Page 95 of The Earl's Reluctant Artist

Eliza nodded. “Tell him I will be there shortly.”

Hale bowed once more. “Very well.” His eyes lingered for the briefest moment on Clara. “Lady Clara.”

Then he turned and left.

As soon as the door shut, Eliza turned back to Clara. “Are you—”

“I cannot take whatever you are about to say,” Clara cut in, lifting a hand.

Eliza raised both hands in mock surrender. “Very well.” She smiled faintly. “It seems a great deal can change in two days.”

Clara shrugged, though her lips twitched. “Yesterday afternoon, after Aunt Evelyn abandoned me for the news of her husband’s arrival, Mr. Hale offered to continue the garden walk with me.”

Eliza narrowed her eyes. “Without a chaperone?”

Clara gave her a sharp glare. “It was only a walk. And I am twenty-six, Eliza. I hardly think walking with a valet is scandalous.”

Eliza pressed her lips together, suppressing a grin. “I did not say it was scandalous.”

“Then what are you implying?” Clara asked.

“Nothing,” Eliza said innocently. “Not a thing.”

Clara huffed. “It is written all over your face.”

Instead of answering, Eliza changed the subject abruptly. “I was thinking we might take a walk to the park later. It has been some time since we last did that.”

Clara blinked, caught off guard. “Yes, please.”

“When I go to see Tristan, I could ask if his valet would like to join us,” Eliza teased, her eyes bright.

Clara froze, then shot her a cold glare. “You would not dare.”

Eliza tilted her head, lips curling in mischief. “Would I not?”

“Eliza,” Clara warned.

“Very well,” Eliza said, laughing as she rose from the bed. “I shall behave.”

Clara crossed her arms but could not hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “You are insufferable.”

“Perhaps,” Eliza said, walking toward the door. “But later we shall walk, and you may thank me for my kindness then.”

Clara rolled her eyes. “Do I need to change first?”

Eliza paused at the door, narrowing her eyes. “Is there someone you wish to impress?”

Clara gasped. “No, of course not.”

“Then what you are wearing will do fine,” Eliza said.

Clara muttered, “You are something else.”

Eliza smiled in response and opened the door.

Chapter 25

The sun felt fresh against their faces, and Eliza continued to realize, as they walked even further down the path, that it was exactly what she needed. Her eyes shifted to Clara, who seemed to have some nervousness hiding behind her eyes as she looked through the crowd they walked past.