Fenella J Miller Read online

  The child’s face fell. “What shall I give them? I do not believe I have enough toys in the nursery for everyone.”

  “No, my dear, you misunderstand me. Your papa and I shall organize the gifts for them.”

  By the time the children had gone upstairs for tea, Eleanor had all the information she required. Their father, in her opinion, was not taking sufficient interest, but perhaps on the day he would feel differently. They were to dine together tonight, and her new golden silk dinner gown was waiting on the rail.

  Sally greeted her with a cheery smile. “I was about to send out a search party, my lady. It’s only twenty minutes before you’re due downstairs.”

  “That is ample time. I’m looking forward to wearing this ensemble. I was so pleased the first of my garments arrived this morning. I shall be able to dress appropriately for the first time tonight. I’ve never had so many beautiful gowns in my entire life and it seems a shame not to start wearing them.”

  She wasn’t sure how she would manage the demi-train; Sally had shown her how the ribbon slipped over her wrist to keep the material from under her feet.

  “I am not sure even with the extra boning, Sally, that this dress is entirely right. Such a low neckline is meant for someone with more curves than I have.”

  “You look a picture, my lady. I doubt anyone at Tendring Manor would recognize you now.”

  This encouragement was enough to give her the confidence to glide down the stairs. She nodded to the footman on guard in the vast entrance hall. On walking into the drawing-room, she was surprised to find her husband absent. The previous occasions when they had dined together, he had been waiting for her. Was he brooding about the party next week? She walked to the window which faced the lake.

  Good gracious! What was he doing out there staring across the water?

  Without a moment’s hesitation she ran along the corridor and out through the door at the far side of the house. She was wearing evening slippers, and this was a new gown which could be ruined by her foolishness. Such things meant little to her. She was breathless by the time she was in hailing distance of the figure beside the lake.

  He heard her approaching. He turned when she was still a few yards away. For a moment he stared at her as if seeing her for the first time. His eyes were dark. The lines on either side of his mouth seemed more deeply etched than usual. To her amazement, his expression changed. His eyes were lit by something she didn’t understand; his smile stopped her dead in her tracks.

  “My dear, whatever are you doing out here? I should have joined you presently.”

  His voice was strangely husky. She wanted to say something, to move toward him, but her feet remained firmly planted in the grass.

  He closed the gap, holding out his hands. She didn’t want to take them, but her hands moved of their own volition. The warmth of his fingers sent shock waves up her arms. Why was he looking at her so strangely? Why were his eyes glittering with an odd light? Inexorably, she was drawn closer to him. His heat pulsed towards her, his distinctive lemon scent filling her nostrils.

  What was he doing?

  “Eleanor, look at me. I want to see your face.”

  She couldn’t help herself. Her head tilted and she was staring into his eyes. Holding her with one arm around her waist, he cupped her face with his other hand. His fingers traced the outline of her lips and she trembled.

  Things were changing between them. She was rapidly losing control of the situation. Her hand rested on his chest which was burning. She wanted to protest, to demand to be set free, but instead her other hand moved to his shoulder. His evening jacket was rough beneath her fingers. She slid her hand up, wanting to touch his skin as he was touching hers.

  The arm around her waist tightened. She was lifted. Her feet dangled. Then without warning, his mouth pressed against hers. Her world rocked. Nothing in her life had prepared her for the exquisite sensation of a man’s lips upon her own. Her head spun and heat pooled in the core of her being. Her hands entangled in the hair at the base of his neck.

  His mouth brushed gently across hers, the kiss light. She wanted more, something other than this gentleness. Her lips parted and she returned the pressure. His arms tightened, crushing her against his chest. His hand caught the back of her head, holding her still. His lips became more demanding, the tip of his tongue outlining the contours of her mouth. This intimacy was too much. Panic swamped her passion and she began to struggle. Her hands pummelled his chest and she closed her mouth, forcing her head backwards.

  “Put me down at once! This was not part of our bargain. I have no wish to be treated in this way.”

  His colour was hectic, his eyes, no longer blue, but almost black. His hold relaxed and she was set down. Immediately she spun away, her breath rasping in her throat, her distress painfully apparent. Instead of leaving her to recover, a warm hand rested lightly on her shoulder. She flinched, but it was not removed.

  “Come, my dear, you must not distress yourself. You’re my wife. Whatever we agreed at the outset, surely sharing a moment of intimacy together is a good thing?”

  She stepped away from him. “Are you saying, sir, that you wish to make this a true marriage? That I am to be…” Her cheeks burned a second time.

  “If you do not wish me to make love to you, my dear, you should not appear dressed as you are. I had no idea you were such a desirable woman. What a difference a new gown can make.”

  How dare he talk to her as if she was of no account? As if clothing was all that mattered, not who was inside the fine garments. Her embarrassment was replaced by righteous indignation.

  “I have no wish to share my bed with you, my lord. Neither have I any wish to repeat this experience. I came out because I was concerned that you might be unwell. I was sadly mistaken—”

  His shout of laughter sent the moorhens diving for cover. “God’s teeth! You thought I was about to throw myself into the water?”

  Eleanor was about to deny this, but it had indeed been what she had feared. He had looked so desolate when he had left her earlier in the day. “Of course I did not. I no longer wish to discuss this. I have ruined my new gown for nothing.”

  His eyes crinkled at the corners; she was being laughed at. “I’m sure you will have others arriving very soon, my dear. Your gown is far from ruined, a little grass around the hem will soon brush off. Having given any staff in this vicinity an entertaining spectacle, might I suggest we go in for our dinner? The meal will be beyond saving if we linger out here much longer.”

  He took her hand and pushed it through his crooked arm, making sure she was unable to remove it. Reminded that they were in full view of anyone who cared to look from the windows, she decided to go in without protest.

  “The weather has been surprisingly warm today, let us hope it continues this way until the party.”

  “I have no wish to discuss the weather. In fact I have no wish to talk to do you at all.” She sounded churlish and his chuckle only added to her annoyance. Sydney waited to greet them when they reappeared in the hall.

  “Dinner is served, my lord, my lady”

  Alex bent and whispered in her ear. “Now we are in his bad books, my dear. No one ever keeps dinner waiting.”

  Eleanor couldn’t help herself; she pressed her free hand across her mouth trying to hold back her giggles. They were escorted frostily to the dining room where two footmen jumped forward. As usual, they were seated at either end of the vast table which made conversation all but impossible.

  “This will not do, Sydney. I am heartily sick of being obliged to shout if I wish to speak to Lady Bentley. Lay a place at the other end. Do it now.”

  He stalked around the room and waited imperiously whilst a nervous footman pulled out his chair. He looked so autocratic, so fierce, but then he caught her eye and winked before resuming his glare. She had to snatch a napkin in order to bury her face and hoped Sydney believed she was suffering from a fit of coughing. Alex was difficult to resist when he wa
s being playful and charming.

  Before the meal drew to its close, she knew she was in danger of becoming emotionally entangled with her husband. Foster had told her he had a chere amie in London. High time he returned to his mistress. She had no wish to be used as a substitute. Unless Alex was in love with her, she would remain celibate. As this would never happen she was resigned to life as his companion only.

  Two weeks after Eleanor’s defection, Jane was still locking the communicating door between their rooms. Edward could hardly kick it open in someone else’s house. Things would be different when they returned to the marital home. There her screams of protest would go unremarked. The servants had been handpicked by him. All were loyal to him and would do his bidding regardless of how unpleasant the duties might be.

  He was to travel back to London with a crony of Haverstock’s. He had arranged this lift by being at his most charming and the poor fellow had been obliged to agree.

  Thankfully there were no mewling brats to spoil the journey. Sir Anthony Deaver and his wife were in their middle years, their progeny departed for lives of their own.

  He smiled across at Lady Deaver and she simpered. “I must thank you again, my lady, for allowing me to intrude on this journey. I have urgent business in town and did not wish to discommode my dear wife and our children by dragging them there.”

  “How kind of you, Lord Thorrington. Your wife must much appreciate your consideration in these matters.”

  “Indeed she does; we are the most devoted couple. I cannot wait to return in order to spend time at home with her. My boys are leaving for school very soon. I wish to be there to escort them.”

  She simpered again. “How thoughtful. How thoughtful it is of him, is it not, Sir Anthony?”

  Her husband grunted; he was already more asleep than not. The journey was going to be tedious in the extreme, but the carriage was comfortable and no doubt the overnight accommodation would be excellent. His man, Hudson, was on the box, keeping an eye on the trunks.

  He settled back, closing his eyes in pretence of sleep. This would stop the wretched woman from talking to him. His head was churning. He had received an urgent summons from his lawyers. He ground his teeth. Why must he go to them each time? He had no choice for without their co-operation he would not have access to Eleanor’s inheritance.

  The next quarter’s rents were due in less than a month, thank God. He would then be solvent and have no need to go cap in hand to the black crows who controlled the trust fund.

  Odd how the children had managed to remain all but invisible these past few weeks. Something was not right; whenever he appeared in their vicinity they melted away. Unless he had been prepared to tramp up to the attics to see them, which he was not, he had been denied their company.

  In the weeks since Eleanor had run away there had been a change in the way things were. It was as if the ground beneath his feet was beginning to crumble, his unassailable position of authority somehow pushed off balance by this unexpected defiance.

  He had decided to let Eleanor settle in to her employment for a while. If he had left before the end of the appointed time at Bridgeton Abbey there would have been comment. This was the last thing he wished. There was no danger for now. She would not be five and twenty until February next year; then she got control of her money. She was a plain woman, as thin as a rail, her eyes dull and her hair worse. How could someone like this attract a man of Bentley’s inclination?

  He had made judicious enquiries amongst the guests and learnt, to his satisfaction, that Bentley kept a mistress in town. She was the relic of a very wealthy banker, and although unsuitable to marry into the nobility was ideal in the role she had chosen to play.

  From what he had heard, Bentley had vowed never to remarry. He was still mourning his first wife. If the man satisfied his carnal desires with his mistress, what possible reason could he have to marry again? He had the required heir, so the need to procreate did not arise.

  No, he was worrying unnecessarily. When he had concluded the business with the lawyers he would travel incognito to Suffolk and find out how things stood for himself. Eleanor could stay where she was for a few weeks, but, my God, she would be back under his control long before February.

  His man of affairs, Johnson, who was privy to everything he did, was already on his way to Blakeley. This was a small village not far from the market town of Ipswich. There he was to meet with his man. When the time came, together they would plan his strategy and set in motion what was needed to remove his sister.

  The following morning he marched into Messrs Thomas & Puxton in Bond Street and was shown immediately to the senior lawyer’s room. This charlatan was the son of the lawyer who had dealt with his family’s affairs for years. The man was about his own age, and although punctilious and polite, did not treat him with the deference he deserved.

  A stooped clerk rushed to fetch him a chair. Puxton bowed. “Pray be seated, my lord. I am glad you were able to visit so promptly.”

  The man was definitely gloating. “Get on with it, man. I have not got all day to sit here.”

  “I have heard from Lord Bentley’s lawyers. I’m sure you know the reason for this communication.”

  Why in the devil’s name did Bentley’s legal team wish to contact…? There could be only be one reason. It couldn’t be true. A weight settled on his chest. He had difficulty asking the question. “He has married Lady Eleanor?”

  “Did you not know this, my lord? I’m sorry if this information is a surprise to you.” The lawyer glanced down at the paper in front of him. “They were married on August seventh at Bridgeton Abbey, the domicile of Lord and Lady Haverstock, in Hertfordshire.”

  There was a rushing noise in his ears. His head spun. The bitch had married Lord Bentley before she left. He had been told a fabrication. Everyone had been laughing at him behind his back. Bile rose in his throat and an overwhelming rage consumed him.

  “If you would sign here, Lord Thorrington; and please place your initials at the bottom of these other pages.”

  Edward scrawled his name with a flourish; it would not do to let the lawyer know exactly how he felt about this matter. Bentley had insisted he sign over Eleanor’s trust fund and he had no choice but to concur. In return his four children had received a sum of ten thousand pounds each to be held in trust by the lawyers until they were of age. The interest was to be added to the account; the money was unavailable to him.

  “Was there anything else?”

  “No, my lord.” The man folded the duplicate document, fussily tied pink ribbon around it, and handed it to him. “This is an excellent match. I’m sure you must be delighted to see her so well settled, my lord.”

  Edward ground his teeth. “I am indeed, sir. She will be sorely missed at Thorrington Manor. She was a second mother to my children.” He stood, bringing an end to the tedious conversation.

  He would spend a pleasant evening in the company of his mistress. Helen was always enraptured by his presence. He had arranged for his carriage to collect him from his town house the next day. It was high time he returned to the bosom of his family. His wife had still not been taught that defying him always led to pain and misery. Eleanor had learned that lesson well.

  London was hot and there was an outbreak of infectious fever in the East End. Would his health be at risk when he travelled through that district in order to return to Essex? His lips curved in a facsimile of a smile.

  There was a possible way he could benefit from this catastrophe. Eleanor was the wife of a wealthy man; if her husband died it was possible the Bentley brats would be placed under his guardianship.

  When that man died she would receive her inheritance intact. He had been surprised to find Bentley had insisted this codicil be added to the settlement, but it suited him very well.

  He would set matters in motion immediately. His man, Hudson, could handle the arrangements for him.

  In a better humour, he arrived at the small house near the river
where Helen resided. Whilst there he could forget his worries; his mistress didn’t question his judgement or go out of her way to anger him. It was getting dark when he finally left her bed, determined to complete the task his wife had set him.

  “My lord, must you leave so soon?” She stretched out a soft, plump arm and smiled enticingly. He was spent. Making love to her three times in as many hours was an exhausting business.

  “I’m not coming back to bed; I’m supposed to be seeking out a governess for the children.” But Helen was very persuasive and he didn’t leave her apartment until the following morning.

  On arriving at Tendring Manor his wife greeted him softly. “My lord, I’m pleased to see you home. Are you well? I…”

  “Well enough.” He pushed past her and strode into the drawing-room. As soon as she was through the door he slammed it.

  “My lord, I do most humbly beg your forgiveness for my defiance. I can’t think what possessed me.”

  “I will not be disobeyed. Is that quite clear?”

  She cowered against the door. He raised his hand and struck her across the face.

  She slid to the floor, blood trickling from her split lip. He bent down. “I said. Is that quite clear?”

  She nodded and tears mixed with the blood on her cheeks. A pathetic sight. “Enough, Jane. I forgive you. Get up, I have good news for you.”

  He turned his back whilst she struggled to regain her feet. “I spoke to a friend of mine at my club and he has recommended someone for the position of governess. Her name is Smithson. I have seen the woman’s references and appointed her. I hope that is in order?”

  “Thank you, my lord. I’m sure she will be exactly what we want for the children. When it she to arrive?”

  “Two days from now. Make sure the accommodation is prepared and the children ready to receive her.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Alex was making a particular effort to be charming and pleasant. He appeared in the schoolroom to join in the morning’s lessons, played cricket in the afternoon, and promised that he would begin teaching Alexander and the girls to ride as soon as he had purchased suitable mounts for them.