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Eleanor raised a slight shoulder. She couldn’t find the words, so she settled for looking out over the gardens.

“I should go.” Derek started to move, and Eleanor put her hand up.

“No. Stay.” Eleanor’s voice was clear and steadfast. She knew she shouldn’t be here with him on the night before her wedding, but there was something telling her not to let him go.

“It’s a nice night, and after tomorrow, who knows when we’ll see each other like this.”

“Alone, you mean?”

Eleanor swallowed. There was hint of sadness in Derek’s voice. She nodded her head. “Yes.”

Eleanor reached out her hand. “Come. Sit with me.”

Derek looked at her hand before bringing his eyes back up to meet hers. Eleanor’s throat ran dry, and her heart began to beat faster. Yet, when he took her hand, the world around them slowed down, and for the first time in a week, she felt at peace.

Together they walked to the bench and sat down. Neither one of them said anything as they sat together, still holding hands.

Eleanor closed her eyes and let her body sink into the moment and prayed she could recall this night whenever she was feeling lost or low.

Right here in this moment with the man she couldn’t have, she felt at peace.

“Eleanor? May I ask you something?”

Eleanor opened her eyes to find Derek looking at her. “Of course.”

“I once asked you why you haven’t married yet, and you told me it was that you hadn’t found anyone compatible. Was that true?”

Eleanor dipped her head. “In a way, yes.”

“And in another way?” Derek asked.

Eleanor sighed. “How do I explain it?” She turned her body, so she was facing him, their hands still connected on her lap.

“All my life, I was raised to be one thing, a high society wife. I was tutored on etiquette in and out of the ballroom, taught how to throw parties and events. The older I got, the more I realized I was raised to be someone’s trophy, and that’s exactly how people started to treat me. Want exposure? Dance with Eleanor, her family knows everyone. Want a successful event? Have Eleanor plan it. Want to be seen as the new up-and-coming viscount? Be seen with Eleanor. Everyone saw me as a tool to achieve their goal; no one actually got to know me, so therefore, they could never love me. But that was back when I was looking for love.”

She sighed. Back when things seemed easier.

Derek’s hand tightened around hers. “Is Hountshire using you?” Derek’s voice was low and guttural which reignited the dying ember in Eleanor’s core.

“No, no. I didn’t mean that.” Eleanor winced. “Well, not entirely. I do get the feeling that he sees me as the epitome of the perfect wife, and that is the main reason why he asked me to marry him.I sometimes wonder if he met someone as equally perfect in theton’seyes if he would’ve asked her.” Eleanor’s eyes drifted out over the garden, not liking the turn in their conversation.

Derek closed his eyes and shook his head. “Fools, all of them.”

Eleanor smiled. “Society isn’t all bad. And you can’t blame them. I played the game just as well. I was raised to be perfect, so I was perfect.” A wave of melancholy washed over her.

Derek let out a small chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Eleanor asked.

“You were never perfect with me,” Derek said with a devilish grin.

Eleanor let out a laugh, and by God, did it feel good to laugh so unexpectedly.

She swatted at his shoulder with her free hand. ‘That’s not a very nice thing to say.”

They both shared a laugh that once again had Eleanor wishing she could hold onto this night forever.

“May I ask you something now?”