“Do not stray from my side now,betrothed,” he whispered in her ear, his mouth curving upwards.
She could feel the movement of it against her temple. Elinor fought a shiver at the reminder of that mouth stealing her breath away.
She wanted to ask if they were going to discuss that moment in the office.
She wanted to ask why he had done it if nobody had been present, that there was no reason to pretend.
She wanted to ask why he had kissed her as a response to the questions she had asked, as if the kiss said enough. It had certainly saidsomething.
“Elinor?” he prompted, drawing her attention.
“Sorry,” she laughed. “I was lost in thought.”
“Care to share?”
“Absolutely not.”
“A shame. I thought I had expressed my desire to know your mind.”
“These thoughts are not intelligent,” Elinor dismissed. “And if I recall correctly, you were interested in that, even though nobody else has been.”
“That is only because they are too small-minded to understand cleverness when it hits them square in the face,” Lucien chuckled. “So, if they were not intelligent thoughts, then what were they?”
Elinor hesitated before saying, “Foolish ones.”
“I like that kind.”
She pulled a face, waving him away with a soft laugh.
He leaned in close, his breath fanning over her jaw. “I shall not let it drop, dear Elinor. Let me explore your mind, just like I explored your?—”
“Your Grace!”
Lucien straightened at once, clearing his throat, and Elinor both blushed and laughed at the interruption, wishing he had been able to say what he had intended and glad that he had not, for she had a good idea of what it would have been.
A young lord approached them, a wide smile on his face. “It has been a while, Your Grace.”
“Lord Hilton.” Lucien nodded a greeting him. “It is good to see you. How have you been?”
“Well enough, thank you. I am settling into my earldom rather well.” His eyes slid to Elinor, who waited patiently to be introduced. “And this is your betrothed that has made the ton erupt with gossip, I am assuming?”
“She is indeed,” Lucien answered. “Lady Elinor, this is the Earl of Hilton, as of several weeks ago, if I am not mistaken?”
“You are not.” Lord Hilton flashed her a charming smile, and Elinor curtsied to him.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Hilton.”
“And Lord Hilton, this is Lady Elinor, the daughter of Marquess Morland.”
“The Marquess of Morland?” Lord Hilton repeated, his brows pulling, as if he was recalling her father. “Forgive my wording, but didn’t Lord Morland retire to the countryside some years ago for his health?”
Elinor’s chest tightened as she nodded. “He did.”
“I do hope all is well with him,” the lord said, his mouth pinching in sympathy.
“From his letters, it seems so. I have not been able to visit him recently.”
The story was easy to say. The truth was that her stepmother had all but forbidden her to journey out to the countryside, always insisting she stressed her father out further.
