Eliza stared out the window of her bed chamber for what seemed to be hours; lost in a daze of confusion. Her plan to return home was a sound decision, yet a part of her missed London. Perhaps not town but her cousin and a certain gentleman in particular.

She supposed part of her doldrums was due to being constantly surrounded with people this last month. Now that she had returned to the cottage she returned to the idyllic life she was grateful for since her husband passed.

In the morning, she would visit the vicar and his wife and see if she could help them with the orphan children they sheltered. She was quite capable in educating the children. She could even help some of the older girls find employment as governesses. Governesses were always needed and the papers had an abundance of opportunities.

Ugh. Why wait until morning? She would go now and hopefully be home before the rain came.

Eliza pulled herself away and gathered her cloak.

“Where are you off to, mistress?” the housekeeper asked when she reached the kitchen.

“I will be walking to the vicarage and hope to be there before the downpour. I will attempt to be home before supper but, if it does rain, I may have to wait it out.”

“I can have James fetch you this afternoon.”

“That is very kind of you but I prefer to walk.”

Without another word, she left the cottage for what would take an hour to walk. The time and fresh air would do her constitution well. She had spent half a month in a whirlwind of confusion; everyone had a secret, even her own cousin. She still had an abundance of questions for her cousin, yet they were all irrelevant. Mary would marry while her son was off with the regiment. Haversham would care for her and help her son when he returned.

Literally everyone in her circle of family and friends maintained some sort of occupation and now she was left to discover her own. London had already decided she was barren with little thought or consideration her own husband could no longer father anymore. So, her prospects for anything else beyond being a widow did not exist. To even remotely think there was a brighter and happier future with a new husband, well, those thoughts could be carried by the wind now.

She had at least a quarter hour left ahead of her when the rain fell hard. She would certainly catch the death of her if she did not run. Yet it mattered not if she perished now. What was there left for her?

“Hoy there, Lady Winston! You should not be out here in this dreadful weather.”

The vicar approached in his carriage.

“Please let me drive you the rest of the way.”

She nodded and stepped into the open carriage when he stopped.

“Thank you kindly, Mr. Robbins, I was just on my way to visit you and Mrs. Robbins. I wanted to offer my services in helping to educate the children in your orphanage.”

“That is kind of you, Lady Winston, but you need not have come all this way to tell us that.”

“Of course I should have. Besides, the weather was quite fine when I left the cottage.”

“Well, Mrs. Robbins will see to it that you are changed and have a wonderful cup of tea.”

Eliza and the vicar were met at the door by Mrs. Robbins who immediately pulled her into an embrace.

“How nice of you to stop in, Lady Winston. Please, come with me and I will find you a change of clothes.”

“Thank you kindly, Mrs. Robbins.”

Eliza followed behind her up the narrow stairs to the bedchambers.

“I believe Margaret is about your size so we might find something in her room that’s suitable while your clothes dry by the fire.”

Margaret was their eldest daughter who was away working as a governess. Their youngest had married a local farmer, so the fact that the vicar and his wife cared for the local orphans was a blessing in disguise.

Eliza imagined it was not easy for a mother to part ways with her daughters. Although, her own mother willingly passed her along to man who, technically, should have not married again.

“What news do you have of London, my lady? I have a sister there who married a shopkeeper and have not heard from her in a while. I have always wondered how much different town life is.”

“London is a very busy place to be sure, many lovely people and about just as many jaded and disreputable characters. To be fair, nothing compares to country life. The fresh air, greenery and humble folk make the country the best place to be.”

The woman smiled at her and then lowered her voice. “There has been some talk in town.”

“Oh. What sort of gossip, Mrs. Robbins?”

“That you have been seen publicly with an earl. Apparently one of ill repute; a rake to be honest.”

Eliza frowned while pulling off her day dress. “I should have known that nonsense would have made its way to Devonshire. I can only imagine my stepson has heard then.”

“It was his wife who had mentioned it at the end of service last week. Of course, I interrupted the conversation which is when her husband returned to her side. He then stated he would be coming to visit you and check on the estate when he was next on his way to town, but then did not say when that would be.”

Her stepson never went out of his way to check on her since his father’s death, so she could not imagine what else his son would have to say.

Eliza finished dressing and Mrs. Robbin’s aided her with her laces.

“Thank you kindly, madam. Has there been any other news at the market?”

“Not that I know of, but Sir William Barnaby did mention he was hosting a country assembly open to all later this week. Perhaps, you could stop in for a bit of dancing. I am certain they would love to see you.”

“I shall think about the offer, Mrs. Robbins.”

“Oh, please do. Now come along and let us fix you up with some tea and a sandwich.”

A country ball filled with merriment and much more gossip from the corners of the room. Dare she consider attending such an affair with so much having transpired in London?

The jaunt to the assembly would be enjoyable, but she was not sure she could attend such a party alone. Perhaps she would write to Annabelle and see if she would join her. She was sure Evan would not mind her being with her, the question was if he would allow his sister to travel so far.

Eliza sat in the parlor waiting for Mr. Robbins to join them. Eliza was sure they would have no objections with her proposal. At least she had found a way to pass the time, which is more than what she could say if she were still in London.

* * *

Evan’s carriage pulled up to the small cottage on the outskirts of Devonshire. It was hard to believe that this was where Eliza was sequestered after her stepson moved into the family estate.

The rain still came down, but that would not deter him. He pulled his coat tight around his neck and raced from the carriage to the door and knocked. When the door opened a manservant let him in and put Eva in a small parlor then hurried off to se to his horse and driver.

A large woman entered he knew had to be the housekeeper. “How can I help you, sir?”

“I am looking for Lady Winston. I have come on some urgent business.”

“I am sorry, sir, but she departed some time ago for the vicarage. You are welcome to wait; however, I do not know when or if she will return. This weather is something fierce and I would hate for her to walk home in this dreadful mess.”

“I will wait a short while, however, if she does not return within an hour I will head on over to the vicarage.”

“Very well, I will fetch you a hot drink and a biscuit if you’d like. Sir, if in the event you miss her at the vicarage, who can I tell her called on her?”

“Evan Radcliffe, Earl of Chisholm, at your service, madam.”

“Beggin’ your pardon, my lord, I had no idea.”

Evan smiled. “No need to fret, dear lady.”

“I will be along shortly. Do stay and warm up by the fire.”

She left him alone in the parlor. Quaint and feminine. Embroidery sat in a basket near the fireplace and a few shelves were filled with volumes. Could it be that Eliza was a bluestocking? Beauty and brains, yet quite unafraid to share her opinions when necessary. The woman was a paragon. He could hardly imagine why the woman had not found a new husband since being out of mourning.

The housekeeper returned a moment later.

“Your tea, my lord.”

“Thank you. Does your mistress read often?”

“When she can, my lord. Since moving to the cottage, she has not read much, but I imagine now that she is all settled and not intending to travel to London anytime soon, she will return to her regular quiet self.”

The housekeeper left him to the silence of the room. He stared out the window into a dark grey sky pelting down shards of heavy rain. What was she thinking taking a walk on such a day as this?

An hour passed and there had been no sign of Eliza. He stepped into the kitchen and nodded to his driver and then redirected his attention to the housekeeper now preparing supper.

“Madam, can you tell me in what direction is the vicarage?”

“It is only an hour walk up the road toward town. If you do see her, would you mind returning her home?”

“It would be my honor to do so, madam. A good day to you.”

Evan hurried with his driver to his carriage. This woman was certainly ready to drive him mad. She had him racing up and down the country side looking for her. If he did not know better, he would think she was purposely set on making him chase her.

Salon tricks for sure, but he knew very well the lady was unaware of her power over him. She was as delicate as a flower and yet hard as iron. There was not a person alive who could keep him away from her. Not his mother, not Amelia, and most certainly not Dodds and Hubert. His family would withstand the scandals and rise above them. He would make Eliza his one way or another, yet it would have to be on her terms. She had already previously mentioned she had no designs in ever marrying again but most women’s minds changed when they understood what they were offered.

There was not a thing he would not do for Eliza.  He loved her. He would see to her every comfort and whim. She would not be in want of anything for she would have it all; even a sister who is very much interested in her companionship. The question remained; would Eliza see things for what they were?

The carriage stopped at the rectory and he made quick business of knocking on the door.

A woman nearly twice his age answered the door. “Can I help you, sir?”

“Evan Radcliffe, the Earl of Chisholm at your service, madam. I am here to speak with Lady Winston.”

“Oh, please come in. I hope you will join us for supper. Lady Winston was telling us of her plans to help us with orphans, my lord.”

They entered a fair-sized dining hall where he found a half dozen children, Lady Winston and, he assumed, the woman’s husband, sitting at the dinner table.

Eliza blinked, then her cheeks reddened. “My lord, allow me to present to you the Reverend William Robbins and his wife, Maria. These lovely children are the local orphans they currently care for. Everyone, allow me to introduce to you my friend, Evan Radcliffe, the Earl of Chisholm.”

Evan bowed his head and sat down whilst a plate was set in front of him with a glass of water. “It is a pleasure to meet you all.”

“I hope you had a pleasant ride. The weather was dreadful earlier,” Eliza added, before taking a sip of her water.

“The rain has finally slowed, but I suspect there will be more overnight.”

Mr. Robbins set his fork down and turned his attention toward him. “My lord, if you do not mind my asking, what brings you here to our humble abode?”

Evan cleared his throat. “I actually came in search of Lady Winston. She left a ball last evening rather hastily and I wanted to inquire after her well-being.”

“Well, as you can see all is well and we are all in fine spirits. Tell me, is my cousin well?”

He smirked. “I believe she was quite surprised with your decision to return to Briar cottage so soon. However, she was under the impression that you would have been happy to stay in town.”

Evan observed how still she went and how she bit her lower lip.

“I am sure we can all agree that with Haversham’s announcement of their engagement, one could hardly expect me to stay in a home that would now belong to her son.”

The vicar nodded in agreement.

“No, I do not suppose that would have been appropriate,” Evan agreed. “You should have left her a letter with an explanation, though.”

She glared at him. He had obviously hit a nerve but she deserved to hear it firsthand how terrible she handled the news.

“I will write to her in detail with my apology in the morning. My lord, if it is not of great imposition, would you be able to take me home this evening?”

“It would be my pleasure, Lady Winston.”

For the rest of their meal, the vicar discussed much of what he was hoping to raise for the orphans before the harvest. All the children required new clothing but their tiny farm did not yield enough to be sold at the market.

Mrs. Robbins spoke up, “My lord, I am not certain if you are familiar with the families here in Devonshire but Sir William Barnaby will be hosting a ball this week. Everyone is invited. I do hope you will consider in attending.”

“A country ball you say. I do not believe I have ever attended one before. If I do not have any other prior commitments, I would be happy to attend.”

He noticed then Eliza had lost interest in her meal.

“Mrs. Robbins, your stew was very hearty and delicious. I thank you kindly for sharing your dinner with me tonight. Would you like me to return on Monday to begin with the lessons?”

“Oh, please do. The girls seem quite excited.”

“What will you be teaching, Lady Winston?” Evan asked.

“I have offered to help the girls with their music and arithmetic.”

He raised a brow. His darling Eliza was most certainly a bluestocking through and through. How could he have missed the delightful trait?

“That sounds like the most wonderful idea I have heard in a long time. Madam,” he turned to Mrs. Robbin’s, “supper was superb, but I must be going. The hour is getting late and the drive home is a few hours.”

He rose. “Lady Winston, would you care to leave now?”

She nodded.

“You must come again and I do hope we will see you at Sir William’s ball,” Mr. Robbins added with a kind and genuine smile.

He and Eliza were ushered out to cool late afternoon. The sky was still covered with rain clouds, but the rain had ceased.

The moment the carriage door closed and they rode along Eliza crossed her arms in front of her. “Pray tell, my lord, what was your purpose in following me all the way to the vicarage?”

“You need not to be so cross with me, Eliza. I wanted to ensure you were well. You left last evening without so much as a goodbye.”

Lord, this drive was sure to be amusing if she planned on being cross with him the entire way home. If she only knew what he had in store for her.

“As I already mentioned in the presence of the Robbins’, I will rectify that misunderstanding with Mary and write to her.” She relaxed back in her seat. “You could have written, too. Your visit to the country is wasted.”

Evan snorted. “My trip was not wasted. I had every means to come and see you, or was everything we discussed in my carriage the day before last forgotten?”

She couldn’t look at him in the eyes.

“Do not avert your gaze, love. Sit next to me.”

“Why? We can converse sitting across from each other.”

“Eliza, I do not want to force you, but I was hoping we could have a pleasant moment alone before you reach home.”

“Very well.”

Eliza moved her seat and sat next to him. He patted her hand and cradled it into his.

“This is far more pleasing than sitting so far from me. Why did you not want to sit next to me?”

“I fear I am not myself when we are together. I lose my wits and…and…”

“And what, love?”

“And…” she paused and twirled a stray curl. She hardly kept her eyes on him and when she did she quickly averted her gaze. “I think I am in love with you, Evan. Do not dare to laugh at me, sir!”

Evan smiled. It warmed his heart that she fancied herself in love and that she didn’t feel herself around him, yet courting her was going to take a bit of work considering she knew nothing of how passionate they could be.

“I would not dare, love. Although, I would love to kiss you.”

She looked at him and blushed. “You want to kiss me now? Are you mad?”

“Quite possibly, but I fear I cannot waste another minute after having sampled your sweet, sweet lips, love.”

He slid his hand behind her neck and leaned in for what would be the most memorable kiss she will have ever had. One that would forever remind her of this moment and what they had with each other.

Evan pressed his lips to hers, coaxing her to open her mouth a little more with his tongue. Her intoxicating scent drove him wild, he slipped his tongue in and gradually moved his free hand to caress her well-covered curves. He dreamt of the moment he undressed her for the first time; her gown and corset pooled at her feet by the fire light. He would slowly lift her shift and kiss his way up her thighs. He grew hard with want, but this was not the time or place to take her, despite his growing need.

Eliza, by now, found her rhythm in kissing. This was her first lesson.

Evan finally pulled away from their embrace right before the carriage stopped.

He exited the carriage and helped her out.

“I will pick you up on Friday. Be sure you are ready for the ball.”

Before she could protest, he leapt inside and the carriage rolled away.

There. She would remember that kiss.