What had followed—the sparing, the teasing threats, and finally the close proximity rife with awareness—had almost caused him to take advantage. He’d withdrawn at the very last second, had walked away and refrained from meeting with James. He’d been too shaken, too distraught by what he’d discovered, to keep his brother’s company.
Instead, he’d locked himself in his bedchamber so he could ponder his problem alone. Hell and damnation. He didn’t just like Eloise or find her attractive. Oh no. He wanted her like he’d never wanted anything or anyone else in his life. Mostly because he loved how she made him feel – as if he were just an ordinary man with whom she was comfortable larking about.
Irritated by the impossibility of it all, he made his way down to breakfast. To his dismay, only Athena was present when he arrived.
He glanced around as if to make sure his parents weren’t hiding in one of the corners. “Where is everyone?”
“Church,” Athena told him. “It’s Sunday.”
“Of course.” William took a seat at the table and selected a piece of toast. He studied the various selections of jam and finally settled on a cherry preserve. “You still refuse to attend?”
Athena sipped her tea. “I will go when it’s important, as I did for Charles’s and James’s weddings. Besides that, I’d rather stay away.”
William understood her reasoning even though he would have expected her to have gotten past the scandal she’d caused by now. It had been six years after all. He rather believed most people had forgotten about it and moved on. Charles and Bethany certainly had.
But Athena had been much younger back then, only fourteen years of age, so it was only logical if her actions and all the events that had followed had left a lasting impression.
“What do you usually do instead?” He sank his teeth into his crisp slice of toast and was once again reminded of Eloise as the tart flavor of cherries and sweet syrup astounded his taste buds.
“Any number of things.” Athena eyed him with an almost unnerving degree of interest. “Today I’m planning a short excursion out of Town, so I can gather wildflowers to press for my collection. I’ll be taking a picnic luncheon. You should join me, Will. It would be nice to spend more time together. We don’t do it often enough, and even though you’ve been back for over a week and live here, I feel as though I hardly see you.”
She did have a point. After all, he had been deliberately staying away. And with no plans of his own today, Athena’s suggestion could serve as yet another distraction while preventing him from heading straight back to the kitchen after breakfast.
He smiled. “All right. I think a day in the countryside sounds like a splendid idea.”
Athena beamed. “Excellent. I’ll make sure additional food is added to the basket.” She finished her tea, set her cup aside, and glanced at a nearby clock. “My intention is to leave at ten. Can you be ready by then?”
“Certainly.” William gathered some eggs and bacon on his plate and set to work on them while his sister went to get ready. Ten minutes later he’d finished his breakfast and returned upstairs. He changed into more practical clothing and cleaned his teeth before going back downstairs.
“Your sister is waiting for you in the carriage,” Simmons informed him as he handed William his hat and his gloves.
William thanked the butler, donned the accessories, and strode out of the house. He opened the door to the carriage, registered that the forward facing bench was full, climbed in, and sat down across from Athena.
AndEloise, it appeared.
William stared at the woman who captured most of his thoughts these days and filled his heart with longing. He blinked, just to be sure he wasn’t imagining her.
She stared at him with a similar degree of surprise. “What are you doing here?”
The blurted question interrupted his own. He knit his brow. “I could ask the same of you, though I rather suspect I already know the answer.”
“I did mention that Eloise would be joining us,” Athena said, her face as innocent as a cherub’s. “Did I not?”
“No,” William murmured. “You did not.”
“I’m sure I must have,” Athena said. “Eloise and I always spend our Sundays together. She doesn’t attend church either, you see.”
Eloise smiled tightly. “I wasn’t raised in a religious household.” She shifted on the bench and glanced longingly at the door. “I should leave so the two of you can enjoy a family outing together.”
“Nonsense,” Athena said. She quickly tapped the roof and the carriage lurched into motion. “You’re my dearest friend and as such you simply must stay. I cannot imagine a Sunday without you.”
William scowled at his sister. She always had the best of intentions, but meddling had consequences, and he’d rather hoped she would have realized as much by now. And what was that part she’d just said about Eloise being her dearest friend? He’d have to quiz her about that later when Eloise wasn’t present. For now, it was time for politeness, reassurance, and gentlemanly behavior.
And besides, he was actually rather pleased with the idea of spending half a day with the woman who visited him in his dreams. Perhaps it would help him figure out how to make her his.
“There’s really no reason for you not to join us,” he said while deliberately meeting Eloise’s gaze. The edge of her mouth curved with hesitation, and William’s heart thudded harder than it had before. “After all, you did prepare the food.”
“What an excellent point,” Athena said. She added a very deliberate nod and settled back against the squabs.
