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Granville’s lips twitched, his eyes gleamed, and then he shook his head and laughed. It was hard not to smile along with him.

‘Put me to the blush?’

‘Indeed. I feared you might get it into your head that a third dance meant that I expected an offer from you. If you did intend to go to such lengths, it seemed churlish to turn you down, so I abandoned ship. That way, if I was wrong, and you did not arrive to make me an offer, neither of us would suffer any embarrassment.’

‘You never fail to amaze me, Lady Harriet.’

‘I’m so pleased. I would hate to be predictable.’

He took her hand and held it. Running a thumb over her knuckles.

‘Still friends?’ he said with a sideways look.

She took a breath and plastered on a smile. ‘Still friends.’

Chapter 47

ELIZA

London

As callers continued to arrive, Eliza kept a careful eye on Haryo and Lord Granville. He was watching her with something rather like longing in his eye. Haryo hadn’t fled, so she could only presume they had made some kind of peace.

Her observations were interrupted by the arrival of Lord Somersby. He looked less jug bitten than the previous evening, but his eyes were a tiny bit bloodshot.

He swept in and presented her with a magnificent

bouquet, bent low over her hand, and proclaimed her a vision of loveliness.

Stunned, Eliza smiled and retrieved her hand. ‘How kind of you to call,’ she managed as a footman took the flowers and almost had an eye poked out by a particularly pointy stem.

Somersby stood a little too close and gazed at her intently. ‘Not a kindness,’ he said. ‘An absolute necessity. My sanity depending on laying eyes on your fair beauty this morning. I could not have borne the day without it.’

‘Ah, I see. Thank you very much. That’s terribly kind.’ She glanced around and saw that people were watching, and the conversation had stilled. She cleared her throat.

‘My heart has not ceased flight since the moment you consented to dance with me.’ He clapped a hand to his chest as though stilling his fleeing heart. Eliza began to worry. How on earth did one respond to that? She feared she was staring at him with her mouth open.

‘Have no fear, dear, dear lady. I shall…’

‘Somersby, old chap!’ Lord Granville interrupted, clapping a hand on Somersby’s shoulder, startling him badly. ‘How good to see you. I’ve been meaning to seek you out to talk to you about the Trade of Canada Act. Might I take the opportunity to bend your ear a moment?’

‘Well… I…’ Somersby spluttered, sending her a beseeching look, but Lord Granville was determined and he gently, but very firmly, removed Lord Somersby to the other side of the room where he sought out Edward Ellice who, Eliza knew from experience, could talk endlessly about trade with Canada. Bears notwithstanding.

‘Narrow escape?’ Haryo said in her ear.

Eliza shook herself. ‘Good heavens yes. I am entirely in his debt.’

‘He does come in handy.’

Eliza laughed at that, and Haryo stood beside her as Hart arrived with another bouquet, but this time one of more sensible proportions and it went with all the others. Eliza relaxed and ignored the looks Lord Somersby cast periodically and enjoyed the company.

When the door opened again and the footman announced Robert, her heart tumbled about in her chest, making it hard to breathe. She watched his long-legged stride as he made his way towards her and felt Haryo melt back into the crowd.

When he stood before her, it was as though there was no-one else in the room but him.

He bowed over her hand, hesitated, and reached into a pocket. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I brought you a small gift.’ He took two books out and hesitated again, looking at the flowers that adorned the room. ‘Perhaps I should have brought flowers?’ he said with a deepening frown.

‘Good heavens no. Have you brought me books?’ Her voice went up an octave at the end in sheer joy. She clapped her hands together and beamed up at him.