She glared at him. “When you do that, I feel like I’m back in the nursery fighting with Roddy all over again.”

He sobered. “Sorry. I’ve spent too much time with the men on assignment.”

“Lebatu?” Elise asked.

“That and several tours of duty in the Middle East. Sand, flies, and tents will do that to a body. The only fun we had was pranking one another.” Those mischiefs had kept him sane when he had received news of Vanessa’s abandonment and his impending divorce.

A waiter arrived with the second course: a colorful radish and fennel salad topped with pomegranate seeds and honey dressing.

While the others were served, Elise slid her hand into his underneath the table and squeezed. His heart jumped into overdrive at her unexpected support of his time in the sandbox. He shifted toward her, curious why she had taken the initiative. Their eyes connected, and unspoken messages arced between them. Messages of understanding. Messages of . . . attraction.

Lord Ahern cleared his throat. “Lady Elise, would you save me a reel tonight?”

Harry kept his eyes on Elise. “I’m afraid all her dances are taken, Ahern.”

Chapter 20

After supper, the receiving line formed. Greenery and early spring blooms graced the mantel to offset the dark gloom of the paneled entrance hall, where the family flanked a crackling fire. Elise stood on the threshold beside Harry while she mentally girded herself for the next hour of handshakes and polite pleasantries.

“Elise.” Mother waved for her to join the family.

“Protocol awaits,” she groaned for Harry’s ears only. “You’ll be expected to join the queue.”

“I’ll be back shortly; I’m going to pop upstairs and check on Sammy.” Harry let go of her hand. “See you soon.”

Elise took her place just as McFarlane opened the castle door to their first guests. She was grateful her parents had moved the receiving line to beside the fireplace this year. Last year, she and her sisters had almost frozen to death in their formals before the queue had broken up.

“Such an antiquated tradition,” Elise grumbled between her mother and Sophie.

“It’s easier for Mother and Father to guarantee everyone is welcomed this way,” Sophie whispered.

Mother smiled and shook hands with the local MP. When he moved off, Lady Roxbury said through a smile, “With such a huge crowd, your father and I have no other options, Elise. Unless you can come up with a better way of ensuring we greet all our guests?”

Sophie and her mother were right, of course.