‘Of course.’ Mrs Wilson gave her nephew an affectionate smile as he joined their group. ‘Such a dear boy, always so concerned for the well-being of others …’
Elizabeth’s snort of disbelief escaped before she had chance to stop it, a snort she quickly turned into a cough as she saw the way her employer frowned up at her. But, really, the mere idea of Nathaniel Thorne as a ‘dear boy’ who was ‘concerned with the well-being of others’ was perfectly ludicrous; the man was arrogance personified, and the only person towards whom he showed the least consideration, besides himself, was his aunt.
‘I do hope you are not coming down with a cold, Betsy.’ That lady delicately raised a lace handkerchief in front of her nose.
Elizabeth could see the irritating earl out of the corner of her eye, was completely aware of the mockery in the smile that now curved those sculptured, and oh-so-sensuous lips. ‘I do not think so,’ she assured the older woman mildly. ‘I am probably just a little allergic to something in the room,’ she added for the smirking earl’s benefit. ‘I am sure that it is nothing that a brisk walk outside in the fresh air will not cure.’
‘I was about to take my leave.’ Sir Rufus Tennant placed his empty tea cup on the table. ‘Perhaps I might walk with you for a short distance?’
Elizabeth felt her heart sink at the suggestion. Her remarks to Lord Thorne a few minutes ago regarding Sir Rufus had been pure bravado on her part; she had absolutely no romantic interest in a man who was not only almost twenty years her senior, but so plain in appearance that she was almost ashamed to admit, as Lady Elizabeth Copeland, she would probably not even have noticed his existence.
‘I am sure my knowledge of the area is far superior to Osbourne’s,’ that gentleman added haughtily.
Not only plain to look at, but pompous too, Elizabeth noted with an inward wince, making sure not to so much as glance in the earl’s direction now, knowing that gentleman was sure to be frowning his disapproval, which was perhaps, contrarily, reason enough for Elizabeth to accept Sir Rufus’s invitation. Except she really did not have the least romantic interest in the older man, as either Betsy Thompson or Lady Elizabeth Copeland …
She drew in a light breath. ‘It is very kind of you to offer, Sir Rufus—’
‘Very kind, indeed,’ Mrs Wilson said warmly. ‘Are the bluebells still out in the West Wood, Sir Rufus?’
‘They are, ma’am.’
‘Oh, then you must allow Sir Rufus to show you the West Wood in bloom, Betsy.’ Her employer smiled her approval. ‘Hector has always liked to frolic in the bluebell wood,’ she added, as if that settled the argument.
Which, in fact, it did, Elizabeth accepted at the same time as she struggled with her inner frustration; Mrs Wilson’s indulgence where her little dog was concerned was limitless, and if Hector liked to go to the bluebell wood then Elizabeth must surely take him there.
Chancing even the briefest of glances at Nathaniel Thorne beneath lowered lashes, in order to gauge his reaction to this conversation, had been a mistake. Horrible, horrible man—instead of disapproving he looked highly amused—no doubt because he was fully aware of Elizabeth’s lack of enthusiasm for Sir Rufus’s company!
Nathaniel’s lips were pressed tightly together, as if to suppress the smile that was reflected in the laughing brown eyes that looked down at her so engagingly. ‘I am sure you will greatly enjoy the bluebell wood, Betsy.’
If it were not for their listening and watching audience she would enjoy telling him exactly what she thought of him! ‘I am sure that I shall.’ She turned to Sir Rufus. ‘If you would not mind waiting a few minutes more, I will go upstairs and collect my bonnet, sir.’
‘Not at all.’ He gave her a curt, unsmiling nod.
Elizabeth’s steps were slow as she made her way up the stairs. In truth, she did not know quite what to make of Sir Rufus Tennant. Oh, he was polite enough in a brusque, no-nonsense sort of manner and did indeed seem desirous of her company, yet at the same time he made no effort to charm or cajole as a younger gentleman might have done in order to secure a lady’s interest. She—
‘I believe that is the first time I have been referred to as an allergy, Elizabeth.’
She turned so sharply on the stairs at hearing that mocking voice directly behind her that she might have tumbled down them if Nathaniel had not reached out to clasp the tops of her arms to help her regain her balance.
Elizabeth moved out of that grasp as soon as she felt steady enough on her feet, rendered briefly breathless as she looked straight into the earl’s rakishly handsome face as he stood on the stair two steps down from her. Standing so close to him, in fact, that she could see the golden shards of colour amongst the brown of his eyes and feel the warmth of his breath against her lips. As soft as a kiss …
Elizabeth stepped back and up another step to escape that sensual pull. ‘I believe it is more an irritation than an actual allergy,’ she bit out frostily.
‘Are you ever at a loss for an answer?’ The earl looked up at her admiringly.
‘I sincerely hope not,’ she said with satisfaction. ‘And you should not have followed me, my lord,’ she added, a perplexed frown on her brow; the role of lady’s companion might not sit altogether comfortably on her shoulders, but for the moment that was indeed what she was.
‘I did not “follow you”, Elizabeth,’ he denied. ‘I only came to the drawing room at my aunt’s behest so that I might say my hellos to Tennant. Having done so, I now have work to finish in the library.’
Elizabeth cheeks felt warm at the obvious rebuke. ‘Work, my lord?’
‘Try to sound a little less incredulous, Elizabeth,’ Nathaniel drawled drily. ‘Despite my recent stay in Venice, I am not completely a man of leisure,’ he added irritably as her expression remained unchanged. ‘As the Earl of Osbourne, I do have estates and such like to attend to.’
‘I would have thought you had estate managers and a lawyer to do those things for you,’ she commented.
‘Well. Yes. Of course that is so,’ Nathaniel acknowledged. ‘But those people are directly answerable to me.’
‘I see …’
His frown deepened. ‘Why is it, do you think, that even the mildest of remarks from you sounds like a criticism?’
Elizabeth looked up at him with innocent blue eyes. ‘I have absolutely no idea.’
‘That is not your first untruth of our acquaintance,’ Nathaniel muttered impatiently, ‘but it is certainly one of the more obvious ones.’
Elizabeth instantly felt on her guard as she regarded him warily. ‘I am sure I have no idea what you mean, my lord.’ She had never been particularly good at deceit and prevarication; in fact, she was surprised that she had managed to maintain her role as a servant in Mrs Wilson’s household for the amount of time she had without detection.
If, indeed, she had …
Mrs Wilson had been too caught up in other things since her nephew’s return from Venice to trouble herself in questioning ‘Betsy’s’ origins too deeply, but Lord Thorne had already made it obvious that he was starting to regard her as something of a puzzle that needed to be solved.
Indeed, his next comment confirmed it. ‘Just as long as you are aware that, as my only living relative, my Aunt Gertrude’s welfare is of the utmost importance to me,’ he bit out pointedly.
Elizabeth