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Eliza laughed and responded in kind. ‘Dearest Hart, of course I will save you a dance. The evening would be simply incomplete without it,’ she said with a flourish, making them laugh.

A voice behind her made her jump, and she spun around to find Robert shaking hands with Charles. He was frowning as he looked at Hart, and Eliza wondered if he had heard their flamboyant exchange.

His greeting was formal enough for her to conclude that he had. She sighed quietly. They had been getting along so incredibly well, and he probably now thought her flighty. The conversation turned to general things, but his frown remained firmly in place and there was no opportunity to tell him it had just been a lark.

It took some time for her to find a moment when she could attempt to engage him in conversation, and when she had the chance, she gathered her courage and took it.

‘The lanterns in the trees and on the walkways are beautiful, are they not?’

Robert glanced at her and nodded before looking away. ‘Very pretty.’

The silence that ensued was not a comfortable one, and Robert appeared to be thinking. In the time that she spent with him, they were often quiet. That he did not feel a need to fill every silence was one of the things she liked about him. However, this silence was different, and she did not know how to address it without making very large and potentially embarrassing assumptions. They had forged a firm friendship over their mutual love of art galleries and museums, and she felt bereft at the potential loss of the warm companionship that had sprung up between them. She had no idea how to repair it without asking outright if he was jealous.

Several more people joined the party, and they headed to the open-air supper boxes. Eliza walked with Haryo, but her mind was on Robert. She did not like misunderstandings at the best of times, but this was nigh on unbearable.

Chapter 34

ELIZA

London

Later in the evening, Eliza danced until her feet ached and when Hart came to claim his dance, she was pleased to see a familiar face.

He led her out with a smile. ‘You are having a splendid time,’ he said as they positioned themselves.

‘I am indeed. Are you?’

‘Very good, thank you. Even better now I get to dance with you.’

Eliza laughed, and the music began making much more conversation difficult as they followed the moves. Eliza could see Hannah dancing with Mr Ellice, and Robert dancing with a Miss Williams, and she tried to ignore that small fact. She couldn’t help but note that Lord Somersby was sending longing looks her way again, and she did what she could to ignore him without giving him the cut direct. It was the first real concentrated attention she had received from a gentleman she didn’t know. She was not sure how to handle it, and it unsettled her. She would far prefer he speak to her than cast longing looks from afar.

They sailed about the dancefloor, Hart’s smile wide and joyous, but as they left the floor so that Hart could guide her back to her seat, he tucked her hand into his arm with a serious look. ‘May I give you a piece of advice?’ he said softly.

‘Of course.’

‘Well, I can’t help but notice that Somersby is attempting to cast his heart on the floor for you.’

‘He is being a little…’ She looked for a word and found none.

‘Pay him no attention. He is little more than a fortune hunter. He is in debt and needs an heiress to bail him out of the river tick.’

‘I’m not an heiress,’ Eliza said.

‘No, but you have enough of a portion to interest him.’

‘Oh. Actually, I don’t know what my portion is. Charles hasn’t discussed it with me.’

Hart grimaced. ‘It’s enough to tempt the idiots. You will need to be on the lookout.’

‘I will?’ She didn’t like the idea that people might just want whatever dowry Charles had put up. That wasn’t what she wanted at all. It was hard enough trying to find a husband without having to work out which gentlemen only wanted her for money.

‘Did you like him?’ Hart said.

‘Not really. He is very intense and doesn’t really listen to what one says, more puts on a show.’ She sighed.

Hart made a soft sound of distress. ‘Dearest one, I never meant to upset you.’

‘Worry not,’ Eliza said, squeezing his arm. ‘At least I know to avoid him in particular. If you are aware of any other sharks in the water, please do let me know. I should hate to make a complete fool of myself.’