“I like her myself,” Elinor commented without hesitation. “She’s a bit more pious than the rest of us, but that cannot exactly be faulted. Particularly at Christmas. And she has a great deal more sense than a lot of the others.”

“And she is wed to… Mr. Tyson?” Hugh queried, wincing as he asked.

Elinor hummed in pleasure and nodded. “Very good, Mr. Sterling. They have three children, one of which is Phoebe.”

“Ah, my favorite little friend.” He chuckled and looked at Elinor. “She reminds me of you, you know.”

Now it was Elinor who laughed. “Does she? I would have thought Amelia more like me.”

Hugh made a soft sound of consideration. “You may have a point there.”

Elinor jabbed her elbow hard into his side, making him stumble slightly even as his laughter continued.

“You suggested it,” he reminded her. “I only agreed.”

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Impossible man. Not particularly gallant, are you?”

Hugh stopped and took her arm gently, but with enough pressure that she stopped as well. “Is that what you want, Elinor? Gallantry?”

Something in his words sent her heart skittering and swallowing became deuced tricky.

Still, she had to manage something.

“Sincerity,” she half-whispered, meeting his eyes. “I don’t need flattery or gallantry, or even chivalry if it comes down to it, though that would be nice.”

“Find me a puddle,” he murmured as his thumb began to gently rub against her arm. “I’ll lay my coat across it for you.”

That was oddly adorable, and she smiled at it. “There’s no need,” she told him. “After what you said in the drawing room in front of all my family? I have never seen or heard anything so glorious in my life, and I cannot see myself as worthy of it.”

Hugh took a small step closer. “How could you not be?” he asked her, his look becoming something hot and intense.

Her cheeks flamed under such a look. “I raged against you, Hugh,” she breathed, her eyes fixed on his. “I said… so many things. Unspeakable, vile things, all upon you and anyone that associated in the same circles as you. I cannot take any of them back, nor can I change to whom they might have been said. You are trying to restore yourself to a life you can be proud of, and the blame for any difficulties in doing so may be laid squarely at my feet and upon my shoulders.”

“Elinor…”

She shook her head, swallowing hard. “I am so sorry, Hugh. I didn’t know this man lay beneath that one. I was too proud and foolish to look.”