Chapter 10
Roman was on his second tankard of porter as he sat in the common room waiting for Ellis.
He vaguely knew some of the other patrons but hadn’t said more than a few words in passing to any of them whilst he’d been there.
He wondered how much longer Ellis would be and hoped her meeting was going well, whatever she was doing.
A new arrival came down the steps into the common room, and since Roman was relatively close to the vestibule, he made eye contact with the man.
It was Lord Shefford, who everyone called Sheff, and whom Roman had known for some time.
They were the same age and had been at Oxford at the same time but had not attended the same college.
They had, however, been part of a set of rakish young men.
When they’d finished at Oxford, there had been many house parties and hunts and a rather debauched London Season or three.
When Roman reflected back on that time, he didn’t recognize the young man he’d been. He now knew that most of what he’d done had been to try to draw his father’s attention, but nothing he did accomplished that. His father had been far too involved in his own life and troubles.
“Keele,” Sheff said warmly as he came toward the table. “I’m surprised to see you here. I can’t think of the last time you were at the Siren’s Call.”
“I’m surprised to see you here as well,” Roman replied. “Aren’t you about to become a father?”
Sheff nodded. “After the new year. Jo and I will be removing to the country in a few weeks. Shockingly, I’m looking forward to it.”
“To the country or becoming a father?” Roman asked.
“Both, but especially the latter.” Sheff chuckled. “I know what you’re going to say. It’s what everyone says—'what the hell has happened to you?’”
Roman smiled. “Yes, it was some version of that. But I’m glad to see you so happy. You’re completely gone for your wife and the baby you’re expecting, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely,” Sheff confirmed with pride. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
A surprising sense of longing swept through Roman briefly.
First, he’d envied Margot falling in love, and now he was thrown by Sheff’s unadulterated joy.
He shouldn’t be moved by their romantic happiness, not when he’d sworn not to risk love again.
“This is an astounding change from the young rogue with whom I caused havoc after Oxford.”
Whilst Roman’s behavior had been less than exemplary, Sheff and Banemore had been the worst of their set.
To see Sheff now, besotted and eager to be a father, was proof that people could change—or perhaps that one should be open to the unexpected.
“If you’re so eager to be in the country, why not leave now? Is there anything keeping you here?”
Sheff lifted his shoulder. “There’s some family strife at the moment. Jo and Min don’t want to leave London right now. It’s to do with my sister’s former companion.” He waved his hand. “Doesn’t matter. None of that is of interest to you.”
“I’m sorry to hear there’s difficulty. I hope it will be resolved soon.”
“I don’t know if that can happen. It’s just an unpleasant time. That sounds incredibly cryptic,” Sheff said with a laugh.
“It’s quite all right,” Roman said. “You don’t need to explain. You’ve had a great deal of excitement this year with your marrying, and your sister was recently wed. I imagine your parents are thrilled.”
“My father is,” Sheff replied with a smirk. “Our mother is horribly disappointed that we both married beneath our rank. That we are madly in love and happy is of no consequence.”
Though Sheff spoke rather lightly, Roman heard the underlying anger he held toward his mother. “I can appreciate having a difficult parent,” Roman said in commiseration. He briefly wondered what was worse—having a parent you didn’t like, and perhaps didn’t like you, or having none at all.
Just then, Roman saw Ellis come back into the common room. Her gaze immediately found him but then moved to Sheff. She abruptly angled herself away and put her head down, skirting the edge of the room toward the vestibule. It was clear to Roman that she’d had a reaction to seeing Sheff.
Roman jumped up from his chair. “Forgive me, Sheff. I must be on my way. Sorry I can’t keep you company.”
“It’s all right, I’m here to pick up my wife.” Sheff gestured with his head toward the archway where Ellis had gone and recently returned. “She’s upstairs visiting with her mother.”
Was she?
Ellis was acquainted with Lady Shefford, and Lady Shefford was here.
Furthermore, Ellis had perhaps gone upstairs for whatever business she had here this evening.
Was she simply speaking with the countess about the literary events Inman would oversee at the library?
If so, why wouldn’t she tell Roman the reason for her visit tonight?
There was no reason for her to hide that from him.
Roman bid Sheff good evening then hastened to join Ellis in the vestibule. She was already stepping outside. As Roman caught up with her on the pavement, he looked down the street and saw his coach. He waved his hand at the coachman.
“Are you all right?” Roman asked.
“I’m fine.” She didn’t sound fine. She sounded tense, and her shoulders were hunched up.
“Did you recognize the man I was speaking with?” Roman asked casually as the coach pulled toward them.
She glanced at him. “No.”
Though he was still coming to know her well, Roman didn’t think she was telling the truth. He recalled what Sheff had said about there being trouble in his family to do with his sister’s former companion.
Former companion.
Before Roman had agreed to marry Clarissa, he’d been hunting for an heiress.
He’d considered making a play for Lady Minerva and her sizable dowry but decided he didn’t want a marriage of convenience with his friend’s sister.
Still, he’d danced with her a time or two at a ball, and he recalled that she’d had a companion.
Roman summoned whatever memories he could find of the elusive figure and remembered the woman was tall and blonde.
He didn’t think they’d ever spoken, but her name suddenly leapt into his mind: Miss Dangerfield.
She’d lived in the Henlow household since childhood, if he was remembering correctly, and for several years, there were rumors that she was actually the duke’s by-blow.
What had happened to the companion now that Lady Minerva was married? Was that why she was a former companion? He couldn’t imagine Lady Minerva, who he’d found to be charming and kind, would simply turn her out. But what was the strife then?
Roman looked at Ellis.
The coach stopped, and the coachman jumped down to open the door. Ellis waited for Roman to move into the coach and glanced back at the door to the club nervously. He could see that she was eager to be away from the club.
“Go ahead,” he said, ushering her into the coach ahead of him.
Ellis sat ramrod straight on the rear-facing seat, her face paler than usual in the light from the lantern. Roman sat down and contemplated her agitated state as they started moving.
“You seem upset,” he said. “If you’d like to unburden yourself, I’d be glad to listen. Or if you’d simply like to sit with me and rest your head on my shoulder, I can provide that too.”
She shifted her gaze to the window. Her jaw was pulled tight as if she were clenching her teeth, perhaps. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her this distraught.
Roman decided to just say what he was thinking.
“I believe you were meeting with Lady Shefford. Sheff was there to fetch her. And who else would you be seeing at the Siren’s Call?
I know you’re acquainted based on what you told Inman earlier.
” He paused before asking the next question, but then he didn’t have to.
She met his gaze, her expression surprisingly flat, given the tension in her body. “You know who I am, don’t you? Did you tell Sheff?”
She was Lady Minerva’s companion. “No, I didn’t tell him. I didn’t puzzle it out until we came outside. I vaguely remember Lady Minerva having a tall blonde companion. I wasn’t entirely certain it was you. But I am now.”
Apprehension darkened her features. “Will you tell Sheff?”
“No. I told you that your secret is safe with me. Knowing who you are now doesn’t change anything. I will keep you safe. Do you trust me?”
“I do.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “Is your shoulder still on offer?”
“Absolutely.” He scooted to the side of his seat, and she moved over to join him.
After briefly making eye contact, she leaned against him and removed her hat before laying her head on his shoulder. Roman would have rather put his arm around her and held her in that position, but he savored this.
“Why do you care about me?” she asked softly.
“I don’t know exactly.” He took her hand and stroked his thumb along the back.
He wished they weren’t wearing gloves. “I sense you’re clinging to something—your pride or your independence.
And I know you’re fighting to survive on your own without assistance.
I wish I knew why, but I still don’t need you to tell me.
” Sheff had said there was strife. Had something happened with Ellis?
He couldn’t see her being the cause of any trouble.
A horrible thought stole into his mind. He was well aware of the Duke of Henlow’s reputation for debauchery, and he knew from Sheff that most of it was true. Fear and fury curled through him. “Are you hiding from them because someone did something to you?” he whispered.
She turned her head and looked up at him. Her blue eyes were the color of the sky as the sun began to set, vibrant and dusky at the same time. “What do you mean?”
“Did the duke…” Roman didn’t want to say it out loud, but he must. “Did Henlow abuse you in any way?”