The Bachelor's Bride (The Thompsons of Locust Street #1) - Holly Bush Page 0,63

she’d talked to him for only a short time when they’d arrived not long after eight.

“Ah, Elspeth,” James said close to her ear. “Don’t be sad. He’s a busy, important man, but I think he really is partial to you.”

“Not partial enough, though.”

As she spoke, Alexander caught her eye and headed in her direction, weaving through the crowds. He held out a hand as he reached her. She swallowed tears. She should not be selfish, but she was hurt. She’d dreamed and dreamed . . .

“Things have been busy tonight,” he said and smiled at her.

“You’ve been needed,” she replied and took a long breath. She would not shame him for doing his job. But still, she’d had high hopes.

His face went still. “Elspeth. I hope you know I would have preferred to spend the evening with you.”

She smiled and looked away. “I’m sure you would have.”

“I’m serious. I would rather we were a thousand mile away, where I could have you for myself and not be bothered with any distractions.”

“I know you’re a very busy and important man. I wonder if I’ll ever hold your attention, though. I was so hoping—”

“Mr. Pendergast?” The man from earlier leaned forward and whispered in Alexander’s ear.

He looked at Elspeth. “I have to go. I . . . I have to do something. I’m sorry.”

Elspeth smiled, forcing her mouth not to wobble, and Alexander held out his hand for her. She put her hand in his and shook it, like any acquaintance would. “They need you,” she said.

She took a deep breath as he walked away, glancing at her with a bewildered look on his face as he hurried away and then focusing on what that man, Graham, was saying to him. She thought about how selfish she was being but yet could not stop herself. Her life had felt flat and routine, and then she’d met him and found a reason to hope. To feel excitement and anticipation, as she’d been doing for the days leading up to this evening.

Muireall walked toward them from the other direction with a tight smile on her face, on the arm of a tall man several years older than she. Elspeth heard her say she must excuse herself to the retiring room. She caught up with her sister and linked arms.

“Who was that?”

“Nils Witherspoon. Brother to the Pendergasts’ mill manager. He is a widower, a prosperous attorney, and is actively seeking a new mother for his three small children.”

“He sounds like quite the catch. Should we introduce him to Aunt?”

“Why do you think I left him before coming to you and James? I didn’t want to introduce him to my family, and he was desperate that I did. Have you seen Kirsty?”

“Every time she swings by on the dance floor on the arm of some different young man. I don’t think she has sat out one dance.” Elspeth could not help the pitying sound of her voice. “I have not yet danced.”

“That is because everyone in this room believes you to be linked romantically with Mr. Pendergast.”

“Where did you hear that?” Elspeth asked sharply.

“Everywhere, dearest. Here is the ladies’ retiring room. You needn’t wait for me,” Muireall said and glanced behind them. “I’ll sneak out in a moment so that Mr. Witherspoon does not see me. He is waiting ever so patiently in the doorway to the ballroom.”

“I will leave you, then.” Elspeth started back toward James when she felt a tug on her arm.

“What now, Graham?” Alexander asked impatiently. He’d spent near an hour getting the Schmitts to leave without making a scene, and then his Uncle Nathan had corralled him to dance with one of Aunt Isadora’s nieces. He did his duty and then had to meet the girl’s mother, sister to Isadora. They’d kept him there for near half an hour, talking about their horses and begging him to visit their stud farms in Maryland.

And then those disastrous few minutes with Elspeth.

But one of Graham’s men had found a side door to the kitchens unlocked, swearing that he’d just locked it. Graham called it an emergency and assembled his men to search the area outside the door and along the back walkways of the house, guns drawn. Graham sent him to watch the front doors, as he would not be conspicuous there. He occasionally glimpsed Elspeth standing with James or Payden, not far from their aunt, and each time he looked in the ballroom she seemed to look a little more forlorn. This