Page 72 of The Masked Baron
“You do remember me, do you not?” Lord Kerrigan asked.
“Only every other childhood memory includes you.”
“I thought I would never see you again,” Lord Kerrigan said, his voice low. Andalin drew back. This was not something she wanted to interrupt.
“You have stayed by my brother all these years. Your friendship is admirable.”
“I spent years searching for you by your brother’s side. You can’t believe I did it all for him.”
“James—forgive me, Lord Kerrigan.”
“No, please, I haven’t heard anyone call me James since I inherited my title from my father.”
Eliana ducked her head. “It’s hard for me to talk about the past. I would prefer to begin again, if we could.”
“Of course.”
Andalin felt a tap on her shoulder. She froze.
“Eavesdropping now, are we?” Ellis asked.
She blinked several times, unsure of how to act around him. “I... I just discovered a great secret.”
Ellis craned his neck in the same fashion as she. “Since this is my house, I ought to be privy to all its secrets.”
“You already know,” Andalin said. “It is only news to me. Lord Kerrigan is the one Eliana wrote about in her journal—the man she adored so many years ago. And by the sounds of Lord Kerrigan’s voice, he is very pleased to have your sister back in his life.”
Ellis smiled devilishly, and her knees weakened at the sight. “And you have just learned he no longer holds a torch for you. This isn’t a great secret; it is thebest!” Ellis lifted her hand and kissed it before bringing it to rest on his arm.
Her heart soared, but pretending he loved her wasn’t healthy. She told herself Ellis’s relief was for Lord Kerrigan. It meant less hurt feelings when she was sent away. She wanted to hate him for giving her false hope, and she should not encourage him either. She pulled her hand off his arm and pretended to fuss with her gown. Their game of pretend was over.
***
The noon hour brought Mr. Trenton, Katrina, and Lady Kerrigan to the house. Initially, there was a great deal of spent tears. Mrs. Lewis passed around handkerchiefs to all the ladies. The afternoon transitioned to a very merry one, outside of Lady Kerrigan, who could not contain her emotions. For hours she kept hugging Eliana and even an unsuspecting Miss Dubois. When Lady Kerrigan was not hugging them, she was touching Ellis’s face and expressing her regrets. Andalin related to Mr. Trenton, having not spent the last ten years caught up in the situation, and was a bystander to the reunion. More than an afternoon was needed to heal from the past, but at least with the death of the witch, the return of Eliana, and the unmasking of the Dark Rider, closure would come.
Lord Kerrigan came and sat by Andalin. Despite the conversation she had overheard, Lord Kerrigan had not relinquished an ounce of his attention toward her. She’d caught him staring at her throughout the day.
“Have I told you how lovely your hair is today?” Lord Kerrigan asked.
Hannah had left more curls free around her face than normal. In truth, it made her feel self-conscious. She did her best to thank him politely without encouraging him. It was hard to act normal when inside she was bursting to resolve things with Ellis.
She turned her body subtly away from Lord Kerrigan in time to see Ellis try to start a conversation with his sister, but Eliana brushed him off and hurried away. Eliana greeted everyone with a far warmer reception than she gave her own brother. Andalin could tell there was still something holding Eliana back from mending things with Ellis. She sensed Ellis’s frustration from across the room. His eyes caught hers. She had become accustomed to reading his feelings through his eyes, and they were speaking volumes from the way he kept glaring at her and Lord Kerrigan.
When dinner was announced, Ellis did not come retrieve her but led Lady Kerrigan into the dining room as protocol demanded. It still felt like a slight. Andalin followed behind on Lord Kerrigan’s arm. When they were all seated, Mr. Trenton stood on ceremony.
“My wife and I are pleased to be here for such a blessed occasion,” Mr. Trenton began. “We hope our news will add to the joyous atmosphere.” Mr. Trenton moved to stand behind his wife and put his hands on Katrina’s shoulders. They smiled at each other, sharing a private look.
“Well?” Ellis asked.
Katrina took a deep breath and blurted, “We’re increasing!” She glowed as those around the table clapped for her.
A baby! Andalin was thrilled for her friend. She turned to gauge Ellis’s reaction, but he was already looking at her. She gave him a tentative smile, but his stern gaze bored through her. There was something on his mind—something truly bothering him. Did he finally realize that without his mask, he could marry anyone now? The future mother of his children would surely be someone far better than Andalin. After all, a titled man should marry someone more befitting his station. Her throat tightened with a rush of disappointment, and she did her best not to gaze his way again.
After dinner Lady Kerrigan pulled her daughter into a deep conversation on the best time and places to convalesce. Lord Kerrigan retrieved a poetry book he’d brought with him and took a seat beside her again. He started discussing his favorite selections, and she feigned interest. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ellis speaking with Miss Dubois. Eliana’s mouth was tight, and Andalin wanted to go to her but couldn’t think of an immediate way to end the poetry session.
She forced herself to pay attention, though her mind was too preoccupied to properly discuss the delicacies of verse.
“Kerrigan,” Ellis interrupted, “when you are finished with that nonsense, I was hoping I could update you on the latest news from town.” Andalin sighed internally when the poetry book was set aside and the two gentlemen left the room. It had been a timely reprieve because Eliana had taken the same moment to take a different exit.
