“I knew you two would succumb.”
“Succumb?”
“To desire,” Sophie insisted. “It was apparent how you felt about him almost from the beginning.”
“Do you think he knows?” Elizabeth bit down on her lower lip, worrying about the answer.
“Most likely not.”
“What should I do, Sophie? If I tell him how I feel and he doesn’t return the feelings, he may leave.”
“Or he might tell you how much he loves you.” Sophie picked up the remaining biscuit. “Either way, you won’t know if you don’t tell him.”
“Thank you, Sophie.”
“Anything for my friends.”
Elizabeth left soon so she could return home and tell him exactly how she felt. Then he would tell her how he felt about her and Abigail. Because no matter what, Elizabeth could never be with a man who loved another woman. It was wrong for both people.
As she entered the house, the silence made the hairs on her neck stick up. Where was everyone? She could hear the servants moving about, still cleaning up after the ball. But where was Will? Where were the children?
She stopped in the hallway. “Kenneth, where is His Grace?”
“His Grace went riding late this morning and has been gone since.”
“And the children?”
“They all went for a walk, save Lady Eleanor and Lady Lucia. They are still abed.”
“Thank you, Kenneth.” She headed for the morning room hoping to get something to take her hunger away. The two biscuits had not filled her.
The house seemed foreign today. She’d become so used to the sounds of the children playing and squabbling with each other. Or Will’s deep voice echoing through the house. The silence reminded her of how empty her life had been before Will arrived. She never wanted to go back to that old life again.
She found a small repast in the morning room and enjoyed a scone and some tea. She had nothing planned today but excitement filled her. The idea of telling Will how she felt both frightened and thrilled her, but she knew she could do it.
“Lady Elizabeth, the Baron and Baroness Humphrey are here to see you,” Kenneth said from the doorway. “Shall I seat them in the receiving salon?”
What did they want today? “Yes, have some tea and cakes brought in, too.”
Slowly, she scraped back her chair and walked toward the salon. Before she arrived at the room, she could hear Caroline’s waspish voice.
“Keep your mouth shut, Richard. I will do the talking.”
“Talking about what?” Elizabeth asked as she reached the threshold.
“Elizabeth,” Richard said with a slight bow. “Is His Grace not at home?”
“No, he went riding.” Elizabeth walked over to the yellow brocade chair, which just happened to be as far away as she could get from them.
Caroline shook her head. “The daft fool doesn’t even know when to ride.”
“Where I’m from, any time is a good time to ride.”
Elizabeth had never been so happy to see Will. He leaned against the doorframe. His broad shoulders almost filled the doorway.
“Excuse me, Your Grace,” Caroline murmured.
“Your Grace, we actually came to speak with both of you,” Richard said diplomatically.