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Sebastian glanced over his shoulder to check, but he tried to make the glance look casual. When he looked back at Eleanor, his body was a little stiffer, and there was a tightness in his jaw as if he were intruding on someone else’s property.

“I shall invite him over for a drink with us in time,” Sebastian told her. “Before that, might I ask for a dance with you once the music starts?”

Eleanor’s eyes flickered to Gabriel once more.

“I don’t mean to put you on the spot,” Sebastian told her cordially. “You should talk with His Grace first, of course.”

“No, no,” Eleanor replied quickly. “I am capable of making my own decisions. I shall be glad to dance with you, Lord Fairfax.”

“Splendid.” Sebastian smiled broadly. “What do you make of the event so far?” He made sure to look between Eleanor and Charlotte to include them both in the conversation.

“The food has been delicious and plentiful,” Eleanor replied.

“Lady Waterman’s nephew is in the military, and she managed to secure a military band through him,” Charlotte noted. “I don’t know if that means they will play differently.”

“They will play the same dances, but they might be a little louder,” Sebastian explained. “Lady Waterman has ample space on her grounds, so I’m sure that won’t be a problem.”

Eleanor glanced again at Gabriel. He was looking at them pointedly now.

“I would love to hear about what you get up to when you are not attending events, Lady Eleanor,” Sebastian inquired.

“I don’t get up to anything,” she gasped.

Charlotte nudged her friend with an elbow.

“Oh, reading,” Eleanor blurted. “I enjoy reading.”

“Wonderful,” Sebastian replied. “What is it you read?”

“Um…I enjoy the works of Ann Radcliffe; The Mysteries of Udolpho is particularly good.”

“I have enjoyed The Romance of the Forest,” Sebastian admitted.

Eleanor’s focus was taken from the duke, and she furrowed her brows slightly in surprise. “You’ve read Ann Radcliffe?”

“I like to keep abreast of as wide a range of topics as possible. Just because I’m a man, it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a female heroine.”

“And you don’t frown upon them?” Eleanor asked with a slight smile. “They speak a lot about women breaking free from men.”

“And why shouldn’t they when men treat them that way? I wouldn’t expect any woman to tolerate me if I treated them as such.”

Eleanor tilted her head to the side. “I’ve been lectured by men previously that they put the wrong ideas into women’s minds.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Sebastian asked with no hint of mockery. “Why should we men keep all the good ideas to ourselves?”

Eleanor let out a nervous laugh through her nose. She was still trying to work out who Lord Fairfax was. She knew that wooing someone of the opposite sex was more of an art than a science, and there were some lies told here and there to become closer to a person. Still, from his tone, she believed that he was being truthful with her.

He might be standing tensely, but only because Gabriel is watching. He really does see me as an equal to talk with, instead of trying to improve me as so many other men do.

“I agree with you wholeheartedly,” Eleanor said. “I don’t mean to rock the boat by any means, but there are many things that women can contribute to society other than our looks.”

“And you are contributing both,” Sebastian added.

Eleanor smiled, but when she glanced at the duke once more, he had begun making his way over, and her smile faded. And as it did, she found something curious within.

“Fairfax,” Gabriel said curtly when he arrived.

Sebastian unconsciously took a half step back from Eleanor. “Your Grace, it is a pleasure to see you again.”