Rupert could not get Eleanor from his mind. Ever since he had sent the note – a note that had taken him hours and many attempts to write – he had done nothing but pace up and down his drawing room.
“Ah, there you are.” Coming into the drawing room, Lord Preston’s eyebrows rose, his lips tugging into a smile. “I see you are in some sort of distress, brother. Is it because you have been unable to find a suitable day and time for our cousins to come for dinner?”
Rupert ignored the hint of teasing in his brother’s voice. “I wrote to Lady Eleanor,” he muttered, by way of explanation. “I do not know if she will evenreadit, but I sent it regardless.”
Sitting down in a chair, Preston studied Rupert with careful eyes, his light smile gone. “I am sure you wrote very well.”
“I doubt she will respond to me.”
“But you hope for it?”
Coming to a stop, Rupert shook his head no. “I dare not let myself hope for that. The pain I have caused her will be great and the injury severe.”
“Might I ask what you told her?”
Rupert spread out his hands. “Very little. I did not tell her about the threat to our family name, nor did I evenmentionour sister. Instead, I simply apologized for what I did not do – namely, to go to her and tell her directly that what I had hoped for could not take place. Thereafter, I stated that I had been doing my best to protect her, but I did not say more than that.”
With a slow nod, Lord Preston rubbed at his chin. “If she comes to you, will you explain all to her?”
A harsh laugh broke from his lips. “She shall not come to me. My letter might have been discarded, or the words ignored. Recall, she has no reason to trust me.”
“I can see that, but all the same, there must be a little hope within you.”
Searching his heart and mind, Rupert shook his head no. “There is nothing but worry driving me at present.”
“Worry over what?”
He blinked, trying to understand himself. “I think it is a worry that she will reject my explanation. I caused her a heavy sorrow, and the only thing I hope for is that my letter will bring her a little more understanding than before. That is what I want for her and what I fear she will not have unless she reads my letter.”
Preston nodded. “So you are concerned she will not even read what you sent.”
“Yes, precisely.”
“And pacing the floor will help her do so, will it?”
Rupert stopped walking and turned to his brother. “I do not know what else to do.”
Preston shrugged. “Speak to Cook about our cousins coming to join us for dinner and send them an invitation?”
“I did so this morning.”
“Oh. That is good.” Preston tipped his head. “Then why not take the carriage and drive somewhere? Or walk, if that will suit you better, but at least that way, you will take yourself somewhere instead of wearing holes in the carpet!”
“I have no reason to take the carriage.”
“Go to Gunters for an ice,” Preston suggested. “Make your way to the bookshop and purchase something new. Do something that will distract you from your anxious thoughts – at least for a time. It will do you no good otherwise.”
“And if a note should come from her in the time I am gone?” It was not something Rupert hoped for or expected, but all the same, the chance was there.”
With a chuckle, Preston shook his head. “My dear brother, that is not a reason for hiding yourself away here. If a note should come from her, then you will receive it upon your return.”
Rupert scowled. “How is it that you have such wisdom upon your shoulders, brother? First, you tell me what I should have done when it came to Lady Eleanor, then you directed me on what I ought to do about it now. Then, you sit here and suggest something more for me to do!”
A lopsided smile stuck to Lord Preston’s lips. “And has any of my advice been wrong thus far?”
Unable to give him the answer, for he knew full well Preston was right, Rupert threw both hands through his hair and, with another grimace in his brother’s direction, stalked to the door. His brother’s laughter followed him, and Rupert smiled begrudgingly. He had to admit that his brother’s advice was good and, after a few more moments of consideration, Rupert decided he would follow it. A walk outdoors would do him good, although he had no intention whatsoever of going to fetch either a new book or an ice from Gunters. All he wanted was to walk and think and perhaps even pray until his mind was a little more settled than it was at present.
“Do watch where you’re going!”
