Page 6 (2/2)
"Now tell ed you to do?"
"She has cause to fear for her safety"
Westfield’s brows rose "Truly? Who would want to injure her? She’s worth more alive than dead"
"She believes sooad her intoherself I haven’t yet decided if she’s correct, but hearing about her parents’ untimely de," the earl said "Can I assist you in any way?"
"I was hoping you would ask" Jasper reached into his pocket and withdrew the s Eliza’s social calendar It was an unavoidable fact that there were some doors he needed a peer to open "I must attend as many of these functions as possible"
The earl flipped through the ses with one hand "I see I will have to refrain fro, so I can squire you about"
"I appreciate your sacrifice," Jasper drawled
"I should hope so" Westfield’s tone was droll In truth, he enjoyed participating in Jasper’s hen the circumstances allowed He was even known to beco without enlisting him for some task or another "See you at ten?"
"Perfect"
Eliza had just pulled on a dressing gown and settled in front of her vanity mirror when a knock came to her boudoir door When bade to enter, a white-capped maid stepped in and curtsied "His lordship asks for you, , Eliza watched the servant back out of the room She’d enjoyed tea with her uncle just an hour before, listening fondly as he spoke at length and with great animation about his latest botanical experiments Once, their solarium had been filled with comfortable chaises and short bookcases Now, it housed rows of long tables supporting various potted plants Eliza didn’tspot, appreciating how the experiht and fresh air
What would cause hi preparations for the evening’s social events? Perhaps he had an epiphany of so of a celebratory nature to share? He once woke her before sunrise because a splicing experihtful results
She stood and pulled a coown out of the wardrobe Then she called for her abigail, Mary, who entered the roo the row of buttons following the length of her spine Despite skipping her che moments to become presentable Eliza tied a quick ribbon around her unbound hair and considered herself ready enough
"What will you wear tonight?" Mary asked
"Lay out three of your favorites" Eliza opened the door to the gallery "I’ll pick one when I return"
She often left the selection of clothing to her abigail It didn’t own on the farthest right Her dresses were all i been created by a seah deinally protested Eliza’s selection of colors that, while fashionable, did little to emphasize the hue of her hair But eventually the hopelessness of the objections beca the anyone the notion she was atte to entice or set a lure Since the most popular shades were pastels and she looked best in darker colors, there was no excuse for her to dress with self-flattery in mind
She left the room and headed directly to the family parlor on the sarate, and his lordship paced before it in his usual state of dishabille--mussed hair, lopsided cravat, and unevenly buttoned waistcoat sans coat