The Scandal of Lady Eleanor (42 page)

“The boy does because you are here in this time—a time he needs you. Do not live in the past. Brantley and your husband have everything well in hand. Trust them to protect you.”

“As long as I have kept your affections, Aunt.”

“It would take more than the ruffling of William Fowler's ghostly wings to destroy the love Amelia Fowler shared with me until her own death. Even with your poor childhood choices, you are a better woman than many who knew no hardships.You and James Kerrington will become the stalwarts of change for the nobles in the Peak District. I predict it, and I am never wrong.” Aunt Agatha puffed up with pride, indicating they should join the others.

Ella took no more than a half-dozen steps, however, before Velvet caught her arm. “Ella, may I speak to you privately?” she implored.

Eleanor nodded her assent, and they stepped into the main hallway, away from the rest of the wedding party. “What is it? His Lordship wants to make our departure soon.”

“Ella, you must help me. The Averettes plan to return to London with us.”

“I am afraid I do not understand how that is a bad thing. It seems to me you would want to spend time with Cashé.” Ella searched Velvet's face for the source of her cousin's anguish.

“I will enjoy Cashé's company, especially with your
fortunate defection
, although you understand I deem you more of a sister than either Cashé or Satiné. However, that is not the problem. My aunt and uncle insist on my returning to Edinburgh when they leave. With your marriage, they consider it inappropriate for me to remain at Thorn Hall. I am not Bran's wife and cannot act as the mistress of his properties. We cannot live in the same house together once the Duchess returns home. What am I to do? I have no desire
to live in Scotland; it is so far away from Kent. If I leave, Bran will choose Mrs. Warren.”

Ella nearly laughed in Velvet's face. Her cousin's crises always concerned Bran. Velvet knew nothing of real adversity. “I will inform my brother of Lord Averette's declaration, but that shall be the extent of my interference. If you want my brother, earn his devotion. Bran has you on a pedestal.You need to climb down from that perch and show him you are a flesh and blood woman. Do not accept your fate. Take initiative and complete your own happy ending.” Impulsively, Ella gave Velvet a quick kiss on her cheek and then hurried away to find her new husband.

“There are you, my Love.” James caught her to him when she returned to the room. “Shall we make our farewells?”

Ella touched her fingers lovingly to his lips. “Absolutely.”

He brought the back of her hand to his mouth. “I need you in my arms,” he murmured into her hair.

“Lying with you as my husband,” she whispered. “How heavenly!”

James smiled mischievously. “You know just what to say to taunt my need for you.”

Ella protested, “I speak the truth.”

Without taking note of the others in the room who watched their every move, James lifted her chin and bent to kiss her lips briefly. “Heavenly it is then.”

“Let me make my farewells to Bran, and then we may leave.” Ella squeezed his hand and made a quick curtsy. James watched her walk away, totally enthralled by the sway of her hips.

“The new Lady Worthing is quite exceptional.” A familiar voice behind him caused James to turn quickly. The man they all knew only as
Shepherd
stood imposingly at Kerrington's right elbow. “When I partnered you with Fowler, I never expected such an outcome, although I should have thought of it as a possibility. Fowler's sister has always been of a nature you would consider admirable.”

James quickly made the connection and stood accusatorily. “You knew of Eleanor's troubled youth and did nothing about it?”

Shepherd did not even blink when he answered. “Of course, I knew. It is my job to know everything about each of the men I recruit. And what would you have me do? We live in a society in which a man owns his wife and family. How could I legally change what happened in the Fowler household? Even if I had tried to remove the girl, she would have never left the other one behind, and if I had told Fowler, he would have rushed home to kill his father. The British government would have lost one of its best agents. Lady Eleanor handled it, and, in reality, the Duke protected her in the end.”

“She should not have been left to suffer,” James hissed, his rage rising quickly.

“Your lady,” Shepherd lowered his voice, “has become a woman of compassion and empathy because of her life choices. We all give part of ourselves away to earn the right to finally know love. Lady Eleanor does not concede to the role Society expects her to play. Remember—one of the reasons you, of the stoical nature, found the lady so intriguing was her inscrutable spirit—without it, your wife would be stripped of her appeal.”

James looked frustrated by what the Realm's leader said. “How is it you reduce all actions to a minimalistic motivation? Shepherd, you need to get out of the office and find that real life is not all black and white—shades of grey exist in nature too.”

“Is that not what I did today, Kerrington?” Shepherd offered James a proper bow. “I plan to return to London immediately. I simply wished to offer you my congratulations.”

James returned the bow but made no open acceptance of the man's well-wishes.

“I might remindYour Lordship,” Shepherd's voice was now hard and enigmatic, “that destroying Levering does not eliminate the danger to which the Realm is susceptible. Sir Louis took credit for the Hyde Park attack, but what of the two attacks at Thorn Hall? And, for your information, there were two shooters in the park that day.That is why you fought two men and noted two coaches.
I believe the baronet's plan to worm his way into Lady Eleanor's life foiled those of Shaheed Mir to find the emerald. Danger is not a thing of the past, Kerrington.” With that, their secretive leader strode away, leaving James to wonder who might be next and what he should do about it.

James and Eleanor spent three glorious days locked in the estate's manor house. It would be the Dowager house when his father finally passed, and his mother relinquished her title. For them, it was a period of exploration and investigation. They shunned formal clothing and simply learned about each other's likes and differences.

“You despise cooked carrots?” she teased as she filled him a plate from the serving table the servants set out for them before astutely disappearing.

“And you love them?” he retorted. “Will our marriage survive such diverse tastes?”

Ella placed a kiss at his temple before setting the plate on the table. “Of course, it will.You, my Lord, will finish my sentences for me. At supper, I will eat your carrots, and you will devour my peas. When grey shades your temples, I will tell you that it makes you look distinguished; and when I predictably gain weight after bearing your children, you will tell me that you prefer a woman with fuller curves.”

“Will I now?” James laughed at her reasoning. “I am quite fond of the soft curve of your hip as it is.” He slid his hand between Ella's back and the chair.

“Oh, poor Lord Worthing. As my mother passed long before we met, you have no idea how I will look when I age. For all you know I may turn out to be quite pleasingly plump.” She stuffed a bite of potato in her mouth and puffed out her cheeks before chewing the food. “Whereas, I know exactly how you will look, my Love. I have seen the Earl.”

“Amazons do not become plump,” he countered.

Ella reached to where his plate rested and speared a carrot with her fork. “Yum.” She rudely smacked her lips to emphasize her taunt.

James mimicked her but instead chose the peas. “Delicious.” He licked the butter from his lips.

“See…our marriage is perfect.”

“I never doubted it…from that first kiss, I knew you were the Amazon for me.”A brief kiss led to another and then another. Soon they forgot all about food and greying hair and thicker waistlines. Those things were part of a bright future; for now, it was just about the love. As James carried Ella to their bedroom, all he knew was how it felt to touch her. To feel her soft skin under his fingertips. To know how Ella responded to his entreaties. To smell the lavender oil she used in her bath as it lingered on her skin. To recognize his need for her. To be consumed by the look on her face as he made love to her. “My life's blood.” James nuzzled her neck as he placed her on the bed.

“Make love to me,” she growled into his ear.

James's hands pushed up her breasts to where he could taste them. “Anything, Amazon. Any time. Any place.”

They returned to reality after their too-brief respite. “We will be at Worthing Hall through this coming weekend,” he informed his mother as footmen loaded his carriage. “Ella and I should return the first part of the following week.”

“Why do you not spend a few extra days in London as man and wife?” His mother straightened his cravat. “Your father is doing better, and I am sure there are several households who would want to offer their own congratulations.”

“We will discuss it. If we choose to stay longer, I will send word.” James kissed her forehead before turning to his son. “I expect you to tend to your grandfather and your lessons, but I have
also given the groomsmen orders to take you riding and to allow you time in the stables.”

Daniel placed his arms around James's waist. “Thank you, Papa. You and Ella enjoy your trip.”

“Being invited to the Prince's party is part of what a future earl must endure. I am more of the persuasion of spending time with my son and my wife.” James held the boy at arm's length so he might see his face. “However, when one's prince issues an invitation, a gentleman responds appropriately. Do you understand, Daniel?”

“Yes, Papa.”

“Go help Ella into the carriage and say your farewells. I want a last look at my niece. Lord Amsteadt plans to depart for Devon before we return from London.”

James cornered his sister's husband in the main hallway. Motioning him to a private alcove, he warned, “Thomas, add an extra guard or two about the estate.”

“Can you not tell me why, James?”

“It is probably for nothing, but I must be sure. An old enemy of the Realm has been unpredictable of late. I would not wish for that enemy to try to get to me through Georgina. I expect no such attempts; yet, I must be cautious.”

“I will see to it. No one will touch my family.”

James implored, “Keep it from Georgina.”

“Do you keep it from Eleanor?”

“Although Ella knows more than most outsiders—mainly because she was in the midst of two attacks—I will not confide everything I know to her. Like you, I protect my family.”

Thomas looked around to be sure of privacy. “Should I contact Shepherd?”

“Shepherd is aware of our situation. He will communicate with you directly if things change dramatically.”

“You will let me know if you need help. I have been away from the Realm longer than you, but I have not forgotten my skills.”

James shook his brother's hand. “If things shift toward Devon, you will be the first to know.”