Amelia ran a finger across the bristles of the brush. She remained quiet for a long moment, then, “Do you think . . . do you think that might be true of a friend, too?”
Eleanor looked into Amelia’s dark, uncertain eyes, and the knots that had tied themselves in her chest began to come loose. She could never hurt this child—could never betray her, no matter what happened with Cam.
She rose to her knees and pulled Amelia into an embrace. “I do. I do think so.”
Amelia’s body relaxed against her, and her arms went around Eleanor’s neck. “You’ll always be my friend, won’t you, even if you don’t marry Denny?”
Eleanor froze in the child’s arm.Dear God. Had Cam told Amelia they’d marry?
She eased Amelia away from her. “Where did you get the idea I might marry your brother?”
Amelia flushed guiltily. “I heard Denny and Uncle Julian talking about it. Denny said he would marry you, but Uncle Julian said you didn’t want to. I can’t think why you wouldn’t, though, because Denny is the handsomest man in the world. Don’t you think him handsome?”
“I—I do think him handsome, but—”
“He’s so funny and smart too, and very nice. I do wish you’d change your mind and marry him, after all.”
Eleanor didn’t know whether to laugh or sob. “There’s more to it than that, Amelia.”
“Oh, I know. You must love him too, but why shouldn’t you love Denny?”
Eleanor took Amelia’s hands in hers. “I don’t know how to answer that, but I’m certain about this much. When I do marry, it will be for love, and for no other reason.”
Amelia’s brow furrowed. “Of course it will be. What other reason is there?”
What other reason, indeed? “Ladies marry for many other reasons, Amelia, but they shouldn’t, and for me, there will never be another reason.”
This didn’t satisfy Amelia. “But then why—”
Eleanor was saved from answering the next question by a knock at the door. She squeezed Amelia’s hands one last time, then rose to open it.
Miss Norwood was standing in the hallway. “Oh, my lady. Good evening. I do hope Amelia hasn’t been bothering you all this time. She was to make a quick visit only, but she’s been gone this age.”
Eleanor smiled. “She’s no bother at all, Miss Norwood. Quite the opposite. Amelia?”
Amelia didn’t look pleased to be dragged away in the middle of such an interesting conversation. “Oh, all right. I’m coming.”
“You should be in bed, miss,” the governess scolded.
“Yes, Miss Norwood.” Before Miss Norwood could lead her away, however, Amelia grasped Eleanor around the waist and hugged her hard. “Good night, Ellie.”
Eleanor hugged her back. “Good night, Amelia.” She gave one of Amelia’s plaits a gentle tug.
After she’d closed the door behind Amelia and Miss Norwood, Eleanor wandered over to the bed, not quite sure what to do with herself. She began to straighten the coverlet and noticed Amelia had left her sketches on the bed. Eleanor picked them up and was about to put them aside when there was another knock on the door.
She crossed the room and opened it. “Amelia, you forgot—”
Her voice trailed off into silence.
Cam stood there, one long arm braced against the doorframe above his head. “Eleanor. May I come in?”
Chapter Twenty-two
He held his breath as Eleanor hesitated in the doorway, one emotion chasing another across her face. Indecision. Suspicion. Doubt.
Please.God, please. He’d go to his knees and beg her if he had to. “I’ll leave the moment you ask me to.”
Her fingers twitched on the knob, and after what seemed an eternity, she stepped aside. “I can’t refuse, can I? It’s your house, and as you keep reminding me, you may go wherever you please.”
