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Hart paused. ‘I… I need to…’ He cleared his throat and for a moment and Eliza wondered what on earth he was going to say, and she felt a moment of panic.

‘Eliza,’ he said in a rush. ‘We are the greatest of friends, and I adore spending time with you, but I don’t what you to have the impression…’ He paused. ‘Oh, God, this sounds awful.’

Light dawned, and Eliza breathed again. ‘But friendship is all you ask?’ she said tentatively.

He looked agonised. ‘I’m not ready for marriage,’ he whispered. ‘I’m not sure I ever will be.’

‘Oh, Hart,’ she murmured. ‘May I speak frankly?’

‘Please do.’

‘I am glad to hear you are not looking to marry. Not that I don’t adore you, because I do. I don’t think we would suit in a marriage, but I do still want to count you as one of my dearest friends.’

He closed his eyes on a sigh of relief but then frowned. ‘Why wouldn’t we suit?’

Eliza smiled at the level of affront in his tone. ‘Are you changing your mind or just being perverse?’

Hart opened his mouth, then shut it again and laughed. ‘See, this is why I love having you as a friend,’ he said, leaning his head towards hers.

‘So, we are… friends?’ She smiled up at him. ‘I was going to say, just friends, but there is no just about it. Friends are terribly important to me.’

Hart nodded, eyes looking a little glassy. ‘Friends,’ he whispered and took her hand. ‘We could, of course, keep the Ton guessing for a while to enhance your reputation no end and ease some of the pressure of expectation from me.’

Eliza laughed. ‘I may confess to a few people.’ Her thoughts went immediately to Robert.

‘You can dramatically jilt me later on if you like.’

They continued in that vein for some time, until they arrived back with the rest of the party, and Eliza was pleased to have a clear view of her friendship with Hart. She adored all of the Cavendishes and would have hated to have any misunderstanding spoil things. She wished she could say the same about Robert who was watching them with his customary scowl firmly in place.

She chatted to Charles for a while on her return, then Hannah announced she was going for a stroll on the Grand Walk with Mr Ellice. Eliza watched as she took his arm and the look that passed between them was warm.

‘Would you care to join them?’

Eliza jumped. She looked around to see Robert standing beside her. He had a somewhat wary look in his eye.

‘With your permission, of course,’ he said to Charles, who agreed without hesitation.

Robert held out his hand and lifted an eyebrow in enquiry. She took it and let him draw her hand through his arm.

They set off behind Mr Ellice and Hannah but kept a little distant from them so that both couples could talk without being overheard, but Robert remained silent. Eliza walked alongside him and remained silent, too, and waited.

When he spoke, she realised how right her earlier worries had been.

‘Is there an understanding between you and the Marquess?’ he asked quietly. There was no accusation in his tone, just enquiry.

She paused a moment before she answered, needing to be very clear. ‘No. There is nothing like that between us. We are friends. We have known each other since childhood, we have a similar sense of humour, and I enjoy his company enormously. However, he is far too young to marry, and even if he were not, I don’t think we would suit.’

‘Why not?’ He looked at her properly for the first time.

Eliza thought for a moment. ‘Why does anyone decide that someone is not right for them? I know he would be a catch, and if I had any sense, I should be probably casting my cap at him, but…’ She thought again. ‘I don’t think I’d like to be a duchess, and I think he would need someone quite different from me. Probably someone with a title and an impeccable background.’

‘You are not in love with him?’

Eliza looked up at him and held his gaze. ‘I am not, nor have I ever been, in love with him. Very fond of him, but he is not for me.’

His eyes sparkled. ‘He is not top of your list, then?’

Eliza gave him a look. ‘No, he is not even on my list.’