when he was participating in Elijah’s schemes, or encouraging him into it.
It would even be an improvement to be like Baxter, he supposed, looking across the room at his eldest brother, who was currently entertaining a circle of guests before leading them into the dining room. Baxter was just like their father — a touch obnoxious and prone to drink, but also a responsible, careful host, the perfect lord in every way.
Thank goodness Baxter — Lord Baxter — already had two sons, now that the new baby had arrived, meaning the line would never fall into Elijah’s own unfortunate hands. As Cecily and her husband wandered off, Elijah supposed that he’d best take himself in to supper, for it seemed that no one would be waiting for him. Which was how it usually was.
Elijah, the forgotten one.
And how it should probably remain.
Joanna attempted to maintain a look of interest on her face as Lord Alexander and the admiral began speaking of his days at sea, although she wasn’t above taking the opportunity to begin slinking back and away from the conversation.
She appreciated Lord Alexander’s approach, allowing her an escape, and she noted how courteous he was — always there to lend a hand when needed. So unlike Lord Elijah.
Lord Elijah was sin. Temptation. Everything she normally ran from.
But she couldn’t seem to avoid him.
That was the truth of it, the real reason she wanted to leave — because she didn’t know if she would be able to hold herself back from him. She had seen him at his very worst, and yet still, she couldn’t help herself from desiring more time with him, even if it would only lead to ruin — her own ruin.
Fortunately, they were soon called for dinner, and Lord Alexander led her to a place far down at the end of the table — surely far enough away that she wouldn’t be tempted to engage in any conversation with Lord Elijah. She hadn’t been able to help herself from eavesdropping on his conversation earlier with Cecily — Lady Danvers — and her husband. She still found it rather difficult to look at Cecily without malice, knowing that she still held onto her grandmother’s gift.
Why she wouldn’t give it back to her all of those years ago, Joanna didn’t know, but she was always on the lookout for it to appear, wondering if maybe — just maybe — she might be able to filch it back.
Which wasn’t really stealing, was it, if it was your own to begin with?
Fortunately, Caroline sat down on her right, giving her hand a quick squeeze as she did so.
“Thank you for staying,” she said softly. “I know having Elijah here changes things, but he has honestly been on his best behavior since he arrived. He has promised to stay far from you, and I promise that since he has returned, he hasn’t shown much sign of mischief. I think it might be possible that Eli has finally grown up.”
Joanna didn’t want to share her encounter with Lord Elijah with his sister — somehow it seemed wrong, even if it would prove to Caroline that he wasn’t quite as mature as she thought.
“That would be lovely,” was all she said instead but then noticed that Caroline wasn’t paying her the slightest bit of attention any longer.
“Caro?” she asked, leaning forward to try to see into Caroline’s face as the first course emerged from the kitchen. “Are you that hungry?” she asked, attempting laughter, but Caroline’s attention was solely focused on the tureens of soup being carried in — one brown, one white, which would go alongside the remainder of the dishes, some already placed on the table and others carried in by various footmen.
Except… it seemed that Caroline only cared about the soup. Was it the soup she was staring at, however, or… did her gaze travel beyond?
Joanna studied the footman more closely. He was quite attractive, but then, most footmen were, particularly in a household like that of the Marquess of Darlington. The footman’s blond hair waved at the top, and his blue eyes were fixed upon Caroline with an intensity that nearly took Joanna aback.
“Caro,” she said in a stage whisper, poking her friend in the side, for suddenly she noticed that she was not the only one who seemed interested in the connection between the two of them.
Lord Elijah had taken up a seat across the table and three chairs down from her, right beside Lord and Lady Oxford,