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Because none of those ladies were close friends of hers, neither Elizabeth nor her parents were under the illusion they wanted anything more than to satisfy their curiosity as to why Elizabeth had returned to London so suddenly.
Those ladies had all, even if in a somewhat disgruntled fashion, according to her father, accepted that Elizabeth was resting and so unavailable to receive visitors.
She knew Bristol would never accept those reasons, but would see them for the dismissal they were.
“I sincerely doubt that, Mama,” Elizabeth stated ruefully. “Do not look so worried. I am sure the duke is only here to reassure himself I have arrived safely back in London.” And perhaps to rebuke her for her hurried and ungrateful departure from Cornwall a week ago.
But her mother didn’t need to hear that. Indeed, Elizabeth had decided that neither of her parents needed to know any more about the events in Cornwall other than the Duke of Bristol was responsible for making it possible for her to escape the Earl of Whitlow’s cruelties to her.
Her parents had only needed to take one look at the now-fading yellow and black bruises on Elizabeth’s face and arms to accept that explanation. They had also expressed their horror, and gently rebuked Elizabeth for not having confided in them before now of the earl’s brutality toward her.
“Please show His Grace into the pink salon.” She had no doubt that the duke would be horrified by the pink-and-cream décor in her parents’ main drawing room. With three women still in the house, her father’s preference in colors had stood little chance of being taken into consideration. “Tell him I will join him momentarily.” Once she had checked and tidied her appearance.
The last thing Elizabeth wanted was to appear less than completely calm and composed when she saw Sterling again.
Sterling was standing beside the window, looking out into the wilderness of the Ameses’ garden, when a movement of the air behind him and the tensing of every muscle in his body told him that Elizabeth had entered the room.
He turned quickly, relieved to see that most of the bruising had faded from the pale delicacy of her skin. She also appeared more composed and at ease in her parents’ home, in a gray gown of brushed silk, and with none of those disturbing shadows present in or beneath her beautiful violet eyes.
Eyes which avoided meeting his as she made a curtsey. “Your Grace.”
“Elizabeth.” He refused to allow her to treat him as a mere social acquaintance.
She glanced up at him and then away again. “I apologize for the décor in this room. Unfortunately, my mother allowed mytwo younger sisters to choose the colors,” she added with that same indulgence.
Sterling glanced about him, having been too preoccupied when he arrived to notice the shocking predominance of pink in the room. “That is their prerogative.”
Elizabeth smiled slightly at his guarded reply before sobering. “I hope the groom I borrowed to drive my carriage back to London has returned safety to your household?”
“He has.” At which point, Sterling had quizzed the other man mercilessly for every detail of Elizabeth’s journey from Cornwall.
They had indeed taken a circuitous route back to London. One Sterling assumed had been taken in case the Earl of Whitlow decided to pursue Elizabeth. And, he had also been forced to acknowledge, possibly in casehehad followed her.
“I trust Jimmy is now back with you?” he added lightly.
“He is, thank you.”
Sterling had done as the Duchess of Melborne suggested and left it another day before calling upon Elizabeth. During that time, he had arranged for Jimmy to take himself to the Ameses and made himself available as a groom to Elizabeth once again. It would serve to alert her to the fact Sterling had also returned to London.
He hadn’t even been sure she would receive him when he called, but now that he was with her again, could look at her, breathe in Elizabeth’s unique and alluring perfume, he desperately wanted to once again hold her in his arms. To apologize to her, on his knees, if necessary. He so desperately needed to kiss her. To tell her how much he loved her.
Except Melborne’s duchess had warned he should first explain about Plymouth’s murder and his own part in hunting for his friend’s killer before attempting to tell Elizabeth how he felt about her.
“I have been advised, before I do anything else, that I must tell you the reason for my having gone to Cornwall in the first place,” he stated.
Elizabeth eyed him warily. “Advised by whom…?”
“The Duchess of Melborne.”
She appeared shocked. “You have…discussed me, with the Duchess of Melborne?”
“No! Well. Not exactly.” Sterling winced. “I was actually in conversation with her husband when the duchess arrived home from shopping.”
Elizabeth’s eyes now widened incredulously. “You were talking to the Duke of Melborne about me when his wife arrived home and decided to join in the conversation?”
Sterling didn’t like the storm he could see brewing in those beautiful violet eyes. “I was discussing thesituationwith Melborne, and the reason for my going to Cornwall,” he hastily explained. “Have you heard of the six Ruthless Dukes?” he continued before that storm in her eyes had the chance to break and sweep aside all in its path. Including him.
“I have, yes,” she answered tightly.
