Page 229 of Ten Lords for the Holidays

Eliana ignored the warning note in her sister’s voice. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing more to discuss.

“Thank you so much, Miss Banning!” Mrs. Pare rose and made her a low curtsey, tears still glinting in her eyes. “You saved Theo, and I’m certain his parents will call upon you to express their extreme gratitude. You certainly have mine, forever.”

“I’m glad you were there to rescue me,” Theo piped up, running over to hug Eliana around the waist.

She gave the boy a squeeze in return. “So am I—but it was a group effort. Prince Sebastian deserves equal thanks for pulling us to safety.”

“Is he really a prince?” Theo blinked up at her. “Where’s his crown?”

“You’ll have to ask him that yourself, next time you see him. But for now, we must be going.”

“I’ll call upon you soon,” Selene said, escorting them to the front door.

“I’m sure Mother and Father will be delighted to see you,” Eliana said.

Her sister gave her a slightly exasperated look, while Hetty went to retrieve her cloak from the butler.

“You must forgive your prince,” Selene said in a low voice. “Whatever he’s done, you must discover if there was good reason for it.”

“He’s not my prince.”

“And Jared wasn’t my duke—but I forgave him his deception. Don’t let this stand in the way of your happiness.”

“There can be no happiness built on lies.” Eliana turned to Hetty. “Are you ready?”

“Ready enough.” Hetty brushed at her cloak, which still sported a large damp patch from its part in the rescue.

“At least it’s not far to Banning House.” Eliana, despite her irritation, kissed her sister on the cheek. “Thank you and Jared for your help.”

“Of course.” Selene clasped Eliana’s hands. “Don’t do anything irrevocably foolish.”

Like kiss Prince Sebastian?Too late.

The air outside was cold enough to make Eliana’s breath plume. Prince Sebastian waited at the curb to hand them into the sleigh, and soon enough they were off with a jingle of sleigh bells. She did not think she would ever find the sound particularly merry again.

As they glided through the streets of Mayfair, Eliana fought the temptation to lean against the warm solidity of Sebastian’s side. Their adventures were at an end. And no matter what her sister might think, there could be nothing between them.

CHAPTER TEN

Sebastian was acutelyaware of Eliana seated beside him on the sleigh bench. She held herself stiffly, and he wished, quite foolishly, that he might gather her against him.

But she would not welcome his attentions—she’d made that clear. For a short time, just after the rescue, he’d thought she was warming toward him, but that hope died when she’d told her sister he was unwelcome to call upon her. Her blue eyes had been frosty as he handed her into the sleigh.

“Well,” Mistress Hetty said as they came to a stop in front of Banning House. Her voice held a note of forced cheerfulness. “Here we are. What an adventurous afternoon!”

“At least everything ended well,” Eliana said.

Sebastian silently disagreed as he leaped down and went around to hand the ladies out. Yes, they’d rescued the boy, but he feared he’d lost his bid for Eliana’s affections. How odd that not even two days ago he’d believed her to be a flighty, shallow young lady.

Instead he’d seen strength and bravery, and perhaps a touch of loneliness in her eyes that matched his own, strange as that might be. And then there was the matter of that searing kiss, which had left him stunned.

A pity it had not appeared to affect Eliana equally in turn.

Mistress Hetty gave him a rueful smile as he assisted her from the sleigh. With a slight nod, she made her way up the walk, giving him a moment of privacy with Eliana.

“Miss Eliana?” He held his hand out to her.

She remained a moment in the sleigh, sunlight warm on her fair hair, her cheeks pink from the cold. He engraved that image in his memory—likely the last time he would ever be this close to her.

---