Chapter 19
It had been easy enough for Eleanor to steal out of the house.
Her father would never suspect such a thing, and her lady’s maid, trusted as she was, had promised not to say a single word to anyone, although she had warned Eleanor not to do as she intended.
The air was cool, the sky still overcast as she hurried a short distance down the street, seeing Lord Preston’s waiting carriage.
“My brother will be most relieved to know you are safe,” Lord Preston said, as Eleanor climbed inside, a little surprised to see not one but three gentlemen. “Now, we must hurry. Lord Howerton, Lord Wishart, this is Lady Eleanor. Lady Eleanor, my cousins.”
“I do wish that you would explain to me what the trouble is,” Lord Howerton muttered, his head leaning back against the squabs, his eyes closed. “I do not understand what this is all about.”
Eleanor, who had not been introduced to either fellow before, could only nod and then look out of the window, her hands clasping tightly in her lap.
She did not dare speak into the situation, did not want to say anything that might upset or confuse the two gentlemen. That was for Lord Preston to share.
“As I have told you, Howerton, this is to do with an unfortunate situation,” Lord Preston said, as Lord Howerton opened his eyes and looked at his brother, who, thus far, had remained silent. “A situation that may involve your family.”
“In what way?” Lord Wishart asked, as Eleanor glanced at Lord Preston, seeing him frown. “I do not understand.”
“There is time enough for explanation,” the gentleman replied, quietly. “Please, for the moment, I must beg of you to trust me.”
Lord Wishart nodded, and Lord Howerton closed his eyes again, leaning back and groaning lightly. “I would have much preferred to go home to my bed. I am exhausted, and still you insist on taking me on this ridiculous venture without any explanation!”
“Hush, brother.” Lord Wishart, his voice gentle but firm, filled the carriage.
“Do you not recall that both Lord Preston and Lord Finchley spoke to us of late, wondering whether or not we had someone near to us causing difficulty?” He looked to Lord Preston as Eleanor watched on, her stomach knotting. “It is about that, is it not?”
Lord Preston nodded. “It is.”
“And whilst I am not a part of it directly, I wish very much to marry Lord Finchley,” Eleanor said, speaking clearly and thinking it best to explain her presence here. “We cannot do so until this situation is resolved.”
Lord Wishart’s eyebrows lifted, and Lord Howerton’s eyes opened again. “Then this is more significant than a mere carriage ride at dawn,” Lord Howerton said, sitting up again and frowning at her. “Forgive me for my lack of clarity. I am overtired and – ”
“And now you must do as I ask you,” Lord Preston interrupted, rapping on the roof to stop the carriage. “Come. We must step out, and then you must follow me to the park.”
“Hyde Park?” Lord Wishart asked, sounding surprised. “Why ever are we here at such an hour of the morning?”
Eleanor opened the door of the carriage without hesitation.
“We must discover the truth,” she said, without further explanation.
“We must see it for our own eyes.” Stepping out, she pulled her coat around herself a little more tightly and looked towards the entrance of the park.
As yet, Lord Finchley had not arrived, which gave them time to hide themselves away.
With a nod to Lord Preston, Eleanor hurried forward, ready to find a place where she might not be seen but could see all, hoping that both Lord Howerton and Lord Wishart would soon come to understand all.
I am so cold.
Shivering from where she stood behind a large tree, Eleanor kept her eyes trained on the marble arch that served as the northern entrance of the park.
Thus far, Lord Finchley had set down his bag and then returned to his carriage, which had moved away just as quickly as it had arrived.
Eleanor had watched and waited, wondering if and when he might return, but all the more curious as to who it was that would come for the bag.
She glanced to her right. Lord Preston was standing opposite her, with Lord Wishart and Lord Howerton nearby.
There came the occasional whisper which, Eleanor prayed, would not be overheard by whoever arrived.
This was the only chance they had to secure the situation, and if Lord Howerton or Lord Wishart continued to speak in such a loud whisper, Eleanor was afraid it would all come to naught.
There!
She caught her breath, her hands gripping the tree trunk as she saw the arrival of a hackney. Someone stepped out and, just as the sun spread its first few rays of light over the park, they stepped forward, bent down, and reached to pick up the bag.
“Emma?”
Without warning, Lord Preston strode forward, his cousin’s name bellowed from his lips.
“Emma, whatever do you think you are doing?”
Eleanor snatched in her breath, hurrying out from behind the tree as the lady in front of them all let out a cry of fright and stumbled back, turning to make for the waiting hackney. Lord Preston called her name again and broke into a run and, much to Eleanor’s relief, caught her by the arm.
“Whatever are you doing here?” Lord Wishart cried, as he too reached his sister with Lord Preston and Eleanor not far behind. “What is the meaning of this, Emma? You are meant to be – ”
“She is meant to be at home, abed.” Lord Preston stepped forward, his brows knotting. “Emma, how could you do such a thing?”
“Do what?” Lord Preston’s eyes narrowed, first at Lord Preston and then at his sister. “Emma, explain yourself!”
“I – I cannot.” The young lady’s eyes were filled with tears, her whole body trembling, but whether or not it was from the fright of being discovered or the anger of being found out, Eleanor could not tell.
“It was Lord Wigton’s doing, I assure you.
I am not at fault! He should be here, he is waiting – ”
“Lord Wigton?” Lord Wishart let out a groan. “How many times do we have to explain to you just how unsuitable a fellow he is?”
“He is more than unsuitable,” Eleanor interjected, with every eye turning to her. “If what you say is true, Miss Gladstone, then he is the one who has been blackmailing Lord Finchley.”
There came not only a gasp of horror from Lord Howerton but a loud exclamation from Lord Wishart. They both turned to look at their sister, but she only dropped her head, refusing to look at them both.
“You say he was meant to be here,” Lord Preston said, coming to stand next to Eleanor as worry filled his voice.
“Lord Wigton, that is. Where was he supposed to be, Emma? My brother has not yet shown himself. I do hope they have not met unexpectedly… and that Lord Wigton has not done anything foolish.”
Eleanor’s stomach twisted sharply, her breath hitching in fright.
She had been expecting Lord Finchley to come to join them at any moment, as had been his intention.
He had said he would drive away in the carriage but would step out shortly thereafter and return to them, as quickly and as quietly as he could.
In the commotion, she had not just how long it had taken for him to return.
“Did Lord Wigton hide himself somewhere, as we did?” she asked, her throat rasping as worry began to dig its claws into her heart.
“You came to collect the coin because he would not, yes?” When the lady nodded, her head still low, Eleanor closed her eyes and drew in a slow breath to quieten her fractious thoughts.
“Was he concerned that this plan might bring about some sort of discovery? If that is so, then it seems to me that he was more than happy for you to be caught, Miss Gladstone!”
The young lady lifted her head sharply, tears on her cheeks. “He was protecting himself because I told him to. I knew this held a good deal of risk.”
Her heart lurched as Eleanor looked back into Miss Gladstone’s eyes, afraid now that Lord Wigton had not only avoided this confrontation but, mayhap, had done something with Lord Finchley also as Lord Preston had suggested. “But he was here, yes?”
Miss Gladstone sniffed. “I was to join him a short distance away, once the money had been taken.”
“No doubt he has run away,” Lord Preston muttered darkly. “Though I fear now – ”
“Where was he meant to be?” Eleanor interrupted, taking a step closer to the lady.
“Lord Finchley is also here somewhere, and if Lord Wigton has discovered his presence as he made his escape… ” She trailed off, unable to say more due to the fear lodged in her throat.
The lady said nothing, looking back at Eleanor with dull eyes, her jaw set in a manner that spoke of defiance and anger.
“We will have to find him,” Lord Preston said, putting his hand on Eleanor’s shoulder. “You should return home, Eleanor. We will deal with this.”
Eleanor shook her head no. There could be no easy return to her father’s townhouse, not when her beloved Lord Finchley was in some sort of danger.
She had to stay with them all, had to know that he was safe.
“I will stay with Miss Gladstone as you search for Lord Finchley,” she said, as Lord Wishart pushed one hand through his hair and began to pace a few steps this way and that, obviously overcome with all that he had learned. “Please, you must find him.”
“I will take her to the carriage,” Lord Howerton stated, as Eleanor nodded. “Thereafter, once we have found Lord Finchley – and I am sure all is well with him – might we all return to the house so you can explain all?” This was directed to Lord Preston, who gave a brisk nod.
“Finding my brother is the first thing to do,” he said, as Lord Howerton, still holding his sister’s arm, turned to lead her to the carriage. “Thereafter, all will become quite clear, I assure you.”
Her heart pounding in her throat, Eleanor unwillingly followed after Lord Howerton and Miss Gladstone. Something had happened to Lord Finchley, she was sure of it. Surely their happiness was not about to be stolen from them now, at the very moment that everything had finally come to light?