An unexpected suitor, a hopeless passion, a broken heart? Eloisa hadn’t said a word about any of those things, but that soft little sigh said more than words ever could.
Eloisa didn’t answer at once, but sat twisting a fold of her skirts between her fingers, her gaze on her lap. Long moments passed in silence before she drew in an unsteady breath, and blurted out, “I’m in love with Lord Vale.”
Lucy sat bolt upright against her pillows. “You’rewhat?”
It was the last thing she’d expected her cousin to say. Well, no. Not the last. She’d suspected for some days now Eloisa was partial to Lord Vale. But to admit it so bluntly? That wasn’t like Eloisa.
“In love with Lord Vale.” Eloisa’s face flushed with misery. “Madly, hopelessly in love with him.”
“Madlyin love with him? My goodness, Eloisa.”
“I don’twantto be. I—I don’t know how it happened, Lucy! I never would have thought myself in any danger from such a man! He’s a dreadful tease, and a wicked rake besides. Don’t you think he’s a tease and a wicked rake?”
Lucy thought about it for a moment. “A tease, yes, but I don’t believe he’s wicked, or even terribly rakish. I never have thought so. A trifle high-spirited, perhaps, but good-hearted, just like his sister.”
Eloisa’s laugh was bitter. “Not so good-hearted he wouldn’t amuse himself at my expense. He’s only toying with me, of course. A meaningless flirtation, in the way of all fashionable London gentlemen.”
Lucy hesitated. She’d been watching Lord Vale these past few days. Whenever he looked at Eloisa—which was often—the sweetest, softest smile bloomed on his lips. He didn’t look to Lucy like a man who was toying with a lady. He looked like a man in love. “I’m not convinced heistoying with you. Eloisa. It looks like more than a meaningless flirtation to me.”
“No, Lucy. You know as well as I do the Earl of Vale doesn’t marry plain Miss Jarvis.”
“He does if he falls in love with her.”
Eloisa’s voice caught on a sob. “Even if he were in love with me—and I’m not convinced he is—I would never accept his hand.”
Lucy frowned. “But why? If he’s in love with you, and you’re in love with him—”
“Because marrying me would ruin him, Lucy! He’d become a laughingstock among theton. Did you know he has two younger sisters at home? How could he ever bring them out into society withmeas his countess? Their prospects would be destroyed, and it would be my fault.”
To Lucy’s horror, a tear ran down Eloisa’s cheek.
“Oh, don’t cry, Eloisa!” She threw her arms around her cousin’s neck. “Why, I can’t think of a single young lady in London who’d make a lovelier countess than you.”
Eloisa didn’t answer, only buried her face in Lucy’s neck, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. Lucy held her, her own eyes filling with tears. She couldn’t bear to see Eloisa so devasted, but there was nothing she could do, nothing she could say, unless…
Lucy had been stroking Eloisa’s hair, but now her hand stilled. There wasonething she could say, and it was nothing but the truth.
She drew in a breath, and took Eloisa by the shoulders to hold her away. “I’m in love with Ciaran Ramsey. Hopelessly, madly in love with him, and he doesn’t love me back. You’re not alone, Eloisa. Both our hearts are broken. I’m afraid we’ve made a sad showing for our first season, cousin.”
Eloisa stared at her. “Whatever do you mean, he doesn’t love you back? He’s courting you, for pity’s sake!”
“No, he isn’t. Not really. He’s only pretending to court me, to keep Lord Godfrey at bay until I turn twenty-one and your father is no longer my guardian. He doesn’t love me, Eloisa. He’s a dear friend, and nothing more.”
Eloisa’s mouth fell open with shock. “But he…I can’t believe he isn’t in love with you. No gentleman is that good at feigning a passion.”
“Well, it’s not as if he’s pretending to care for me. Hedoescare, but as a friend only.”
“My goodness, Lucy. A pretend courtship?” A tiny, rueful smile rose to Eloisa’s lips. “That’s…well, that’s quite a brilliant idea.”
Lucy sighed. “It would have been, if I hadn’t ruined it by falling in love with him. I think, Eloisa…”
Lucy trailed off as her heart sank in her chest. She’d have to end her pretend courtship with Ciaran. It was the only thing that made sense. A sinking heart was, after all, preferable to an irreparably broken one. “I need to put an end to my pretend betrothal at once.”
“What about Lord Godfrey?” Eloisa gripped Lucy’s arm. “If you end your betrothal to Mr. Ramsey, you’ll have no protection against Lord Godfrey. He’s as determined as ever to marry you.”
It was true. Lord Godfrey still called on Lucy every day. He’d taken to raising her hand to his lips when he greeted her. It took all of her forbearance not to bring her palm down hard on his cheek.
Lord Godfrey didn’t care for Ciaran poaching on his territory—that much was certain—but he was as smug as he’d ever been. It was curious, really. Her uncle wanted the match, yes, and Lord Godfrey was an earl, but Ciaran was far younger, far more handsome, and the brother of a marquess. Given the circumstances, Lord Godfrey seemed awfully confident he’d prevail in the end.
