanced at her. “Is all well?”
They were making their way closer to the dance floor. Philip nodded at a few of the other guests, but Eliza kept her focus straight ahead, wondering how to answer. Should she be honest or brush aside the question with a light response?
This was hardly the time or place for a true conversation. Besides, her difficulties were small in comparison to his.
“I needed a breath of fresh air and a moment to collect myself.” That was true.
“Any particular reason?” They arrived at the edge of the dance floor and waited for the other couples to clear it.
She hesitated. But since he’d asked and had also shared a confidence with her earlier, she wanted to do the same. Building a relationship that included sharing feelings was her fondest wish. “I confess to feeling overwhelmed at events like this.”
“Oh?”
Yet Eliza realized she couldn’t truly explain. Not when there was still so much of the girl inside her who’d been so easily set aside by her mother and then passed from one family member to another, always unwanted.
It would be a poor idea to share just how unlovable she still felt with this man or anyone else for that matter. Why reveal her flaws when they might cause him to turn away?
When she didn’t say more, he nodded. “The crush of a ballroom isn’t necessarily anything I enjoy either.”
If only that was her problem.
They took their places on the dance floor with the other couples, and Eliza set aside her troubled thoughts, determined to enjoy the dance with Philip.
“It seems as if your evening has been successful from what I’ve seen,” he said as the music began.
It was now that she was dancing with him. But she only smiled politely in response.
“Is the gentleman here?”
“Which one?” she asked before realizing what he meant. “Yes, he is.”
“And did you dance with him?” At her hesitation, he added, “I only ask because I thought perhaps my services were no longer needed.”
Alarm filled her, along with disappointment. Was that the only reason Philip had asked her to dance? To fulfill the favor that she’d asked for? She studied his expression but couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “I would like us to continue if it’s not too much trouble.”
The dance steps prevented further conversation for several minutes.
“I do think it best if you share his identity with me,” Philip said.
