“I could not tell you,” he said, brokenly. “I did not know what you would think, but I feared what would occur should anyone find out about my sister. It is a terrible thing to have a child without being wed. It is the sort of thing that ruins families for generations.”
“Indeed,” Lady Eleanor whispered, her hand dropping back to her side, tears in her eyes now. “Your sister must have been greatly upset herself. Is she quite well now?”
It took Rupert a few moments to respond, astonished that she was thinking so kindly of Rebecca instead of being captured with horror over what Rebecca had done. “She… she is well,” he said, slowly.
“And the child?”
Rupert nodded, his heart beginning to pour over with love for the woman in front of him. Why had he ever feared her response? There was nothing but compassion and kindness within her. “He is well,” he responded. “My sister adores him, so I am told.”
Lady Eleanor took out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. “What became of her? You said that the situation was resolved, did you not?”
“Yes, I did.” A small smile touched his lips despite the difficulty of their conversation. “A gentleman near to my aunt and uncle’s estate had previously expressed an interest in Rebecca’s hand in marriage. I spoke with him at length about the matter, and in turn, he spoke to Rebecca.” His smile faded. “My sister informed him – though she had not told me before this – that the child came about without her consent.”
A shudder ran over him as Lady Eleanor closed her eyes.
“I could not tell you the fury that passed over me upon hearing that,” Rupert continued, heavily. “Preston had the very same response. I confess, I left that matter in his hands, for he was quite determined to deal with that fellow in a firm and unrelenting way.”
“Oh, I am terribly sorry to hear such a thing.” Lady Eleanor’s face had lost all color, her shoulders dropping low. “Your poor sister. How dreadful a thing to endure.”
“She is contented now, however,” Rupert replied, recalling the pain that had torn through his sister’s expression when she had finally told him the truth about what had taken place. “Lord Nottingham is an excellent gentleman, for he showed the same compassion and understanding as you, Eleanor. They were married a little over a month ago and, from what I hear, the whisper is that the child is his, that he simply could not wait until they were married. Given that the estate is far from London, closer to the border of Scotland than to this place, I had not thought that anyone would either find out about it or give too much consideration to it, but – ”
He stopped dead. He was not about to tell Eleanor any more, not when she had heard so much from him already. That was all the explanation she needed.
“What else were you going to say?” She drew closer and put one hand on his arm, sending a searing heat right through him. “Is there something more?”
Closing his eyes so that he could not see her, Rupert swallowed thickly. “I cannot,” he rasped, his emotions redoubling themselves, taking a complete hold of him. If he opened his eyes again to see her light blue eyes gazing up at him, he feared he would lose himself completely, would lower his head and kiss her senseless, even as they stood in the ballroom. “Eleanor, please.”
For a long moment, nothing happened. Her hand actually tightened on his arm for just a moment before, after a long breath that brushed across his cheek, she stepped back and took her fingers from his arm.
“I hope that you will be satisfied now, as much as you can be,” Rupert said, heavily as he dared to open his eyes again and look at her. “And Eleanor, I truly am desperately sorry for what I failed to do at the time of our connection. I should never haveleft without explanation. For the pain and the sorrow and the upset you have endured, I am truly sorry.”
She nodded but said nothing, her eyes holding fast to his, a glint within them that Rupert could not fully understand. They stood like that for some time, with every moment feeling as if it stretched on and on. Rupert curled his hands into fists, resisting the quiet demand of his heart to go to her, to catch her up in his arms once more and confess all he felt for her still.
“I am grateful that I now know the truth,” she said, eventually. “I will, of course, keep that all to myself. No one needs to know anything of it.”
“I thank you.” Putting one hand to his heart, Rupert bowed low. “Eleanor, I am sorry.”
“I know.” Her smile was present but then gone again in a second, the light in her eyes dimming now. “I accept your apology, Rupert.”
The way she said his name had him sighing aloud, a groan catching the end of it. It was an intimacy that no one but she had, something that she had only ever whispered into his ear when they had been held in an embrace. For her to speak to him now in that way made his heart both sting with pain and squeeze with joy.
“We are to dance later, I know,” she said, turning away from him. “But do not worry, I will not ask you anything more.”
Rupert nodded but did not watch her leave, seeing her aunt standing only a few steps away. Pushing his fingers through his hair, he walked away from her, striding across the room to find some brandy or whisky, whatever he could find. Speaking with her had been more costly than he had ever anticipated, for it had brought back all that he felt for her with an increasing strength. Speaking of his sister had taken some of his energy from him for it made him now think of the threat hanging over his head.Weary and broken, he threw back one measure and then picked up a second, trying to steady himself inwardly.
“Lord Finchley?”
Pausing before he took another sip, Rupert took the note offered by the footman. “Who gave this to you?”
The footman inclined his head. “It was set upon my tray without my awareness, my lord. I am afraid I do not know who set it there.” Without another word, he stepped away, leaving Rupert to read the short note.
‘We shall start with something simple enough,’he read, his brow furrowing.I should like you to send me enough coin to purchase a box at the Theatre Royal. You may have one of your own already, but this shall be for my own use, or to rent it out as I wish. A child will be waiting for you at the door of your house in the morning. Make sure he has it, else your sister’s present circumstances shall soon be made known to all.’
Breathing hard, Rupert raked one hand through his hair, anger beginning to build in his chest. Whoever this was, they were making it quite clear that they knew all about Rebecca, her marriage, and her illegitimate child, which meant the threat was very real. What was he to do?
“There is only one thing I can do,” Rupert muttered, closing up the note and turning to make his way out of the ballroom. His dances forgotten, he set about the task required for him, seeing no way out other than to do precisely what was asked.
9
