before she had really entered society had always
frustrated her but now she wondered if she should not be grateful for missing
out on such things. It seemed she took little pleasure in balls. The golden
glistening light of the room, the huge crystal chandeliers in their splendour,
the way the deep red wallpaper finally came to life and how the polished floor
squeaked happily with footsteps—none of it brought her much pleasure, even
though she felt at least the house was finally being used properly.
When she reached the door to
the courtyard, she took her heavy silk skirts in hand and stepped out. Air
filled her lungs and a breeze immediately cooled her skin. She shivered as the
air tickled her bare shoulders but it was appreciated. Her skin had already
grown damp from the heat in the Double Cube Room.
She tipped her head back and
strode across the courtyard with the intention of slipping through the rear of
the house and out onto the back terrace. It was likely a few lovers might have
snuck out there but there were many dark corners and the ornamental garden
would allow her to get lost.
A dark figure slipped out of
the corner shadows and her heart thudded against her rib cage. “Lucian.”
He peered at her with a
tilted smile. “Escaping?”
“No. Yes,” she admitted.
“Little Ellie Browning’s
first ball and she cannot wait to escape...”
“I am not little Ellie
Browning anymore, Lucian,” she reminded him, feeling her hackles rise.
He insisted on seeing her as
that young, awkward child. Likely in his eyes she would always be that girl.
Bumbling, silly, frivolous. Even a hugely expensive gown in heavy purple silk
could not make him see her as anything else.
His gaze travelled over her,
making her aware of every inch and even forcing her nipples to press against
her bodice. Of course, he was beautiful. The light from the rooms cast a glow
across the courtyard allowing her to admire the fine cut of his evening suit
and the way it emphasised his broad shoulders. His hair was slightly ruffled as
though he had been running his hands through it. Or perhaps a lady had been.
Jealousy struck strong and sharp but when she glanced around, she saw no one
hiding in the shadows or trying to slip away.
A second time, his gaze
raked up and down, lingering on where she knew her breasts made an admirable
attempt at cleavage. With the cut of the gown, they looked relatively plump. It
seemed Lucian had noticed but did he appreciate them or was he comparing her to
other more endowed women?
“You certainly are not.”
“Pardon?”
“You are not little Ellie
Browning anymore,” he replied, his grin turning almost wicked.
Eleanor swallowed. Was
he...flirting? Surely not. “Why are you skulking about around here? There are
many fine ladies looking for dance partners.”
“Are you lecturing me on my
duties as an eligible gentleman?”
She laughed. “I hardly think
I am one to lecture on duties when I am slipping away from my own ball, but I
know many ladies were asking after you.”
He let out a huff. “No doubt
wanting to see how I fared after the fire. Well, I won’t give them the
satisfaction.” Eleanor scowled and was about to correct him, knowing full well
they simply wanted a chance with the gorgeous rake, but he held out his arm.
“Can I escort you to wherever it is you wish to escape to?”
She had taken his arm before
she’d even thought about it. He held her quite close so the skin above her long
gloves brushed the fabric of his jacket. If she closed her eyes, she might
imagine she was a beautiful, elegant lady, arriving on the arm of her handsome
beau. But if she closed her eyes, she would likely trip, so that was out of the
question.
“I was planning to sit in
the gardens.”
“Come then, let us make our
escape.”
Lucian was being
surprisingly agreeable. She felt herself warming to him—a dangerous thing
indeed. Had she not witnessed Lucian’s raw male power already? That kiss would
haunt
frustrated her but now she wondered if she should not be grateful for missing
out on such things. It seemed she took little pleasure in balls. The golden
glistening light of the room, the huge crystal chandeliers in their splendour,
the way the deep red wallpaper finally came to life and how the polished floor
squeaked happily with footsteps—none of it brought her much pleasure, even
though she felt at least the house was finally being used properly.
When she reached the door to
the courtyard, she took her heavy silk skirts in hand and stepped out. Air
filled her lungs and a breeze immediately cooled her skin. She shivered as the
air tickled her bare shoulders but it was appreciated. Her skin had already
grown damp from the heat in the Double Cube Room.
She tipped her head back and
strode across the courtyard with the intention of slipping through the rear of
the house and out onto the back terrace. It was likely a few lovers might have
snuck out there but there were many dark corners and the ornamental garden
would allow her to get lost.
A dark figure slipped out of
the corner shadows and her heart thudded against her rib cage. “Lucian.”
He peered at her with a
tilted smile. “Escaping?”
“No. Yes,” she admitted.
“Little Ellie Browning’s
first ball and she cannot wait to escape...”
“I am not little Ellie
Browning anymore, Lucian,” she reminded him, feeling her hackles rise.
He insisted on seeing her as
that young, awkward child. Likely in his eyes she would always be that girl.
Bumbling, silly, frivolous. Even a hugely expensive gown in heavy purple silk
could not make him see her as anything else.
His gaze travelled over her,
making her aware of every inch and even forcing her nipples to press against
her bodice. Of course, he was beautiful. The light from the rooms cast a glow
across the courtyard allowing her to admire the fine cut of his evening suit
and the way it emphasised his broad shoulders. His hair was slightly ruffled as
though he had been running his hands through it. Or perhaps a lady had been.
Jealousy struck strong and sharp but when she glanced around, she saw no one
hiding in the shadows or trying to slip away.
A second time, his gaze
raked up and down, lingering on where she knew her breasts made an admirable
attempt at cleavage. With the cut of the gown, they looked relatively plump. It
seemed Lucian had noticed but did he appreciate them or was he comparing her to
other more endowed women?
“You certainly are not.”
“Pardon?”
“You are not little Ellie
Browning anymore,” he replied, his grin turning almost wicked.
Eleanor swallowed. Was
he...flirting? Surely not. “Why are you skulking about around here? There are
many fine ladies looking for dance partners.”
“Are you lecturing me on my
duties as an eligible gentleman?”
She laughed. “I hardly think
I am one to lecture on duties when I am slipping away from my own ball, but I
know many ladies were asking after you.”
He let out a huff. “No doubt
wanting to see how I fared after the fire. Well, I won’t give them the
satisfaction.” Eleanor scowled and was about to correct him, knowing full well
they simply wanted a chance with the gorgeous rake, but he held out his arm.
“Can I escort you to wherever it is you wish to escape to?”
She had taken his arm before
she’d even thought about it. He held her quite close so the skin above her long
gloves brushed the fabric of his jacket. If she closed her eyes, she might
imagine she was a beautiful, elegant lady, arriving on the arm of her handsome
beau. But if she closed her eyes, she would likely trip, so that was out of the
question.
“I was planning to sit in
the gardens.”
“Come then, let us make our
escape.”
Lucian was being
surprisingly agreeable. She felt herself warming to him—a dangerous thing
indeed. Had she not witnessed Lucian’s raw male power already? That kiss would
haunt
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