The Scandal of Lady Eleanor (32 page)

“Will Brantley agree?”

“If necessary, I will admit to deflowering his sister and then gallantly agree to a speedy marriage. I have no qualms about doing anything and everything to make you permanently mine, but I doubt it would come to that. Fowler wishes you to be happy, and I am arrogant enough to believe I can make you so.”

Ella smiled mischievously. “Arrogant, are you, my Lord?”

“Arrogant. Lustful. Madly in love.” He began to rotate his hips against hers.

“You wish to make love again?” He enjoyed her innocent surprise.

James began to trace a line of kisses from her ear to the throbbing pulse of her neck. “Again… and again… and again. I can never get enough of you.”

“Are you sure you will not tire of me?” Ella kissed the side of his face.

With her, light, not darkness, ruled his world. He would make her whole again—make her forget her past degradation—make her forget everything except the desire coursing through her. “Tire of you? Not bloody likely. There are too many ways for me to please you.”

Ella's voice became seductively husky. “Other ways?”

“Oh, yes, my Love.” His lips brushed her breasts on their way to the shallow dip of her hipbone—the flat of her stomach. “You will beg me to stop and beg me to stay both at the same time.” His lips kissed the rise of her mons.“Open for me, Ella. Let me pleasure you again.” His mouth sucked the bud of her sex, arousing her instantly and pushing her closer to a new kind of love.

“James,” she gasped, “you are wretchedly evil.” She pushed one shoulder and pulled him closer with the other.

Her words made him double his efforts, feeling her grasping for that sublime moment. When his tongue touched her, Ella cascaded to that place where stars explode before one's eyes. He pressed harder, milking the last of the shudders of desire from her body.

Wiping his mouth against the blanket, James rose up to enter her again. “Are you ready for me, Ella?” He pressed into her, feeling her body clench against his erection. “You are so tight; I will not last long.” Plunging deeply into her, he immediately set up a frantic pace, pounding, maddeningly losing himself in her body's heat. “Ella,” his voice very sharp and raspy. “Ella,” he repeated before going very still and then collapsing onto her—sweat mingling.

When their breathing returned to normal, James rolled to his back, bringing Ella to him, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder. “Sleep, my Love. I mean to have you again before I leave for Northamptonshire. You will need your strength.”

“Other way, please,” she murmured.

James chuckled before kissing the top of her head. He would like to teasingly call her a “true wanton,” but he knew Ella was too sensitive for that. She matched his passion with her own, and he considered himself blessed among men. “How may I please you; let me count the ways,” he bantered as he pulled the bed linens over them; yet, she did not answer; Ella breathed sleep's breath. “
Dustet daram
. I love you,” he murmured, closing his eyes to the happiness he held tightly in his embrace. “Ella.” He knew contentment at last.

Ella entered the breakfast room in midmorning, glowing from her night in Worthing's arms. He had left her with the first streaks of light—taking her to a moment of ecstasy before leaving her tucked in her bed. He told her to write three letters with specific dates and give them to Mr. Lucas. The butler would see that they were mailed, part of the complicated gambit he planned to free her from Levering's manipulations. Worthing shared part of his artifice with her before he left, and Ella marveled at the way he managed so many stratagems, bringing them all together in perfect harmony. Now, she slipped into one of the ornately carved chairs after filling a plate with coddled eggs. Evidently James had
told the cook of her preferences. Ella felt hope—hope that he could rectify everything she most feared.

“Good morning, Lady Eleanor.” James's mother looked exhausted. She filled a teacup and joined Ella at the table.

“Lady Linworth, did you have a rough night? Is there something I may do to serve you?” Ella was on her feet immediately to help Camelia Kerrington.

“His Lordship did not sleep well,” Camelia shared. “I worry for his continued health.”

Ella brought the toast and jam to the table. “I will sit with Lord Worthing. I had promised Daniel a ride, but I am sure we can postpone.”

“Nonsense. His Lordship would want you to tend to Daniel. The boy has very few opportunities to be a child.”

“Then I will sit with your husband after my ride; you need your rest also.” Ella brought a plate of fresh fruit to the table.

Lady Linworth caught Ella's arm. “My James is correct; you possess a generous spirit, my Dear.” She squeezed Ella's hand. “What is this?” Her voice rose as she turned Ella's hand over to examine the ring now prominently displayed. “Please tell me this is what I think it is.”

Ella blushed, but she smiled brightly. “Viscount Worthing renewed his proposal, and I accepted. He will meet with my brother later today and earn Bran's approval.”

“Oh, my Dear, I am so happy.” Camelia stood to take Eleanor in her embrace. “You are so beautiful.” His mother touched Ella's face with her fingertips. “When? When might I call you
Daughter
?”

Ella helped Lady Linworth to sit again. “James and I would prefer to marry as soon as possible. He hoped it might please his father to know of our union. He will purchase a special license, and we plan to marry by next week's end. I agreed we would marry in the Linton Park chapel, making the transition of his reign as the Fourteenth Earl of Linworth easier when the time comes.”

“Next week?” Camelia stuttered, “but do you not wish a large wedding, Eleanor?”

“I am not one who seeks the
ton
's approval. A wedding with close friends and family would be most perfect for my taste. My only concern is I need a dress. Aunt Agatha will be sorry that I wore black for my Presentation gown.”

“We will not bother Agatha,” Lady Linworth declared. “I have the ideal dress for you. It was James's grandmother's dress. We can get a seamstress in here tomorrow to make alterations. It will be magnificent, I promise. Please say you will allow this kindness.”

Ella smiled widely, brilliantly happy that Worthing's family accepted her. “If it is no trouble.”

“Women live for such moments, Eleanor.” She brightened, starting to eat with more gusto. “Martin shall be beside himself with happiness. I cannot wait to tell him. Oh, but you may want to break the news to him yourself.”

Ella laughed lightly, truly excited, caught in Lady Linworth's enthusiasm. “You have my permission, Lady Linworth, to tell His Lordship if you believe it will make him happy to hear it.”

“I guarantee it will be a turning point in his recovery.”

“Whose recovery, Mother? Is Papa feeling poorly again?” Airily, Georgina bestowed a kiss on her mother's cheek as she entered the morning room, Lady Amsteadt's girth preventing her from bending too far.

Lady Linworth caught Ella's hand again, shoving it toward her daughter. “Look what that brother of yours did last evening after we retired!”

Georgina caught Ella's eyes, recognizing how James must have gone to Ella's room, although she said nothing to that effect before her mother.
Believe me, if I thought being found in bed with Ella would have made her agree to marry, I would have planned a seduction two months ago.
Her brother's words rang in Georgina's head. “Well, that scoundrel!” Georgina teased. “He proposes and then
leaves before we can wish him happy. You must reprimand him, Mother, for his thoughtlessness.”

“It gets worse,” Camelia's voice sparkled with joy. “James and Eleanor will marry next week.”

“Then I am pleased to be home for the event, and Lord Amsteadt shall arrive in two days.” Georgina lowered herself into a chair across from Ella.

Eleanor lowered her voice. “I request the opportunity to tell Daniel myself.”

“Of course, my Dear.” Camelia nodded her approval. “The boy should hear it from you.”

“I believe it important not to speak down to James's son; adults often assume children are unaware of important events simply because of their ages. Children are closer to the truth because they have not known the depth of evil.”

Georgina paused to evaluate what Ella had said. “That is very wise, Lady Eleanor. You will do well with Daniel; he just needs attention. I believe you might be surprised by the boy's reaction.”

“I hope so.” The words spoke of a false bravado. What did she know about being a mother? “If Daniel accepts me as a friend—someone he trusts—that will be a satisfying beginning.”

They had meticulously planned how they would bring about Levering's downfall, from Kimbolt's strong-arming the baronet to Crowden's invasion of Levering's home to retrieve the diary. The reason they had known success in the East was that they had planned for all contingencies. Each of their strengths complemented the strengths of others in the group, and no egos existed when they took on a challenge. “We will teach Sir Louis Levering not to cross the Realm,” James summarized. Four of the six men he supervised as part of the Realm sat across a table in a rural country inn in Northamptonshire. “We all know what we are doing?”

Fowler grumbled, “As long as I do not kill the bastard first.”

“You may have to get in line,” James commiserated with his friend. “The moment Levering commits social suicide, you are welcome to him, my friend, but I must eliminate any chance Eleanor's reputation could be soiled by that dodgy prat. If he even looks at Eleanor again, I will cut his eyes right from his head.”

“And I plan to rip his tongue from his mouth.”Thornhill gulped his drink to quell his anger.

Kimbolt smiled deviously. “Are you two not the bloodthirsty ones?”

“Some day you will know how we feel,” Fowler warned.

“I suppose I will, but it shall not be anytime soon.”The viscount poured them all another round of drinks.

“Kimbolt, you have contacted the baronet?” James checked off all possibilities.

“I did. I told Levering I expected payment of his debts as soon as I arrived in London. I also warned the ‘gentleman' I would tolerate no defection on his part.”

Crowden leaned back in his chair. “Do we have any idea where I should begin my search?”

“Soon.” Kimbolt acknowledged with a salute of his glass.

“Bran,” James began again, “everything depends on your convincing Levering you know nothing of his machinations.”

Fowler rolled his eyes in disbelief. “I am not that
good
of an actor.”

“You will do what is necessary,” James ordered, suspecting Fowler's euphemism.

“Yes, Captain,” Fowler mocked, grudgingly.

James stood to end the meeting.“I will expect all of you at Linton Park next Friday,” he announced quite unceremoniously.

John Swenton laughed. “And for what purpose would that be, Captain?”

Fowler stood also, lazily draping his arm over James's shoulder. “The Captain has decided to take orders from my little sister.”

The others at the table congratulated the man they had followed into some of their lives' most hair-raising escapades. “It is
time, Worthing,” Kimbolt declared privately. “Lady Eleanor will be the perfect complement to your brashness.”

James thought of the woman to whom he had made love only a few hours ago. “Of course, having Fowler as a brother is a detriment.” He shrugged off Bran's arm. “However, Lady Eleanor makes up for her brother's shortcomings.”