Did she hear admiration in his tone as well? The idea made her lips curve in a wry smile. “You are not alone in making that mistake,” she said. Most men underestimated a smart woman.
“I am not in the least bit surprised.” Then he raised her hand to his mouth, bestowing the most courtly of kisses. “May I call upon you tomorrow afternoon?”
“Yes, my lord. I should be happy to see you then.”
As if he had timed it specifically for this, the carriage rolled to a stop. They were at his sister’s house. She did a last check of her hair and dress. Her hairpiece had fallen out, and she gasped as she tried to find the lion.
“Here,” he said, handing it to her.
She took it from his hand, but he kept hold of it such that their fingers were entwined for a very long moment. She thought he would say something. She looked at his face and saw his mouth open, but no words came out. And in that awkward silence, the coachman opened the door.
That was enough to break the spell. Elliott released her hand and stepped out, only to turn and offer his hand again as she climbed out. It was all very polite, and every motion had been lived a million times in her imagination. A gentleman handed her out of the carriage and walked her to the front door. But never in her wildest dreams had she conceived of the reality of it. That the walk was nothing compared to what the ride had been. That the polite bow at the end of the night was nothing compared to what they had done in the dark.
“Good night, Miss Gohar,” he said after the butler had opened the door.
“I had a lovely evening, Lord Byrn. Thank you.”
Then he turned and walked away while the butler took her cloak from her shoulders. The door shut, and she heard the rumble as the carriage rolled away. The evening was done, and she had no idea how to feel about that.
She went to her room, undressed with the help of Diana’s very sleepy maid, climbed into bed, and remembered. And tonight, unlike every night before, there were no fantasies at all. Only remembering. And curiosity about what would happen tomorrow.
