He beamed at Eliza, no look of apology over his late arrival.
“You are quite prepared, I see!” he declared, after greeting them both. “A walk shall be just the thing this afternoon.”
Eliza frowned. “I thought we were to take a carriage ride to Hyde Park,” she said, frowning. “My cousin, Dinah, was to join us.”
“Which is precisely why I thought a walk would do instead,” Lord Montrose replied, with an easy smile. “Your cousin does not enjoy carriage rides and the like, I am told. Therefore, I thought it quite unfair to her to insist that we take her along with us.” He beamed at her as though he were truly being considerate and expected her to think so of him too. “We may take the carriage to Hyde Park if you wish, and then mayhap walk within it?”
Eliza cast a quick look towards Lady Whitehaven, who wore a slight frown on her face.
“I think my cousin is already prepared, Lord Montrose,” she said, by way of apology. “Although, of course, once we are in the park itself, I would be glad to walk with you. Dinah will be more than contented to sit and wait in the carriage, I am quite certain.” For whatever reason, Eliza found herself reluctant to spend too much time walking with Lord Montrose alone, even though the maid would be walking behind them. It seemed much better to take the carriage, as they had planned, and endure then a shorter walk around the park, where she might have opportunity to greet other acquaintances instead of having to spend all of her time talking with Lord Montrose. Yes, she knew what her mother had advised her but her heart was still so filled with discontent and confusion that, for the present, Eliza determined not to speak of anything specific.
Lord Montrose sighed heavily. “Very well,” he stated, looking somewhat displeased. “If we must, then I shall oblige.”
Eliza managed a tight smile, wondering at his obvious frustration. Why did he not wish Dinah to be with them?
“I shall find my cousin and be with you forthwith,” she said, edging towards the door. “If you will excuse me.”
“I will wait for you both in the carriage,” Lord Montrose replied, surprising Eliza with his lack of consideration for her. “The footman can help you in, can he not?”
Eliza made no response to this, not daring to look at her mother before she quit the room and hurried off in search of Dinah.
* * *
Hyde Park was not too crowded yet, which Eliza found quite pleasing. Lord Montrose muttered something about it not yet being the fashionable hour as the carriage came to a stop, settling the horses under a shady patch of the gardens where they might rest as they waited for Lord Montrose and Eliza to return.
“Dinah,” Eliza said, quickly, before she stepped out. “Are you sure you do not wish to join us?”
Dinah, who had been reading a book ever since she had sat down in the carriage, shook her head without lifting her eyes from the page. Eliza sighed inwardly, smiled at Lord Montrose and allowed him to help her from the carriage. He had been quite silent during their carriage ride to the park, not speaking aside from greeting Dinah and commenting on the very fine day that they had been blessed with. Eliza felt her stomach tighten with nerves as she accepted Lord Montrose’s arm, fearing what it was he had to say.
“Your cousin is quite unlike you in almost every respect,” Lord Montrose commented, as they began to walk along the path. “She is quiet, unobtrusive and determined to become as saintly as she can.” A touch of mirth lit his voice but Eliza, even though she was not particularly fond of Dinah, felt a ripple of dislike for his criticism.
“Dinah has her heart and mind set on heavenly things,” Eliza replied, recalling the sermon from the previous Sunday. “I cannot say that I find any particular fault with that.” Even though she can be very difficult at times, she thought to herself, letting her eyes travel aimlessly across the park.
“She will not find herself a husband easily, that is quite certain!” Lord Montrose laughed, ignoring her gentle reproof. “I cannot imagine what sort of fellow would ever come to care for someone such as she.”
Eliza drew in her breath sharply, feeling her anger beginning to flare. “There may very well be a gentleman who considers the Christian life to be of the utmost importance,” she replied, tartly. “I hold out a good deal of hope for Dinah.” That last sentence was something of a mistruth, but Eliza did not step back from it. She would not allow Lord Montrose to criticize Dinah with such declarations.
“Do you consider that, mayhap, Lord Avondale would suit Dinah?”
Her anger flooded from her at once, replaced with an immediate and startling anxiety.
“Lord Avondale?” she repeated, wondering at his question. “Why would you suggest such a thing?”
Lord Montrose looked down at her keenly, his steps slowing. “I was told by one of your sisters, Miss Catherine Wells, that Lord Avondale is a friend of the family,” he stated, calmly. “I wonder which sister he might choose to wed? I understand he is widowed. Why not marry someone he has known for a good length of time?”
Eliza caught her breath, hearing the question in Lord Montrose’s words. “Lord Avondale has not made any indication that he wishes to marry Dinah or any other of my sisters,” she replied, truthfully. “I cannot imagine that he would be particularly well suited to any of them.”
Lord Montrose made a noise in the back of his throat, which Eliza could not quite make out as to whether it was one of disbelief or one of agreement.
“I did see his gaze rest on you a good deal at the dinner table,” Lord Montrose continued, his voice becoming a little darker. “You yourself did not notice, I suppose?”
Eliza shook her head, refusing to allow him to know the truth. “Of course I did not,” she stated, decisively. “I was much too caught up with the conversation that flowed around the table. You certainly managed to keep all of our guests very well entertained, Lord Montrose!” She tried to push a lightness into her voice that she did not feel, praying that the compliment would be enough to discourage him from considering Lord Avondale’s behavior any longer.
“I do have a way with words,” Lord Montrose admitted, sounding pleased. “Yes, I did manage to capture almost everyone’s attention, did I not? I am glad that you noticed, Eliza.”
Eliza, who had not given him leave to address her as such, frowned heavily.
“You have eyes only for me, I think,” Lord Montrose continued, patting her hand with his free one as it rested on his arm. “That is precisely the way it should be. Lord Avondale may look at you as much as he likes, but I shall take pleasure in knowing that it is not to him that you have given your promise, but to me.”