Broken Legacy (Secret Lives Series) (3 page)

She had to call upon every bit of her constraint not to jerk back her hand, but the words she could not help escaped her lips
. "My lord, I don't think you comprehend fully how your actions will be taken."

He looked down at her and said, "No, Lady Eloise, I comprehend well how my actions will be taken."

* * * *

Sleep had not come easy for Eloise when she finally retired for the night, but with the early morning light came a resurgence of confidence. She rose with only one thought in mind
: returning immediately to Height Point.

She reprimanded herself greatly for her
loss of wits. How dare he! He had all but announced their engagement last night with his behavior towards her. Dancing three dances with her! It was unheard of! Cousin Beatrice all but encouraged it. She had well seen the ladies whispering behind their fans. Why, even Susanna and Julia were giggling!

Oh, the arrogance of the man! If he thought for one minute she would allow herself to be cornered! She fumed. She had not worked so hard for the moment she would gain her inheritance to so easily let it slip through her fingers. She bit her bottom lip
…thinking…planning.

How foolish she had been to have allowed herself to be seen by one of the
émigrés from France. Edmund may have ranted at her for her part in a scheme, but if he only knew half of what she had done! How could he know what drove her? How could anyone of her family here in England? She had not met a soul of them until well after her seventeenth year.

A slight knock o
n the door brought her back to her dilemma she now faced. Jemma, her devoted maid, quickly entered. Eloise had learned long ago not to rely upon many, but Jemma she did. Jemma had been among the first of the émigrés she had a hand in helping—Jemma’s only crime, being a seamstress to the Comtess de Probilon. Since Jemma’s escape to England, her devotion to Eloise was never in question.

“My lady,” she announced. “His
Grace has requested you come down and join him for breakfast.”

“Why on earth would he think me up at this time? I haven’t heard a rustling in the hallway. I doubt any would stir until well after noon this day.”

“I believe his exact words were
Tell Lady Eloise she will need her energy to pack, for if I know my sister, she has already begun the process
.”

“And why wouldn’t I?”
Eloise huffed. “To be treated in such a manner. Thrown together with this man. Am I to be impressed he is an earl? Why, he does not look like any of the earls I have met! To be confronted as he did. What help could he want from me?”

Jemma looked at her mistress
, unable to contain her troubled expression. “Help? Does he suspect?”

“Suspect? Why
, he almost came out and announced my involvement in the middle of the ball!” Eloise walked to her window. There was a moment of silence. She raised her hand to her tired face. “Calm yourself, Jemma. I don’t think he knows of the extent of my involvement. He believes I give aid to the émigrés only…I think…oh, I don’t know.”

“From what I gathered, my
lady, I don’t think he means you harm. Or at least it is what I’ve heard,” Jemma offered as she laid out a gown from the wardrobe. “He is intent upon marrying you. I believe the whole of the house is talking about it.”

“Tell me all that you have heard. I never even heard a whispering about this man,” Eloise insisted, eyeing her maid.

“Lord Lenister is quite the gentleman,” Jemma began. She snapped the gown out in length. “He became earl quite unexpectedly, no less than two years hence. He was third in line for the title, but his cousins died, one in a duel a few years ago, and then the late Earl of Lenister almost two years ago, who succumbed to a weaken heart.
Scarlet fever, it was told the late earl had as a young lad. His death came while his wife was with child.
It is said Lord Lenister treated his cousin’s wife with the utmost of respect and care. If the child had been a boy, the babe would have inherited the title, but it was a girl and the title went to the present earl. They said that everyone expected his lordship to send the woman packing. Instead, she resides still in his home, Ashforth Manor. He has made it known it will be her home for ever long she desires and the child also.”

“Impressive,” Eloise reluctantly admitted. “Most
, I dare say, would have found a cousin’s wife an inconvenience. Perhaps that is what I felt when I met him. He doesn’t carry himself with airs—more on the line…”

“Of a soldier?” Jemma interceded. “He retired a
colonel from His Majesty’s service when his cousin died. His grandfather bought him his commission when he was eighteen. That was before the scandal, of course.”

A wide smile emerged on Eloise’s face. She walked to Jemma. “I had thought for a moment I was dealing with a saint.”

Jemma tilted her head toward her mistress with a smile of her own. “Now, my lady, you know I saved the best for last. He took off with a vicar’s wife, it was said, after his return from war with the Colonies. A beauty from all accounts. Took her with him to West Indies where he was stationed.”

“What happened to her? The poor
vicar!”

“
That I can’t answer. I couldn’t find out except when he returned to England, she was no longer with him. They say he won’t talk about her to anyone.”

“Interesting,” Eloise said, sitting upon the side of the bed. “But it does nothing to explain his interest in me. Why? Why did he take the time to set up a meeting with the
vicomte to expose me? Then parade me about as if we are engaged. Is he desolate? Has he squandered his inheritance? Surely there are better-suited ladies lining up outside his door, at least for his title.”

“Marty, the footman, told me the
earl is quite wealthy. Perhaps he is looking to better his name with the daughter of a duke. Other than that I can’t answer, my lady.”

Eloise frowned. “No, that’s not it. I can tell. There are more suitable ladies without a doubt. I myself have a cloud over me for my birth. Why would an
earl want an association of that kind? Not to better himself.”

“I have faith in you, my
lady, that you will expose all. Hurry now and dress. His Grace is waiting for you and he holds better answers than I do.”

“At least now I won’t go in blind. Thank you, Jemma. Finish packing after I
’ve gone to breakfast. I want to leave as soon as possible. Whatever the earl has in mind, it isn’t going to stop me from returning home.”

“Yes, my
lady.”

Eloise wasted little time in her appearance, impatient to begin her journey home. Jemma quickly lifted the pretty travel gown over her head and tied it off, leaving only her misbehaving hair to contend with. Eloise sat and watched in the mirror as Jemma twisted her hair in a simple, yet flattering way, framing her face.

“There you are, my
lady,” Jemma pronounced proudly. “I do believe
I’ve developed a flair for
arranging your hair. Will there be anything else?”

“No, thank you
.” Eloise stood and smoothed her hands down over her skirt. “I had wanted to stop by the nursery. I had promised Rodney…”

“You can do so after, my
lady,” Jemma suggested. “I doubt Lady Julia will be happy if you rile them up early this morning.”

“No, I don’t suppose she would,” Eloise agreed. “I will make breakfast quick. I want only to be done with Edmund before the disagreeable
earl makes his appearance.”

“Yes, my
lady.” Jemma opened the door for Eloise.

Eloise descended the stairs as quietly as a mouse. She gripped the smooth-turned railing and scampered down the steps. She slowed her progress. The house seemed to have taken an iridescent quality in the early morning light.

She hesitated when she advanced into the foyer. She heard voices coming from the open French doors of the drawing room.
Edmund must be having breakfast served on the terrace.
She walked outside into the middle of a glorious morning. The sun shone brightly through the newly awakened trees. All seemed green, sprinkled with freshly blooming assortment of colors.

She turned the corner. There on the terrace
, sitting and laughing together, sat her brother with Lord Lenister. She stopped immediately, but too late not to be noticed.

“See, Lord Lenister, I told you that she would be up well before any of the other ladies in my household,” Edmund exclaimed. He pushed back his chair. “Now if you excuse me, I will go see to the arrangements.”

“Edmund,” Eloise uttered under her breath as he walked by her. “Do not leave me! What of proprieties? If you expect me…”

He paused for a brief moment. “I do expect you to remember your manners. Lord Lenister has an important issue to discuss with you. All respectable
. He has my full blessing, Eloise.”

His eyes conveyed his meaning. His voice resonated his intent. She had no choice. She nodded and
curtsied formally while she raged inside. Her attention turned to the earl. He gestured to a seat beside him.

“Won’t you sit? If we are going to talk about this here, you may as well be comfortable.”

She accepted the invitation, but chose the seat across from him. He smiled at her attempt at defiance.

“You have me confused, my
lord.”

“It is my hope to enlighten you with my intentions this morning. I hope you slept well last night. I found I slept the best I have in months. I had quite an enjoyable night.”

“I’m pleased. I, on the other hand, tossed and turned all night, wondering, worrying about your actions.”

“How so?”

“You had me at quite the disadvantage last night. I’m not usually so easily upset, let us say. Why, Lord Lenister, did you find it necessary to confirm my identity as you did?”

He laughed. Mockery spark
led in his eyes. “You astonish me with your frankness. It is only fair that I reward such frankness with my own. I apologize for the swiftness of my actions. It is not how I would have chosen to proceed if time allowed.”

“Swiftness of actions? It is one of the many questions that I have, my…”

“Gerard,” he corrected her. “Please. All will go smoother if we lose the formality.”

“I am not certain I want to.”

“Then allow me to put your concerns to rest. I have only the most respectable intentions. I need your help, Lady Eloise.”

She fought the profound irritation that he had already bested her. Exasperation surged. Her cool calm cracked. She crossed her arms. He glared at her in a way that made her flinch.

“You said that last night, but for the life of me I don’t understand what I can do for you.”

“I do understand your frustration. I can only assure you I have the best of intentions. Quite by accident
, I discovered your connections to the French Republic. You can understand that not many of my friends here in England have a connection such as yours, especially with the knowledge that the Republic holds aristocrats in such low esteem.”

She stood. She concluded that his stance required that she respond from a better advantage than
from her seat. He immediately stood also. Taking her hand, he led her to the garden.

“This will serve better
,” he said with smug satisfaction.

“What do you mean?”

“I have determined that any response you don’t want to hear, you run. This way, I well have hold of you.”

Worry crept in her expression. “Tell me quickly so I can be done with this.”

“As you wish,” he said. His hand reached over and held her hand on his arm. They began to stroll. “Eloise, I desperately need your help. I’m in search of children. Two, to be exact. Their grandfather, Colonel George Ralston, found himself in need of my services. His daughter, Miranda, a few years ago became the mistress of one Comte Alexande de Dubois. The children are from another affair. They are young, nine and seven. Catherine and Darcy.

“Colonel Ralston hasn’t heard from her in months. He received news a couple of months ago that all have been taken prisoners and taken to Paris. Wayward as she may
seem, she is his only child. The colonel has been to me closer than my own father. I have given my word I will find her and the children. Only, I have traveled twice over the Channel without success.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispered. “What do you think I can do?”

Lord Lenister glanced down at her. “I believe you are key in their release, if they have a chance at all. Hate for the comte runs great even after his demise. He did not make it to a trial. He hadn’t a chance to make it to Madame la Guillotine, once taken. His head was staked outside his estate. A call has gone out for all his family and all his connections to be executed. They await trial at the prison La Force. It is my hope to use your connections to gain access to her and the children before time runs out.

“From what I gather from my time across the Channel, your family has found favor with the current regime. I have heard rumors that your family has a connection to one in particular
who may find mercy upon them, General Marc Pierre Bernard. It is he that I want to find favor with. Tell me only this. Do you know of General Bernard?”