The Scandal of Lady Eleanor (40 page)

He braced his weight on his forearm and hand. Finally, he smiled at her and opened his steel-grey eyes, the ones that had mesmerized her from the beginning. “You were magnificent; I may never win another horse race,” he teased.

“Oh, I am not finished with you, Lord Worthing.” Seductively husky, her voice made him hard again. “You will be in my bed tonight, and I will have my way with you.You will not touch me, but I will touch you, my Lord. That will be my reward.”

James's groin responded to her suggestion. He wanted her again, immediately, although he knew they could not remain locked in any longer without someone coming to look for one of them. “You are such a tease, Eleanor Fowler. I will be hard the rest of the evening, and you will torment me with images of your bed.” For good measure, he ground his hips against her before pulling out and standing to restore his clothing.

Purposely, Ella left her body exposed to his gaze. “I want you to remember me as I am now,” she whispered before lowering her skirt. She loved this power she held over him; it validated her as an independent woman even as she gave herself to him.

“Damn!” James forced his gaze from her body, hearing Ella laugh in the background. He turned his back on her and adjusted his manhood behind his closed breeches. Then he helped Ella to stand and to straighten her clothing and hair, although he purposely averted his eyes from her face. Irritated that he took away her control over him, Ella went on her tiptoes to nibble on his ear. James groaned, “Please stop tormenting me, Ella.”

“I do not mean to torment you, James. I just wish to love you.” For a split second, James heard the voice of the sleepwalking Ella begging for her father's love. Part of her would always be that girl
looking for someone to love her. He would need to prove his devotion over and over—not a bad sentence for a man who desired her night and day.

He kissed the tip of her nose. “You may touch me any time—any place—I welcome your interest—your desire. If you hear me complain, it is only that I fear someone will interrupt, and I will not be able to stop when I take you in less than private places. I would never dishonor you.”

“I will behave myself for now.” She moved away to sit in a nearby chair. “May we share Bran's letter?” James took a deep breath and returned to his desk. He took the letter from the tray and handed it to Ella. Surprised, she said, “You want me to read it first?”

“You may read the letter to yourself and never tell me what it says, or read it to me, or we can read it separately. It is your life, Ella, and I give it back to you. I know the gist of what happened years ago, but I never need to know the specifics unless you wish it. If it helps you to deal with your past by telling me, I will listen. If you prefer to keep some things private, I will respect your silence because I know it has nothing to do with whether you love me. I have made choices in my past—some I will share because I need to voice my thoughts before I can give myself absolution. Some others—I may take those to my grave. But none of those choices change how much I love you.You gave me the freedom to realize that some choices do not make me all bad—evil even. If I were evil, you could not look at me with that innocent wonder. I pray you see the same acceptance in my eyes.”

With a silent agreement to all he offered, Ella broke the seal on the letter and began to read aloud.

Ella looked up, tears misting her eyes. “Can it be?” she whispered, and James nodded his affirmation. Letting the beginnings of a smile kiss her lips, Ella returned to the letter.

“Must I truly face the baronet again?” Ella looked up, distress rising again.

Worthing's voice took on a soothing tone. “It is the only way to silence the man completely.You must trust me, Ella. I will not allow Sir Louis to hurt you again.”

Although not totally convinced, Ella took a deep breath and continued to read.

“Then it is nearly finished,” James thought aloud.

Ella bit her bottom lip. “Seriously, James, I do not know whether I can face Sir Louis again.”

“This comes from the woman who delivered an undeliverable baby while facing down the Earl of Linworth within his own home.”

“That was easy compared to this.”

“Ella, you have nothing to fear; you will have the full force of the Realm behind you. I will protect you.You will be my wife, and Sir Louis will never be heard from again. I make you that promise, but we must silence him forever. For that, you must be in the baronet's presence once more to end this.”

Ella's voice held her vulnerability. “You will not let me out of your sight?”

“One of the Realm will be with you in every move you make. It will work, Ella. Trust me. In this, I am the expert.”

“I trust you, James.” She paused before taking a steadying breath. “If we must do this, may I make a suggestion?”

“Certainly.”

“The Averettes' governess is
Miss Nelson
.”

James studied what she suggested but half of a heartbeat before he made the connection. “And the lady was traveling in the Lake District.You are brilliant, Eleanor Fowler. Absolutely brilliant!”

Kimbolt reappeared that very afternoon at Linton Park. Lady Linworth rallied her energies and became the perfect hostess. All of James's unit planned to attend the ceremony, and close relatives and neighbors received invitations. Linton Park hosted a houseful
of well-wishers. James watched with delight as family and friends came to his home to celebrate his love for Ella.

“Lexford,” he called as the viscount entered the room. “I am so pleased to see you.” James extended his hand.

Ella stood by his side. She grasped their visitor's hand in hers—an unusual act, but James ignored it. “How may I thank you, my Lord?”

Kimbolt smiled; he had thought Ella quite remarkable when he had met her, and his opinion had not lessened. “Keep this one home.” He indicated James Kerrington. “Fill his life with children and love, and anything I did for you will be paid in full.”

“That is an easy penance,Viscount Lexford.”

He kissed the back of Ella's hand. “Part of my master plan, Lady Eleanor.” Then Lexford raised his eyes from Ella's face to find a pair of emerald green ones staring at him, watching him with an intensity he had rarely felt. Lady Eleanor said something else, but Kimbolt heard none of it. Coal-black hair framed a cheek, which begged to be caressed, and a pouty mouth he immediately imagined kissing.

James read his friend's mind perfectly. He suspected his face had held the same silly expression when he first laid eyes upon Eleanor. Kimbolt's brows furrowed in confusion, while a profound smile of satisfaction graced the viscount's lips.

James touched Kimbolt's arm. “Allow me to introduce you,” he said with some amusement. He led Kimbolt to where his sister kept company with the Averettes. “You remember my sister Georgina, Lexford.”

The viscount bowed over Georgina's hand. “Lady Amsteadt, I am pleased to see you.”

James waited and then redirected his friend to the waiting trio. “Viscount Lexford, may I present Viscount and Viscountess Averette. The Averettes are Miss Aldridge's aunt and uncle, and this is her sister Miss Cashémere Aldridge. Miraculously, we came across the Viscount's party on their way to Kent. Naturally, with Fowler
bringing everyone here, Lady Eleanor and I extended the invitation to join our gathering.”

His friend continued to watch the girl, although he followed the formalities of the new acquaintance. Kimbolt bowed to the Averettes, but he remained in tune only to Cashé. “Miss Cashémere, may I comment on the uncanny resemblance to your sister.”

“As it has been several years since I last saw Velvet, I must accept your opinion,Your Lordship.”

“Then Miss Cashémere, I will anticipate your reunion.”

At that very moment, Thomas Whittington, Lord Amsteadt, strode into the room. “It appears I have arrived just in time for a party,” he announced good-naturedly to the room.

“Thomas,” Georgina squealed, breaking away from the group.

James followed his sister and mother to greet the arrival of their family. Georgina wrapped her arms about her husband's waist, and he kissed the tip of her nose.

“Your timing is perfect, Amsteadt.” James clapped him on the back.

“What is the special occasion?” Amsteadt looked from one face to another—none of whom he recognized.

James guided Thomas's gaze to Ella. “I am to marry, Brother.” He reached out to catch Ella's hand. “Thomas, may I present my betrothed, Lady Eleanor Fowler. As I suspect you have surmised, Ella, this is Georgina's husband, Thomas Whittington, Lord Amsteadt.”

Whittington bowed over Ella's hand. “Welcome to the family, Lady Fowler.”

“Thank you, my Lord, for your attention and your well-wishes.” Ella laughed lightly. “However, I believe you might wish to take a closer look at Lady Amsteadt.”

“Pardon me?” Amsteadt stared at Ella for a split second before his head snapped around to really see his wife. “Georgina?” he stammered, registering the difference in her size.

“Your daughter rests in the nursery, my Lord.” Georgina's eyes danced with happiness.

“My…our daughter?”

Georgina giggled, grabbed his hand, and pulled her husband toward the open door. “We will return later,” she called over her shoulder.

Total silence lasted the length of a deep sigh before everyone talked over one another. “Did you see the look on Thomas's face?” Lady Linworth wiped at the tears of joy she could not control.

James kissed the back of Ella's hand. “We certainly overloaded Lord Amsteadt with news, did we not?”

“His Lordship shall think twice about walking into a private party again.” Lady Linworth returned to her other guests, a cheerful smile filling the room with happiness.

CHAPTER 15

ELLA KEPT HER PROMISE; she took her reward from James over a two-hour period before falling asleep in his arms. With a house full of company and Bran's appearance at Linton Park, they agreed to spend the last few evenings leading up to their marriage in their respective rooms. Their commitment to each other complete, the reading of the vows was all they needed. In their eyes, they were already married. They spent time daily with Daniel, and James began to introduce her to the Linworth tenants, establishing her as the estate's future mistress. Ella won over everyone she met with her knowledge of agriculture and her natural sincerity and good humor.