Tenacious Trents 01 - A Misguided Lord (23 page)

Someone knocked on the front door and
Eleanor rushed back to the window, heart pounding. Had Clayton
returned? Below was the familiar gig of Mr. Barnes. Her throat
constricted. The month was not up. What was he doing here now? Were
there further debts? She turned and raced toward the stairs, afraid
of what she would learn next. Yet, it was better to know now so she
would have an accurate amount to name when she and Drake
met.

Leigh was opening the door when Elle
reached the threshold. The man held papers in his hand. “I’ve come
to deliver your deed.”

Elle gapped. “I beg your
pardon?”

“
It is all yours.” He
grinned. “I didn’t think you could pay off the debt but it was
taken care of this morning and for that I thank you.”

Had Drake looked into the matter
already, without discussing it with her first?

“
I knew if you asked your
grandfather he would be of assistance.”

Elle blinked up at him.
“Grandfather?”

The man shrugged. “I assumed it was
your grandfather’s man of business. Came all the way from London
and inquired about your debts and paid each one in
full.”

“
Debts?” Were there more
than the mortgage that she didn’t know about?

Mr. Barnes dismissed her with a wave
of his hand. “There were a few that some of the merchants were
going to forgive, knowing how difficult it is for you and the
children.”

Elle grasped the stair
railing.

“
You seem surprised, Miss
Westin? Is anything wrong?”

She couldn’t tell him she’d borrowed
the money from Drake. That was to remain a secret. Though everyone
in the town knew they were close friends, she didn’t want to start
speculation on their relationship since he had apparently arranged
to pay more than she realized. “I am just surprised he took care of
the matter so quickly. I thought it would be another week or
two.”

The man grinned. “Well, everything has
been paid in full and you don’t have another worry, Miss
Westin.”

He nodded and left her house. Elle
sank down on the steps of the landing. She was out of debt, in
truth this time. Well, except for what she owed Drake and that
would bother her until it was paid in full. But at least she didn’t
owe everyone else in town.

She needed to thank him and get a full
accounting, but she couldn’t go there. Not with Bentley still
visiting. Instead, she sent Ethan with a note asking Drake to call
on her.

An hour later he stepped into her
parlor and Elle ran and hugged him, placing a kiss on his cheek.
“Thank you.”

Drake pulled back, an amused
expression on his face. “You are welcome, but to what do I owed
this gratitude?”

“
My debts. You paid all my
debts, even the ones I was still unaware of.”

His brows creased. “I haven’t done any
such thing.”

Elle pulled away. “But, I sent you a
note and asked for a loan. I was going to visit when Bentley was
gone, but he still hasn’t left.”

“
I would have happily given
you the loan, but I was waiting to discuss it with you, since I
intended to make it a gift.”

Dread filled her belly. “You didn’t
pay Mr. Barnes?”

“
No.”

Elle sank onto the settee. “Then who
did because I know it wasn’t my grandfather.”

Drake put his hands behind his back
and rocked on his heels. “I take it you haven’t spoken with Bentley
on any of the days he has come to call.”

A cold sweat broke out on her brow.
“No. He was turned away each time.”

“
Perhaps you may wish to
send word to him.”

“
Why?” She already knew the
answer, but needed to be certain.

“
I suspect he may have paid
the debts, though I don’t know for certain.”

She couldn’t believe Bentley had paid
everything? How did he even know about the mortgage? Had Drake told
him?

She shook her head, it didn’t matter.
What mattered now was what she needed to do. Of course he would
expect her not to renege on their agreement. But she needed to know
positively first. Though she couldn’t imagine who else would have
paid them. If he had, now that he had paid her bills, she must
become his mistress in truth. A thrill shot through her, knowing
she would experience that all consuming passion again, but it was
tampered down with dread of coupling with him for payment. He saw
her nothing more than a whore and really, wasn’t that what she had
become? “When you return home, could you ask him to call on
me?”

“
He left.”

Her head shot up. Bentley was in front
of her house not an hour ago. Where could he have gone so
quickly?

“
He didn’t say but
indicated he would return in a week or sooner.”

Should she try and find
him?

No. It was better to wait, give
herself time to harden her heart before they were intimate again.
If Drake was right, she had a week to accomplish her
goal.

“
When he returns, let him
know that I would like to speak with him.”

*

Clay glanced around the mill. In the
short time that passed since he was last here improvements had
already been made. The boys laughed and talked, yet they remained
hard at work. Completely different from the scene he last walked in
on last time. And why shouldn’t the lads be allowed to enjoy
themselves? Just because they were working, didn’t mean they
shouldn’t be allowed to talk, or sing. If only he had known what
Thomason was about he would have let the man go months ago. But he
hadn’t known. Just like there was much he didn’t know with regard
to others in his life, such as his brother, John, and Eleanor. How
many other people had he judged harshly, or simply accepted they
were doing as he expected.

Clay pushed his fingers through his
hair and left the mill before walking back toward the main house.
He had Mrs. Nevil make up his room. He had only slept in it four
times since he purchased the mill, but he would take up residence
and live here for however long it took for Eleanor to speak with
him again. Acker’s house would have been more convenient, but the
man asked too many questions, and Clay couldn’t stay there
indefinitely. Besides, there was work to be done at the mill so he
would remain here and visit Eleanor until she spoke with him. It
wasn’t much of a plan, but it would work.

As for his estate, he had a secretary
and estate manager. They could take care of matters for a while,
though he sent word where he could be reached in an emergency. Clay
chuckled and grinned. His father probably just rolled over in his
grave at the thought of someone else, not even a family member,
being put in charge of the vast holdings. And since this was
something his father never would have done, Clay was all the more
happy with the decision. In fact, he planned on going out of his
way to make the exact opposite decision of whatever he believed his
father would decide. Only then he could become a better man.
Hopefully one worthy of Eleanor.

No doubt his father had never found
himself in this position. He would have continued to keep Eleanor,
Elle, as a mistress given her actions before marriage. Clay vowed
never to touch her again until she became his wife. Then he would
spend every waking hour making up to her for all the wrongs he had
delivered, and spend every night convincing her of his
love.

He stopped just short of the door
leading into the house. Love? Where had that word come
from?

He sank onto one of the garden bench
seats by the roses. Did he love Miss Westin? Eleanor?

He admired her, respected her, lusted
after her, but love?

Could he live without her?
Yes

Did he want to live without her?
No

What of the children? Was he willing
to take on her entire family to have her?

Yes
.

Did he love her?

It was a distinct
possibility.

He needed to be certain. Even though
he told Acker he wouldn’t visit Eleanor for a week, he had still
intended on riding there each day.

On second thought, perhaps he should
wait after all. At least a day or two while he examined his
feelings. How much more could his pride take? She had denied him
access to her home several days in a row now. Maybe he would wait a
day or two, let her think about him, or so he hoped she would, and
visit her again later in the week. With any luck, she would grant
him an audience. If not, perhaps he would simply not leave until
she did.

Lord Stanhope looked around Elle’s
parlor and sniffed disdainfully. “I can’t believe you live in this
manner,” he stated after taking a seat.

Elle clinched her hands tightly
together on her lap. Why was he here, and what did he want? “We are
happy here, Grandfather.”

“
I am certain you are,” he
acknowledged condescendingly. “That will all change soon
enough.”

“
How so?” Elle was afraid
of what he had planned. She only had to do his bidding for one
short month, until September fifteenth, when she reached her
majority, and would finally be free of the man. Other than the one,
short season, and purchasing all the trappings a lady needed to be
presented, he had done nothing else for her or her family. It was a
little too late to show an interest now.

“
After your sudden
departure from London a number of well-connected bachelors inquired
about your disappearance.”

It had never occurred to Elle that
gentlemen would note her absence.

“
I had told them you had
gone to the country to rest. That seemed to put them off until your
recent appearance at Acker’s party.”

“
I only visited a few days.
I find it difficult to imagine anyone would be so interested in
me.” Where was this leading?

“
Your appearance in public
now makes it impossible for me to ignore the fact that I owe you a
duty as the daughter of my youngest son, despite the woman he
married.”

The disrespectful attitude toward her
mother immediately put Elle on the defense. “Never fear,
Grandfather, I give you permission to ignore the fact that I exist
and will not bother you again.”

“
If only it were that
simple.” He sighed. “Now society knows who you are and thus I must
do my duty as expected.”

“
You owe me nothing.” Elle
assured him.

He ignored her. “I’ve received no less
than four offers for your hand. Had you not been so foolish as to
deny Bentley this would all be unnecessary.”

Who wanted to marry her? Of course it
didn’t matter, she was simply curious. She couldn’t recall spending
much time with any one gentleman, except Bentley of course. None of
the guests at Acker’s seemed to indicate they were interested in a
courtship with her, so who were these four gentlemen. “I have no
wish to marry. My family must come first.”

This brought a scowl to
Lord Stanhope’s face. “I am family as well and must see to
your
best interests. I
am still your guardian.”

“
Perhaps if you had been a
little more helpful when I was struggling I would consider your
help.”

“
Don’t be insolent girl,”
he barked and slapped the arm of the chair and Elle jumped. “Do you
think I want society reminded of my son’s poor marriage? Besides,
your mother remarried and her other brats are none of my
concern.”

Anger shot through her and Elle stood.
“Those brats are my sister and brothers, Sir.”

Lord Stanhope cleared his throat and
softened his features. “I apologize, Eleanor. It has been a long
trip. Let me simply tell you my plans.”

With reluctance Elle returned to her
seat. She would be a fool to throw him out if there was a way he
could help. Additional funds would be welcomed because then she
could see to the roof, and repaint the house. So many things she
wanted to do to make this place more habitable, but the funds were
never there. Or, she could see that the boys were educated better.
Maybe send them to school. There was so much she could do with a
little extra money so she bit her tongue and mentally vowed to be
pleasant to her grandfather.

“
I’ve looked into your
financial situation. You were not in a position to reject any man
of good fortune.”

Elle stilled. Had her grandfather paid
the debt instead of Bentley? Elle couldn’t decide if she was
relieved or not. If Bentley had paid the debts, then it was the
perfect excuse to return to his bed. But if he hadn’t, but her
grandfather had instead, why had Bentley kept trying to visit her?
He had made it clear there was nothing further between them. “Are
you the one who paid the mortgage?”

Her grandfather’s eyebrows shot up in
surprise. Perhaps he hadn’t.

“
Mortgage?” He
coughed.

“
I recently learned a man
of business from London paid my debts. I don’t know who, they
wouldn’t say.”

“
Yes, um, well, you weren’t
supposed to know.”