Lydia agreed with a nod. “Perfect. As long as we stay together—”
Eleanor gave a gentle scoff. “When have weevermanaged to stay together through an entire evening?”
Despite their absolute loyalty to each other and the depth of their companionship, the three women were decidedly different in manner and interest. Bridget enjoyed socializing and approached flirtation as if it were an art to be cultivated. Lydia preferred scholarly pursuits. And Eleanor simply preferred to be left alone.
As committed as they were to their friendship, they respected each other’s differences. And that often led to them parting ways on many occasions.
“Well, don’t worry, we shan’t leave you alone with the viscount,” Lydia replied.
Bridget immediately interjected. “Of course we will. But we won’t be very far,” she added when Lydia would’ve countered her.
Eleanor laughed. The frequent arguments between her cousins were mostly in fun. They enjoyed needling each other, but when it came down to it, they were the staunchest of allies.
Though Eleanor enjoyed exploring the Gardens with her cousins and remained constantly entertained by Lydia’s very informative comments and Bridget’s utterly irreverent ones, she was intently aware of the passing of time. And as the late-night sun lowered toward the horizon and the sky shifted into shades of mauve and lavender, her tension and expectation darkened along with it.
Without any words needing to be spoken, the three silently agreed to start walking toward the Cascade where a grand display occurred once darkness fell each night. The easy conversation that had flowed between the women faded into thoughtful silence.
Eleanor tried to convince herself there was no reason to feel so twisted and tied up inside. She’d spoken to Waring a few times now so he wasn’t a complete stranger. They were just meeting so she could tell him the little she knew of the necklace. The topic certainly wasn’t personal or intimate in nature and their interest in each other was purely incidental.
Yet, she couldn’t quite shake Bridget’s earlier words. Was ityearningthat created this feeling that coursed through her at the thought of standing face to face with the viscount again?
Was it yearning that tightened her belly and sent her heart racing whenever she met the sparkle of his blue-green eyes? Was it yearning that made her feel more alive in his presence as much as it caused her to dread the day his interest would inevitably wane?
Perhaps shedidcovet the man.
The ringing peel of a bell pulled her abruptly from her thoughts. With a blink, Eleanor glanced around to see that night had fully fallen while she’d been lost in her mind. They’d nearly reached the Cascade and were part of a larger flow of people heading in the same direction. As the bell finished, even more people joined the pilgrimage, some ofthem running in their haste to ensure they didn’t miss the display.
She’d heard that the mechanical creation that imitated the sights and sounds of a waterfall and storm was a popular attraction. She hadn’t realized it wasthispopular.
They reached the edge of a growing crowd which waited in front of a tall structure set along the path with the forest spreading out behind it. Though the display had been covered by a curtain earlier in the evening, it now revealed an illuminated pastoral landscape with a little house and watermill. Built in multiple layers to create depth with moving mechanical parts, the illusion of water appeared to be flowing down a hill, through the wheel of the mill to foam at the bottom. The whole thing was accompanied by the sounds of a proper waterfall.
As everyone, including her cousins gasped at the lovely and wonderous sight, Eleanor sent her gaze out over the crowd, seeking a glimpse of the viscount. She hadn’t expected there to be such a crush and her nerves drew taut with each passing second.
Perhaps he hadn’t come.
The possibility offered both relief and disappointment as she struggled to acknowledge what the man made her feel.
Then, just when she might’ve convinced herself he wasn’t there, she spotted him. He stood, not in the crowd, but near the edge of the attraction itself where the concealing curtain was tied back with heavy ropes. At first glance, he appeared utterly unconcerned as he leaned a shoulder against the trunk of a tree. But it took only a moment for Eleanor to realize that despite the density of the crowd, he’d somehow spotted her and was staring directly at her.
An intense thrill of awareness raced through her bloodstream, creating an effect that was both hot and chilled at the same time, as if her nerves couldn’t quite decide what to feel. Her skin flushed warm while her breath seemed to freeze in her lungs. Her belly swirled with heat but her fingers and toes went instantly numb and tingly.
As she stared back at him, seared to the bone and frozen in place,his mouth curved in an easy smile and he gave a short nod. Then he stepped back into the darkness around him and disappeared behind the Cascade.
The subtle nudge of Bridget’s elbow drew Eleanor’s attention. Her cousin lifted her brows and tipped her head in the direction where Lord Waring had been standing.
“Now or never,” she murmured.
“We’ll be right here,” Lydia assured. “But you don’t have to do this. You can always meet somewhere less…”
“Exciting?” Bridget interjected. “Not a chance. If you don’t go, I will,” she urged.
Even though Eleanor knew her cousin would do no such thing, the words managed to propel her into motion. A few steps took her away from the comfort of her cousins. Several more brought her to the edge of the crowd still staring at the wonderous display in rapt attention. No one even noticed her passing. For the first time ever since entering society, she felt invisible amongst them.
The thought brought an odd smile to her lips as she slipped quickly past the Cascade and into the shadowed wood behind it.
Chapter Fifteen
The dark envelopedher almost immediately. Combined with the roaring sounds of storm and water, the effect was disorienting and she paused after several steps. A chill raced across her nape and something dangerous swirled through her core. Fear. Excitement. Expectation.
