"Then I'm thankful I had the foresight to enlist help. Leo has been feeling a little unwanted of late. The ladies will stop at nothing to keep his attention and he does so like to gossip." Elliot turned and scanned the sea of heads. "He's here somewhere. With strict instructions to learn as much as he can about Caroline Rosemond."
Just from the way he spoke it was obvious Elliot felt a certain responsibility towards his friend. Perhaps when one shared such a terrible affliction, it was only natural for a strong bond to develop. And it really did please her to know he had someone else who understood the weight of his burden.
"Excellent," she beamed. "The more, the merrier. I don't think I could face another night of fancy frocks and packed ballrooms."
His gaze dropped again to the scandalously low neckline of yet another one of Caroline's gowns. "If they're all like that I one, I think I could happily face a hundred or so such nights."
"Off with you," she said shooing him away before she gave in to temptation and threw her arms around his neck. "I'm supposed to be here to help Caroline, and you're too much of a distraction."
"I'll give you twenty minutes and then I'm coming back to distract you even more."
She watched him push through the crowd, her thoughts turning warm and dreamy as she imagined how wonderful it would be to lie next to him in bed each night.
Evelyn clutched Grace's arm and gave it an affectionate squeeze. "He has no idea, does he?"
With a mental shake of the head, Grace acknowledged her question. "He has no idea about what?"
"Elliot doesn't know that you've fallen in love with him."
Even if she wanted to answer, she couldn't. Her throat felt tight and swollen while her heart thumped wildly in her chest.
"Don't worry," Evelyn whispered. "I won't tell anyone. Your secret is safe."
"There's nothing to tell," Grace replied trying to regain her equilibrium. Their passion for each other helped them to forget the past that's all. "I like him a great deal. But we're different people, from different worlds. I could never be happy here."
"Where could you be happy?"
Elliot's bed was the first place that sprung to mind. A few days ago such a thought would have terrified her. After finding someone who worshipped her mind and body, would she ever be able to settle for a solitary life in Cobham?
"I have no idea anymore," she replied honestly. "I like gazing out over fields and hills. I like breathing fresh air, running while the wind blows my hair. I enjoy reading and quiet walks through the forest."
"Elliot has an estate in Yorkshire."
Grace gave a weak smile. "I would never ask him to leave London. Besides, he has his friend Leo to think of, and I believe he would soon grow tired of looking at the same face each day."
It felt better to be honest with Evelyn and with herself. Had it not been for Caroline disappearing off into the night, she would have never met Elliot Markham.
A smile touched her lips.
Despite the bleak circumstances, she would never regret the time she'd spent with him. Her attraction to him was like a bitter-sweet addiction. It felt painful at times. Yet she longed to be near him, dreamed of his touch. With him, she felt wild and reckless. Without him, she wondered if she'd shrink back into the woman who shied away from intimacy, who bent to the will of others far too easily.
"We shall see," Evelyn replied with a smug look on her face.
While contemplating Evelyn's comment, she glanced around the room. "Am I imagining it, or do people keep staring at us?"
"No, you're not imagining it. I suspect they're curious about the likeness between you and Caroline. Come, let's stroll around and see who accidentally bumps into us to force an introduction."
As they moved around the perimeter of the dance floor, Grace grew more aware of the whispers and sly glances.
"There's Leo," Evelyn said as she stared at a gentleman surrounded by a group of ladies giggling and playing with their fans. She waited for him to glance in their direction.
He appeared vastly different when not dressed in his vibrant and slightly comical costume. Despite looking older, more masculine, he still held a boyish charm, which his female admirers seemed to find vastly appealing. Grace wondered how they would perceive him if they witnessed his sharp teeth and black eyes.
Dragging himself away from the group, he sauntered over to them. "Evelyn," he said bowing gracefully over her hand. "And Mrs. Denton. How nice to see you again."
"Have you had any luck extracting information from that gaggle of gossiping geese?" Evelyn said with a chuckle.
Leo nodded. "All I had to do was mention Mrs. Denton's likeness to her sister and they couldn't wait to enlighten me as to the state of current events."