Page 23

Eliza grinned at her sister. ‘The military man.’

‘That, my dear sister, is Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ellice of the Eleventh Light Dragoons. Terribly dashing, but a man of few words. He seems terminally displeased.’

Eliza nodded. The Lieutenant Colonel appeared to be one of those gentlemen that had a permanent scowl. He looked very formidable, but awfully handsome, particularly in his uniform that was a dark blue, tightly fitted jacket ending at the waist, with buff pantaloons, and high black boots finished to a mirror shine. Silver lace decorated his coat showing him to be a man of rank. Unlike his brother, he had very dark hair that held no curl, and even from a distance she could see he had very dark eyes beneath those dark, perpetually scowling brows.

She watched as the older Ellice laughed and clapped Charles on the arm.

‘Have you been introduced?’ Eliza whispered.

‘To Edward Ellice, but not his brother, though I have heard a little about him.’

Eliza nodded, still staring. ‘I might have to put him on my list.’

Hannah stared at her, then laughed incredulously. ‘Eliza Courtney, you did not just say that.’

‘Sorry,’ Eliza said, hiding a grin.

A Mr Hardwick arrived who was handsome in the way that older men sometimes are, with dark hair that was greying in a distinguished fashion, and watchful eyes.

Conversations whispered about the room, and Eliza swallowed when Mary brought the Ellice brothers over to introduce them.

Eliza held her breath as she approached and told herself that she belonged. She belonged. She was the daughter of an earl, and she had every right to stand in the drawing room and be introduced to gorgeous men. She belonged.

She took a breath and curtseyed alongside Hannah as Mary made the introductions. Mr Ellice bowed fulsomely low over her hand, proclaiming it a delight to meet her, and the Lieutenant Colonel bowed a little stiffly with a curt nod.

Hannah, having much more experience of life than she had, engaged the gentlemen in effortlessly light conversation as they waited for the dinner gong. It was a good thing, as Eliza’s conversational skills seemed to have deserted her. The Lieutenant Colonel remained silent too, so in fact it was just Hannah and Mr Ellice chatting about a musical event they had both attended. Eliza cast about for something to say to involve the Lieutenant Colonel, but his scowl was off-putting. She was relieved when the dinner gong sounded.

As the guests moved, Edward Ellice offered his arm to Hannah, and after a moment, the Lieutenant Colonel offered her his arm.

‘Miss Eliza,’ he murmured, bowing. ‘May I escort you into dinner?’

His eyes were very dark and utterly unreadable, but she nodded with as much grace as she could, ignoring the butterflies that had invaded her stomach.

‘That would be very kind,’ she said, and laid her hand on his arm. They waited a moment as the rest of the guests moved about. She watched Hannah with the elder Ellice brother. He was taller and wider than the lieutenant. The man beside her was slender and lean in a way that was graceful. As they walked, he moved with the understated strength and elegance of a soldier. He was clearly not a man who lounged in the salons of London.

‘Are you having a pleasant evening?’ he enquired after the silence grew notable.

‘Very pleasant. Are you?’

He nodded. Clearly, his conversational skills had gone begging, too.

She cast around frantically for something to say. ‘I believe you are recently returned to the country?’

He nodded again. ‘I am. From Buenos Aries.’

There was something in his tone and the tension in his arm that did not invite further enquiry. ‘I imagine you are glad to be home safely.’

He relaxed fractionally. ‘I am,’ he said quietly.

She looked up at him. ‘Then I am glad for your safe return.’

The corner of his mouth turned in a half smile that was oddly charming. When he put his hand over hers and they walked on, she found it hard to breathe. Even though both of them wore gloves, she could feel the heat from his long, elegant fingers as they touched hers.

‘Is this your first season?’ he asked.

Eliza shook her head. ‘I’m not actually here for the season. I haven’t been presented so I’m just visiting family.’

‘I see.’