Chapter 17 #4
He had liked Mary ever since he had danced with her at his mother's ball and had not stopped thinking about her.
She was not only charming but also sensitive and intelligent.
She was one of the few young ladies who had not desperately tried to attract his attention, and one of the very few with whom he could discuss all the subjects that interested him.
He had also realised, however, that Mary regarded him only as a friend, and he wished to respect that because he knew all too well how uncomfortable it was to be the object of unwanted affection.
"You are mistaken, my dear nephew. We are all ready," Eleanor said as she entered the room with Kitty on her arm.
"Without a doubt, I shall be the envy of every gentleman. I am accompanied not by one beauty, but by three," Christian said with a bow.
"You certainly know how to exaggerate, Lord Blackwood," Mary replied with a smile.
"As punishment for making sport of your cousin, my dear Miss Mary, you shall have to enter the theatre on my arm and endure all the rumours that are certain to follow," Christian replied merrily.
"No, thank you. If I could, I would enter through the back door," Mary replied, horrified. “I couldn’t stand to be the object of all that gossip!”
Mary's comment made everyone laugh. Then Christian offered his arm to his aunt, while Kitty took Mary's, and they set off for the carriage waiting to take them to the theatre.
The Campbells did not have a box because Christian's grandfather had been forced to sell it to pay his gambling debts.
They had tried to buy it back on more than one occasion, but the current owner was not interested in selling.
Consequently, Eleanor knew she had no escape and would have to watch the play from the Rockwells' box, seated beside Marcus.
Marcus paced impatiently through the drawing room of his brother's house.
He rarely touched spirits, yet that evening he had taken a glass of brandy in the hope of calming his restless mind.
He had been courting Eleanor for several weeks, and his patience was nearly exhausted.
He could no longer endure the uncertainty of not knowing whether she would ever give him a chance, or whether she could one day love him again.
There were so many other matters that demanded his attention, not least discovering where their little daughter had been buried.
Yet he knew he could not face any of those trials without Eleanor by his side.
He could not reopen that old wound and confront whatever consequences might follow without Ella's unwavering support.
If she rejected him again, he would return to the Continent to fight, or seek any place that might allow him to forget the man he had once been. He was convinced that a great secret surrounded them both, and that only together could they hope to uncover the truth.
"Uncle, you look remarkably handsome this evening. That uniform becomes you exceedingly well."
Claire looked at her uncle with some concern. He had always been a man of calm and steady temper, yet of late there had been an unusual restlessness about him.
"You are looking very lovely yourself, my dear niece. I believe it is time for us to leave," Marcus replied.
"Uncle, my father and mother have decided to accompany us. Mama declared that it would be the event of the month, and Papa insisted upon coming because he feared she might otherwise contrive to spoil your evening."
Claire spoke with quiet resignation. From a very early age, she had understood that her parents scarcely tolerated one another.
Lord Rockwell soon joined them, and the three conversed pleasantly until Lady Emma at last declared herself ready. They were then able to set out for the theatre.
On their arrival, Marcus was relieved to discover that Eleanor had not yet come.
"Brother, if you would be so good as to escort your family to the box, I shall wait here for Lady Campbell and her party."
"Do not concern yourself. This evening belongs to you and your lady," Lord Rockwell replied warmly.
He loved his younger brother dearly and had suffered greatly from witnessing his unhappiness through so many years.
Marcus was an honourable man, a distinguished soldier, and the best of brothers.
There was very little Lord Rockwell would not willingly do for his sake—even endure his wife's company for a few hours.
The sacrifice appeared a small one, particularly as he intended, within two days, to retire to the country in the company of his mistress for at least a week.
The moment Marcus saw Eleanor descend from her carriage, he hastened forward to offer her his arm and conducted her to his family's box, while Lord Blackwood attended to his cousins.
"I fear it will not be easy to secure a moment alone with our aunt today," Christian said to Mary and Kitty, who immediately agreed. "Still, you need not be concerned. I shall remain at your side throughout the evening."
"Thank you, Lord Blackwood. My sister and I are strangers to this society and scarcely know anyone."
Both Mary and Kitty were grateful for such a thoughtful cousin. During the short time they had known him, they had learned to esteem him greatly.
"You look enchanting this evening, my love. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to have you beside me. If only you could look into my heart, you would understand how entirely it has always belonged to you."
"General, please. I accepted your invitation because I believed you sincerely wished for my friendship. Yet I see that you persist..."
She was unable to finish, for Lord and Lady Matlock, together with Lady Samantha, approached them.
"Good evening, my dear General. You are looking remarkably handsome this evening."
Lady Samantha had begun to suspect that the contest was slipping from her grasp, and she was by no means disposed to surrender it.
Marcus bowed with perfect civility to Lord Matlock, his wife, and Lady Samantha, though he was far from pleased either with her words or with the manner in which she addressed him.
"Lady Campbell, what a pleasure to see you again. You are looking very well. Though, of course, I imagine that gown was the height of fashion in Canada. Here, however, I fear it has been out of fashion for at least two Seasons."
Several ladies within earshot exchanged knowing glances and immediately began whispering among themselves.
"Indeed? Then I must inform my modiste that she ought to renew her designs. Fortunately, Lady Samantha, the matter is of very little consequence to me. Still, I thank you for your concern."
The absurdity of the exchange amused Eleanor more than it offended her, and she could not suppress a smile.
If Lady Samantha imagined that she would descend to such behaviour to secure Marcus's attention, she was greatly mistaken.
She had never acted in such a manner, even in her youth, and was still less inclined to do so now.
Marcus would gladly have spoken in her defence, had she not acquitted herself infinitely better than he could have done.
"If you will excuse us, my brother and his family are waiting for us in our box."
Fortunately, neither Lord Blackwood nor the two sisters had overheard the conversation. They had lingered behind while Christian pointed out the various features of the theatre and explained its arrangement.
Once they had taken their seats and the lights were lowered, Marcus gently took Eleanor's hand in his own.
After only the slightest hesitation, she returned the caress.
From time to time, he raised her hand to his lips and whispered words which no ear but hers was meant to hear.
Eleanor scarcely knew how to contain her happiness.
At that moment, she could not persuade herself that any woman in the theatre was more fortunate than she.
"Are you enjoying the play, my love?" Marcus murmured.
"I confess I have paid very little attention to it, General. There is a gentleman who seems determined to distract me."
"I cannot blame him. Faced with a lady such as yourself, who could be expected to devote his attention to the stage?"
Noticing Lady Emma's repeated attempts to overhear them, they wisely allowed their conversation to cease. Even so, Marcus did not relinquish her hand, and the remainder of the first act passed in the silent happiness of their stolen gestures.
During the interval, Eleanor discussed the play with Mary and Kitty. Having already read the synopsis, she found no difficulty in joining their conversation. Meanwhile, Marcus had gone in search of refreshments.
No sooner had he left the box than Lady Samantha followed him. Meeting him alone upon the staircase, she approached without hesitation.
"Marcus, I wish to speak with you."
Marcus could not help but be surprised by the familiarity with which she addressed him.
"Excuse me, madam, but I do not think..."
"Let us be frank. You are plainly paying your addresses to Lady Campbell. I do not blame you. She is a woman of considerable fortune and, I suppose, tolerably handsome. Yet she is a widow who truly loved her husband."
Lady Samantha watched the effect of her words with undisguised satisfaction.
"It will take you a very long time to persuade her to accept you."
Stepping nearer, she lowered her voice.
"I shall be waiting for you at my house tonight. I assure you that, after a single night with me, you will never desire another woman."
Marcus was deeply offended, yet he did not forget that the person before him was a lady.
"I am sorry, madam, I am very flattered by your attention, and I wish you well, but there is only one woman in whom I have any interest. If you will excuse me."
Before he could leave, Lady Samantha said coldly, "If you prefer a woman who will always compare you with the great love of her life, I shall not prevent you. She will never love you. Remember that, my dear General."