Chapter 21 #2
“We are,” he said, as joy rushed over her like a flood. “And soon, we shall be man and wife, and I will never have to be parted from her again.”
“Eleanor?”
She turned, just as her father walked into the room.
“Good evening, father. Are you ready to take your leave? The ball will be an excellent one, I am sure.” Fortunately for her, Lord Hereford had not asked a single thing about her absence from the house that afternoon.
Her aunt, who had been more of an ally to Eleanor than she had ever anticipated, had simply stated she wished to take Eleanor and Catherine for a drive about town, and thus, he had presumed all was well.
“Yes, I am ready.” He cleared his throat, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked straight at her, not making any move to leave. “However, there is something I should like to discuss with you first.”
A tightness came into her stomach. “Oh?”
“You have not yet announced to anyone that you are engaged?”
She shook her head, worry beginning to settle into her veins.
“Your Lord Finchley has not said anything either, which is good. I did tell him he was not to speak of it until I had determined whether or not he would be truly suitable. If he were not, then I would have removed my permission from him, and you would no longer be engaged.”
Eleanor swallowed thickly, clasping her hands in front of her and reminding herself that even if her father did not grant her permission to wed Lord Finchley, they would simply elope and be wed that way.
There would be a great scandal to follow, of course, but she cared nothing for that.
She would not permit herself to be wed to anyone but him!
“Your aunt had a few sharp words to offer me this afternoon, once she returned you from your drive,” Lord Hereford admitted, surprising Eleanor.
“I did tell her that she was not to speak about it any longer, but I am afraid she did not listen.” His lips quirked as he looked away.
“Your mother is very similar, so I should have expected it.”
“Might I ask what she said?” Eleanor asked, hearing the tremor in her voice. Lord Hereford looked back at her and then smiled ruefully.
“She stated that I was being more than a little arrogant and because of that, I was not treating you with kindness or consideration,” he said, as Eleanor’s eyebrows rose.
“As much as I did not want to admit it, I was forced to see that she had good reason for saying such a thing.” With a frown pulling at his forehead, he looked away from her again.
“I do not like to admit this, Eleanor, but I was quite determined to have my own way. As much as I had asked your aunt to take on the responsibility for chaperoning you, I had always thought that I would be the one to settle you with your future husband. When Lord Ashworth came to speak with me, I was quite certain that he was the right gentleman for you.” Finally, his gaze returned to her.
“It was my own arrogance and pride that had me so irritated with your intention to accept another. Even when it was shown to me that Lord Finchley’s title was greater than that of Lord Ashworth, his standing higher and his overall situation better for you, I was all the more determined to have my own decision taken forward.
That was wrong of me, Eleanor. I should not have been so arrogant.
” He winced as Eleanor clasped her hands at her heart, tears in her eyes.
“I did not have the same determination to eke out every bit of information I could about Lord Ashworth as I did for Lord Finchley.” He put out his hands on either side.
“I am trying to find the right words to tell you that I am sorry, Eleanor. I should have been a lot more considerate and a good deal less prideful. Your mother and I will be delighted to see you wed Lord Finchley.”
Eleanor’s breath caught in her chest as she took a tentative step nearer to her father. “Then – then are you saying we can reveal our engagement to everyone?”
Her father nodded, a smile settling across his face that threw a fresh happiness into his eyes. “Yes, my dear Eleanor. You can tell whomever you wish. Indeed, I have already written to your mother with the news!”
Overcome with joy and relief, Eleanor threw her arms around her father’s neck and cried happy tears as he patted her back gently.
Her father did not know about the many days she had cried in despair over her believed foolishness, nor did he know of the trouble that had been in these last few weeks as they had fought to find their happy future.
Now, all the difficulty had come to an end, and Eleanor had never felt so much relief.
“Now, now, wipe your eyes, my dear, else we shall have you at the ball looking as if you despair over your engagement!”
Eleanor let out a quiet laugh, pulling out her handkerchief as she dabbed at her eyes. “I do not want that,” she said as her father smiled at her. “I am more than a little eager to make my way there now. Can we take our leave?”
“At once,” he promised her, walking to the door. “And we will find Lord Finchley the moment we step inside, I promise you.”