"A séance?" Colin asks in disbelief as he stares at his eager bride.
"I know, not what I had originally intended when I suggested a gathering, but Margot is eager and I think gaining her approval will help me win over the rest of Nottinghamshire," Eliza replies while tucked onto the settee in the secret room. It was well past midnight and they had taken a break from kissing when Colin's lips traveled down the nape of Eliza's neck, causing her to flush in all of the wrong places. She had pushed the shoulders of her adventurous fiancé away from her and they both knew they had to physically move apart before they took things too far. He checked over her bruised hand and kissed her aching knuckles before she pushed him away again.
Now, Colin stands near the small rectangular window allowing in the sliver of natural light several steps away from his blushing lady.
"Margot is not yet twenty, I do not think you need to seek approval from the youngest Whitman," Colin replies with a frown. Eliza pops up onto her elbow and her navy robe spills open, revealing her cream linen nightgown underneath. She notes Colin's eyes dart away from her chest.
"Miss Whitman is friendly with everyone in town. If she and I were to host, everyone would accept the invite."
"You are going to be a marchioness, everyone would accept the invite to Elsick house because of that alone," Colin says plainly. Eliza lets out a huff, irritated that Colin isn't as eager to jump on the sèance idea as she was. She thought it would be a fun evening since her last adventures out have been cut short.
"Margaret already said she would speak to Lady Dupree to see if the French thespians were still guests here."
Colin shifts his gaze from the moonlit-covered gardens to Eliza's challenging eyes before he asks, "You've already spoken to my aunt? Blimey, why are you seeking my approval then?"
"I wasn't. I was rather telling than asking, hoping you'd commit to being here when I host."
Even in the dim lighting, Eliza catches Colin's smirk. He takes a step toward her as he says, "Are you sure you have not yet met my mother? I worry you have more rebellion in you than she."
"It's not rebellion, it's accepting my duties, my lord. Your mother and aunt wanted me to be more social and educate myself on hosting. That is precisely what I am doing."
"And you are comfortable doing so?" Colin asks with his dark questioning eyebrow arched higher on his forehead.
"Not in the slightest. But that's what Margot and you will be there for. Support. And to ensure Cecilia doesn't gain access to our dining room." Colin lets out a laugh as he crosses back over to Eliza. He drops down next to her as she lays back on the sloped lounger, staring straight into his dark eyes.
"I will be there, my darling. Even if I think summoning the dead is complete hogwash." He gently places a kiss on the tip of her nose and then waits for her permission to plant his lips onto hers. Eliza quickly pulls him into her, losing her hands in his dark, sticky hair. After a few moments of passion, Eliza feels the heat of Colin's hands on her hips and his thumb squeezes her upper thigh before he abruptly pulls away from her.
"This may have been a poor idea," Colin confesses while catching his breath. "It is far harder than I anticipated." The darkness of the room and the flickering of the candles is setting the wrong mood. Eliza feels she can be bold here, seductive, and wanting while leaving the outside world behind. She has to remind herself that what happens in here does have consequences out there.
"What is?" Eliza replies breathlessly.
"Abstaining. I have never wanted a woman more badly than I want you right now," he admits while pushing off the settee.
"Really? More than any woman you've had previously?" Eliza taunts with a squint of her eyes.
"There is a reason I put a ring on your finger. I want you, Eliza Winter. All of you. Forever." He starts pacing while fixing his rumpled shirt. Eliza has been feeling the same desire since he first kissed her in her bedroom in London. Her eagerness has only become stronger since arriving in the country.
"I will admit that declining your advances is becoming...tedious," Eliza admits. "I had no idea urges of this nature could be so time-consuming." She immediately burns from blushing and she's glad Colin's back is to her as she admitted her desires. Although, he instantly turns around and his devilish grin is on display.
"You think about your urges quite frequently do you?" Colin goads as Eliza busies herself by tying her robe shut.
"You consume my mind far more than I'd care to admit. Especially when I should be thinking of far more important things," Eliza snaps, but Colin is still staring at her flustered face with a grin on his.
"I'll gladly admit that many of my thoughts are of you," he says while taking a sly step toward her.
"Thoughts that a sincere gentleman should not be having until married?"
"Unfortunately," he mumbles, thoroughly frustrated. He drops his hands to his waist while Eliza pushes herself into a seated position, trying to tame both of their urges. She releases a sigh before staring at her handsome beau in the candlelight. She never thought she could feel so strongly about a man and her deep feelings overwhelm her. She places a dainty hand on her heart and then quickly moves it to her fraying braided hair. Attempting to play off her sudden wave of emotion by fiddling with her satin ribbon.
"How did it go with the constable in town today?" Eliza asks, forcing them to change subjects. Murder always breaks the spell. Colin sighs and then drops his hands from his waist.
"He wouldn't say who wanted to re-open the investigation into Rose's death, only that there may be new evidence to support it being a homicide rather an accident."
"Oh?" Eliza gasps in surprise. "More than a year after?" Colin nods and then starts to pace again with his chin in his fingers.
"I told them I would offer my support. Although, I don't know how much good it will do. There wasn't an inquisition then, so clearly many thought she simply fell off the shoddy ladder and broke her neck in the fall."
"And this mysterious concerned citizen, why are they questioning the incident now?"
"That is what I intend to find out. I do know, that it was not the Duprees."
Eliza nods, "She seemed genuinely stunned at the sèance that something sinister was even suggested." Her pacing fiancè finally stops wearing down the ancient carpet beneath his slippered feet and says, "Make sure to invite the Duprees and Mr. Hartwig to the next sèance."
Eliza instantly shakes her head, "Cecilia is currently a guest at the Hartwig's. I will not extend an invitation that way in case she assumes she is welcome again as his companion."
"Eliza, my darling, you know he is invited to the ball. It would be unkind to not invite him to your gathering if the rest of the town is planning on attending."
"It wasn't going to be the town, my darling. Mostly just acquaintances of Margot."
"That is the entire town. The Whitmans are the most social family in Nottinghamshire. Your little gathering was always going to be a large one with a Whitman involved," Colin replies as her shoulders slump.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Eliza nervously asks with her long finger touching her chin.
"I guess Lady Eliza Winter is about to host her first social event as a future marchioness." He drops down to kiss her on the forehead, but before she meets his eyes and replies, "I suppose I will need a dashing dress."
"I suppose you will."
