Page 15 of The Masked Baron
“I will escort you to dinner tonight, and you will sit on my right. I have an important introduction to make.”
Having never dined formally with Ellis, she hoped he would not make a habit of it. “Are you sure you want me to eat at the same table with you both?”
Ellis gave her a curt nod.
“I can hardly dine with a baron and his guest.”
Ellis’s brow rose. “Is your father not a gentleman?”
Andalin raised her chin proudly. “He is a gentleman in character but not in station.”
Ellis shook his head. “I disagree. He is a landowner, once had substantial wealth, and married a woman of high-standing birth. Regardless of others’ opinion of his social standing, I am entitled to claim any gentleman’s daughter of my choosing a right at my table. To say it plainly, I would like you, as resident of my house, to accompany me to dinner.”
Andalin hesitated. His logic was almost kind. She managed to take his arm while maintaining as much distance as possible. She would accompany him to dinner, but only because he had championed Papa. She could almost like him for it. Of course, she also wanted to meet the handsome stranger downstairs and enjoy all the hard work Hannah had put into her appearance.
The staircase felt longer than it had ever been. With each step she thought about the man next to her. Was this the same person who had supposedly killed enough men to make up a small army? She should be cowering in fear. But it wasn’t fear that occupied her mind. It was something different, something she did not quite understand.
“Are you staring at me because you’re afraid I bite?”
Andalin gasped and flicked her gaze forward. “I... I was admiring the wood paneling.”
“You were admiring the walls?” Ellis asked.
“I find walls most delightful.” Andalin’s face burned all the way to her ears. Did she really just say that?
“Then, you must love Braitwood Hall and its large sum of walls.”
“Ah, yes...” Andalin said, wishing the heat would leave her face.
Ellis paused for a moment at the bottom of the stairs. In a lowered voice he said, “After dinner I have important business to discuss with Lord Kerrigan. If you are up to it, I would like to discuss some arrangements with you as well. Say, ten o’clock in the library?”
Andalin found herself agreeing, though she didn’t know to what exactly. His close proximity intimidated her. Mrs. Lewis had mentioned a long list of “improper” behavior for a lady, and she knew this would be at the top. Mr. Lewis opened the dining room door for them, and Ellis brought Andalin to the table.
Lord Kerrigan pushed back his chair and stood. “Lord Cadogen, this must be your new ward.”
Andalin met his appraising gaze and averted her eyes. All the pretense made her feel like a fool. The dress, the hair—neither could hide who she really was.
Ellis gave a long nod. “Miss Durante, this is Lord Kerrigan, my most trusted friend.”
After curtsying exactly as she’d been taught, they were seated. Lord Kerrigan was even more handsome up close. Andalin snuck a glance at Ellis. He would have been just as handsome, if not more so, she was sure of it. Her breath caught, and she quickly looked down at her soup. Why would she ever spare a thought like that forEllis? She was getting mixed up being in close vicinity to two distinguished men.
“Miss Durante, Lord Cadogen tells me you have started riding lessons. Does the pastime agree with you?”
Andalin smiled, excited to be included in the conversation. “I like it very much. I’ve always wanted to learn, and I’m afraid I make an overeager student.”
Ellis looked pleased. A man of his reputation wasn’t supposed to be pleasant in company.
Lord Kerrigan chuckled. “Wonderful! I must take you on a ride tomorrow to Terrence Hill. It has a great view of Thornton Way. Have you seen it?”
Andalin shook her head. “No, but it sounds lovely.” Ellis nodded his approval, and Andalin’s jaw almost dropped. She never thought her prison guard would let her go, not after over a month of feeling like she was under lock and key.
Lord Kerrigan held up his glass. “Then, it is all arranged. Mr. Birks could come as a chaperone. We shall leave after breakfast.”
The rest of dinner passed quickly. Andalin actually enjoyed herself. Thanks to one of Mrs. Lewis’s many lessons, she remembered to remove her gloves and set them on her lap. She laid her napkin over her gloves and ate the several courses at a polite and steady pace. Not sure if her presence was desired in the sitting room after dinner, she returned to her room. Surprisingly, a little of the ache in her heart had lifted. Even with Ellis and his ever-present mask there at dinner, she had found the night relaxing.
Lord Kerrigan’s company added to the mystery surrounding Ellis. His comfort around the Dark Rider surprised her. Lord Kerrigan was surely the epitome of a gentleman. Andalin not only trusted the idea of being with him for the horse ride in the morning but looked forward to it. Terrence Hill was going to look like heaven after her time at Braitwood Hall.
Remembering her appointment with Ellis, Andalin dismissed Hannah when she came to undress her. Hannah readily agreed and did not even question how Andalin would untie her stays by herself. Despite the maid’s gruffness, Hannah did not deserve to be pushed to exhaustion with all the extra housework. The staff’s busyness now made sense. They had been preparing for company. Andalin wondered why no one had apprised her of the situation.
