Embracing Ashberry (26 page)

“It is unlikely your father would think look
here, after seeing the knocker removed from the door. The house
will be closed when we leave, the staff mostly dismissed. We’ll put
her in a room that faces the courtyard and Riley, Winters, and Mrs.
Shannon will do an excellent job of looking after her.” Ashberry’s
logic was infallible. “In addition, she’ll be close to Edward and
John—they’ll be able to see her easily. After all, it is hardly
surprising if I have appointed Charlotte and her husband to check
on the house and staff regularly.”

Ellie nodded slowly, quickly trying to
reason her way into acceptance. “Not surprising at all, actually;
though Sebastian does your business, he can hardly understand the
finer points of household management. I suppose it wouldn’t be
unusual for Charlotte to call on Mrs. Shannon, nor for her husband
to accompany her. Besides, one could always come in through the
kitchens. Banning is very loyal to you—he would never tell.”

Edward nodded. “Then you agree?”

Ellie nodded, though her head was nearly
swimming with grief. She struggled to keep the tears from spilling
out of her eyes and down her cheeks. "If Mama agrees and you both
think there is no better alternative, I have no objections."

Edward nodded. And with a few careful words,
they finalized their plans.

It wasn’t until late that Ashberry came to
Ellie’s boudoir. He expected her to be asleep but instead she sat
by the fire, wrapped in her coverlet and staring at the flames. He
didn’t hesitate but went directly to her, kneeling beside the
chair.

Ellie’s head turned to him, tears still
rolling down her cheeks. “Why didn’t I know before?” she whispered.
“I should have known.”

The agony in her voice was obvious. “No,
Ellie,” he shook his head, his hands cupping her face and caressing
her cheeks with his thumbs. “No, you couldn’t have known.”

She shook her head. “I thought Mama liked
those high-necked gowns she always wears. I, I’m wondering now if
she didn’t wear them to hide, hide, hide any bruises.”

Ashberry stilled. “You think he’s beaten her
before?”

Ellie nodded, turning her head to rub
against Ashberry’s hand. “Yes,” she whispered. “In Austria, she
said she was so stiff and sore from being in the carriage for three
days but I knew she and Papa had been arguing. And then again in
Paris, last year, before we came home. We could hear them
screaming, John and I. John said she wanted to come back to London
but Papa didn’t. I thought he must be wrong because the next day
Papa announced we were coming here. I suppose he was feeling
guilty.”

“As he should have,” Ashberry said. “Ella, I
don’t wish to be cruel or rude, but if he beat your mother, I shall
have great difficulty forgiving him.”

Ellie nodded. “I know,” she whispered. With
a sigh, she turned her head away from his gentle touches and closed
her eyes, resting against the back of the chair. “I couldn’t
sleep.”

Ashberry, after a look toward the bed,
nodded. “I see.” He stood and without a word, lifted her from the
chair and into his arms, coverlet and all. “Perhaps it will be
easier with me beside you,” he murmured.

Ellie said nothing. Her body seemed weak but
her mind and heart hurt from the pain of the early afternoon.
Caroline and Lady Westhouse had come to visit as well and there had
been the farewells when Sebastian, Spencer and Sidney had departed
for their brother and aunt’s, not to mention the last minute
details of closing the house and dismissing the staff. Hiding those
emotions for long hours had been agonizing, fatiguing. Now, utterly
spent, she simply lay close to her husband as he arranged the
blankets around them. Only when he settled beside her did she
whisper, “Thank you.”

“For what?” Ashberry was tired but even now
he cradled his arm around her and laid her head on his shoulder.
The form of her body against him was nearly a perfect match to his,
with her hip resting carefully against his. He wondered achingly
how the following nights would pass, with the two confined to a
small room and then to a smaller bed.

“For taking care of Mama and helping
Edward,” she whispered.

Ashberry, despite himself, chuckled. “My
dear, your brother is a financial genius. If he hasn’t made my
sister’s dowry triple by this time next year, I’d be in shock. In
fact, I’m putting some of my own money into his projects. Edward
doesn’t need my help.”

“Not money,” she murmured sleepily. “With
Mama.”

The marquess twisted his head to kiss her
forehead. “I will not leave any woman, especially your mama to whom
I owe so much, at the mercy of violence.”

Ellie nodded, snuggling into his embrace,
her leg rubbing unknowingly against his thigh. “Goodnight,
Stephen.”

Ashberry heard her but he didn’t reply. He
already knew his night wouldn’t be good. In fact, he suspected it
would be downright painful.

TWELVE

The morning dawned clear, though when the
sun awoke, Ellie was already dressed. She had risen before the
light, calling for Carrie. The maid, too, was still sleepy, but she
helped Ellie dress in her new traveling gown and when she was
ready, Carrie finished packing the last of her things.

Ellie and Mrs. Shannon together lit the fire
and opened the curtains in the room Lady Whitney would use. Only
one bedchamber in the house faced the inner courtyard and this one
was close to the service stairs and workroom, with the nurseries
and servant’s quarters just above it. The fire was lit and Mrs.
Shannon arranged a fresh bouquet of flowers. The housekeeper, cook,
underbutler and steward had been taken into Ashberry’s confidence
and Mrs. Shannon had spent the evening the previous day preparing
the room.

Lady Whitney arrived in a hired cab,
delivered to the kitchen door in a black veil and heavy cloak. She
was hurried inside before the servants’ quarters of the nearby
houses even woke and was installed in her chamber with very little
fuss. Ellie met her there, with a tender hug that neither mother
nor daughter wished to end.

“You must remember, Mama,” Ellie said
seriously, “that you won’t be able to use the dining room,
conservatory or library at night, for they face outside the house.
You will admire Ashberry’s library—in addition to the classics and
men’s books, Charlotte and Caroline have stocked it over the last
year with a wide variety of good reading. Also, there is a little
chapel just next to Ashberry’s sitting room, and the billiards room
if you can convince Riley or Alexander to play with you, and of
course, the music room has a wonderful pianoforte and harp.”

The woman, clearly exhausted and distressed,
touched her daughter’s cheek with her own. “You are a good child,
Ellie. You must relay my gratitude to Ashberry.”

Ellie’s mouth twisted. “Mrs. Shannon will
bring you a breakfast tray. Do you wish to sleep for awhile?”

Lady Whitney shook her head. “Ellie, dear,
go and do what you must. I’m sure Ashberry will send you to say
goodbye.” She sat in a deep chair, sighing. “I have not slept well,
but for now I will just sit, at least until you leave.”

Ellie frowned, kneeling beside her mother.
“Mama,” she said with concern, “Edward will take care of you. Do
not be afraid of Papa anymore.”

The woman’s mouth curved gently and she
touched her daughter’s cheek. “Ellie, you know as I do that running
away is no solution, that it only complicates the situation. I will
give Edward and Ashberry some time, but if nothing can be done I
must go and try to repair the damage that has been done as best I
can.”

“They will do something, Mama. I can’t say
what but I know Ashberry will not just abandon you to Papa. He
promised me.”

Lady Whitney sighed, noting that her
son-in-law had just appeared in the doorway, in time to hear her
daughter’s words. Without giving Ellie any indication that the
marquess listened to their conversation, she did her best to gently
alleviate what she was sure would be disappointment later. “Child,
Ashberry may not have a choice; he is not omnipotent—”

Ashberry knew even as her mother spoke that
the lady had no intention of announcing his presence. Ellie’s
earnest encouragement had warmed his soul, though, uplifted him.
Her next words had an even stronger impact, perhaps because they
were softer, more reasoned, but bolstered by what he could only
describe as unquestioned loyalty. Her tone impassioned, she broke
in, “Mama, you do not know the marquess at all if you think he will
not be able to stop Papa. He will help you not because I wish for
him to, but because he is a strong and compassionate man to, to
everyone.” Her voice softened. “He is the strongest man I have ever
met, and not just in his body but also in his heart.”

Lady Whitney nearly lifted her head and gave
him away while Ashberry tried to remember to breathe. Instead, she
said softly, “You have so much faith, Ellie, so much to look
forward to in life.” Her face grave, she added, “I have lived with
your father for twenty-seven years, Ellie. I will survive him and
this week and remain myself.”

Ashberry sighed and stepped boldly into the
room. He did not wish to hear Lady Whitney try to defend her
husband, as the dignified woman was sure to do. Ellie’s face flew
to his as his boots clipped over the floor. He knelt, assisting her
to stand. “I’m afraid I have come on an unfortunate errand,” he
apologized.

He heard Ellie’s deep breath but could not
look at her. He concentrated on Lady Whitney, who raised graciously
from her seat, a lady as she always was. “It is time for you to go,
no?” she asked wisely. Ashberry nodded regretfully, kissing the
back of her hand.

“My apologies for taking Ellie away so soon
after you’ve arrived,” he murmured politely. “It’s simply that I
wish to arrive at Harlan Chase before nightfall.” He glanced at his
wife. “Today will be the longest of all the days.”

The woman nodded soberly, quickly hugging
Ellie. “You will take good care of her?”

Ashberry smiled at the girl, taking her hand
between his. “You may depend on it, my lady,” he promised. “You
remember how to reach Edward, or I, should you need anything at
all?”

Lady Whitney nodded, her face sober. “Even
if I am dragged kicking and screaming back to Whitney,” she said
quite seriously, “Fields will help me. He nearly left when Edward
took me away, you know, but Edward convinced him that we needed him
to stay where he was for the moment.”

The marquess nodded. He did not wish to
delay he and Ellie’s departure, so he stepped back and allowed the
two women to embrace, drawing Ellie close to him as they left the
room. He wiped the tears from her cheeks before he walked down the
stairs with her, speaking a few final words to Winters. She said
nothing until they were safely in the carriage, the door shut and
latched, and the horses were called forward.

Her question was heartfelt, earnest. “You
will take care of her?”

Ashberry met her eyes steadily from the
opposite seat, nodding even as he answered. “You know I will.”

Ellie bit her lip for a moment. “I know,”
she whispered. “It just seems so ... cruel to leave her like that,
alone.”

“It is the safest thing for her, you know,”
he said quietly. “I wouldn’t be surprised, Ella, if we were
overtaken on the way.”

Ellie drew a sharp breath. “You think he
will look for her with us?”

The marquess nodded. “If he does, it will be
today.” He shook his head. “Ellie, you must remember, you know
nothing of this. If we are stopped, I will speak to them and allow
them to look into the carriage, but if they insist on speaking to
you, you must for all the world be a pretty and carefree bride, and
horrified to discover in such a way that your mother has fled her
husband.”

Ellie swallowed heavily and closed her eyes
for a moment. “Of course,” she whispered. “If I must.”

Ashberry grimaced inwardly, then moved to
sit beside her. He slid an arm around her and drew her against his
side. Ellie didn’t hesitate but leaned against him, resting her
head against the side of his chest. “Rest, Ellie,” he told her
quietly as he removed her bonnet and set it on the opposite seat,
pressing his other hand to her head. “I will be here.”

The lulling words and Ellie’s early morning
made it difficult for her to resist his directions. Tentatively,
she closed her eyes, surprised to find how easy it was to rest
against his side. With a final, grateful thought to the man beside
her, she slid into slumber.

When she woke, he let her sit up, blinking
her eyes. “How long did I sleep?” she asked, looking out the
window. London had passed and they were in open countryside, the
distant farms passing on each side.

Ashberry smiled. “Two hours,” he relaxed,
pleased by her nap. Ellie turned to him, a question in her face.
“You look more rested now, less anxious, even if you are slightly
rumpled.”

“A certain sign I’ve been sleeping,” Ellie
mused.

“Nonsense,” Ashberry objected, a smile on
his face that Ellie now recognized. She sat straighter, a little
more aware as he slid closer, forcing her over on the seat until
her back was against the side of the carriage. He slid one hand
behind her neck, sliding his fingers into her hair and with the
other pulled the ribbon that held it in place, tumbling the locks
down around her shoulders. He lowered his head until her breathing
quickened and her mouth opened just slightly, then pressed his
mouth down to hers.

Ellie shivered as her eyes fluttered closed.
The bouncing of the coach made the gentle contact of their lips
uneven, a moment of contact followed by a quick intake of air.
Ashberry’s hands tightened on the back of her head and he deepened
the kiss, ending the teasing, until Ellie gripped Ashberry’s upper
arms for support. The sizzle of it warmed the air around them,
charged her.