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‘Stunning.’

He held out his arm, and she placed her hand on it and squeezed it. ‘Thank you,’ she murmured.

‘What for?’

‘This. All of this. Me coming to London, being presented, having a season… None of this would have happened without you, so thank you.’

Charles looked at her, eyes filled with an unreadable emotion. ‘It was my pleasure.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Shall we?’

Eliza nodded feeling incredibly emotional as her brother led her downstairs to greet their guests.

Chapter 28

ELIZA

London

Holding on to her brother’s arm, Eliza looked around at the crush of people, the beautiful colours of the ladies’ dresses, the restrained elegance of the gentlemen, the whirl of the dancing sets. All spangled with light from the glitter of hundreds of candles whose light echoed through the mirrors and crystal of the chandeliers. It was breathtaking.

Eliza spent a moment standing on the edge of the room, just watching. So many new people. So many introductions. She had longed to come to London, longed to be presented, but nothing had prepared her for the sheer overwhelming magnificence and ceremony of a London season. And it was only going to get busier. Haryo had told her to expect invitations to balls, parties, the theatre, the races… She was determined to make the very best of everything that was offered and try not to be overwhelmed by it all.

She watched all the young men as they paraded through the throng, led ladies to the dance, and wondered if her future husband was among them. They were all terrifyingly handsome and confident. The women, even more so. She kept telling herself that she belonged here. Belonged with all these glittering people. She was the daughter of an earl. She would fit in.

A voice by her shoulder startled her.

‘Penny for your thoughts,’ a low voice murmured.

She whirled around, hand to her chest to see Lieutenant Colonel Ellice, terribly handsome again in his military dress uniform. The one in beautiful deep blue and cream. Dark hair shining in the candlelight.

‘Goodness, you made me jump.’

He bowed, and she dipped her head. ‘My apologies. You looked deep in thought.’

She nodded. ‘I was just taking a moment,’ she said. ‘It’s been a wonderful day, but a little tiring. I was enjoying not being the centre of everyone’s attention.’

He nodded and cleared his throat. ‘Are you too tired to dance?’

She looked up at him. He was watching her intently.

‘I’m never too tired to dance,’ she said and took his hand.

He led her to the floor as a quadrille struck up, and they positioned themselves. Eliza took a breath. For all she had met him several times, and had conversations with him, this was the first time he’d asked her to dance. In fact, it was the first time she’d seen him dance at all.

They bowed, then commenced the steps. Some partners chatted as they moved together, but he never spoke. Just watched her with those dark eyes. Occasionally, his lips twitched in a small smile, which she returned with her own.

When the dance finished, and he bowed, and she curtseyed, he took her hand.

‘Would you like to return to your family, or shall I escort you back to your wall?’ he asked.

Eliza laughed lightly. ‘I suppose I should return to my family before they wonder if aught is amiss.’

He led her across the floor to where her mother sat with some of her cronies, all watching the goings on of the party from the comfort of conveniently placed chairs.

Her mother nodded to Robert, and he bowed in return. Turning to Eliza, he asked, ‘Perhaps you might be kind enough to consider dancing with me again later?’

‘I would be honoured,’ she said, and smiled after him as he walked back into the crowd.

‘The Ellice boy seems very familiar with you,’ she said.