Page 19 of The Earl’s Marriage of Convenience

A pause.

Edwin’s mouth curved slightly. “Not as rare as people pretend.”

Eliza watched as his eyes narrowed just slightly, as if determining which words to speak to lay the groundwork for where he wanted the conversation to lead. Like recognizes like. He controlled far more than his family realized. Had he always been that way, she wondered, but held his gaze, arching a brow simply to let him know she wasn’t fooled.

“Like a horse?” Pere’s voice interrupted the little challenge, and Eliza turned to her, confused by the question.

“Pardon?” Edwin’s voice echoed her own silent thoughts.

Pere sighed heavily, and decidedly unladylike, and gave her brother a withering glare. “Like a horse. As in, you’re sounding like you’re shopping for a new gelding rather than a wife.” Pere gave her head a little shake. “One must be certain a thing is worth committing to…” She repeated Edwin’s words in a low tone, mimicking her brother’s voice. “Nothing but rot.”

“And how do you truly feel, sister dear?” Henley asked behind his napkin as he hid a laugh.

Pere shot him an irritated glare. “Do better, Edwin.”

Edwin blinked at her and then tipped his head. “And here I thought I was. After all, I was offering commitment, was I not? That’s certainly an improvement.”

“I’m not going to validate such a statement with a response.”

“And yet, you just did.”

“That … is beside the point. I—”

“Also, I’m sure you misspoke when you said gelding. Certainly if you’re going to compare it would be a mare … my tastes don’t go that direction, sister dear.”

Eliza bit back a smile and worked hard to school her features as she tried to rein in her shock at Edwin’s frank statement, and Pere’s reaction to it.

“I … have no words.”

“And that, is a first.”

“Not a first,” Hawthorne chimed in, lifting his glass. “But worthy of notice regardless. Cheers!”

“I can’t believe you.” Pere sighed and placed her hand on her forehead as if about to faint. “Very well, a mare. You’re … you know what, never mind. The conversation can’t get any better from here, even though the only way left is certainly an improvement since we’ve hit rock bottom.”

There was a beat of quiet, and Eliza scanned the table, reading the faces, trying to gather the undercurrents, and where she fit into all of it.

“Is there a lady you favor, Edwin?” Anna’s voice was a welcome break to the silence.

Eliza watched as she took a sip of water.

“And give away all my secrets right away? I think not.” He looked across the table and met Eliza’s gaze. “What about you, Lady Eliza? Wasn’t your afternoon quite eventful?” His expression was innocent enough, but there was a decisive move to take the attention off of himself.

Eliza looked up and down the table, watching as everyone regarded her with varying levels of curiosity, and decided that she could take the conversation for a moment. After all, it was better to answer, control what information was given, and then satisfy the curiosity so they would move on.

Edwin, apparently, hadn’t learned that simple lesson yet.

“It was a lovely afternoon, so many lively conversations. I truly hope I put everyone at ease and made them feel welcome. Lady Pere was a comfort to have so close, and several gentlemen made such favorable impressions,” she answered, glancing to her plate and back to the faces, allowing a bit of a blush to her cheeks as she lowered her tone to reflect the humility she did, indeed, feel, though the overwhelming emotion of the afternoon was relief.

Relief that gentlemen even visited.

Relief that the one man she wanted to seek her out did.

Relief that desperation might be short-lived.

She turned her attention to Lord Devon. His expression was approving, as if he’d just watched a master at a craft give an artful example. Without a word, he lifted his glass ever so slightly.

“I’m so pleased to hear that!” Anna continued warmly. “It can be quite daunting, those first calls.”