Turning briefly from him, she glanced around the room to find that the music had stopped.

“I should check on Ellie.” She whispered, embarrassed by the emotions she was experiencing simply by dancing with her employer.

“Elizabeth is in the care of a maid.” Ethan assured, his arm circling her waist once more as he turned her toward the exit and began ushering her out.

She followed diligently, wanting some time, desiring more than anything to spend some more time alone with him as well.

They walked through the halls of the large building in silence until they were standing just outside the front door on the porch.

“It turned out to be a wonderful ball.” She began, breaching the silence.

“It did.” She heard Ethan's deep sigh. “I have been occupied all evening which is why I could not escort you into the ballroom. Forgive me, Miss Riverside.”

She shook her head, appreciative of his explanation and thrilled that he had thought of escorting her into the ball room. “I wasn't expecting an escort and I couldn't come down early because Ellie slept late.”

Silence followed her words for several seconds until she feared he might have left her standing there all alone. Turning around, she was shocked to find him standing right next to her, his gaze fixed on her.

“I apologize for interrupting your time with Lord Ashton.” He whispered softly and she thought she heard a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Was he inquiring about her relationship with Lord Ashton? For she barely even knew the man.

“I thought it rude to reject his offer to dance.” For some reason, she felt obligated to explain.

“Lord Ashton seems to be smitten by you.” Ethan spoke the word like poison.

“I- I had no idea.”

“Then, you have no interest in him?” He asked and she stood, unsure of what was expected of her. She might not have been interested in Lord Ashton but she also knew it was because her interest laid in Ethan and she wasn't sure what Ethan felt for her.

Was he afraid? For a while, her mind wandered to the night they stood on this same porch and he talked of fear —was he afraid of falling for her because his wife left him?

“Forgive me, Miss Riverside, where your interest lies is no business of mine.” He said, turning around suddenly to face the door.

“Lord Williams!” She called and he paused. “You spoke about fear, two weeks ago...” Her voice trailed off. Would he be offended by her question? The last time she had brought up Ellie's mother, he hurled a tea cup at the wall. “What is it you fear, my lord?”

Ethan didn't turn around but she could tell that he was contemplating her question. She stood watching him and wanting him to confess to feeling something for her —perhaps not love, but something. She wanted him to speak of the thing that brought him to his balcony every day. She wanted it to tell her what it was that made him apologize to her, and what it was that made him ask her on a date to the theater.