Page 34 of Deceiving an Earl
“Nothing serious, I hope,” she said, wondering at the bit of relief she felt that he would not be hovering the rest of the night.
“A patient who needs my help.”
“Go then. And good luck.” She lifted her cheek for his quick kiss, and he was gone.
She’d become accustomed to these hasty exits. When one was such an accomplished surgeon, one was in demand.
Her relief was short-lived, because William was replaced by Oliver who was suddenly at her side. He was looking down on her and she was looking up at him and neither one of them said a word for what seemed like the longest time.
“Ellen,” he finally said. It was the first time she’d heard him say her name since that night seventeen years ago.
“Lord Armbruster.” She had to keep her distance. She just had to. Otherwise everything she was holding together by a thin thread would unravel, and that simply could not happen.
His lips tilted in a not-quite smile, and she knew that he knew what she was doing.
“I’ve decided to help,” he said.
People were making their way into the music room and Ellen glanced around nervously, but no one seemed to be paying them any mind.And why would they? They don’t know our history. They have no idea.
“Help?” She couldn’t seem to think properly, and why did Oliver look so angry? He was clutching a glass of champagne as if his life depended on it, and there were two creases between his furrowed brows.
“With young Fieldhurst. The headmaster said he would accept the boy back early if I vouched for him. Well, I’m not vouching for him until I know his behavior has truly improved.”
Ellen felt as if a cold draft had entered the room, and she was suddenly chilled. She had no idea what Oliver meant by helping, but she felt a foreboding so deep that she wanted to run away.
“Tell Fieldhurst to be ready at eight sharp and to dress in old clothes that he doesn’t mind ruining.”
Ellen heard a roaring in her ears, not comprehending any of this.
“What do you mean?” she asked. “What are you doing with him? Where are you going?”
Oliver put his half-empty glass on a passing tray and looked at her with angry blue eyes. “Do you want his attitude and behavior to change?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then have him ready to go.”
Oliver spun on his heel and walked out of the room. Ellen didn’t see him for the rest of her night, but an anxious rock settled in her stomach.
Chapter Ten
“I fear I monopolized the conversation the other day at Gunters,” Ellen said.
They were strolling through Hyde Park but off the main thoroughfare. Their relationship, for lack of a better word, was complicated. Neither had told anyone of their meetings.
Oliver’s mother was busy with her pregnancy. Yes, she was finally with child again. She and his father were ecstatic, and his mother was being very careful, in the hopes that this one would stick.
The good part about that was that she did not question Oliver’s comings and goings. His mornings were spent with his father, learning how to one day become an earl, but the afternoons were all Oliver’s, and he spent as many of them as possible with Ellen.
As for Ellen, she gave her mother various excuses as to why she had to be out. Her maid was with her at all times, but at a discreet distance, and Ellen insisted the girl could be trusted.
So for the time being they were in their own little bubble, not under any watchful eyes, able to learn all about each other within Society’s restrictions.
“I don’t mind,” he said in answer to her proclamation that she had monopolized their conversation over ices. “I like learning about you.”
They were currently on a path all to themselves, and Oliver made a bold move to touch her hand, link their fingers before letting them slide away. Her steps hitched, and he was glad to see that she was just as affected by his presence as he was hers.
She wound her arm through his and to anyone looking from afar they were a couple taking a slow stroll on a warm spring day. They were in trouble only if someone they knew happened upon them. Then tongues would wag and even though she was in confinement, Oliver’s mother would be the first to hear of it.
