Page 125

‘Yes?’

‘May I come in?’ It was Haryo.

‘Of course.’ Robert removed his arm but stayed close.

Haryo came in tentatively. ‘Is everything well?’ she said, a grimace on her face.

‘Very well, thank you.’ Robert stood and held out a hand to Eliza. She stood too and took it standing by his side, hand in hand.

‘Only, there is a veritable horde of people wanting to know what happened.’

She felt Robert stiffen. ‘A horde?’ he said, with a look of alarm.

There was a small scuffle at the door, as Hart came in with Hannah and Edward. Charles followed, looking uncomfortable, and then Lady Liz, or the duchess as she now was, elbowed her way into the room.

Eliza moved closer to Robert, and he placed an arm about her waist.

Hannah sighed in relief. ‘Everything is well?’

Eliza flushed and nodded. ‘Everything is well. I think I may have… overreacted a little?’ she said.

‘Overreacted?’ Hannah said, eyes wide. ‘You don’t say. You have had everyone in an uproar. I thought poor Robert was going to tear the house down.’

Poor Robert cleared his throat and looked awkward.

‘You did?’ Eliza said, looking up at him.

He gave a one-shouldered shrug, more of a twitch, really. ‘I might have.’

He held her tightly as they all erupted into questions, and Eliza tried to answer them all. Robert relaxed a little, and together they fended off the worst of it. Together. Side by side.

Eliza spotted Lord Granville as he came through the door. Haryo immediately moved to greet him, and they shared a look of such love. Her heart swelled. Haryo deserved to be happy.

She looked up at everyone. ‘I can’t believe just hours ago I was in the very depths of despair, yet here I am with everything and everyone I need.’

‘That’s because, if you don’t mind me saying, you are a complete ninnyhammer, sister dear,’ Hart said with the widest, warmest grin. Everyone paused a moment, and as Eliza burst out laughing, they all followed suit.

She looked at Charles, the man who was her father, and emotion threatened again. She left Robert’s side to go over to him. He smiled down at her, and she remembered all the times when he’d played with her, stood up for her. How he’d defied Mama and given her a season.

The words felt strange, but she took a breath. ‘Thank you for telling me,’ she whispered.

He nodded and took hold of her hand. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.’

Eliza nodded. ‘I would have liked to have known her more, but she was so kind to me when she visited. I have the loveliest poems and letters from her. I can show you them if you would like to see?’

His jaw clenched and his eyes were glassy as he nodded. ‘Thank you. I would like that.’

‘Did you see her much after…’

He nodded. ‘We saw each other about town, but I was married to Mary, and I honoured my vows to her.’

Eliza nodded. ‘Will you tell her now?’

Charles swiped at the tears that were forming and cleared his throat. ‘I will. It’s time she knew. I just pray that she can forgive me.’

Eliza swallowed. ‘I think she will. She loves you very much.’

‘And I love her,’ he said, and Eliza could see the truth of it in his smile.