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“We were talking about dowery for the girls!”

“Oh.” Derek racked his brain. He couldn’t for the life of him remember what he, William, and Charlotte were talking about. William was right, whenever Eleanor entered the room, everything else around him ceased to exist.

But that was only because he enjoyed her company.

“I like Eleanor; is that so wrong? Shouldn’t we like the ones we are to be around?”

William narrowed his eyes. “Yes, we should which is why I’m currently reconsidering our friendship.”

Derek rolled his eyes. “Look. I understand what you’re saying, and in anyone else, it would look like pining. But I just enjoy her company; she’s intelligent and witty and?—”

William barked a laugh. Really, Derek was becoming truly concerned for his friend.

“Oh, come on. Derek, this is beyond enjoying her company. You flirt with her, you find ways to be in her presence, you see to her when you’re out in public, you have inside jokes with each other, and you go out of your way to interact with her. Honestly, I think you need to reevaluate your position in her life.”

Derek remained adamant. “Sorry, William, I don’t see it. If it looks like I’m interested in her, I assure you I’m just passing the time. It’s all in good fun. She will marry Simon in a few weeks, and that will be that.”

William just looked at his friend.

“What, no laughter?” Derek joked.

William pursed his lips. “I hope for your sake you’re right. Because if you cross the line with her, it’s not just her life you’ll ruin, but her two sisters as well.”

William’s words stung. Derek pointed to the window that overlooked the veranda where Eleanor still sat with Hountshire and her mother. “Ever since I came here, those girl’s futures are all I care about. How dare you insinuate that I would so carelessly throw them away for a bit of fun.”

“That’s just it, Derek. I don’t think Eleanor would be a bit of fun, I think she could be more for you, and that is terrifying for you. So you keep her at arm’s length. Unfortunately for her, all that will do is cause more damage than if you were to actually take her.”

William’s words touched on something familiar within Derek’s gut, but he ignored it. Derek refused to believe that whatever feelings he had for Eleanor were anything more than platonic. He was steadfast in his belief that he was friendly with her because of their close proximity.

Derek sighed. “I’ve had enough of this conversation. Thank you for your input, William, but I think I can keep my affairs in order without your opinions.”

William once again collected his things. “I do hope so, Your Grace. I will go over these ledgers tonight and send them to you tomorrow morning for you to review.”

Derek found himself staring at the window. He didn’t even see William out. The man was being preposterous. He wasn’t chasing Eleanor; it was just his luck that whatever room he chose to walk in, she was already in. And yesterday, she was the one to walk into the room he was in.

Derek shook his head and laughed at the ridiculousness of him being the one to chase a girl. They came to him, and if he wanted one, he didn’t chase her, he just gave her the opportunity, and she took it.

Voices carried from the veranda, bringing his attention back to the window.

He saw the backs of Eleanor and Hountshire, and across from them, it looked like Charlotte and another woman were struggling with something.

“What in God’s name are they doing?”

Derek followed the voices outside. He found Eleanor sitting in the shade with Simon next to her, staring with a look of shock on her face. Charlotte and another woman were both trying to drag an iron bench across the veranda to a shadier spot.

“What’s going on out here?” Derek’s voice came out gruffer than he intended, but he found it ridiculous a man was content watching two women struggle to move furniture. Hountshire was supposedly all about propriety and what was expected of a man, yet he was perfectly fine letting these women grapple with the bench.

Charlotte stood and stretched her back. “Oh, hello, Your Grace. Lydia and I were just trying to move this into the shade, so we could continue our discussion out of the sun.” She threw a look to Simon, but he was reading a book, not caring enough to pay attention.

Derek glanced at Eleanor, whose eyes immediately dropped to her lap when their eyes connected.

“I see. Let me help you with that. Two fine women such as yourselves should not be moving this. Why didn’t you call for help?” Derek leaned down and picked up the bench with little effort.

Charlotte’s eyes widened at his maneuver. “Um, well…” Was that a girlish giggle Charlotte just let out? Derek smiled beside himself. “I didn’t think I would need to call someone, but itseems the Viscount has hurt his back during a recent hunting trip, so his mother and I figured we could move it between us.”

Charlotte gestured to where she wanted the seat, and Derek placed it there, allowing the women to sit and enjoy the shade.

Eleanor rose. “Let me call Jeffries for some refreshments. You two must be parched after all that.”