The Dowry of Lady Eliza by Anita Stansfield

Author:Anita Stansfield
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: regency;regency romance;romance;proper romance;sweet romance;clean romance;murder;marriage;wedding;London;facade;trials;friendship;love
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2020-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

THE ART OF CONVERSATION

Eliza was glad that Mia didn’t bring up the sensitive conversation they’d shared about Matthias, especially when she felt more determined than ever to remove any possibility of marriage from her future. And her determination was solid and firm until Sunday came and she saw Matthias at church. They had only a moment to exchange greetings before the service began, but that was all it took for Eliza to feel as if just being in the same vicinity as this man might make her melt into a puddle on the floor. There was nothing in his behavior or even his countenance that might betray the feelings he’d confessed to her, but now that Eliza knew the truth, she could see it in his eyes, which made her especially glad that they were able to sit down and face the front of the chapel so she didn’t have to look at him at all. And she managed to carefully steer Mia to be seated between herself and Matthias; she didn’t think she could bear to sit right next to him. The battle taking place between her heart and her head had taken her completely off guard; she didn’t need any encouragement of her attraction to Matthias making matters worse. She intended to do exactly as he’d suggested: ignore what he’d told her, and her own feelings along with it. She simply hadn’t anticipated that it would be so difficult. But she refused to allow her fanciful notions and irrational emotions to lure her into a situation that might very well compromise her security—and that of her sister. While Eliza hardly heard a word of the vicar’s sermon and barely managed to sing the hymns, she reminded herself that she’d given Matthias no indication that she felt any attraction to him; therefore, she only needed to go forward maintaining that façade, and nothing at all would come of any of this. She would surely adjust to being able to spend time with him and not be so affected.

When the service ended, Eliza commanded her countenance to portray nothing but kind indifference as she smiled at Matthias and said, “I assume we will see you for tea as usual.”

“As long as I’m still welcome, it would be my pleasure,” he said, glancing back and forth between Eliza and Mia, and Eliza wondered if her sister noticed the mild trepidation in his eyes. Did he think that his confession would see him dismissed from their social gatherings? And did he wonder if Eliza had told Mia the truth? Or it was possible he had picked up on Mia’s subtle lack of trust, even if she tended to vacillate back and forth on that matter.

Eliza hurried to try and put him at ease. “You are always welcome, Matthias.”

“Your company is most pleasant,” Mia added, sounding sincere.

“You are both as kind as ever,” Matthias said before he was distracted by Simon wanting to speak with him.

Despite the countless Sundays Eliza had seen

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