Merry Misrule - St. Clair, Ellie Page 0,42

on besides as fodder for the latest gossip.”

“That doesn’t bother you?” he asked as the footman came in with the warm chocolate, and Joanna took a sip, unable to help the gratefulness for it fill her, smiling with satisfaction as she closed her eyes. When she opened them, Elijah was staring at her with a strange look on his face, and she hastily returned to the moment, remembering his question.

She shook her head as she replaced her cup on its saucer.

“No,” she said. “Besides, I would not be of any interest to discuss unless I happened to be associated with someone of note.”

“Like me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, to which she nodded.

“Like you.”

“Joanna,” he began, moving toward her, picking up her hand in his, his skin burning hers, as they had taken off their outdoor gloves and hadn’t yet replaced them. “I need to talk to you about something, I—”

But before he could discuss whatever was on his mind — which Joanna was tense with anticipation as she waited to learn — the door flung open to reveal Caroline at its entrance.

“Joanna,” her voice rang across the room, “I have to speak to you.”

Chapter 15

Joanna was torn.

Torn between concern for her friend and a desperate desire to know just what Elijah was about to say.

She had accepted his offer for a drink together partly in sympathy for him and his apparent guilt over their sledding accident. The other part of her was curious as to whether he had, by chance, anything to do with the cause of it. Had it been some practical joke gone wrong? She didn’t want to think such a thing but she couldn’t help but be suspicious, knowing his past as well as she did.

And now, the vulnerable emotion on his face surprised her, for he wasn’t exactly the type to admit to a feeling of any kind.

Then Caroline had burst in.

Joanna rose, slipped her hand from Elijah’s, and walked over to her friend, who she realized guiltily she had somewhat neglected as most of her thoughts had been tied up in Elijah and her time now in the costumes. Caroline, however, had been fairly absent herself.

“Caro,” she said, taking her by the hand, “come sit down and tell me what is the matter.”

“First,” Caroline said with a sideways glance at her brother, “are you all right? By the time I made it down the hill to accompany you home, you were gone.”

“I am,” she said, reaching for the tray. “Can I pour you a chocolate?”

“Oh, Joanna,” Caroline said with a sigh, “I should really be the one doing this for you. I’m so sorry. I have been a beastly friend.”

“I was just thinking the same thing of myself!” Joanna responded with a laugh.

They shared a smile of recognition that only true friends could share, before Caroline turned serious once more.

“In truth, though, what happened?” she asked. “We have been throwing ourselves down that hill on those very same sleds for years now and never has one gone so horribly askew.”

“I thought the same,” Elijah said slowly from his seat. “I think it was tampered with.”

“But who would do such a thing?” Joanna asked, and while Elijah shrugged, Caroline’s brow furrowed.

“Well, there is someone.”

“Who?” both Elijah and Joanna asked.

“Oh, Eli, you know very well who.”

“I do?”

Now the concern on her face changed from one of suspicion to one rather upset.

“Eli,” she said tilting her head, “you’ve always been quite the prankster, true, but there was never any malice in your intentions. Alex, on the other hand…”

“Alex played practical jokes?” Joanna couldn’t help but interject.

“Sometimes,” Caroline said, “but he usually made it seem like Eli’s fault — especially when someone got hurt. Eli, I’m sorry to say, but you always so admired Alex that you would go along with whatever he suggested.”

Elijah frowned, and Joanna wondered just how much he remembered of their youth. It seemed like less every time something came up.

“You think Alex would do something like this, to put me — and Joanna — in danger?”

“Did he know Joanna was going to be with you?”

“He did offer me his sled instead,” Joanna said thoughtfully.

“My guess is that he wanted to see you look foolish, Elijah,” Caroline suggested. “He was the one that was rather sought after until you returned. Now you are not only back, but a war hero at that, and I believe he feels somewhat forgotten. He likely didn’t care much one way or the other whether Joanna was hurt along