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They laughed together for a moment before Harriet sobered. ‘Does Eliza know that there is nothing between you?’
He nodded, but then hesitated. ‘I think so. We are good friends, and I do like her a lot. She’s funny, and charming, and very unspoiled.’
‘So, you like her, but not enough to want to offer for her?’
‘Oh, come on, Haryo, I’m nowhere near old enough to think about marriage. I’m having fun. I don’t want to get leg shackled just yet.’
Harriet could see his point. He was too young to think about marriage, and to his credit, there did not seem to be a string of affairs to his name. ‘As long as you remain discreet,’ she said a little awkwardly, feeling the need to dispense some sisterly advice. ‘And make sure that Eliza knows this.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘So, what are you intending to do about the Eliza problem?’
‘I’m not sure there is a great deal to do. I shall dismiss any gossip as silly and witless, and I hope you will do too.’
Hart shrugged. ‘Have you tried Debrett’s?’
‘Not only are you not simply decorative, but you are also apparently a fount of knowledge too, brother dear.’
He laughed, but flushed a little, making Harriet feel rather fond of him. ‘Come, walk with me and continue with your sage advice, and we shall fathom a plan to find out what is mysterious about Eliza.’
‘Other than the obvious?’ Hart said, less helpfully.
Harriet decided that her newfound secret pleasure for the season could be watching Eliza and Robert Ellice discuss artifacts in a museum. Museums largely seemed to require nothing more of a person that they amble around, pay passing attention to the displays, and make appreciative noises. Indeed, that was the approach taken by the rest of the party that accompanied them. Indeed, it was what most of London society did, but not Eliza and the good Lieutenant Colonel. He pored over exhibits, read the information provided, and as Eliza seemed equally fascinated, they spent a lot of time talking about them to the point where they were both utterly absorbed. It had been the same at the art gallery they attended. They truly were the worst companions for this kind of venture, but watching them together, so involved and sharing so much enjoyment, was simply quite charming.
‘They can’t still be interested, can they?’ Edward Ellice said as he joined her.
‘It would appear so. Has he always been like this?’
Ellice nodded with a sigh. ‘Anything to do with history or art and he’s a lost cause. I fear if he has found someone with whom he can share his passion we will never get out.’
‘Perhaps it is not precisely a bad thing?’
Ellice looked at them, then at her with a wry smile. ‘Not necessarily, but perhaps we should encourage them to move on?’
‘If we have any pretension to getting to the end before it closes, I think that is a capital idea.’
They approached them and it was clear that Ellice was listening in a rapt way to Eliza talking about an Egyptian artefact. He had even lost his customary scowl.
‘Come on, you two. We need to move on.’
Eliza startled and flushed. ‘I’m so sorry, we were quite engrossed.’
Harriet took her arm and tucked it through hers. ‘I could see that. I’m so glad you are enjoying yourself.’
She began walking, and Eliza obligingly walked with her.
‘I cannot tell you how much I wanted to see this exhibition,’ she said with stars in her eyes. ‘I don’t think we will get to see everything in one day though.’
‘Not the way you two attend an exhibition, we won’t,’ Edward Ellice muttered.
‘Oh, I’m so sorry, were we taking too long?’
‘Not at all,’ Robert Ellice said casting daggers at his brother. ‘It makes a pleasant change to visit with someone who is as interested as you, Miss Eliza.’
Eliza’s smile lit the building.
Chapter 33
ELIZA
