Page 18 of The Earl's Reluctant Bride
Elizabeth accepted it as an offhand compliment. “The first time I dressed in boys’ garments I was ten years old and I was determined to follow Barlow. I wanted to do all the boyish things.”
“That must have made an interesting conversation when you were caught.”
He was teasing her affectionately, not maliciously.
Elizabeth grimaced in good humor. “Indeed. I received a stern lecture on how young ladies should behave. I believe most girls my age were happy to be dressed in lace and frills, but I found them to be an impediment. I wanted to be always outdoors. I wanted adventure.”
“Adventure is not for young ladies being prepared for society.”
Elizabeth smiled at the memory. “That is more or less what Mama said.”
“It was expected.”
“Yes. I was left with my imaginary friend, Eileen. She never abandoned me,” Elizabeth replied with good humor.
Alexander chuckled. “You had one of those?”
“I do not remember the last time I thought of her. It reminds me how much a child’s mind is filled with feelings of hope and wonder. I ask myself if Eileen would recognize me now.” Elizabeth giggled. “I can barely recognize myself at times.”
“Surely, you did not recall Eileen because you did not need her anymore.”
“Perhaps now I am starting to remember her because I need her again.”
“I doubt you will need Eileen, Elizabeth. You have me.”
A warmth flowed through her and Elizabeth quickly glanced away.
“We digressed,” he murmured. “Finish telling me about the show.”
“My friends and I attended and what a show it was. There were drawings for each curiosity so we could look at the drawings and decide which ones we would see. They were collectively titled “The Great Showman”. I was drawn to the first picture which showed a young boy whose entire body was covered with hair, even on his face. Quite peculiar.”
“Indeed.”
“There were others. Like the man with two heads.”
Alexander’s brows shot up. “Two heads?”
“Yes. He had two heads which were fused together so that he had four eyes, two noses, and two mouths, but everything else merged into one very thick neck and a much wider than normal shoulder. Below his neck, the man appeared to be like any other man in the hall.”
“I have never seen such a thing.”
“The very next drawing was of a man with a deformity that caused his head to be much larger than normal, and his skull had the most unusual shape. His skull was large toward the crown of his head before tapering off toward his chin. He had a pronounced forehead and cheeks, which gave a somewhat grotesque appearance.”
“Were you not disturbed by these rather macabre sights?”
She proudly lifted her chin. “I was not. I have a strong constitution, but my friend Eleanor was a bit tearful. As this part of the show upset her so much, I decided that I had seen enough. We went on to the cabinet of curiosities next. There were oddities, trinkets, and souvenirs from distant lands I have not had the opportunity to travel to.”
“A miniaturized version of the expansive wonder rooms of old.”
“Indeed. You know how I wished to travel, but I could not, so I quite enjoyed it.”
“I gather you saw each other in secret but was there ever … anything more?”
Elizabeth knew what Alexander was asking. She did not immediately respond. She angled her body away from Alexander, lowered her head, and followed the path. In that moment she understood. He would not give her his trust easily and she understood why he would be reluctant. She had met the viscount secretly and within a short time she had eloped with him. No doubt he thought her reckless. Somehow, she wanted him to trust her. It mattered. She wanted him to be able to take her at her word. “Nothing untoward happened. I am chaste and my virtue is intact.”
Elizabeth did not understand. If Alexander was suspicious of her, why did he offer to wed her? She was beginning to wonder if her life would continue to swing from one disaster to another. Within a matter of days, she moved from the viscount to the earl and the hint of scandal meant there would be no going back. Not without ruin. Alexander must learn to trust her. She could not bear the thought of being with him under a constant cloud of suspicion. Alexander remained oddly silent.
“You have made a negative judgment about my character. I have been forthcoming, honest. I have nothing to hide.”
