As the man walked closer toward her, his appearance began to take on a form, and she recognized Lord Calvin Drake—Adam’s cousin. Thinking of her dead fiancé made her want to bawl all over again, but she refrained. She blinked quickly, hoping it would dry the tears still swimming inside her eyes.
“I wasn’t invited to the party,” he said, stopping in front of her.
She prayed the shadows would keep him from seeing her face. “Forgive me. I didn’t see you very well, Lord Calvin.”
He leaned forward as if studying her face.Blast it all!He could see her tears.
“Eleanor, have you been crying?”
Forcing a laugh, she swiped under her eyes and cheeks, trying to remove the evidence. She hadn’t given him permission to use her given name, but she didn’t have the energy to correct him now. “Please don’t worry yourself. It’s nothing.”
“Why are you dressed this way?” He smiled. “Are you sneaking out of the house at night to ride your horse again?”
His question jarred inside her head. What in the blazes was he talking about? How didheknow she used to do that? “Pardon me? Why would you ask such a thing, Lord Calvin? We barely know each other.”
Sighing, he scrubbed his hand over his facial hair and shook his head. A memory popped into her head. When Adam was alive, he had done this gesture as well. Then again, she was certain most men did it. She’d seen Vincent do it a time or two. Yet when Lord Calvin did it, memories of Adam resurfaced, making her ache that much more.
Why had Lord Calvin come into her life, especially now? Perhaps she was cursed to remain loveless all of her life, because the man she’d given her heart to three years ago would never be with her. And now, the man she thought she’d come to love didn’t want her.
“Forgive me, Eleanor. I’m certain this is all confusing for you, but I know I have to speak what’s on my mind.”
Her thoughts drifted away from his words again. Adam used to call her Eleanor, even though she preferred Ellie. But when Adam said it, she heard the tenderness in his voice. It was probably her fault for thinking about the dead man. After what she’d witnessed between Vincent and his former mistress, was it any wonder Ellie wasn’t thinking clearly?
“No, Lord Calvin. I fear I don’t understand any of this. I’ve had a terrible upset tonight, and I need to retire to my bedchambers.”
“Please, Eleanor.” He closed the space between them and touched her arm. “If I don’t say this while I have the courage, I might never be able to say anything again.”
Her heart sank lower. Was he like Edgar? She wouldn’t be able to stand hearing another man declare his love and devotion to her when she knew they were lying. Why would any man want her? She was irritable, and she hated socializing. All she wanted to do was paint and ride her horse.
Lowering her gaze to the ground, she sighed and rubbed the throbbing in her forehead. “I just don’t think this is the perfect time for that. I have an awful headache and I just don’t want to think at all tonight. Please understand, Lord Calvin.”
She turned to leave, but his soft chuckle had her raising her gaze to him as he stroked his facial hair.
“Now see, that’s the problem right there. I’m not really Lord Calvin.”
Ellie blinked, wondering if her vision was playing tricks on her. After all, her mind was pretty much gone by now. “Beg pardon? If you’re not Lord Calvin, then pray, who are you and why are you here?”
He sighed and licked his lips. “Eleanor, it’s me. Adam.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ellie stood dumbfounded.Either that, or her brain—and ears—had ceased to function properly. Her head swirled with confusion, making her dizzy. She couldn’t possibly have heard what she thought. If Lord Calvin was trying to play with her emotions, she’d punch him in the face.
Her vision became narrowed, as though he was standing farther away. She blinked, feeling the world turn around her.
“Wh—what did you say?” she asked hesitantly as she stumbled.
Lord Calvin leaped forward and took her in his arms before she fell to the ground. Taking deep breaths, she regained her balance and pushed him away. He took her hand in his and caressed it softly.
“I’m Adam. I’m alive.”
Alive?Impossible!
Her mind rushed back to the moment she’d received the letter from his sister, alerting Ellie of his death—killed in battle. She’d never felt so desolate. Her whole heart had broken into a million pieces. She hadn’t wanted to leave her bed for days, even weeks. She couldn’t bear the thought of living this life without him.
In the letter, his sister had mentioned a graveside service. Ellie was too heartbroken to attend. But she was certain his family had gone. So, if he wasn’t dead, wouldn’t Ellie have heard from his sister by now?
“No.” Slowly, she shook her head. “Adam was killed in battle.”
