The Scandal of Lady Eleanor (27 page)

“Will Amsteadt join us soon?” James asked as he buttered another of the hot rolls he mounded on his plate.

Georgina opened her mouth to answer, but a tap at the door delayed her response. Mr. Lucas opened the sliding door to announce, “Lady Eleanor Fowler,Your Lordship.”

James did not hear the butler's words, but his heart knew she was there. It could not be she—but he, instinctively, knew she had come at last. Eleanor Fowler stood in the doorway of his dining room, a place he had imagined her for months; yet, he never pictured her as such: dirty cloak, rumpled dress, smudged face, and golden hair streaming over her shoulders. The woman he loved with all his heart had miraculously reappeared, and he cared not whether anyone else remained in the room.

With the second beat of his heart he was on his feet and moving toward her. “James,” her lips moved, but no sound came out as she swayed, trying to remain standing, but finally crumpling into his arms just as he reached her.

“Ella,” he pleaded as he scooped her up and lifted her to his chest. Unable to stop himself, James lightly kissed her cheek.

“I need your help.”

“I have you,” he assured her as he headed for the stairs, ignoring the thousand questions bombarding his senses. “Lucifer, bring Hannah and come with me,” he ordered upon seeing the viscount's bodyguard and Eleanor's maid waiting in the hallway. “Mr. Lucas, send for a bath and something to eat,” he barked as he hit the landing and turned toward the guest rooms. James waited for no one's response. He knew they would see to his wishes. Ella was in his arms, and the emptiness of not ten minutes earlier now swelled to overflowing with love and need and protectiveness.

Ella laced her arms around him and held tightly. “I am sorry,” she repeated over and over again. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“Shush! You are here now. That is all that matters.” He pushed open a door with his shoulder and carried her to a bed. Laying her against the pillows, James pushed the hair from her eyes. “
Delam barat kheyli tang shodeh.
I missed you,” he whispered so the others could not hear.

“And I you.” Her fingers caressed his face as if trying to memorize his features.

He kissed the palm of her hand. “Let me deal with this, and then
we will talk.” James turned to face Lucifer, whom he had left waiting at the door. “Where is Lexford?” he demanded.

“Some fifty miles from here, Your Lordship,
on business
.” The man would give James specifics later. “The Viscount seemed to think you would wish to protect Lady Fowler yourself. He bid me bring the lady and her maid to you. Unfortunately, I had to hide them in the wagon under some hay.”

“Thank you, Lucifer. Why do you not show Hannah the kitchens? Procure food for the two of you, and we will see to your lodgings. Hannah, Lady Eleanor will send for you later. Get some rest. I am sure you are exhausted also.”

Hannah offered James a curtsy. “Thank you, Lord Worthing.” Then she followed the tender giant who had saved her and her mistress. “Lucifer be an unusual name,” James heard the maid say as they left the hallway.

“James,” a soft voice came from behind him. Turning quickly to the woman who held his heart in her hand, he found her sitting up, ready to deal with her condition. “We must speak.”

A shiver of anticipation ran up his spine. “Will it not wait, Ella, until you have had a bath and some food?” For some reason he did not want to know what had brought her here. He wanted all the hurt of the last month to go away and let them start anew.

“It must be said, James.You must know it all, and if I do not tell you soon, I may lose my courage.”

The maids rushed in with hot water, followed by a footman carrying a hip bath, setting it up behind the screen. “I will join you for breakfast in a few minutes, and then we will talk.”

“I have nothing else with me,” she whispered.

“I will find something for you.” He kissed the top of her head and then left the room.

Once the water and bath soap was added to the tub, Ella slid in and began to scrub away the road dust but also the dirt Levering had left on her soul. It would take more than water and soap to remove the filth in her life; it would take James Kerrington's forgiveness.

Leaving Eleanor to her bath, James returned to the morning room. He had left Georgina and his mother in mid-sentence; nothing else had mattered but Ella. Now, he owed his family some sort of explanation. He put on a carefree face, but his mother's words wiped that away.

“So, that is Eleanor Fowler,” she said in wonderment. “An
Amazon
is the perfect description, Darling.”

“Mother tells me you are in love with her,” Georgina squealed. “James, I am so happy; you have been alone too long.”

He collapsed into the nearest chair. “I do not know why she is here.” He wiped his face with his hands, trying to clear his thinking. “Lady Eleanor is in some kind of trouble.Viscount Lexford rescued her and sent her here for my protection.What if all she needs is my safekeeping, and then she moves on? I lost Elizabeth, and I lost Ella once; I do not believe I can stand to lose her again.”

“You will not lose her, Darling. No woman worth a grain of salt can resist you.” His mother patted his hand. “I told your father about Lady Eleanor; I think it will do him good to meet her while she is with us. He wants to see you settled before the inevitable.”

James took a couple of deep breaths, forcing his heart back to normal. “First, I must discover what is wrong and plan how I might be of service to Lady Eleanor. Then maybe I can renew my plight, actually ask Ella to accept me. Georgina, may Lady Eleanor borrow some of the gowns you left in your former room? It appears that whatever the Viscount did to extricate her, Eleanor's things were left behind.”

“Certainly, let me send for Mari. She will know exactly what to choose for the lady. It is not as if I will need them anytime soon.” She patted her increasing girth in a humorous gesture of love and disbelief.

“Eleanor is a bit taller than you, but, otherwise, she should be able to manage. Thank you, Georgina.”

“Of course, James. The lady shall be my sister some day.”

“From your mouth to God's ears.” He paused for a moment in an act of supplication. “I believe I will find Lucifer and see what
he knows before I talk to Eleanor again. I suspect I will be several hours, trying to decipher what is best to do about all this.”

Georgina rose to summon her maid. “You will entertain Lady Eleanor in one of the guest chambers, James?” It was half tease and half warning.

He felt a surge of panic in his chest. “Believe me, if I thought being found in bed with Eleanor would have made her agree to marry, I would have planned a seduction two months ago. She is a stubborn woman, but inherently, I know that room spells safety for Ella right now. I am more likely to learn the whole of it if Eleanor feels safe.”

“Then do what you must, Darling.Your sister and I will call on Lady Eleanor later today; I am most anxious to meet the woman.”

“Collins, where is Ella?” Aidan Kimbolt lay face down on the chaise, pretending to be in as bad a shape as the others.

Kimbolt staggered to his feet. “How in the bloody hell am I supposed to know?” He wiped at his mouth as if what he drank left a bad taste.

“She is not in her room and her maid is gone also,” Levering continued.

“Did she go for a walk or something?” Aidan staggered convincingly, making his way to the breakfast room and ignoring Levering's bravado. “I am not the lady's keeper, Levering. Should that not be your job? After all, you are the one who is supposed to marry the woman.”

Levering's voice took on a menacing tone. “The last I saw of her, Ella was on the chaise with you.”

Kimbolt turned on Levering, matching him tone for tone. “Maybe your unspoken threats scare women, Levering, but they do nothing for me. I do not fear you.” Aidan purposely turned his back on the baronet and helped himself to some toast and eggs. “I remember kissing the lovely Eleanor, but I do not remember much else.”

“None of us remember much of anything,” Bradley wandered into the room, straightening his clothes. “Obviously, no one made it to bed last night.”

“I think the drink or the food was tainted.” Levering still ranted on as if he actually cared for Eleanor Fowler.

“Maybe it was that crap you brought back from the Continent.” Aidan sat at the table shoveling in the food. He knew that those who used opium often had large appetites the next morning, more from thirst than from real hunger.

“There was nothing wrong with the powder,” Bradley took offense. “Plus, Levering, if the food and drinks were contaminated, would it not also affect your betrothed?”

“The lady barely ate, and I only saw her take a sip of the brandy,” Montford joined the conversation. “She was upstairs until supper so I doubt if Levering's lady friend was the culprit who doctored the food and drinks. She would not have had the opportunity. But then her maid may have. Did you not send the woman's servant to help Mrs. Blossom?”

Fanny entered the room and reported directly to Levering. “Your lady's clothes are still in her room.”

“That brings us back to you, Collins,” Levering accused. “You were the last one to see Eleanor.”

“Well, I am not the woman's nursery maid,” he said flippantly. “It seems to me you have more reason than any of us to keep track of her. First of all, you bring your mistress to your play week and expect your betrothed not to notice. Lady Eleanor is not a stupid woman. Then you hand her off to me as if she was some sort of whore. How did you expect her to act? She was willing last night, but I would bet it was the stimulant in the food and drinks. She took in less than the rest of us, and when she saw her chance to get away, she took it. I am betting she just walked away from your indifference. However, it seems to me you had best be making your regrets. I thought you needed her dowry. She may think twice about the way you have been treating her.”

Levering declared in a less than convincing voice, “She will marry me.”

Kimbolt just smiled at the baronet's posturing. “It sounds as if you have an ‘in' with the lady's family.”

“I have better than an ‘in'; I have a personal warranty.”

“Then I expect you had best find her.” Viscount Lexford sat back in his chair, carefully observing the changes in the group's attitudes and behaviors.

Levering started for the main hall. “Bloody hell! I will teach the chit a lesson or two when I get my hands on her. No one runs away from me!”

“How are you going to find her?” Aidan called casually over his shoulder, trying to learn as much as he could without making an issue. “I thought the lady's family believed she was in Leicestershire for the week. She is not supposed to be with you.”

“I do not know. I will figure out something before I return to London.”

Fanny nearly whined, “You are returning to London? What about our holiday?”

“It will have to wait. If you wish, you may return with me.” Kimbolt thought it amusing how the baronet tried to find a way to rid Fanny of her disappointment. It would cost Levering an expensive bauble—money Sir Louis did not have at the moment. Under Fowler's instructions, the Realm knew minute details of Sir Louis's life.

The man's mistress's lip stuck out in a pout. “I guess I have no other choice. I will pack my things.” She slipped from the room to tend to her luggage.

Aidan rose to his feet, pulling at his rumpled clothes. “I believe I will clean up and then make my own exit. Obviously, if Levering is taking Fanny, and Lady Eleanor is no longer here, there is not much sense in my remaining.” He started for the door but paused long enough to add, “What do you say, Levering, to my taking some of your lady's things with me? Fanny is too well endowed to find any
use for them, and I know a sweet young thing near Brighton who would fill them out well. If Roslyn likes them the way I think she will, I will take the cost off your debt.”

“Hell, take the whole damn wardrobe for all I care. I certainly cannot transport them to London and deliver them to Briar House. If Roslyn rewards you for the gifts, I will be thankful for the reduction in my obligation.”

CHAPTER 10