Page 17 of Courting the Earl
His words made no sense to her. It didn’t seem possible that Lydia wouldn’t miss him. He was very handsome, eligible, and the man she was going to marry despite what he’d told her yesterday in Hyde Park.
Eleanor wouldn’t say as much to him though. She needed to change the subject. She was in no mood to hear yet another lecture about how he didn’t wish to wed.
She released an exaggerated sigh. “I wish I could borrow all these books.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Because my subscription only allows me to borrow two books at a time. I shall have to place three back and hope they’re still available when I return next week.”
He held his hand out, clearly wanting to see what she’d chosen. She winced inwardly as she did so. “Don’t judge me too harshly.”
She’d selected one book of poetry and four novels. She already knew she couldn’t put back the book of poetry. If her aunt asked to see what she’d borrowed, that was the book she’d show her. It wasn’t that Eleanor didn’t like poetry, but Uncle already had several volumes in the library she could read. But he had none of the novels she’d come to love. The so-called “horrid” novels. She knew her aunt wouldn’t approve of them.
“These are all quite good,” he said. “I see your dilemma.”
He’d surprised her. “You read novels?”
He shrugged. “They’re entertaining. Why wouldn’t I read them?”
“Which was your favorite?”
He looked through the four and handed her Ann Radcliffe’s Mysteries of Udolpho. “Are you set on the poetry?”
She let out another sigh. “I’m afraid so. Aunt Helen will want to see what I’ve burrowed. She doesn’t approve of novels.” She said the word the way her aunt would, and he chuckled at her scandalous tone.
“You seem to have a good head on your shoulders. I don’t think you’ll start imagining that your uncle’s town house is haunted.”
They chatted for a few more minutes about the books. Finally she put back three, keeping the book of poetry and the novel he’d recommended. He wandered off, heading toward the counter. She wanted to follow, curious about what he was saying to the store clerk.
After a few minutes, he turned to face her. He dipped his head and then strode from the store. The entire encounter had left her feeling a little disconcerted. He hadn’t taken any books with him. Had he told the clerk to have them sent to his house?
She made her way to the counter with her two books. It was best she leave now or she’d find herself in another conundrum, her arms filled with books and still able to borrow only two of them.
She placed the books on the counter so the clerk could record her choices.
He frowned. “Only these two books?”
Eleanor nodded.
The clerk was a middle-aged man, slightly round of stature, but he seemed kindly. The man cleared his throat before saying, “Your subscription has been upgraded. You can borrow five books today.”
She frowned in confusion. Her aunt or uncle wouldn’t have done this. “I don’t understand…”
“The man who was just here, the one you were speaking to. He said he was a friend of the family. He arranged for the extra books.”
Lord Hargrove. He’d done this for her. She felt a strange mixture of emotions upon discovering his generosity. Heady excitement, worry that perhaps she shouldn’t accept this. But she would, of course. He was, after all, a friend of the family. And friends gave each other small gifts all the time. She shouldn’t read anything into his act of kindness.
“His father was friends with my uncle.”
The clerk nodded. “I see. If you’re sure you only want these two books…”
She shook her head. She wouldn’t turn down Lord Hargrove’s generous gift. “I know exactly which books I want.”
She turned back to the table to collect the other three books, wondering when she would see Hargrove again. She would have to find some way to thank him.
Chapter 10
The next week passed in a whirl of events. Balls, routs, morning calls. Eleanor enjoyed the occasional outing, but the season had only just started and she was already looking forward to it being over.
