“He does,” she answered. “I worry he might not come back to me if I let him roam Morland House’s grounds, so this is the safest way. I do not really care if people judge it.”
“They ought to mind their own business.”
It was a layered comment, a nod to Belinda’s own judgement, and Elinor was further assured that her stepsister’s claims yesterday morning over breakfast were truly false.
The duke crouched down to give Newton a ruffle on his head.
“He is rather spiteful,” Belinda sniffed. “I would not get too close, Your Grace, for you have very fine hands, and he had tried to bite me once or twice, and …” Her voice trailed off as Newton immediately brushed himself up against the duke, rubbing his face on the duke’s waiting hand.
The cat’s eyes closed, as if happy to be petted, and Elinor bit back a laugh at Belinda’s furious expression as she stared down at the interaction. Her arms folded over her chest.
“Perhaps he is happy because he is being walked,” Lady Morland cut in. “I am always encouraging Lady Elinor to do it more.”
“I am certain,” the duke answered, polite enough, though the conviction was absent from his voice.
Elinor watched his face and wondered whether any of this would have convinced him had they not already met. She had said too much that night, about her stepmother, Rebecca, forbidding her from the ball, about being told to watch her behavior. He had seen behind the curtain before the performance had even begun.
What conclusions had he drawn?
“How long have you had him?” the duke asked, standing back up.
“Three years,” Elinor asked. “He was a gift from my father.”
“Oh. Is he here, too?”
Elinor shook her head, but her stepmother butted in once more. “Lord Morland has been out in our country estate for some years, Your Grace. He was suffering great …” She glanced at Elinor. “Stress, but we know that he is doing very well out there, away from all of this.”
Elinor fought back a reaction, biting her lip. She found she could not take her eyes off the duke, but Belinda cleared her throat, and Elinor snapped her gaze away. The last thing she needed to do was prematurely give her stepsister reason to poke at her regarding admiring the duke.
“Well, do give him my best if you write to him,” the duke said. “Now, do forgive me, ladies, but I must continue on my morning stroll before I meet with some business associates.”
“Wait, Your Grace!” Belinda said before he could leave. She stepped directly into his path, not-so-subtly nudging Elinor aside. “We must further discuss me performing for you! I had the impression you might consider it?”
If Elinor had been braver, she would have publicly challenged Belinda’s claims of personally performing for the duke upon his direct invitation, but she was not, and she knew the consequences would be horrendous.
“I …” The duke paused, and Elinor knew how a person looked when they did not know how to escape a situation.
Discreetly, she jingled Newton’s leash, and dropped it, knowing he would only bolt a little further aways.
As she hoped, Newton scampered off towards a bush, and the duke looked alarmed. “Oh. Your cat has run off, Lady Elinor.”
She gave him a small smile, and understanding dawned on him as he was already turning.
“Let me retrieve him for you.” The duke jogged away to the bush, and returned moments later, having easily scooped up Newton, who let him happily. He bundled Newton into her arms. “You ought to be more careful with your pet, my lady. Next time we cross paths, I might not be so fast.”
There was a teasing lilt to his voice, a hint of a second meeting. Elinor nodded, her throat dry.
“Of course, Your Grace. Thank you.”
“Do excuse me, ladies. Enjoy your promenade. Lady Elinor, it was a pleasure meeting you, truly.” His eyes held hers for a brief moment, and a quirk of a smile graced his lips.
Then, before Belinda could call him back, the Duke of Fairmont made a swift exit. But as soon as he was gone, Belinda shoved her way into Elinor’s eyesight, her displeasure making a snarl twist her mouth.
“That cat of yours just ruined everything! He was about to offer me another meeting!”
Elinor only lifted her shoulders innocently. “It was my fault, as His Grace pointed out. I ought to be more careful. Sorry, Belinda.”
Next to her, Joanna hid a smile behind her gloved hand. Belinda only huffed and kept her arms folded over her chest, stalking on. “Come, Joanna.”
