The Scandal of Lady Eleanor (28 page)

AN HOUR LATER, JAMES TAPPED on Eleanor's door. She was in the accompanying sitting room enjoying a light repast. “I am happy to see you eating something.” He slid into the chair across from her without an invitation. If they were to get through this, it would be as friends first. He had spoken to Lucifer and knew the nature of the party from which Lexford had rescued her, although he certainly did not know why Aidan Kimbolt had been in Levering's company. He guessed that Bran had manipulated the situation somehow. He promised Lucifer he would let Ella tell him her side, however. With the news, James had again taken his frustration out on the wall of his study. The irony of the havoc he had created in that room in the past month was not lost on him

“I have eaten very little for several days.” She set her teacup on the table. “I need to thank whomever you persuaded to loan me these clothes. The fit is a bit snug, but I am most appreciative of her generosity.”

“My sister Georgina,” he nodded to the dress,“one of her dresses from her Come Out Season, I believe. As her confinement is upon her, I am sure she has no use for it any longer. She and my mother will stop in later to check on you and to introduce themselves.”

“You are being so kind. I certainly do not deserve it.” Ella looked away for a moment, gathering her courage. “I promised Viscount Lexford I would tell you the whole truth, and as much as it will hurt me, and I suspect you, as well, I beg you not to interrupt.
Locked in Lucifer's wagon last night, I tried to imagine how I might explain this madness to you so you would not hate me for what I did, but I do not expect it to be possible.”

James started to tell her he could never hate her, that he would make her his wife tomorrow if she would agree to go to Scotland with him today, but a flip of her hand silenced him for the moment.

“You know of my sleepwalking, and you suspect it has something to do with my father.You said as much before, and you were correct. When Brantley argued with our father over our mother's death, I lost the two people who meant the most to me in the world. I was thirteen and tall and quite homely looking, and like most young girls I wanted my father's love. I tried to be everything to him—as with me, he had lost two people he had loved. The thing with Father was he knew only one way to show love.” By now, the tears streamed down her cheeks.

“You do not have to say it if you do not wish.” Immediately, James was on his knees before her. “I understand what you went through.”

“I must say it, James. I must repent with sackcloth and ashes. I have felt so dirty for so long, and it is the only way I can be through with it.”

He nodded his understanding, but instead of returning to his chair, he sat on the floor at her feet and rested his head on her lap. She stroked his hair and lovingly ran her fingertips along the line of his cravat. “When my father would come to my room, he was usually drunk.”The emotions vibrated through her words. “He would sneak into my bed and wake me by touching me. He never entered me as a man; I am very much a maiden, but he did touch me and touch himself.” Ella gulped for air, but she continued. “The next day he would feel remorse and beg my forgiveness, but he would always return. He could not help himself, but he knew that if he did to me what he had done to my mother and several of the maids, I could die the same kind of death. He visited me for nearly two years, and I know no one with whom he took his pleasures during that time. I believe my mother's death scared him from his habits.”

James thought it did not scare him enough to keep him from invading his daughter's childhood with his perversions. If he could bring William Fowler back to life and kill the man all over again, he would, and he would enjoy every minute of it. James thanked God for the justice by which the late duke suffered for his crimes against women.

“Then Robert and Lillian Levering became the Baronet and Lady Levering by a freak accident in Yorkshire. Being socially motivated to climb the ranks, the Leverings saw a way of connecting themselves to a dukedom—their son could court either Velvet or me, but neither of us were old enough to truly consider marriage so instead the parents attached themselves to my father, becoming his closest—actually his only—friends. Like their son, they were vile people, more depraved in many ways than my father.” Ella paused as if searching for how to explain the unexplainable.

“I assume that somewhere in the nearly nightly gatherings and drinking, the subject of passion arose. I am not sure how it happened, but after leaving me alone for nearly a year, one night my father woke me from a sound sleep. Only this night was different—this night Robert Levering joined him in the room. This continued until they added a third person: Lady Levering. One particular night, my father and the baronet were naked except for their breeches, and Lady Levering wore only her chemise.” She heard James curse, but he did not raise his head from her lap, and Ella made herself continue the tale. If Lord Worthing was to choose her, no secrets could lie between them.

“My father removed my gown and held me from behind, my back pressed against his chest. I was sixteen by then, and my body was changing daily. Father wrapped his arms around me and lifted my breasts, offering them to Robert Levering's mouth. He told me to sit still, and it would soon be over. Levering reached into his breeches, releasing his manhood, and as he licked my breasts he rubbed the length of himself, growing more and more involved. Finally, Lady Levering climbed in the bed and mounted him. My father
released me as he reached for Lillian Levering's breasts.When I slipped out of the room, they were a tangled mess of arms and legs.”

“Oh, my sweet Ella.” James's hand stroked the inside of her calf. He wanted to take her in his arms and give her comfort, but he knew she was not ready.

She sighed deeply. “The Leverings came often to Thorn Hall, and more often than I care to remember to my room. I suspected Lillian Levering wanted to rid herself of her husband and become the new duchess, but Father would have none of it. When he refused to allow them to involve me any further in their lust, they fought with him, and he banned them from the house. I prayed it had been a bad memory until I met the new baronet again in London. It seems Lillian Levering kept a diary account of her evenings at Thorn Hall. The entries describe in detail the experiences she enjoyed, but the worst for Thornhill and me, it tells of my father's and my participation. Robert and Louis Levering blackmailed my father with it until his illness prevented Levering from getting any more money out of the estate. Lady Levering caught the pox and died quickly from it. I am unsure what caused Robert Levering's death, but Sir Louis now has the diary. When he thought Cousin Horton would inherit, everything seemed in place, but Bran's return altered those plans. He needs money for gambling debts, and my dowry is most tempting. Plus, he wishes to take a certain amount of revenge on Thornhill for his mother's death. In fact, he staged the Hyde Park attack. Your pursuit of the shooter nearly ruined all of Sir Louis's plans.”

“Levering is blackmailing you into marrying him?” James was back to his knees. “Why did you not tell Bran?”

“The baronet threatened to mail the diary's individual pages to
ton
members if I told Bran. His mother rarely uses either of their names, but my name and Father's are used quite liberally. Plus, you know how Bran is. He would make it an issue, and everyone would know.

“I agreed to accept the baronet's proposal so as to save Thornhill, but I cannot do it. I cannot allow him to publicly treat me as
he has. He forced me to lie to Bran regarding a house party; it was his close friends and their mistresses. He owes money to Viscount Lexford, whom he knows as Allister Collins, and Sir Louis gave me to Collins in payment for some of his debts. I cannot tell you of the other degradations I have suffered in the past month, for they are too vile, and I know your nature.”

“Ella, you do not have to face this alone; I will take care of it.” If he could find Sir Louis Levering at this moment, he would introduce the man to some very unique ways of torture he learned in Persia. “Bran will follow my orders, and we will recover the diary. Lord Godown can move through a house like a ghost. Wherever the diary is, we will bring it home to you to destroy page by page in your favorite fireplace. I promise you: No one will ever hurt you again.” He leaned in and kissed her tenderly. “I love you, Eleanor, with all my heart.”

“And I love you, James.”

“Then you will marry me?” He put a finger to her chin, turning her head to face him. “I want to spend the rest of my life earning your trust, your respect, and your love.”

Eleanor squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears. “I will not bring my family's perfidy to your household. I love you too much to bring shame to your parents or your sister.”

“Then I will find the Levering diary, and you will have no excuse to deny me.”

She whispered, “No excuse.”

James pulled gently, bringing Ella to her feet. He held her gaze, solemnly, his hands sliding up and down her arms. “God, I have missed the feel of your skin under my fingers.” James's breath caressed her ear, his possessiveness suffusing Ella's body with the heat she now recognized as desire. He kissed her thoroughly, like a starving man; his tongue explored her mouth's soft tissue as she opened to him.

She melted into him as a moan escaped her throat; enflaming his desire further, she pressed herself to him, her body trembling
with longing. Her heartbeat hammered in her ears as every nerve thrummed to the power of his persuasion.

“I will have you as my wife, Ella.”

She relaxed, sliding her arms around his waist. “What a wonderful fantasy.” Ella leaned forward for a slow, lingering kiss.

“I will make that fantasy a reality, my Love.”

A light knock at the door forced them apart, but not before he stole another kiss. He answered the door to find his mother and sister waiting in the hallway. “We brought fresh tea,” his mother announced as she swept into the room, followed by a wobbly Georgina.

“Lady Eleanor,” she grasped Ella's hands in hers before Ella could even offer a curtsy, “I am so pleased to make your acquaintance at last. Please, you must be exhausted; have a seat.”

Ella shot James a quick glance, unsure how much he actually had spoken of her. “I am mortified, Lady Linworth, for my unexpected entrance to your home this morning. I am most appreciative of the hospitality you have extended to me.”

“Nonsense.You are a special friend of my son's, and that gives you leave to come to Linton Park any time. This is my daughter Georgina, Lady Amsteadt. As I said, I have brought fresh tea so we might all get to know each other. Let us sit. As you can easily see, Georgina cannot be on her feet long.”

Ella sighed contentedly as James's mother enveloped her in her arms. She had needed a mother for so long. Ella prayed to know Linton Park as her own. “Ladies, if you will excuse me, I have some business to address in my study.” James announced to the room. He gave Ella a secretive wink, indicating that he would contact her brother immediately.

Ella genuinely smiled for the first time in weeks when James's mother waved him away before circling Ella's waist with her arm and leading Ella to a nearby chair. “My, how little you are, Lady Eleanor!”

“
Little
is never a word associated with me, Lady Linworth.” Ella laughed nervously.

“Oh, but you are, is she not, Georgina?”

“I would say so. I wore that dress when I was barely seventeen. How old are you, Lady Eleanor?” Georgina was not as tactful as her mother, but between them they would learn everything they could of her. At first, Ella balked with their apparent intrusion into her private life, but she realized that she knew nothing of family. Thinking such, she forced herself to relax into something foreign to her experience. Lady Linworth and Lady Amsteadt loved James as did she. If she had a chance of becoming part of this family, she owed them the truth.

“I shall be one and twenty next month.”

“And dear Agatha Braton is your aunt?” Lady Linton added, “She and I shared our first Season, Georgina.”

Ella breathed easier, thankful of the hearts opening to her. Tears overflowed her eyes. “Aunt Agatha told us recently of that Season. She claims Lord Linworth pursued you quite relentlessly.”

“Martin was most persuasive as I believe Harold Norris was with your aunt.”

“His Grace, may he rest in peace, left Aunt Agatha too soon. I am afraid that, other than his portraits, I remember very little of him.” Ella stirred the tea they had offered her.

“You will have to ask my dear Martin about him. I am sure he will have tales with which you may torment your aunt when you return to London.”

Ella glanced to James's mother and smiled, a brief happy smile of family and how it would feel to be James's wife. If this happened, she would have a mother again, a glorious thought. “I would enjoy that, Lady Linworth.”

“As I am sure Martin would. He is most anxious to meet you.”

“Lady Linworth, I do not wish to mislead you. I have not accepted James's proposal; I have a problem, which could bring me personal shame, and I will not let that hurt His Lordship nor any of you. It would not be the honorable thing to do.”

“Oh, pooh, Lady Eleanor. You love my brother, do you not?” Georgina ignored Ella's protestations.

A hundred possible responses ran through Ella's head, but she opted for honesty. “Yes, Lady Amsteadt, I do.”

“Then that is all of which we care, is it not, Mother?”

Lady Linworth's eyes misted over. “We want James to know happiness again, and you make him happy, Lady Eleanor. I am afraid you may be stuck with us, my Dear. I cannot imagine James would willingly let you go now that you are at Linton Park.”