Page 3

Gabriel nodded. As for the last point on the list, it was an afterthought. Gabriel would be there when needed, and Eleanor could be as fearless or as fearful as she wanted.

The duke held the list up between himself and Nathaniel.

“I assure you it will be unneeded, but you took the time to write this up by your own hand, going by the sloppy handwriting, and I shall not offend you by handing it back. I will accompany Eleanor to events, and I shall ensure she is not bothered and finds a suitable gentleman. I cannot be there for every need when there is much else to attend to. I expect that will be more than suitable.”

“It is literally the bare minimum I have asked of you, so I can’t say no,” Nathaniel replied with a smile. “But do not be hasty to discount the instructions. Follow them, and you will find Eleanor far more agreeable.”

“And have you given her a list on how to find me more agreeable?” Gabriel finally poured a little more brandy into his glass.

“I am barely halfway through that magnum opus,” Nathaniel said wearily. “I must order more ink and paper if I am to give Eleanor a list of all your foibles.”

“How very droll of you,” Gabriel replied. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It was not meant as one, dear fellow,” Nathaniel said. “Now, what time is it?” He went back to the mantel and looked at the clock. “Almost seven. That means…”

When Nathaniel looked toward the door, Gabriel followed suit. They watched the door, and nothing happened.

“Although she is often tardy,” Nathaniel noted.

Gabriel sighed. “You asked her to come up here to meet me? This and the letter? You did prepare well, didn’t you?”

“I know you would accept the proposal.”

“Well, you were wrong about that,” Gabriel countered. “I shall accompany Eleanore to events, but I don’t have time to meet and greet her tonight. I don’t see the point.”

Gabriel finished what was in his glass and placed it down on the cart. He made to move toward the door when there was the sound of hurried footsteps coming toward the room.

There was no escaping the meeting now.

CHAPTER 2

Eleanor held a handful of her skirt as she ran up the stairs, watching her steps so she didn’t trip again. She took small, quick steps down the hallway towards her brother’s drawing room. She shook her head at her tardiness.

When she got to the door, she rapped softly on the doorframe twice before pulling open the slightly ajar door and entering into the warmth.

“I apologize, Nate,” she said, catching her breath.

Her brother watched her curiously from across the room.

“I know we said thirty after six, but I had—” Eleanor stopped.

For the first time since entering the room, she realized there was a second person there. She looked over at him, dropping her skirt at the same time so it covered her ankles.

The stranger wore a mixed expression. The flickering flames illuminated one side of his face in a warm orange glow; the corner of his mouth turned up slightly in a smirk. Yet, the other side of his face was cast into shadow, his jaw tight.

Eleanor couldn’t be sure whether he was angry, amused, or policing her brother; she didn’t know the man, but she did know one thing. She was unable to take her eyes from his. He held her with command, and she didn’t dare look away.

Blue eyes. Oh, those blue eyes. One dark like the sea, and the other like a morning sunset flickering with fire.

“…and are you listening at all, Ellie?”

Eleanor turned back to her brother, who was talking. She stared blankly at him.

“Seven, Ellie…” Nathaniel stated. “We said seven.”

Eleanor looked at the clock on the mantel, making sure not to look at the mysterious man again, no matter how much she wanted to; she might become captured by his gaze again.

The clock on the mantel showed seven.