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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Eliza’s jaw was stiff from holding back furious, devastated tears.

She could not help but think this was her own doing.

Had it been so wrong to pine after a man who had been a friend to her deceased husband?

It had been her foolish heart believing love could conquer all.

That she deserved true love once in her lifetime.

Never could she have taken that first step, but as soon as he had, she had thrown herself at him recklessly.

Even knowing he had only wanted a simple tryst, her vain presumption had been her downfall.

T he rocky carriage ride and—noisy birds? wind?—were grating when all she wanted was quiet contemplation.

“Eliza, Eliza!”

Blazes, now she was imagining him calling her name in the wind.

“Eliza, ELIZA!”

Surely, it could not be! She pulled back the curtain and gasped. Robert was riding up behind the carriage, shouting her name wildly. She banged on the front wall of the carriage to signal the driver to stop. Once the carriage halted, the driver could hear Robert and yelled, “Your Grace!”.

“Take a walk, my good man, I must speak with the countess.” he panted as he caught up.

Eliza’s heart beat frantically. What did he have to say? If it was an apology, she might kick him.

The door opened and he took the seat opposite her. His hair was windswept and his eyes frantic as he looked her over. Having no patience for pleasantries, she spoke before he could.

“Say what you have come to say.”

“I will speak from my heart so offer an apology for any crudeness and lack of finesse. I had thought to scour Donne and find a verse fitting for this moment. But none of that would do. Eliza–I am a fool.”

“You will get no argument from me. Your Grace.”

“Oh, how I love your sharp tongue. And what a fool I was not to realise that all the things I love about you mean that I love you . I loved you when we first danced an age ago. I loved you from afar in bitterness while you were married. I loved you during eight years of correspondence, while fooling myself that written words were enough. What makes me the biggest fool of all is inviting you here and believing I could let you go. I admit that had you stayed, I might not have come to my senses so quickly as I did at your departure. In truth, George made me come to my senses and understand what I feel. And what I feel is the need for you to be by my side for all our days. I love you, Eliza.”

“I want to believe this realisation you have come to, but twice in two days you have expressed doubts.”

Somehow, he managed to get down on one knee in the carriage.

“I am a man who has never begged, nor apologised and admitted my faults to anyone. I come to you as man. A foolish, rueful, stupid man begging you to return with me.”

He pled not only with his words but with his eyes, as they searched her face. His words were true, and she believed him. His beautiful brown eyes said it all. Had she truly reformed him?