This made Eleanor laugh as she threw her arms around his neck and let him hold her tightly. The happiness within her was so great, she could barely contain it, wishing that she could cling to him and stay there for the rest of her days. To be so near to him, to be so close, was all she desired, though if they were soon to wed, then it would not be long until she had her wish.
“You will accept me, will you not?”
Leaning back, Eleanor ran her fingers through his light brown hair as it draped itself across his forehead, pushing it back just a little. “My dear Finchley, can it be that you have some doubt in your heart over my answer?”
The edge of his lip curled upwards. “It is not that I doubt, Eleanor. It is only that I want to hear those words on your lips.”
Eleanor smiled, pushed herself up on tiptoe, and with her hands grasping his shoulders for balance, settled her lips on his. “Yes,” she murmured, pulling back a fraction, only to kiss him again. After another moment, she broke the kiss and, seeing his eyes closed and hearing his quickened breath, smiled softly. “Yes, Finchley. When the time comes for you to ask me to marry you, I swear to you that I will accept.”
“Then I will call tomorrow,” he breathed, his eyes still closed. “For I do not think I can wait any longer to make it known to all just how much I care for you.”
Eleanor wrappedher arms around her knees, looking out into the darkness as she sat in the window seat of the library.
Lord Finchley had not come.
It had been two days since they had met in the woods, two days since he had made her that promise. What had become of him? What had become of his word to her? She had sent a note earlier that day to his estate, begging to know where he was and what had happened to cause him to delay. His estate was not more than half a day’s ride away, and she had been expecting her servant to return for the last hour or two. What answer he would bring with him, however, Eleanor did not know.
Was I a fool?Closing her eyes against the hot tears that began to burn in her eyes, Eleanor let out a ragged breath and shook her head no. It could not be that all Lord Finchley had said was a lie, could it? All the things he had promised her, all the things he had sworn to her, had they been nothing but falsehoods? Eleanor could not bring herself to believe it. To accept that she had been deceived in Lord Finchley would mean not only shame for her but a broken heart, and at present, Eleanor could not yet face that.
“My lady?”
The door opened a crack, and Eleanor, swinging her legs down from the window seat and hastily wiping her eyes, called for the servant to come in.
“Forgive me for the interruption. The maid assured me you were here, but when I knocked, there was no response.” The man bowed low. “I apologize for that.”
“There is no apology required,” Eleanor answered, hastily. “Pray, tell me if there is a reply?”
Her servant bowed his head low, his shoulders rounding, and in an instant, Eleanor knew all was not well.
“He was making his way from the estate when I came to it, my lady,” he said, as Eleanor frowned, her heart beginning topull into a panicked rhythm. “I did not dare ask where he was going, but when I said to him I had a letter from you, he – ” Stuttering to a stop, the man shifted on his feet as Eleanor sank into a chair, already anticipating some dreadful news. “He would not accept it, my lady.”
Eleanor let out an involuntary gasp of shock, her eyes flaring wide as the servant looked back at her, misery in his expression. Clearly, he had anticipated what this would do to her and had been entirely disinclined towards sharing it, but he had been obliged to do so nonetheless. Eleanor, for her part, could not even think. Her mind was blank, shock filling her like ice. Her eyes went wide and staring, her hands gripping the arms of the chair, her breathing coming in sharp gasps as she tried to make sense of what had been said.
“Perhaps a brandy?” When Eleanor did not answer, the servant made his way quickly across the room and poured her a small measure into a glass, which he pressed into her hand. Eleanor stared down at it, feeling as if she were slowly sinking into the dark shadows of the room.
“Should I fetch someone, my lady?” The servant was gazing at her with clear concern, but Eleanor could only shake her head. Who was there to tell? Her father did not know of Lord Finchley, her mother was gone from the house, and thus, she was now quite alone.
Truly alone, for I do not have Lord Finchley’s heart any longer.Her eyes closed, tears slipping onto her cheeks.Perhaps I never really did.
“My lady?”
“You have done well.” Pulling out her handkerchief, Eleanor wiped at her eyes. “There is nothing more you need to do now. Go.”
The servant looked as if he were to defy her, as if he wanted to do or say something more that would bring her comfort, butwith a wave of her hand, Eleanor made her dismissal clear. With a nod, the man took himself from the room and, upon hearing the door closing behind him, Eleanor put her head in her hands and began to weep.
She had been a fool, then. Nothing but an inexperienced, trusting fool who Lord Finchley had decided to cast aside instead of continuing with his duping. No doubt he was laughing at her now, thinking of just how easily she had been taken in by him.
Her heart broke into tiny pieces as Eleanor cried tears of sorrow and anguish. She was alone in this, for no one else knew of their connection, and thus, she was alone in her pain and brokenness. What she had thought to be one of the happiest days of her life had now turned into the most difficult and trying of days instead. Now, all she was left with as a memory of Lord Finchley was a shattered heart.
1
Eleanor looked back at her reflection.
“I do think you need to eat a little more, my lady.” Her lady’s maid, Gillian, set a pendant at Eleanor’s neck. “You have become a little paler these last few months, and I must say, I am concerned for you.”
With a wane smile, Eleanor touched the pendant lightly. “I am just a little anxious, that is all.”
“What of?” her maid asked, their relationship having been established for so many years, there was nearly enough of a friendship between them. “You made your come out last year, my lady, and that went very well indeed. I am sure you have nothing to worry about.”
