He simply shrugged, not accepting her praise, nor denying it.
Eleanor wrote in as manyt’s andh’s as they’d deciphered, not only for the wordthe, but in other places. When this led them to guess other words, they filled out more in the puzzle.
By the time they had solved nearly all of it, the scent of the morning meal had permeated the library, since they’d left the door appropriately open.
“Shall we stop for breakfast with the Angsley family so as not to appear rude?” he asked.
Eleanor agreed at once, and he considered it a good morning’s work. The puzzle wasn’t too easy for her, nor bogglingly difficult as to make her lose heart. Moreover, she seemed simply happy.
It delighted him to be the cause of her pleasure.
Gray was surprised a few minutes later when Eleanor asked those gathered at the table, “Does anyone know of a late-night visitor?”
How could she know he’d braved yet another autumn storm to put more of his birthday gift to her in place?
Luckily, no one knew anything.
Then Phoebe spoke up. She’d been sending him curious looks ever since Eleanor had met with her the day before to ensure the girl’s silence.
“I had a sewing lesson this morning with Mrs. O’Connor, and she would like both EleanorandGrayson to go to her cottage today.”
He didn’t appreciate the way she emphasized linking their names together, especially when she followed it with a girlish giggle.
“Do you know what she wants?” he asked, keeping his tone entirely placid. “Is there anything my mother needs me to bring?”
“Only Eleanor,” Phoebe repeated.
Gray felt the heat rise in his face as he lowered his gaze to study the black pudding on his plate as if the sausages were fascinating.
“That’s fine,” Eleanor said. “I am free to go directly after we eat. Are you, Grayson?”
It still seemed strange, even exciting, to hear her use his given name, especially in company, but no one else seemed to think anything of it.
In any case, within the half hour, they were walking companionably toward the old granary lodge.
“I wonder if we shall hear from Turvey House today. I hope so,” she said.
If a messenger came, Grayson would try to intercept the man. After all, if a note arrived saying it was all right for Eleanor to leave, then his plans would be ruined. On the other hand, he didn’t want her to be worried over Margaret if her illness had passed.
“Who knows?” was all he could say, hoping he didn’t sound as if he didn’t care.
Knocking at his mother’s door, they waited only a few moments before it swung open. His mother paused and looked from him to Eleanor and back again, and then she sent them both a beaming smile.
What was she up to?
“Come in, my dears. Don’t you two look well! Phoebe passed along my message. What a good girl she is.”
“Good day, Mrs. O’Connor,” Eleanor said politely, as they stepped inside.
“Did you need something?” he asked, as his first thought was always if he could do something for her, although his mother rarely asked for anything.
“Actually, yes. I need those misplaced spectacles, or I need new ones. I was hoping you could help me look, or we could go into town and buy some new ones.”
But why Eleanor?
Without waiting for him to ask, his mother added, “If we go into town, as I fear we must, I thought Miss Eleanor would enjoy an outing, too.”
“Oh, I would,” she said. “Thank you for thinking of me. Shall we walk or ride?”
