Chapter 14
“Itell you, Preston, I am not at all certain what I ought to do!”
His brother shrugged his shoulders as they sat in Whites. “If I were you, I would simply marry her.”
Rupert blinked rapidly, then frowned at his brother. “You and I are not speaking in the same terms, I do not think.”
“No?”
“No,” Rupert replied emphatically. “I speak of the matter at hand. You speak of – ” Glancing around, he lowered his voice. “You speak of Lady Eleanor.”
Lord Preston grinned. “I do indeed. I understand why you seek to hold yourself back, but I can assure you that, to continue to do so, will bring you nothing but pain and regret.”
Reaching for his whiskey, Rupert took a small sip of the fiery liquid. “You know that I do this for her best interest, and yet you criticize me for it?”
“Oh, I do not criticize,” Preston replied, with his grin still firmly fixed in place, “but I do state the truth, do I not? You will be quite miserable – for the rest of your days, I am sure – if you do not marry her.”
“You know I cannot.”
With a shake of his head, his brother looked away, out across the room at Whites.
“My dear brother, you do well to think of her honor and respectability, but let me ask you something.” Tilting his head, he returned his attention to Rupert.
“Do you think that she will be in any way contented with the likes of Lord Ashworth?”
“Lord Ashworth?” Rupert nearly spat the word out of his mouth, grimacing as he did so. “Lord Ashworth could garner the attention of any young lady he wished; he does not have to focus upon Eleanor.”
“And yet he is, given that he danced the waltz with her again last evening.”
Rupert, who had not known such a thing had taken place, scowled.
“She does not want Lord Ashworth’s interest, as you well know,” his brother continued, albeit with more gentleness this time. “Nor does she want his marriage proposal. The only person she cares about is you. Why would you turn from that?”
Throwing back the rest of his drink, Rupert slammed the glass down on the table. “You know very well why!”
“Because of the censure that might follow?” Lord Preston leaned forward in his chair, his smile gone now.
“Let me ask you this, then. Do you truly think that both you and Lady Eleanor will be happy set apart from each other, but without any whispers surrounding either of you? Or would there be greater and better happiness if you were to be together but allowed the potential gossip to do what it will?”
It was not a question that Rupert appreciated. He knew very well that he would be much happier indeed if he could have Eleanor by his side, as his wife, but at the same time, he was eager to protect her from the severe damage that gossip could do to a lady. “I must think of every possibility.”
“But you could be very happy at your estate!” Lord Preston exclaimed, as Rupert hushed him quickly. “The two of you, alone together… is that not a wonderful future even in and of itself?”
Rupert had to admit that it was, but he did not share his thoughts with Preston. He could not, not when he was confused and troubled in so many ways. “I want only to protect her as best I can.”
“She and Lady Catherine did very well last evening,” Lord Preston admitted, with a smile. “You thought well of it all?”
“I did, even if my heart wished she had not taken such a risk.” Rupert finished his whisky and then snapped his fingers for another. “If I had – ”
“Pardon me, Lord Finchley. This was set upon our table, but it is for you, I think.”
Rupert looked up at Lord Chamberlain, shock slamming him hard in the chest at the note the gentleman held out in his hand. “Lord Chamberlain, I thank you. Did you see - ?”
“I do not know where it came from, I confess!” Lord Chamberlain swayed lightly on his feet, a slightly dulled grin on his face. “Forgive me, it was not I who noticed it, but Lord Guthrie, and since I am acquainted with you, I volunteered to walk the long stretch to bring it to you!”
Getting to his feet, Rupert looked across the room. “Where are you seated, Lord Chamberlain?”
“Oh, through in the adjoining room.” Lord Chamberlain waved a hand in Rupert’s direction.
“You need not accompany me, I am quite well able to walk on my own. I have not had enough liquor as yet to make me stumble!” This, said with a loud and grating laugh, was enough to make Rupert grimace.
Lord Chamberlain moved away slowly, and Rupert sat back down, the note in his hand burning his skin.
“That did not take long,” Lord Preston muttered, as the footman brought over two more drinks. “The ball was only earlier this evening!”
“Whoever this is, they are clearly upset that they did not get the money,” Rupert muttered, unfolding the note and then glancing over his shoulder. “Preston, might you look about us as I read this? I want to know if anyone is taking a particular interest in what I am doing.”
His brother nodded and began to look about him whilst Rupert focused solely on the note in his hand. The lines were short and brief, displaying both anger and a determination to take what he felt was owed him.
‘My man was interrupted this evening by two ridiculous ladies. The money is still demanded, however for I will not be set aside from my path. You will leave it in a hackney set just outside Whites and will not follow it to its destination. Your brother needs to stand with you, for I will not have him skulking in the shadows. The driver is named Matthew. Go. Now.’
“Now?” Preston repeated as Rupert finished reading the note aloud. “The hackney is waiting now?”
“It appears to be. Whoever wrote this knew that both you and I were in Whites. They also know that my thought would be to send you after the hackney, which is why we have both been instructed to wait by the road for it to depart.”
“And if we do not?”
Rupert winced ruefully. “I think you can imagine, brother.”
Lord Preston scowled, anger burning in his eyes. “I do not like this, Finchley.”
“Nor do I, but what can we do?” With a resigned sigh, Rupert got to his feet and walked to the door, the money bag in his hand.
He had taken it with him to Whites for safekeeping, having not expected to receive any sort of note!
Glancing around him, he looked to his brother.
“Did you see anyone looking over as I read the note?”
His brother shook his head. “No, I did not. That does not mean that there is not someone here responsible, however.”
“Indeed, it does not,” Rupert agreed, as they stepped outside. “But we are not to know them. Not today, at least.”
There she is.
Rupert could not help but sigh at the beauty that was Lady Eleanor. It was the height of the fashionable hour, and whilst he did not particularly enjoy being out in the vast crowd of people, to see Lady Eleanor present made it all worthwhile.
The two of you, alone together… is that not a wonderful future even in and of itself?
His brother’s words came back to him as he took her in, seeing the laughter in her eyes as she spoke to Lady Catherine.
Could it be that he had been wrong to state that he would not come near to her until this threat had been resolved?
Could it be that, even if all were to come to light, they might still be happy?
The smile on his face and the happiness in his heart both began to fade as he saw another gentleman approach her.
The laughter on Lady Eleanor’s face died away also as she bobbed a quick curtsy, making it quite clear that she did not appreciate the gentleman’s presence.
That in itself was a comfort to Rupert, but at the same time, he reminded himself that the gentleman now speaking with her – Lord Ashworth, if he remembered correctly – might very well be her future if he chose not to step in.
“Good afternoon, Lady Catherine, Lady Eleanor.” Rupert, having had no intention of marching forward, found himself doing that very thing as he greeted the two ladies.
“And Lord Ashworth, is it not? Good afternoon to you also.” When Lord Ashworth bowed but then opened his mouth, Rupert continued speaking before the fellow could do so.
“Might I be very bold and ask you both if you would accompany me for a stroll around the park? Lord Ashworth, you will think me very rude indeed, but a gentleman must take his opportunities as they present themselves, must he not?”
Lady Eleanor’s eyes brightened as her lips quirked. “How very forward of you, Lord Finchley.”
“Yes, indeed it is!” Lord Ashworth lifted his chin. “I do not think – ”
“But of course, we shall oblige you,” she continued, taking his arm at once as Lady Catherine took the other. “Do excuse us, Lord Ashworth.”
Rupert walked quickly away from Lord Ashworth, a lady on each arm, and both of them giggling as he walked. He could not help but grin, fully aware that he had not done right but Lord Ashworth and had behaved very rudely indeed, but he did not care.
“I must hope that you are a gentleman of good character, Lord Finchley.”
Stopping short, Rupert looked over his shoulder, only to see Lady Cumbria following after them. His face grew hot as he released both Lady Eleanor and Lady Catherine’s arms, inclining his head as she drew near.
“I am always standing near to my daughter and my niece,” Lady Cumbria continued, her voice stern as if she were berating a child. “That was the height of rudeness, Lord Finchley.”
He took in a breath, set his shoulders, and looked straight back into Lady Cumbria’s eyes. “Yes, it was. I apologize for it, but I do not regret it.”
In an instant, Lady Cumbria’s expression softened.
“I strive to have an excellent character, Lady Cumbria, but there are times when that fails me,” he continued, as Lady Eleanor looked beseechingly back at her aunt.
“I do hope that you will forgive me, but also that you will understand that my reasons for being as forward as that are solely because of my interest in your niece.”