Eleanor’s mouth dropped open. Taken with him?
“Yes,” Lily put in, before Ellie could gather her wits. “I thought so, and I know Robyn did, too.”
“Alec, as well,” Delia added, addressing Ellie. “Why do you think he didn’t try to discourage Mr. West? He perceived an interest on your part, and believed he acted according to your wishes.”
Ellie opened her mouth, but no words emerged. She hadn’t said or done a thing to make her family think she encouraged him.
Had she?
Dear God, could she have encouraged him without realizing it? “Whatever made you think I wished for his suit? What did I do?”
Delia and Lily looked at each other, then back at Ellie.
“It’s the way you look at him, I suppose,” Delia said. “There’s something in it that reminds me of how Alec looks at me.”
“Yes, and you looked at him a good deal, you know,” Lily put in. She sounded a trifle defensive. “And when he spoke of his sister, your face went . . . softer than I’ve ever seen it.”
No. No, it hadn’t. Surely it hadn’t.
Had it?
“It’s your head that’s gone soft, Lily,” Charlotte snapped. “I grant you he’s a devoted brother. No one could hear that story about his sister and remain unaffected by it, Ellie included, but it doesn’t means she wishes to be tied to the man for life.”
Still, as she spoke, Charlotte gave her sister an appraising look, and Ellie could see doubt begin to take root. God help her, after the almost-kiss last night, and Delia’s and Lily’s observations this morning, she’d begun to doubt herself.
Lily turned in her seat to observe the gentleman in question. Ellie’s gaze followed hers, and her mouth fell open. Drat the man! How had he contrived to look more virile than usual the very minute they turned their gazes upon him? Even from here she could see his powerful thighs, hard and tight against the saddle as he raced Amelia to a line of trees and back again.
“Tied to Mr. West?” Lily turned and met Ellie’s eyes. She raised a brow. “I can think of far worse fates.”
Charlotte didn’t look amused, but Delia choked back a laugh. “Do you mean to say, Ellie, you don’t encourage him?”
Yes. No. Damn—that is, drat it, what did she mean? She hardly knew anymore.
Wait. Of course she knew.“I don’t encourage it, no. I have no wish to marry Camden—that is, Mr. West.”
She gave Charlotte a nervous glance, hoping her sister hadn’t heard Camden’s first name slip out. It seemed to roll quite readily off her tongue.
Charlotte stared back at her, lips tight.
She’d heard.
Delia glanced behind her to the trio of gentleman, then turned back to Eleanor. “Well, it’s too late to do anything about it now.”
Eleanor slumped back against her seat. It was a devil of a time for her sisters to finally catch on. They must be in Hertfordshire by now.
Silence descended on the carriage for a while, until Charlotte interrupted it. “Are you quite sure, Eleanor?”
Eleanor jumped. “Quite sure of what?”
“That you don’t mean to encourage Mr. West?”
“I think you’d suit.” Lily gazed hopefully at Eleanor.
Eleanor looked from one expectant face to the other. No matter what she said, she’d disappoint someone, and they’d never cease plaguing her. “I—I don’t—”
“Stop the carriage, driver. Would any of you ladies care to ride the rest of the way? West says we’ll be there in another half hour.”
The four ladies looked up in surprise to find Alec had brought his horse up alongside the carriage. They’d been so distracted by their squabble, none of them had noticed him.
