El had paused just inside the ballroom, her gaze searching until she found him.He forced a smile, raising a brow in query, trying to portray support even though he really wanted to find Malvern and pummel him a bit.
Her expression lit with determination and she strode straight for him, not allowing anyone to impede her progress.“I need to talk with you,” she said upon reaching him.
So focused on him, she clearly did not realise Lady C stood at his side.“Good evening, Lady Eleanor,” he said loudly.
El’s brows drew.“Benedict—”
“Lady C, Eleanor is here,” he continued.
Her eyes widened, then darted to Lady C.Colour lit her cheeks.“Oh.Yes.Hello, Lady C.”She bobbed a curtsey.
Lady C did not comment, instead offering Eleanor a serene smile.“Eleanor, how lovely you are here.Did you come from the gardens just now?”
“I did.I, um, required some fresh air.”
“Yes, it is quite the crush, is it not?”Her brow lifted.“Were you out there alone?I do not see Lady Kiloughlan.”
“No, she has returned to Scotland.I was…” El’s cheeks reddened further.“That is, I was, um, alone.But only for a moment, for I saw another acquaintance and I spent quite some time discussing with her this evening’s entertainments and I believe I shall meet her in the games room later on, after supper perhaps, and then I realised I had not yet greeted Benedict—or you, of course—and so I came back to the ballroom and now I have greeted you both.”She gave an unnatural laugh, too high pitched and completely unlike her.
“Hmm,” Lady C said.
Damnation.Lady C always knew when El attempted prevarication.Luckily, he was much better at pulling the wool over Lady C’s eyes, and it had always been he who had talked them out of trouble when they’d been children.“El, did you not say earlier you wished to discuss
El frowned.“When would I have said that, Benedict?It was not in the carria—”
“Earlier, El.This afternoon.You sent a note?”He hoped beyond all hope she would realise what he was saying.
“Oh.Oh!Yes.This afternoon.Ididsend that note.”
“We must away, Lady C.You will be well here?”
Eyes merry, Lady C bit back a smile.“Yes, dears.I shall watch Amanda and be quite well.”
“Excellent.”Taking El’s elbow, he led her from the ballroom.“You are the worst at falsehoods, El.”
“I cannot help it,” she moaned as they passed through the doors to the gardens.“Lady C looks at me and all I can think issheknows.”
“You know she does not actually know?There is no way she could, not unless you tell her?”
El was still shaking her head.“How can I have thirty years of age and yet still be cowed by the very notion I may have disappointed Lady C?”
“It is her power.”Stopping in a relatively secluded spot, he turned to her.“What is it that is so important it could not wait?”
The misery bled from her expression.Glancing around them, she gauged how far others meandered from them and, seemingly satisfied with the distance, announced, “The Earl of Malvern is engaged to the dowager Viscountess Rocksley.”
A roaring started in his ears.“I beg your pardon?”he said politely.
“You heard me.”
“Malvern is engaged?To be wed?”
She rolled her eyes.“Yes, Benedict.To be wed.”
“But…” His brain would not work.“He was to be your lover.”
“It appears he has made other arrangements.”
He still could not wrap his head about this.Bloody Malvern was bloody engaged to be bloody wed?“How do you know this?”
