intense tiredness took its place. The wine was stronger than she was used to, a coarse dark red that made her head spin, and Master Beaufort kept refilling her cup as soon as she drained it.
Whenever she glanced up at Wolf, his face seemed to be in shadow. Or were her eyes slowly closing while she was still sitting at table?
Carefully she washed her fingers in the water bowl set before her, then dabbed at her mouth with the napkin. She felt overwhelmed by fatigue. All she could think of was the bed in her chamber upstairs, where no doubt Mary would already be asleep, having taken a dish of supper with the servants before bedtime.
‘Shall I light you upstairs to your chamber?’
Turning her head wearily, she found Wolf at her elbow, a lit candle in his hand.
‘I thank you, yes,’ she said huskily, not bothering to conceal her fatigue.
Wolf drew back her chair and she rose unsteadily, bidding her father and the company goodnight. Hugh and the others rose from their seats with polite bows, but Eloise kept her eyes lowered. As she glanced at her father, she had caught a frown on his face and knew her conversation with Hugh had indeed met with his disapproval. If she did not wish to find herself confined to her chambers on their return home, she would have to be more careful how she behaved in public.
Now that she was promised to Lord Wolf, it was no longer acceptable for her to speak so freely with other men, however innocent her intentions. It was a sobering thought.
‘This way,’ Wolf murmured.
The corridor was unlit and deserted. Wolf gestured for her to go ahead of him, then climbed the narrow stairs in silence, limping slightly.
Near the top, Eloise stumbled, catching her foot in her gown. Lord Wolf caught her at once, steadying her.
‘Thank you,’ she managed, very aware of how close he was standing.
His eyes gleamed with amusement in the candlelight. Did he know how nervous he made her?
‘My pleasure.’ Outside her chamber door, he paused, still gripping her by the arm, the candle held high to examine her face. ‘I hope you enjoyed your supper tonight. And the company.’
She nodded without speaking, wishing he would simply allow her to retire.
‘You seemed to take a keen interest in Hugh Beaufort,’ he remarked, watching her.
‘He is an interesting young man.’
‘I would advise you not to find him as interesting as you found Simon,’ he warned her coldly. ‘You are promised to me now, body and soul, and no longer free to smile at whomever you wish. In a very short time you will be Lady Wolf. Whatever liberties you may have enjoyed at court, we will soon be back in Yorkshire, and I shall not permit any scandal to be attached to my family name.’ His eyes dwelt on her face. ‘Is that clear?’
‘Yes,’ she said gratingly, and shook her arm free from his grasp. ‘Perfectly clear, my lord. Though I dislike being punished for another woman’s fault.’
He stared, frowning.
‘I seem to recall this is not your first betrothal,’ she remarked, and saw a grim look enter his eyes. Slightly startled, she backed away. ‘Have I your permission to go to bed now?’
He gave a bow, his smile icy. ‘Of course,’ he agreed, his lips tight. ‘Granted you intend to sleep alone.’
She fumbled behind her back for the door handle, not quite trusting him enough to turn her back on him until she was safe inside her chamber. But how insulting he was!
‘Does my maid count?’ she demanded hotly, throwing open the door.
The last embers of a small fire remained in the grate, their reddish glow illuminating the rough plaster walls. The threadbare curtains around the bed had not been fully drawn, and through the gap she noted that the maid was taking up most of the bed, her fair face flushed, her nightcap askew.
Eloise sighed, realising she would have to undress herself for bed. Well, she could hardly complain at finding Mary asleep. She had told the girl not to wait up for her.
She turned to
Whenever she glanced up at Wolf, his face seemed to be in shadow. Or were her eyes slowly closing while she was still sitting at table?
Carefully she washed her fingers in the water bowl set before her, then dabbed at her mouth with the napkin. She felt overwhelmed by fatigue. All she could think of was the bed in her chamber upstairs, where no doubt Mary would already be asleep, having taken a dish of supper with the servants before bedtime.
‘Shall I light you upstairs to your chamber?’
Turning her head wearily, she found Wolf at her elbow, a lit candle in his hand.
‘I thank you, yes,’ she said huskily, not bothering to conceal her fatigue.
Wolf drew back her chair and she rose unsteadily, bidding her father and the company goodnight. Hugh and the others rose from their seats with polite bows, but Eloise kept her eyes lowered. As she glanced at her father, she had caught a frown on his face and knew her conversation with Hugh had indeed met with his disapproval. If she did not wish to find herself confined to her chambers on their return home, she would have to be more careful how she behaved in public.
Now that she was promised to Lord Wolf, it was no longer acceptable for her to speak so freely with other men, however innocent her intentions. It was a sobering thought.
‘This way,’ Wolf murmured.
The corridor was unlit and deserted. Wolf gestured for her to go ahead of him, then climbed the narrow stairs in silence, limping slightly.
Near the top, Eloise stumbled, catching her foot in her gown. Lord Wolf caught her at once, steadying her.
‘Thank you,’ she managed, very aware of how close he was standing.
His eyes gleamed with amusement in the candlelight. Did he know how nervous he made her?
‘My pleasure.’ Outside her chamber door, he paused, still gripping her by the arm, the candle held high to examine her face. ‘I hope you enjoyed your supper tonight. And the company.’
She nodded without speaking, wishing he would simply allow her to retire.
‘You seemed to take a keen interest in Hugh Beaufort,’ he remarked, watching her.
‘He is an interesting young man.’
‘I would advise you not to find him as interesting as you found Simon,’ he warned her coldly. ‘You are promised to me now, body and soul, and no longer free to smile at whomever you wish. In a very short time you will be Lady Wolf. Whatever liberties you may have enjoyed at court, we will soon be back in Yorkshire, and I shall not permit any scandal to be attached to my family name.’ His eyes dwelt on her face. ‘Is that clear?’
‘Yes,’ she said gratingly, and shook her arm free from his grasp. ‘Perfectly clear, my lord. Though I dislike being punished for another woman’s fault.’
He stared, frowning.
‘I seem to recall this is not your first betrothal,’ she remarked, and saw a grim look enter his eyes. Slightly startled, she backed away. ‘Have I your permission to go to bed now?’
He gave a bow, his smile icy. ‘Of course,’ he agreed, his lips tight. ‘Granted you intend to sleep alone.’
She fumbled behind her back for the door handle, not quite trusting him enough to turn her back on him until she was safe inside her chamber. But how insulting he was!
‘Does my maid count?’ she demanded hotly, throwing open the door.
The last embers of a small fire remained in the grate, their reddish glow illuminating the rough plaster walls. The threadbare curtains around the bed had not been fully drawn, and through the gap she noted that the maid was taking up most of the bed, her fair face flushed, her nightcap askew.
Eloise sighed, realising she would have to undress herself for bed. Well, she could hardly complain at finding Mary asleep. She had told the girl not to wait up for her.
She turned to
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