The Scandal of Lady Eleanor (39 page)

“Let us see everyone safely to Linton Park, shall we, Ella? Then you may continue renewing your acquaintance.” James wanted to put an end to the censure he had heard in Aldridges's tones. He turned to the couple. “Lord and Lady Averette, I insist you become our guests for the wedding. There is certainly no reason for your traveling to London if those you seek there are coming to Linton Park.”

“Thank you, Lord Worthing. That is most kind of you.We gladly accept.” The gentleman said the proper words, but his attitude spoke of disapprobation—something which bothered James. He would not wish for Ella to face undue criticism.

“Ella, Daniel and I will return to the estate and bring my carriage for the Averettes' comfort. I will send someone to make the necessary repairs.” He caught her hand and brought it to his lips, forcing her to look at him. With a tilt of his head, he indicated for her to walk with him to his horse.

She tightened her hold on his hand and allowed him to take her a few steps away from the others. “Be careful,” he warned. “We are not completely clear of Levering—not until I hear from your brother.” He glanced to where the Averettes waited. “When was the last time you saw your cousin's family?”

Ella's eyes followed his, but she shook off his objections with a turn of her head. “It has been since before my father took ill. The Averettes never approved of my father; they rarely visited, and Velvet never traveled to see them.” She purposely smiled at him. “I understand your concern, but, really, no one will bother me; I shall seek the carriage's cover until you return.” She glanced over her shoulder at her distant relatives. “Samuel Aldridge was Velvet's
father's younger brother. He was but seventeen when he inherited. His mother could not see her way clear to raising all three of her grandchildren. That is how Velvet came to us, but he has done well by Cashémere since he reached his majority, and he would protect me if necessary. I am yours, James.” She lowered her voice for only his ears. “You have left your seed in my body and your smell on my skin. Nothing will keep us apart.”

James palmed her cheek. “You are a threat to my sanity, my Love.” Expelling a deep sigh, he swung into the saddle. “We shall not be long.” He winked at her before circling his horse in place. “Let us ride like the wind, Son. Our Lady needs our help.” James kicked the horse's flanks and took off, Daniel's smaller gelding following closely behind.

Ella watched them ride away before returning to the Averettes. “It shall not be long now. Let us become comfortable while we wait.” She gestured to the carriage, and they all climbed in.

“We have a smaller coach we expected to follow, but so far we have seen nothing of it. I suppose it had similar problems. We sent the coachman to look for a village.” Lord Averette declared. “That was but a quarter hour ago.”

“His Lordship's carriage will surely see your man. He will have to come by way of the main road. Lord Worthing will make everything right.You may depend on him, Lord Averette.”

“If the man has your loyalty, Lady Eleanor, I will not question his worth.” Lord Averette settled into the squabs. Again, his tone spoke a different story, and Ella fought the urge to contract into the coach's soft cushions.

“Tell us what happened to bring your brother home, Ella,” Cashé implored, “and of what you and Velvet have been doing.”

Ella took a deep breath and began her recitation. For nearly an hour, she spoke of finding Bran in Cornwall, of their surprise with Sonali, of the London Season, especially of Queen Charlotte's acceptance, and a perverted tale of how she and her maid had traveled to Derbyshire in order for Ella to meet James's family, specifically
for his father, who wished to see his son settled before the elder Kerrington's illness took him to an untimely death. Throughout, Lord Averette made comments regarding Bran's poor judgment in deserting Thorn Hall, the unsuitability of Ella's going to Cornwall, Bran's impertinence in marrying a “heathen,” and her impolite trek to Derby with only a maid as her chaperone. Ella spoke freely in the beginning, but she soon learned to guard her words. Viscount Averette's censure stung.

“You and Velvet enjoyed your first Season?” Cashé asked. “Was it as decadent as I have heard?”The middle Aldridge sister seemed a bit annoyed by the news of her sibling's new life, as well as more than curious about the unknown. “Is London truly a den of iniquity?”

Ella caught the girl's hand. “I would say it is more
glorious
than decadent, but it is also very stressful. There are so many rules and strictures. A woman is on display at all times. Personally, I found it quite restraining, even though I was fortunate enough to enjoy His Lordship's company on a regular basis, at least, until his family summoned him home to tend his father. I cannot imagine being subjected to not knowing if someone might judge me worthy of being his bride. Can you conceive of what it must be for those who spend several Seasons before either being chosen or accepting one's fate as being unmarriageable? The parties and soirees are exciting, but I believe your sister would agree with me when I say they are not worth it—not worth the underlying tension of being in a display case, waiting to be chosen by sometimes less than savory mates. It is a
game
—a game in which women often lose.” Ella thought of how she could now have been looking at a future with Louis Levering instead of James Kerrington. How bleak that would have been!

“Well spoken, Lady Eleanor.” Lady Averette straightened the seams of her dress. “I always thought English Society's perverted sense of propriety lopsided in its expectations for women. The Bible teaches us how God conceived a woman's place in the world. God created Eve from Adam's rib. I was fortunate to find an Englishman who presented me with the type of marriage a
Scotsman might allow me. If your Lord Worthing is the exception to the rule, you are fortunate indeed, Lady Eleanor.” She slipped her ungloved hand into her husband's. “A woman's life is to serve her husband.”

Ella watched the Averettes' interactions. She thought that she would never be Lord Worthing's servant: She preferred being His Lordship's partner. “My Lord has seen more of the world than the English countryside. Although he follows many of the most convenient modes of British Society, I do not expect to be placed on the shelf as a hunting trophy. Our relationship is based on a true affection.”

“Ah…a love match. Excellent. I would be happy if each of my brother's children are so lucky,” Lord Averette declared aloud; yet, he half-snarled in disgust, and Ella felt a sudden pang of guilt—guilt for what, she was unsure, however.

“Perhaps, your aunt and uncle will allow you to spend a few weeks in London with Velvet. I am sure Bran would extend an invitation to Briar House, and then you could judge for yourself whether a London Season is all you believe it to be. Only a few weeks are left before the
ton
disappears for the summer to their country estates.”

“Would that be appropriate, Uncle?” Ella watched in distress as Cashé half-cowered. “Would it be sinful to wish to see the place, at least, once? I will not go against your precepts, but I admit to my curiosity.”

Lord Averette's smile appeared strained. “We shall see. Let me speak to Thornhill first before we make our plans beyond a possibility. For now, we will celebrate Lady Eleanor's love match to her Viscount.” Averette opened the Bible he had left lying on the coach's seat. “While we wait, let us continue our study.”

A short time later, the sound of carriage wheels approaching from opposing directions brought Lord Averette to attention. He climbed from his coach's stuffy interior. Looking one way and then the other, he began to chuckle. “Notice the irony of life. My second
coach carrying our luggage approaches from my left while Lord Worthing's rescue comes from my right.”

Averette flagged down the smaller coach as James and his men helped the rest of the party from the damaged vehicle. “Let us see how Miss Nelson and our Gwendolyn are surviving.” Averette opened the coach's door, hearing his child's excited giggles.

“Papa.” A fair-skinned six-year-old reached for him. “We found you.”

“You did, my Child.” He helped a mid-twenty-something lady from the coach before lifting the girl to the ground.

“Ah, Worthing, I am pleased to see you.” Averette motioned James forward. “This is our daughter, Gwendolyn Aldridge, and her governess Miss Grace Nelson.”

James bowed to the two travelers. “It is good thing that I brought the larger carriage then.” He led the governess to his coach and helped her in. They would transfer the broken carriage's baggage to the smaller coach. Averette and the child followed him. “I instructed your smaller coach to follow mine. My men are waiting at the turnaround with a flat wagon to bring your other carriage to my stable for repairs. Everything is arranged. Ella and I will ride together across the estate. My mother and sister are anxious to meet part of Lady Eleanor's family.”

“You are most generous, Lord Worthing.” Again, James experienced a twinge of unexplained caution.

James closed the carriage and motioned to his man to move out. He strode to where Ella waited by her horse. “Did you have a nice visit, my Love?” He lifted her to the saddle and handed up the reins before adjusting the straps for the stirrups.

“I did, Lord Worthing. I told the Averettes of their sister and niece.” She smiled down at him. “And I spoke of a generous man who invites people he does not know to his home.”

“In another week it will be your home, Ella; it is only natural to welcome your relatives. Soon, you and I will replace my parents.” He swung up into the saddle and settled himself into the seat.

Ella's smile faded, and she leveled a serious look on him. “I am content to be your Viscountess for a long time. I prefer having a family—a mother
and
a father—to your succeeding to the title.You are the Earl in every other way, and the world knows it. I would hope your father might greet our children as he did Georgina's, and mentor them as he does with Daniel.”

“God, I love you… sometimes you speak my most secret thoughts aloud. How is it you know me so well?” They sat staring into each other's eyes.

“Maybe it is because you speak to my soul, James Kerrington. I prefer the image of Eleanor Fowler I see reflected in your eyes. She is a woman worthy of being loved by a man such as you. She is no longer that lonely girl.”

“And I am no longer a man lost to what fate had given me. Let us return home, my Love. The Averettes will be waiting for us.”

“Shall we race?” Ella's complexion sparkled.

James chuckled at her constant need to prove herself commendable. “I will give you to the count of three as always, but if I win, I mean to claim a kiss as a reward.”

Ella circled her mount. “And if I win, I mean to claim more than a kiss as a reward.”

She kicked the horse's side, leaving him watching her retreating form. “You do not play fair,” he called after her. For a second he debated letting her win; after all, losing to Ella would be exquisite torture; but James knew she would see through his ruse. Either way, she would end up in his arms. Thinking such, he nudged the stallion forward, picking up speed continually. He would lie with her again tonight. Soon, Fowler would be at Linton Park, and James would not chance taking Ella then, but he still had three days and three nights of Ella before he did the proper thing by her.

 

“You sent for me, my Lord.” Mr. Lucas had summoned Ella to James's study.

“Yes, Lady Eleanor. Please come in. I have a letter from your brother. I thought we might share it together.” James met her at the door, motioned Hannah away, and closed the door behind her.

“My Lord?” Ella's eyebrow rose in amusement when he purposely turned the lock.

James pulled her into his embrace, brushing his lips against hers. “If Bran's letter holds what I anticipate it does, I thought we might want to celebrate.”

Ella laced her arms about his neck. “And in what type of celebration do you hope to participate, my Lord?” She kissed along his chin line.

“You did win our race, Ella. Shall you not claim your reward?”

“This reward, Lord Worthing?” She brushed an open palm against his manhood, making him hardened immediately before tilting her head to receive his open mouthed kiss. He ground his erection against the flat of her stomach. “We made love but eight hours ago,” she protested.

“And we will make love again in less than five minutes.” James backed her toward the chaise, lifting Ella's skirt as they moved. When the back of her legs touched the cushions, he edged her down onto the furniture. His hands shoved her skirt to her waist while his mouth kissed his way to her mons. He untied her drawers and drew them away. Ella's breathing told him she wanted him as much as he did her. “Open for me, Ella,” he rasped out as he lowered his mouth to her sex. Ella spread her legs, and James began to lick and suck her, using his tongue and his teeth and his lips to stimulate her. Within moments, she arched to meet his mouth and began to tremble with desire.

Excited as she, James loosened his breeches, releasing his manhood. He lowered himself to her, filling Ella with one smooth thrust. “I shall not last long,” he growled. “I cannot get enough of you, Ella. I want to bury myself inside you—feel your womanhood contract around me.” He talked himself into the climax. His mind imagined the tightening before it came. His hips pumped hard and quick, drowning in his need for her. “I love you, Ella.”

“And I love you,” she whispered to his contorted face. Lifting her hips, she held herself still, where he might reach her more easily, allowing him to use her as a vessel for his desire. When she knew he was ready, Ella began to meet his thrusts with her own. Triumphantly, she watched as he succumbed to his desire—watched as his jaw locked in need—feeling his seed fill her.