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Eliza nodded. ‘Thank you for letting me know. I’m sure he will be here if he can.’

Mr Ellice frowned. ‘Miss Eliza, my brother is one of the most dependable people I know. If it were humanly possible to be here, he would be. I’m sure that he will make every endeavour to arrive.’

Eliza smiled. Edward was a loyal brother. She knew in her heart Robert would have made every effort, but the ball felt a little less sparkling and wonderful without him.

The evening wore on, and Eliza danced with a good number of gentlemen. Some she knew, others she had never met. One or two she rather liked, but no-one set her heart aflutter in the way that Robert did. No-one made her feel warm and happy in the way that Robert did, and there was no-one she could imagine kissing with heat and abandonment in the way she had kissed Robert. Of course, she threw herself into making the best of the evening and even managed to enjoy being the centre of attention. Well, almost.

Hannah and Edward’s betrothal was announced formally amid cheers and good wishes, and even Mama looked reasonably happy.

Eliza was standing a little away from the crowd, just taking a moment out of the excitement, when a deep voice interrupted her.

‘Eliza?’

Eliza’s chest froze, her breath caught, and she whirled around.

Robert. Here. Standing in front of her.

‘Lieutenant Colonel,’ she squeaked. ‘Robert. You arrived.’

She reached out a hand, wanting to touch him, then wanted to take it back in case it seemed inappropriate, but he took hold of it with his long, strong fingers, and bowed leaving Eliza trembling, and with the most ridiculous urge to drag him behind the potted plants and kiss him.

She wondered if something of her feelings showed in her face as a small, slow smile curved his lips. ‘I arrived,’ he murmured.

She then realised he appeared more than a little dishevelled. His hair stood on end and looked as though he had run his fingers through it repeatedly. There was also more than one smudge on his cheek. His gorgeous uniform was dusty and disordered.

‘Was it a difficult journey?’ she said, gesturing to his face.

The small smile turned into a full-blown grin that made her knees wobble and her heart flutter.

‘Just a little.’

They were standing grinning at each other when Edward and Hannah joined them.

‘Glad you could make it, old chap,’ Edward said, then took another look at his brother. ‘Good, God! You look abysmal. What on earth…’

Hannah put a hand on her betrothed’s arm. ‘Why don’t you take your brother and tidy him up?’ she said, trying not to laugh.

Charles joined them and regarded Robert with a raised eyebrow. ‘Might I offer the services of my valet?’

Chapter 44

ELIZA

London

Before he departed to be cleaned up, Robert took Eliza’s hand surreptitiously and squeezed it. He received a reassuring squeeze in return, and it made the exhaustion of the last couple of days completely worth it. For a while, he didn’t think he was going to make the ball, but he’d moved heaven and earth and arrived before the end, albeit in something of a state. He caught sight of himself in a mirror and groaned. He looked like he’d been on campaign. Either that or dragged through a hedge. Repeatedly. He should have tidied himself first, but all he could think of was finding Eliza and reassuring her he was there for her.

He looked at her again and she smiled up at him in a way that told him she didn’t care. She didn’t mind how bad he looked. She was just glad to see him, and it made his heart swell.

He gave her one last look over his shoulder as Ed towed him to a guest room, where he slumped into a comfortable armchair with a groan.

‘Rough journey?’ Ed said, and he could only nod. ‘Well, at least you made it.’

Grey’s valet came in with hot water and towels. Then he was disrobed and sluiced down in short order. His clothes were brushed, boots polished, and as the valet adjusted his epaulets and cast a critical eye over him, he was forced to marvel at the man’s efficiency.

The valet left, and Robert took a breath.

‘Ready?’ Ed said.