Chapter Twelve
Carriages, phaetons, and fashionable barouches lined the street outside the Duke of Lindley’s London home.
It appeared Phin was not the only gentleman who’d decided to call upon the fair Lady Eleanor.
Despite the negative opinion she claimed Society had of her, the young woman was obviously quite popular.
He realized she probably wouldn’t be pleased to see him. She’d made herself clear when it came to his attention and he’d made a promise not to address her again about the necklace.
But he had no choice.
Barnaby was in trouble and Phin couldn’t help his friend unless he knew more about the situation in which he’d gotten entangled.
And that meant learning all he could about the necklace.
If it had once truly belonged to an ancestor of Lady Eleanor, perhaps she knew of some family lore that could be helpful.
He had to try.
The ducal residence was a perfect example of understated wealth and power.
It spoke of a family that did not require ostentation to convince the world of their worth.
Inside the marble hall, fresh flowers filled the air with a subtle perfume.
The muffled sound of voices and the subtle head tilt of a stoic footman directed him toward a set of double doors that opened into a surprisingly large drawing room.
The size of the room was pertinent as half of London’s eligible bachelors appeared to be in attendance.
Despite the crush, Phineas was undaunted.
Stopping the doorman from announcing him with a quick shake of his head, he entered the fray, choosing to skirt around the outer edge of the room rather than attempting to cut through the crowd.
The gentlemen who stood farthest from where the young lady of the house was apparently located milled about in small groups, chatting quietly to each other, awaiting their turn to step up to the front of the pack.
No one seemed to notice him sidling his way along the far wall.
As he got closer, he noted another layer of gentlemen positioned around a lush seating arrangement where every bit of furniture was also full.
Due to the full occupancy of the room, it took him a moment to spot Lady Eleanor. When he did, his chest gave an odd squeeze, stopping his breath for a moment.
She was gorgeous in a coral-colored day gown, simple, yet elegant, with her hair twisted and pinned into a soft and lovely style atop her head.
With barely any effort, she made a regal impression, sitting in a highbacked chair near the grand but unlit fireplace.
Her elbows rested gracefully on the cushioned arms of the chair, but her back was tense and straight, at least seven inches from the back of the chair.
Her knees were pressed together and her linked fingers lay unmoving in her lap as she looked about the room with a lowered chin.
He noted again the resemblance between Lady Eleanor and the princess in the portrait.
Same elegant profile. Same expressive eyes.
Same rose-kissed mouth. But where the image of the long-ago princess had embodied a sense of optimism and delight in the world as she looked forward to her future as a bride, Lady Eleanor appeared…
watchful and resigned. Though she maintained a subtle smile, she was silent and still. And clearly, unbearably uncomfortable.
It wasn’t until that moment that he realized her cousins were also present.
Lady Lydia and Miss Martindale shared a sofa nearby.
The first young lady was engaged in a rather lively debate with three gentlemen.
Though he couldn’t hear the topic under discussion or catch more than a word or two, it appeared that the young lady was the coming out the victor in their three-against-one argument.
Beside her, the bright and undeniably charming Miss Martindale was expertly holding court over the rest of the room.
It appeared the crush of gentlemen callers were all just anxiously awaiting their turn to bask in her effervescent attention.
Though she made obvious attempts to include Eleanor in the conversation, it was not working.
In fact, anytime the focus shifted in her direction, the lady would tense and blush.
He could appreciate Miss Martindale’s efforts, but it was not what her cousin needed.
Watching Eleanor carefully, he noted the way her gaze never settled upon anyone or anything for long, unless it was an undiscernible point on the far wall.
She sat with perfect poise, and posture, but he observed a tautness to the slope of her shoulders and the line of her jaw.
Her bodice rose and fell with calm and steady breaths, as though she spent all her focus on inhaling and exhaling in balanced rhythm.
She was slowly being tortured.
He had no choice but to rescue her.
Pushing away from the wall, he strode forward, crossing boldly behind the sofa where Miss Martindale reigned. Reaching Lady Eleanor’s side, he gave a jaunty bow as the young woman’s dark eyes lifted to his and she stared back at him with tense features and a firmly pressed mouth.
Phin smiled, hoping to set her at ease. “My lady, how pleasant it is to see you again. And on such a lovely day,” he commented casually, recalling her aversion to compliments directed at her appearance.
“Lord Waring,” she replied stiffly. For a moment, it looked like she might say something else, but then her gaze darted about the room and the words seemed to get stuck in her throat.
“I wonder if you might enjoy a walk through the garden I see outside those windows,” he quickly interjected with a tilt of his head toward the other side of the room.
She instinctively glanced in the direction he indicated. Yearning flickered across her face.
Before she could think of a reason to refuse, he added, “I suddenly find myself desperate for some fresh air. Please say you’ll accompany me.”
Though her gaze held a glimmer of sharp suspicion, she gave a short nod and rose to her feet. Her cousins quickly looked up to mark her departure. Phineas gave them each a quick half smile which inspired a scowl from Lady Lydia and subtle twisting smirk from Miss Martindale.
The lady’s brother, however, took a step forward from where he’d been quite literally standing guard near the main entrance to the drawing room.
Phin hadn’t even noticed his presence. Lord Redington’s expression was decidedly displeased as he looked to his sister.
But after that one step, he paused and resumed his prior position, directing a rather forbidding scowl at Phin, who couldn’t help but smile back with a tip of his head.