Page 16 of The Masked Baron
The small timepiece Mrs. Lewis had left for her on her desk registered a few minutes to ten. If Andalin wasn’t so curious, she would pretend she had forgotten. With her candle in hand, she quietly slipped down the corridor toward the library. Ellis was waiting for her in an armchair, reading. She didn’t know the ladylike way to let him know she was there, so she loudly cleared her throat like a customer would at her father’s store.
Ellis stood and motioned for her to enter. She crossed the room to a chair a respectable distance away, and they both sat.
“How did you enjoy dinner?” Ellis asked.
She couldn’t match his affable tone, so she offered a vague answer. “Dinner was appetizing, thank you.”
Ellis rephrased the question. “And how did you enjoy my guest?”
She answered this a bit more honestly. “I find you are a much more relaxed person in his company.”
“Lord Kerrigan took a great liking to you. You made an excellent first impression on him.”
Andalin tried to hide her smile. “Will he be visiting for long?”
Ellis sighed. “That all depends.”
“On what?” Andalin asked.
“On you.”
“Why is that?” Andalin tried to connect the dots, but she was confused on the association Ellis was trying to draw between her and Lord Kerrigan.
“Come now, it is obvious I am not one to frequent Society. As my ward, I want you to have full opportunity of circulating in respectable social circles. But that seems unlikely when you reside with me. I trust Lord Kerrigan completely. He will be in charge of escorting you to what functions meet my approval. That is all I can offer you at this time.”
Andalin tried to digest it all. “How do you know Lord Kerrigan?”
“Childhood friend.” A small smile slid onto his face.
She felt sorry for him. All of his happiness stemmed from his youth. From the little she knew about Ellis, it had been years since he had known any new happiness.
“And what will my responsibilities be? What am I trying to achieve, running in these so-called respectable social circles?”
Ellis’s eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement. “The point of a young lady being introduced to Society is to find a husband.”
Andalin’s eyes widened, and her temper flared. “I think not!” She’d known this topic would come up again, and she’d been preparing an argument.
“Pardon me?”
Andalin stood and straightened her gown. “How presumptuous of you to think I would willingly masquerade as a lady to find myself a husband. It’s utterly and completely dishonest. I will not do it.”
Ellis was clearly surprised by her adamant refusal. “How else do you plan to find a husband? Staying locked in Braitwood Hall will not find you a suitor... any suitable suitor, that is.”
Andalin scowled and put her hands on her hips. “Lord Cadogen!”
“Ellis.”
“Ellis, while I am ready to leave this house, ready to be around people, ready and eager for friendship, I am not ready to be married.” Andalin practically spat out the wordmarried.
Ellis chuckled, and then his mouth erupted into a large smile and he laughed rather boisterously.
Andalin froze. It was the first time she had seen his smile stretch across his face. The first time she had heard him laugh. It was so human and almost attractive. She blinked rapidly to clear her mind.
“My lady, your father was already searching for a man for you. It’s the natural thing for a woman to do at your age. You of all people should understand, since your parents had an arranged marriage. I’m giving you the chance to win a match of your own. That should please you.”
Andalin crossed her arms in front of her. She was losing the battle, but she wasn’t ready to give in. “And you? Aren’t you of respectable age? Why are you not marrying yourself off? I was content looking after my father until you so rudely interrupted our lives. This has nothing to do with me. This is all about your benefit. You’re selfish and cruel.”
The amusement in Ellis’s eyes fled, and his jaw tightened. “You are excused.”
