Page 66 of Discovering Her Earl

He escorted her to the door where the Darlingtons waited.

He offered Elaina a wink before ducking inside to face judgement for his crimes.

Finally, he would be free from this guilt.

Or so he hoped.

*

Elaina felt as if she were made of wood as they entered the ballroom, and not just because she was cold from standing in the drive speaking with Julian. It had been a cool summer and autumn was taking the same path.

Was he mad? Julian wanted her to give him the cut direct in front of everyone. Leaving them to assume he had done something dishonorable. To be judged by everyone for something he did many years ago. Something he was too drunk to have done purposefully.

She hadn’t even considered the reason he was laughing could have had nothing to do with her. She had already forgiven him and now it seemed she might even owe him an apology for judging him without knowing his true intentions.

She smiled and greeted their hosts. The Aubrey’s were a lovely couple who supported their expeditions graciously.

Music was already playing and people were gathered around the small area that had been cleared for dancing.

Staying close to her aunt and uncle, she looked for an opportunity to pull Aunt Rose aside and ask her thoughts on how to proceed. But too many people wished to speak to them about their upcoming travels to Egypt.

Her uncle would be announcing where specifically they planned to dig on this journey. As well as the team that would accompany them.

True to his word, Lord Melville stepped up as soon as the dancing began. She was with her aunt and uncle and two other couples when he bowed and extended his hand.

“Miss Bantham, would you do me the honor of a dance?”

She paused and looked into his face, his kind blue eyes winced slightly as he waited for her to deliver her retribution and embarrass him in front of everyone. Even with only thirty or so people in attendance, the gossip would spread. Everyone would speculate as to what he had done to earn such a reaction.

Months ago, she would have been more than eager to claim her revenge and destroy him. But now she knew him better.

It didn’t take but a second for her to know what she wanted to do.

She placed her hand lightly in his and said, “I would be delighted, my lord.”

He blinked in surprise but didn’t miss a beat as he led her to the dance floor.

“What was that? You were supposed to give me the cut. This was your chance,” he whispered too loudly and called the attention of the couple next to them. Lainey smiled and waited until they had twirled away before speaking quieter than the earl.

“My chance to what? Shame you for something you did so long ago, while you were drunk? No. Besides, I am a wretched dancer, so you see, the steeper punishment is to take you up on your offer and subject you to dancing with me.” She laughed at her joke, but he only watched her.

“Being allowed to touch you can never be considered a punishment, Elaina.”

A shiver of excitement ran up her spine and she wanted so much to be able to find some quiet place to kiss him again.

“I forgive you, Julian.”

“You can’t. I haven’t even offered an apology. That’s not the way it’s done.”

“Do you think to tell me what I can and cannot do, my lord, because I should warn you, that would be foolish.”

He chuckled and shook his head.

“I have been tormented over this since I realized. Do you know how deeply sorry I am for hurting you as I did?”

“I think I do. I’m glad I know what really happened. To know that you didn’t laugh to be cruel. Letting go of this anger has been the best thing for me. I feel so light and free. I’m ready to live again without fear.”

“You deserve nothing less. You are amazing. Though a horrid dancer—you weren’t wrong about that.”