Chapter 32
It took every bit of Brice’s incredible self-control to keep his arse on his desk and not go to Eleanor.
Thomas’s question brought forth all of the terrible memories that she’d fought so hard to contain.
Memories that sneaked out only in the deep of night.
Memories he’d been there to hold her through.
When she left, who would console her in the night? Would her family be understanding? Because Lord knew London society would not. If the Hirst family had fled in disgrace, what would happen to Eleanor? Lord, but he despised everything London stood for.
Eleanor’s face had lost all color and her lips were bloodless. As if sensing his anger, she looked at Brice and tried to smile, but it wobbled, then disappeared.
“After Charles was arrested and hanged,” she said, turning back to her brother, “Blackwood offered me his protection. I refused. He arrested me and I was imprisoned.”
Thomas gaped at her. “No. I don’t believe it.”
Brice’s jaw clenched hard and his body tightened in fury. Eleanor shot him a pleading look. He knew she wanted the two of them to get along, but he didn’t see that happening any time soon. Thomas looked at Brice as if he wanted to put a dagger in his heart, and Brice did not trust Thomas.
“It’s the truth,” Eleanor said softly. “The charges of treason against Charles were falsified. But I can’t prove it.
I never even read the charges. When I asked for them, I was told not to worry about it.
At first Blackwood was very kind, but when I refused his protection, he turned mean and desperate. ”
“What sort of protection was he offering?” Thomas asked, his voice choked.
Eleanor gave him a knowing look and Thomas cursed. “He told me he’d met you once or twice. He acted like he hardly knew you at all.”
“He was lying. He kept me as his prisoner for weeks.” She raised her wrists, revealing the scars she tried to keep hidden from everyone.
Thomas stepped forward and took one wrist to examine it. “Oh, Eleanor.” His voice cracked and he blinked. “If we had only known. Father would have moved heaven and earth to find you.”
She pulled her hands away and hid them in the folds of her gown. “I was lucky,” she said, her voice rough with emotion. “I escaped. Almost everyone else didn’t make it out of the prison alive.”
Thomas blinked. “You escaped?”
“I found her,” Brice said. “In the middle of the road, half dead.”
Thomas turned to Brice. He appeared as if he couldn’t take in more than one piece of information at a time.
“She was in bad shape,” Brice said.
“Brice saved my life, Thomas. He brought me here and nursed me back to health.” She looked pointedly at Brice, who understood what she was trying to tell him without words.
She didn’t want her brother to know how bad it had been, that she hadn’t been able to talk, that she’d been more animal than human.
Brice looked at her steadily and nodded imperceptibly.
He pushed away from the desk and walked to a side table, where he poured three glasses of whiskey.
“Eleanor has told me a bit about yer family,” he said as he poured.
“It’s my belief that Blackwood created the false charges against Hirst.” He handed Thomas a glass of whiskey.
Thomas nodded his thanks and took a hefty swallow.
A bit of color returned to his face, but the shock was still in his eyes.
Brice handed Eleanor a glass as well. She smiled at him but didn’t drink.
“Blackwood was promoted to Hirst’s position after his death,” Brice said after a bracing swallow.
“I believe he then went after Eleanor for her family connections.” He pinned Thomas with a look, telling him he was none too impressed with her family’s connections, for they’d only caused grief to Eleanor.
“My God,” Thomas kept saying between sips of whiskey. “I can’t believe this.”
Brice pressed his lips together and sipped his own drink while Eleanor held hers between her hands. “Blackwood has been actively searching for Eleanor since she escaped,” he said.
“Brice has kept me hidden here,” she added.
Thomas turned to Brice. “I can’t even express my family’s thanks, my lord.”
Brice threw back the rest of his whiskey, his anger gaining force. Everything was spinning out of his control, and this helpless feeling swamped him. “It’s Brice,” he said. “And I don’t want yer thanks.”
Thomas looked from Brice to Eleanor and back. Understanding and disapproval darkened his eyes, and he pressed his lips together. Eleanor’s face colored in a fierce blush. Oh, yes, everything was spinning out of control.
“Well, then,” Thomas said, looking down into his glass. “It was fortuitous that we saw each other tonight.”
Brice snorted and poured himself another drink. “Fortuitous, indeed,” he muttered.
Thomas put down his empty glass. “I know you don’t want our thanks, but there has to be something we can do for all of the assistance you gave Eleanor.”
Brice didn’t want to hear any more. He didn’t want the family’s thanks or any token of their appreciation. He wanted Eleanor, but he knew that was impossible from the look on Thomas’s face. Her brother was appreciative of Brice’s care but not enough to allow him to marry her.
“As soon as I rest, we can head back to London,” Thomas said, turning toward Eleanor. “I’m certain you’re eager to get home after all you’ve been through.”
Eleanor looked at Brice. Was that fear in her eyes? Desperation? Or was it sorrow?
“Ye think to take her back home with ye?” Brice asked, valiantly trying to control his anger.
Thomas appeared surprised at the question. “Of course.”
“And what of Blackwood?”
Thomas opened his mouth, then shut it. “I don’t understand.”
Brice pointed to the window. “Blackwood is out there searching for Eleanor. Even if you make it out of Scotland without him knowing it, she’s vulnerable to him.”
“But she’ll be home with us—”
“And ye think that will protect her? It didn’t protect Charles Hirst, did it?”
Thomas paled.
“He’s already proved that he’s willing to kill to get what he wants. He imprisoned Eleanor for weeks in order to break her down. He won’t stop just because she is in the bosom of her family. She knows too much.”
Thomas looked at his sister, then back at Brice. “So what do we do?”
“That’s a good question and one I don’t have an answer for. Now that ye’re missing, Blackwood’s soldiers will be everywhere. No one is safe.”
Eleanor looked at Brice with fear in her eyes. He knew what she was thinking. All of those people out there in those safe houses, the ship that was due to lay anchor in just a few days’ time, none of that could be accomplished now.
She looked out the window. “It’s almost daylight. Why don’t we talk about this after a few hours of rest.”
Thomas ran a hand down his face, looking weary. Brice called for a servant. Cecilia arrived a few minutes later.
“Please show Lord Scarbrough to his room, Cecilia.”
Thomas followed Cecilia to the door of Brice’s solar but turned around before leaving. He looked from Brice to Eleanor, his expression hard. “Eleanor? Are you coming?”
Eleanor looked at Brice with that damn sorrow in her eyes. “Yes, I’m coming,” she said, and walked out the door with her brother.
Brice stood alone in the middle of his solar. Already Eleanor’s life was pulling her away from him, and there was nothing he could do about it.