The Scandal of Lady Eleanor (8 page)

Ella quickly realized he meant they would protect him; he knew these people. Obviously, someone at Thorn Hall had helped with the attacks. She understood his fear; Ella saw it in Lord Worthing's face that day. Bran wanted to take control. “Excellent idea,” she observed.

“Brantley, I hope your pockets are deep,” his aunt uncharacteristically blurted out, and Ella found herself smiling at the serious tone.

“Why might that be, Your Grace?” They adored their aunt;
when they were children, she had never spoken down to them. It was she who explained their mother's death. They always knew she would speak her mind, and right now, the truth—even if it hurt—was important to hear.

“Well, I do not wish to be indelicate, but if the gowns Ella and Velvet currently wear are indicative of their wardrobes, they simply will not do. The style is from at least three years ago. As the Duke of Thornhill, you must see to this deficiency.” Agatha was not condescending, just matter-of-fact in her analysis.

Ella blushed immediately. “I do not remember my last new gown. Neither Velvet nor I have been off the estate for some time.”

“Nearly five years,”Velvet whispered into the suddenly silent room.

“Five years?” Agatha gasped. “Whyever so long?”

“Papa did not wish it.” Despite her best efforts, Ella's voice came out small and vulnerable.

Several long seconds passed before Agatha finally let out a deep sigh. “Then we are agreed, Brantley; the ladies need new wardrobes.”

Ella and Bran exchanged glances, their discomfort obvious. “Whatever you think best, Aunt Agatha.”

Ella felt the mortification of her aunt's remark. Who was she fooling? She knew nothing about Society or even how to hold a polite conversation. She had had no friends since the age of thirteen when her father had fondled one of the girls visiting her at Thorn Hall. Her friends had left the house that day, never to return. After that, Eleanor shunned everyone's company, everyone of her own age. She had had no childhood.

“New gowns sound heavenly, do they not, Ella?”

Eleanor heard the words, but she could muster no enthusiasm for the idea. She swallowed hard, trying to recover her composure. “They do, indeed, Velvet. We must trust Aunt Agatha to make our Come Outs first rate.”

“You will accompany us, Brantley, to the
ton's
many outings?” Agatha's question came out as a command. Ella could do without constant reminders of her upcoming social disaster.

“As many as my business and my establishing my name in Parliament will allow,” he assured their aunt.

Agatha bristled just a bit with his exception. “And what shall your wards do if your obligations take you elsewhere?”

Ella looked on as Bran smiled at Agatha—she was always one to tell her own son his duty—she would not hesitate to take the duke to task. “Lord Worthing offered his arm as needed.”The mention of James Kerrington made Ella's heart skip a beat.

“Worthing? Martin Kerrington's son?” Agatha's reaction was priceless; she eyed Bran with amusement. “I assume His Lordship is a friend of yours, Brantley?”

Her brother smirked, “Worthing recently spent a fortnight at Thorn Hall. I believe my sister and my cousin would find Kerrington a suitable escort. I also asked the Marquis of Godown to be a regular member of our party.”

“Gabriel Crowden?”Their aunt nearly choked on her tea.

Bran's smile spread like butter. “Yes, Aunt. Is there a problem?”

“A problem? No, Brantley—no problem. My niece and our cousin will regularly be escorted by three of the
ton's
newest and most eligible bachelors. Definitely, there is no problem. It will only increase Eleanor's and Velvet's value as this year's debutantes.”

Ella listened to this exchange. How could she attract Lord Worthing, or any other suitor for that matter? She had no social skills, and she wore outdated gowns. Now that her brother's friend was in fashionable London, he would not look twice at her. She heard herself saying the words, “I am sure His Lordship has other things to do with his time.”

Her brother teased, “Do not go on so, Ella. I will set a bet at White's that Worthing calls today at Briar House.”

She wanted to believe her brother, but a part of Ella always expected the worst. She only half listened as Aunt Agatha planned to have Lord Worthing and the Marquis of Godown show them about town.The Dowager Duchess thought it a social coup to have them seen on the men's arms. Eleanor thought little of the possibilities.
She simply wanted the Season over. The disbelief in her aunt's voice brought Ella's attention to the ongoing conversation: one dealing with Bran's marriage and with Sonali.

Before their aunt could comment further on her nephew's choice of a wife, Ella interrupted. “Aunt Agatha, you will love Sonali. She is the most precocious child—so intelligent—and so beautiful.” For some reason, Ella felt a need to protect her brother. He was family, and she always did what was right for family.

“Of course, I will love her. She is my dear Amelia's first grandchild.”

“As you can tell, Aunt, Sonali has stolen Ella's heart.”

Undaunted by the new information, Agatha waved a dismissive hand. “Well, it just proves I need to find you an appropriate match as well, Brantley.”

Bran opened his mouth to protest, but Mr. Horace appeared to announce Worthing's call, and their friend bowed his entrance into the Briar House drawing room.

Eleanor was on her feet immediately; she missed him despite the foolishness of the concept and the foolishness of her previous personal chastisement. Bran and Velvet rose too, along with the Dowager Duchess. Ella heard Bran whisper, “I told you so.”

 

James bowed to the room, but his eyes remained on Eleanor.
His Amazon
was in the same room as he, and his body reacted accordingly. “I came to assure myself you experienced no problems with your journey,Your Grace.”

Fowler's voice betrayed a twinge of amusement. “As you can see,Worthing, we are well. Please come in and meet my aunt. I have just assured her you would serve as an escort for my family in my absence, and here you are.”

“At your service, Your Grace.” He ar istocratically inclined his head.

Fowler motioned James forward. “James Kerrington, Lord Worthing, may I present my mother's sister, the Dowager Duchess of Norfield.”

“Your Grace.” James bowed graciously over the woman's hand. “Thank you for receiving me. My father asked that if I was fortunate enough to make your acquaintance, Your Ladyship, that I forward his regards.”

Agatha chuckled. “You are certainly Martin Kerrington's son. Not only do you resemble the man as he was in his prime, you possess his charm. I will keep my eye on you,Your Lordship.” The regally coiffed woman reminded James of his mother.

He often heard similar acknowledgments of his father's vitality as a young man. “I understand you have a long-standing acquaintance with my mother.”

“Your mother and I spent our first Season together, with your father pursuing her from the beginning.”

James gave her his best smile. “That does sound like the tales they each share of their courtship, Duchess.”

“Come join us, my Lord.” Ella gestured to the other half of the settee on which she was sitting and then rang for fresh tea.

“Thank you, Lady Eleanor.” James's heart leapt with being close to her again. The past week was hell. He should have waited for his call, but he could not stay away while Eleanor was in residence at Briar House. When he returned to London, he had paid Mary a visit, thinking he simply wanted to satiate his rising need for a woman, but he ended up spending an evening on Mary's chaise and going home to an empty bed. The moment he saw Eleanor the blood rushed straight from his brain to his groin.
Damn! He had lost his bloody mind!
He was more in tune to this woman in this drawing room surrounded by her family than he had been to any woman in his life, even Elizabeth, although he did not like to admit that fact. His infatuation with Ella grew so quickly, he was sore to keep it under control.

James accepted the tea Ella offered and tried to relax into the cushions. It was the first time in a week he felt comfortable. “It will give me great pleasure,Your Grace, to inform my mother of making your acquaintance.” James took up the conversation where they left off.

“May I ask after your father, Lord Worthing?”

“I am afraid, Lady Norfield, my father's remaining days are short. It has been nearly a year since he left his bed. My mother is a saint; she tends him herself.”

Fowler's aunt looked uncomfortable with the news. “It is a shame, Lord Worthing…a crying shame we lose good men such as your father and my Harold too soon. I shall write your mother to see if there is anything I might do for her.”

“I believe just knowing her former friends are thinking of her will make a difference,Your Grace.”

 

Ella listened closely to James's description of his parents. All along she had assumed that, like Bran, Lord Worthing had left home to avoid interactions with his family; now, her suppositions proved to be in error.
Why did he leave? What would drive a man from the family he loved? Would Bran tell her?
Men thought differently about sharing confidences. It was not that women were more likely to gossip. On the contrary, men also obsessed over the comings and goings of their friends, as well as their enemies. Women simply needed to verbalize their thoughts to give them credence.

 

Noting her moodiness, James impulsively turned to Ella. He had not planned what he would ask, but somehow he needed to extend his time with her. “Lady Eleanor,” he began, “I realize you only this day arrived in London, but would you allow me to escort you and your cousin on a brief tour of the city? The
ton
has not yet descended upon London in full force, and I recall your commenting on how long it has been since you were in the capital. It would give you the opportunity to become familiar with the city before the Season begins.”

“I would enjoy a leisurely tour,” Velvet added before Eleanor could respond.

“What might you have in mind, my Lord?” Ella asked softly, unsure she wanted to go, but positive she wanted him to stay.

“We might see the Royal Academy, or we could take a drive through Hyde Park, or whatever you may wish. I have no agenda—a purely extemporaneous idea.”

“It has been a decade since we were here.” Ella reasoned aloud.

Agatha looked on in surprise. “Surely, you jest, Eleanor.” The news stunned James also. The late duke's total control of Ella bothered Kerrington.

“No, Aunt.” He watched Ella's countenance glaze over in remembrance. “I was ten and Velvet nine. Our governess took us for a picnic in Hyde Park.”

“Mrs. Holden
dash
Smythe.” Velvet giggled. “Remember, Ella? That is how she would say it: Holden dash Smythe.”

Ella nodded her head with the memory. “The lady was an odd bird, but we had fun on that holiday. Mother came to see doctors who might help her, while Mrs. Holden-Smythe escorted Velvet and me to see the Tower of London. If I had known the seriousness of her illness, I would have stayed with Mother instead.” The conversation reminded James of Fowler's drunken confession that his mother suffered from the great pox—a “gift” from the late duke.

“Amelia would never have allowed it, Child. She wanted to protect you and Brantley as long as she could.” Agatha set forward to emphasize what she imparted. James appreciated the woman's sensitivity for Ella's sake.

“Where was I when the two of you were playing about the London streets?” Bran teased.

“I imagine you were at school.Young boys have more freedom than young ladies,”Velvet reminded him.

Ella's making her decision to join him thrilled James. “Would it be rude of us to accept His Lordship's offer,Aunt? After all, you had planned to begin our training for our Presentations.”

“No, Child,” her aunt thankfully agreed. “You and Velvet deserve some time to enjoy the city. God only knows we will be busy enough once the invitations pour in. Besides, we have all day to
practice. A few hours with Lord Worthing will not jeopardize your Presentation.”

“If you are sure, Aunt?” The corners of Ella's mouth quivered, but her response spoke of eagerness. A tender need to protect her spread through James. “Miss Aldridge and I would be pleased to join you,Your Lordship.”

“Excellent.” James beamed with how well things turned out. He could actually breathe again. Eleanor Fowler would be beside him, a place he instinctively knew was hers for the taking.

Velvet turned to Bran. “May we convince you to join us,Your Grace?” Ella had become more aware of the standoff between them over the past few weeks.

Ella thought her brother foolish when he refused. “It truly sounds like a delightful afternoon, but, as I wait for Sonali and Mrs. Carruthers, I must decline.” Ella thought Bran and Velvet quite childish to fight their natural attraction to each other.

“Of course.” Ella heard the disappointment in her cousin's voice and noted her brother's obvious chagrin.

Recognizing her chance, Ella stood before Velvet could change her mind. “If you will excuse us, Lord Worthing, my cousin and I will freshen our clothing and join you in a few minutes.”

“I will enjoy your aunt's company until your return, Lady Eleanor.”

 

Velvet tapped on the door before entering. “May I help you, Ella?”

Eleanor smiled with her cousin's entrance. “Would you mind lacing me up?”