Page 34 of An Earl Like You
The butler, by now accustomed to him, didn’t bat an eye when he asked to see Miss Cross, not Mr. Cross. Hugh took it as a good sign that he wasn’t even made to wait, but was shown straight into the bright drawing room.
Eliza was having tea with another woman. A small girl sat on the sofa between them, and another even smaller girl sat on Eliza’s lap. In the moment between the opening of the door and the butler’s announcement of his arrival, Hugh caught a glimpse of her, laughing with pure joy as the little girl tried to feed her a biscuit.
“The Earl of Hastings, ma’am,” said the butler.
Eliza blushed. Her companion gasped aloud, reaching at once for the child on Eliza’s lap. Both women rose and curtsied, although the child on the sofa merely looked at him with big brown eyes. Hugh winked at her as he bowed. “Forgive me for interrupting a tea party.”
“Not at all,” said Eliza, her face a pretty pink. There was a spot of jam on her bodice, right near her breast, and she brushed some crumbs from her skirt. She looked at her friend. “Mrs. Reeve, may I present the Earl of Hastings? He is a business partner of my father’s. My lord, Mrs. Reeve, who is our vicar’s wife, and her two daughters, Cassandra and Jane.”
“An honor, ma’am,” said Hugh. The woman murmured something polite, even as her gaze sharpened and grew curious.
“We were having tea to celebrate Miss Cassandra Reeve’s fifth birthday,” Eliza said. The pulse in her throat beat rapidly, but otherwise she was composed.
“A very happy occasion indeed. A happy birthday to you, Miss Reeve.” Belatedly he noticed the small, child-sized posies of flowers on the table, the beautifully decorated tea cakes, and the handsome new doll sitting on a cloud of silver paper at the end of the sofa. Eliza had planned a party for her friend’s child.
“Thank you, my lord.” Mrs. Reeve dropped another curtsy. “We must go, Eliz—Miss Cross. Thank you.” She nudged the little girl in her arms, who repeated, “Thank you, Miss Cross,” in a wispy little voice. “Come, Cassandra.”
The child slid off the sofa and looked up at Eliza before flinging her arms around Eliza’s knees. “Thank you, Miss Cross,” she said.
Eliza’s face softened and she rested her hand on the girl’s head. “You are quite welcome, Cassandra.”
Cassandra collected her doll and the flowers, Mrs. Reeve collected her children, and they left. Hugh turned to Eliza as they were left alone. “I hope I didn’t frighten them away.”
“Oh no! Not at all.” She was so fetchingly flustered, still trying to brush away the crumbs unobtrusively. “I did not expect you...”
He grinned. “Next time I shall send word ahead, to avoid disrupting any more parties.”
“It was only a small one,” she said with a smile. “Have you come to see Papa? I’m afraid he’s away from home.”
Hugh drew a deep breath. “No. I’ve come to see you. Does that displease you?” he asked at her startled expression.
“No!” She crossed the room and yanked the bell rope. “Let me send for a fresh tea tray...”
“Will you walk in the garden with me instead?” Suddenly he wanted to be out of Cross’s house, away from anything that would make him think of the man who had maneuvered him into this spot. The garden was Eliza’s, where she planted what she loved and felt at ease.
She cast one look of despair at the chaos of the tea tray, then mustered a bright smile. “Of course.”
They walked out into the sunshine. Hugh offered his arm, and she took it at once. That was a good start. He wasn’t really in doubt that she would accept him, but nothing could be left to chance. Willy bounded up to join them after a few minutes, and Hugh could feel the tension drain out of the woman beside him. She went down on her knees to stroke the dog’s ears.
He also knelt. Willy licked his hand and then flopped onto his back, presenting his belly. Hugh obligingly gave him a good scratch, until Willy’s back leg was maniacally twitching in midair.
Eliza laughed. “You have a way with him, my lord.”
“He’s a good dog.” Hugh peeled off his gloves and stuffed them into his pocket. Willy leapt to his feet, and Hugh cuffed him lightly from side to side, finishing with a few long strokes down the animal’s back. Willy circled his feet several times, gave a happywoof, and bolted off after something rustling in the lilies.
“He likes you,” said Eliza warmly, and Hugh remembered Cross telling him he would have to take the dog, too.
He grinned. “I hope he’s not the only one.” Her eyes grew round, and she quickly turned to watch the dog, now sniffing along the edge of the walk. Hugh captured her hand in his. “Eliza. Am I making you nervous?”
She smiled nervously, not quite meeting his eyes. “No. Are you trying to?”
Hugh laughed. “On the contrary.” He tucked her hand around his arm and started walking. “I’ve been very pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“And I yours.” She was breathless. Good.
“My mother was, as well.” That wasn’t quite true. His mother had cornered him just this morning and tried to persuade him against this. Hugh had assured her he knew what he was doing.
But it had the desired effect; Eliza flushed with delight. “It was my honor to meet her.”
