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“Atlas!” Gabriel boomed.

The dog immediately left Eleanor and strode over to Gabriel.

“Ladies,” Gabriel said with a nod. Then he turned to Eleanor. “There will be more events forthcoming. I shall be in touch promptly to discuss them and to arrange for the gifts.”

“The gifts?” Eleanor questioned.

“Of course,” Gabriel said as if she should immediately understand. “The gentlemen of London will have seen your debut, or heard about your beauty, and they will soon come with gifts and offers of courtship. It is to be expected.”

“Oh,” was all Eleanor could manage.

“Good day,” Gabriel said before turning and leaving with his uncle and dog.

Eleanor watched him go.

Then she felt a gentle nudge at her side.

“He called you beautiful,” Charlotte teased.

“Oh, stop,” Eleanor begged.

“And I saw the way Lord Fairfax was starting at you. It must be flattering to have two eligible bachelors after you.”

“They are not after me,” Eleanor protested.

“Come, ladies,” Margaret called. “Let’s not dilly-dally. There is much for me to do.”

Eleanor and Charlotte hurried over to Margaret so they could continue their promenade.

Eleanor had to admit that it was exciting to think that someone might be after her. It was more exciting to think again about her kiss with Gabriel. She needed to think about her future.

The suitors will soon come, and I will see my future laid out before me.

CHAPTER 11

Gabriel sat in White’s with his uncle, enjoying a glass of cognac. The leather chairs in the small room on the west side of the building carried a lingering scent of fresh leather after they were reupholstered that month.

Sebastian Fairfax joined them shortly after their arrival.

Gabriel rose from the comfortable chair. “Good to see you again, Fairfax.”

“And you, Your Grace.” Sebastian also shook Richard’s hand when the older man rose.

“Good to see you again, Fairfax,” Richard said warmly.

Sebastian patted Richard on the shoulder before both men sat. “I find so often in this town, and especially at this time of year, that people agree to meet, but are so busy that the promise is mere politeness.”

“I rarely have time for much at the moment, but I always have time for an old friend.” Gabriel sat down and poured some cognac from the decanter into the third glass that had been brought with the drink.

“It warms my heart to hear you say that.” Sebastian joined the two men around the circular table. “I’ve been thinking a lot about our time back in Eton and beyond. Perhaps we haven’t kept in touch as well as we should, but I still consider you one of my closest friends.”

“I think the same of you,” Gabriel admitted.

Richard gave the occasional grunt to show that he was listening to the conversation but didn’t need to be a part of it.

Sebastian took a sip of cognac and smacked his lips as he savored it. “That’s because you don’t have any other friends.” He let out a guffaw and took another sip.

Gabriel shook his head, yet he couldn’t help but smile. Not many men got a smile out of him, but Sebastian could.