The Scandal of Lady Eleanor (30 page)

“James,” his mother did not react to their closeness. “Your father is feeling better today. He would like to meet Lady Eleanor if you would take her up to his room.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“And then maybe Lady Eleanor could join me for tea in the blue sitting room.”

James smiled, recognizing his mother's ruse. “I will show Lady Eleanor the way myself.” He caught Ella's hand. “Let us meet the incomparable Earl of Linworth, Ella.” They climbed the stairs, hand-in-hand. “I hope you like Linton Park,” he murmured. “Obviously, my parents do not wish you to leave.”

“I have no desire to leave, but we must deal with Levering. I will marry Sir Louis before I allow the
ton
to know what happened years ago at Thorn Hall.”

“I understand; I am already working on it. I will meet your brother on Wednesday in Northamptonshire. I asked him to bring Crowden and any of the others we need to stop Levering.”

“Is it possible?”

James kissed the back of the hand he held.“
Mitoonam ke komaketoon konam?
Can I help you? I will make it possible, Ella. I will not rest until everything is right for you.”

They turned to the right and made their way down the long hall to the master chambers. James paused long enough to make sure his father was awake and ready for them before leading Ella into the bedroom. “Look at you,” he called cheerily as they approached the bed. “Sitting up and everything.”

“I do not often entertain young women in my bedroom,” the
Earl's eyes sparkled. “I could not do so if I looked unkempt. What would your lady think of me?”

James brought Ella beside the bed, holding her hand wrapped about his arm. They stared down at the earl. “She might think she chose the wrong Kerrington,” James mocked.

“Introduce me, James,” the Earl demanded. “I am most anxious to meet the lady. My grandson came flying in here on his way to the schoolroom to announce that Lady Eleanor knew everything about chess and horse breeding and railroads and Shakespeare and medicine. I must meet such a woman immediately.”

“Well, that is two of the Kerrington men. You are the last hope we have, Father, of not succumbing to Lady Eleanor's wiles,” James taunted. “However, I doubt if even you are that strong.” James chuckled with the irony of how quickly Daniel had told his grandfather of his time with Ella. “Lady Eleanor Fowler, may I present my father, Martin Kerrington, the Thirteenth Earl of Linworth?”

Ella curtsied before adding, “Your Lordship, I am honored to make your acquaintance. My Aunt Agatha, the Dowager Duchess of Norfield, speaks so fondly of you and Her Ladyship.”

“Yes, James shared some of the Duchess's stories when he returned recently. I was pleased to hear that Agatha thrives. She lost Harold Norris too soon.”

“She did,Your Lordship.”

“Here, sit down, Lady Eleanor.” Martin Kerrington patted the place along the bed. “Tell me about your family.”

Ella stiffened a bit, but James moved to sit on the other side of his father, giving her the confidence to speak honestly. “My mother Amelia Braton was Aunt Agatha's youngest sister; she married William Fowler, the Duke of Thornhill. Neither my mother nor father are living so my brother Brantley assumed the dukedom some three months ago.”

“You remember Bran, Sir?” James redirected the conversation. “I spent time with him in Kent recently.”

“Of course, young Fowler. When you traveled to Kent, James, to help Thornhill with the estate, none of us expected that you would return with such a prize.” The earl directed his attention to Ella again. “You and your brother have different coloring, Lady Eleanor.”

“I favor my mother, Sir.”

“Then the former duchess must have been an extraordinarily beautiful woman.”The earl gave Eleanor an approving look.

James's smile spread across his face. “Queen Charlotte spoke at length to Lady Eleanor at her Presentation. Ella was the talk of London, Sir.”

“Her Highness's favor—quite a feather in your cap, young lady. Of what else can you brag about the woman, James?” The earl's affection for his son showed through easily. Ella felt the twinge of regret at not knowing such family harmony.

“Well, let me see,” James caught Ella's hand across his father's body. “The former duke was abed for two years while Fowler was away in Brittany. Ella ran the estate in the absence of both father and son. Without her, Thornhill might not have survived.”

“That is too much praise,” Ella protested.

“My son was taught to speak the truth, Lady Eleanor. If James says as much, it must be so. It sounds as if you are a survivor, Lady Eleanor. That is who a man of my son's mettle needs by his side, a woman like my Camelia, a woman who will thwart propriety for the sake of her family. We Kerringtons celebrate such women. I understand you have not officially accepted my son's offer, but I want you to know I would be proud to call you
Daughter
.”

Ella's eyes misted with tears. “I do not wish to contradict you, Sir, but you barely know me.”

“That is where you are wrong, my Dear. I knew the first time I laid eyes on Her Ladyship the kind of woman she was, and I see the same lift of your chin and tilt of your head and bristle of your shoulders as I saw in her. I have known you, Lady Eleanor, for many years.You are what this earldom needs to survive into the next decade and beyond.”

“How may I thank you for such words of praise?”

Martin Kerrington's eyes sparked with mischief. “Marry my son soon and start a family. I cannot hold out forever, and I want James settled at last.”

“Such threats make me wish to deny His Lordship in order to keep you with us, Lord Linworth.” Ella straightened the blanket across the earl's chest.

“I will not wait, Ella,” James snapped.

The elder Kerrington raised his hand to still his son. “I like your logic, Lady Eleanor, but God will not relent. He may give me a reprieve, but I will not foil His plans for me. Keep my advice in mind, my Dear.You and James will make a handsome couple.”

“You need your rest now, Sir. It is time for your medication.” James rose to fill his father's water glass and count out the pills.

“I hate that abominable brown pill. It upsets my stomach,” his father grumbled.

James handed his father the glass and the medication and waited for the earl to swallow the pills, obviously suspecting the elder Kerrington might not do so on his own. “I will send up some dry toast.” James checked off the procedure in his father's care. “Ella and Mother are to have tea, and I believe I will check on Daniel.”

“Is something wrong with the boy?” the earl looked concerned.

James adjusted his father's pillows. “No, Sir. Lady Eleanor pointed out earlier that Daniel needs other types of lessons. I thought I might take him to the stables to see the new stud I bought at Tattersalls. I thought he might be interested in the horses I hope to raise and sell.”

“Excellent idea.”The Earl settled back to take a nap. “I told you Lady Eleanor is a prize.”

“Of course, you did, Father. We will both see you later.” James caught Ella's hand to lead her from the room.

“You will come back, Lady Eleanor?” the Earl called from the bed.

Ella impulsively pulled away from James and returned to the bed. She leaned down over the ailing earl. “I will come often,Your
Lordship,” she whispered. “It has been a long time since I had a father, Sir, so I expect you to stay around for me.” She pushed the hair from his face.

“I will do my damnedest, my Dear.” He winked at her before closing his eyes to rest.

CHAPTER 11

SHORTLY AFTER THE SUPPER HOUR, Viscount Lexford's carriage rolled into the Linton Park entranceway, and within moments James ushered him into the drawing room to pay his respects to the ladies. Lexford made his bows to James's family before turning to Eleanor. “Lady Eleanor, I am pleased to see you again.” He did not say the words, but she knew what he meant.

“And I you, Lord Lexford.” Ella breathed deeply trying to control her embarrassment, considering their parting less than a day ago. Neither of them wanted Worthing to know the extent of the ruse they had created to fool Levering.

Anxious to confer with his friend, James interrupted their reunion. “His Lordship and I have some urgent business if you ladies will excuse us.” Before much else was said, James left the room, and Lexford bowed out to follow.

“That was a bit rude,” Lexford laughed lightly as he strode into Kerrington's study. He took a quick glance at the room's condition, and his laughter became louder. “I see you are redecorating,” he mocked.

James simply shrugged his answer before pouring them each a glass of brandy. “You know my mother. She would keep you talking about nothing for hours, and I need to know what you learned of Levering. I meet Fowler late tomorrow to decide what to do about Lady Eleanor.” James ignored the comment regarding the room; he knew it appeared a shambles as he repaired the holes his anger had created earlier.

Lexford collapsed into the nearest chair. “How in the world did the lady become involved with such a seedy character?”

“The baronet is blackmailing Ella over something she did as a teen under the late duke's guidance. Lady Eleanor is trying to protect her family's reputation for Fowler's sake. What do you know of Sir Louis?”

Lexford took a sip of the brandy. “If I tell you, you are not going to blow up, are you?” He eyeballed the holes gouged in the wall, a bemused smirk on his face.

“That bad?” James swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing.

“The baronet has some bawdy personal tastes, and he has involved your lady in them.” James's anger rose immediately. He clenched and unclenched his fists, but he kept his temper in check as the viscount continued. “Fowler forestalled the proposal, giving Levering only an
understanding
with Lady Eleanor, trying to find time to thwart the bastard's plans. Godown contacted Swenton and me, and we moved forward. I became ‘friends' with Levering by making him my debtor. The man is spending Lady Eleanor's dowry before he even receives it.”

James became extremely quiet, imagining the many ways he would like to make Levering pay. “Go on,” he said, his voice deadly cold.

“You will not like what comes next,” Kimbolt warned.

“Nevertheless, I need to know it all.”

“The baronet placed Lady Eleanor in several embarrassing situations. Recently, I followed them to the theatre where I observed them closely. Although she protested and openly wept during the stage performance, he placed her hand over his manhood and moved against it, stimulating himself in public. Then he stepped behind the box's curtain to relieve himself.”

“Damn!” James muttered. “Poor Ella. However did she bear it?”

Lexford sat forward as if to share a secret. “There was a similar incident at an inn this week, where the baronet took his own pleasure before her. He bragged about it when he brought your
lady to Heath Montford's hunting box. Levering manipulated Lady Eleanor into thinking he was escorting her to a house party. There were only five of us there, and each man brought his mistress for a week of lustful fun; Levering brought Fanny Houghton.”

“The bastard brought both Ella and his mistress?” James's fists balled in anger.

“Levering brought Fanny for himself; he gave me Lady Eleanor in order to pay part of his debts. When I found out his plans, I negotiated the exchange. Levering claimed he did not care whether his future bride was an innocent or not. Luckily, Lady Eleanor seemed to understand I would not hurt her and came willingly to me. I drugged the others so I could send the lady to you with Lucifer's help.”

“Thank you,Aidan, for saving Ella from Levering's debauchery.”

Lexford smiled mischievously. “Please tell me you have a plan to make Levering pay.”

“I plan to turn him into a eunuch and ruin him completely, but I have one problem to solve first. I need to find a diary belonging to Levering's mother. Lady Eleanor will not be safe until that time.”

Lexford leaned back into the chair. “How may I be of service?”

“I hate to ask, but could you get the baronet to take you into his confidence? I need to know where he has secured the diary.”

“I think that is possible; I will just insist Levering pay up immediately, or I will send him to debtor's prison. Although Levering knows me by the name Allister Collins, I am still a viscount, after all. My word should be worth something. I know his type; Levering will swear he has a way to make the Fowlers pay, and I will demand to see this ‘miracle balm' for his money woes before I extend him time to pay his debts.”