“She is dancing at present,” Lord Howerton said, beginning to walk away from them all at once. “But you are quite right, Lord Preston. Excuse me.”
“And I should do my duty also, as her responsible brother,” Lord Wishart added, with a nod. “Enjoy the evening.”
Rupert watched them both take their leave, feeling a tightness in his chest that he could not seem to push away. Their conversation had yielded nothing to him, and now he felt as if he were swimming in a cold, icy lake with no hope of ever finding land. Would he be obliged towards this person forever, forced to give them every single penny they wanted until he had no coin left? Dropping his head, he rubbed one hand over his eyes, trying to think clearly and refusing to let fear take complete control of him.
“Brother, look!”
Lifting his head sharply, Rupert turned his gaze in the direction his brother was pointing. To his utter relief and joy, he saw Lady Eleanor walking, arm in arm with Lady Catherine, looking entirely unharmed and with a delighted smile on her face. Their eyes met, and Rupert felt himself near glow with the joy of simply watching her approach.
“Lord Preston, good evening.” She smiled first at his brother and then looked to him. “Lord Finchley.”
“My dear Eleanor,” he breathed, heedless to whoever was around him as his brother pressed a kiss to the back of Lady Catherine’s hand. “Thank goodness you are quite all right. What happened?”
Her smile still lingering, she tilted her head and, bringing her arm round from behind her back, handed him the small bag that contained the money. “I was able to secure this,” she said, as Rupert’s breath swirled in his chest, shock rushing through him. “Your money, Lord Finchley. It is all quite safe.”
13
Earlier that evening.
Eleanor shifted in her seat,Catherine beside her. “I am sorry that your mother is not feeling particularly well but I must say, it has made this adventure a little easier.”
“Indeed it has.” Catherine’s voice was higher than usual, her fingers twisting together in her lap. “I know that we are only sitting in the carriage, but I must confess that I find myself quite anxious.”
“There is nothing to worry about,” Eleanor reassured her, quickly. “Look, there is Lord Finchley’s carriage. Watch now.” Her heart began to quicken as Lord Finchley and his brother stepped out, with Lord Preston putting a hand on his brother’s shoulder. Her heart leapt upwards at the sight of her beloved, wishing that she could leap out of the carriage and, in the darkness of the London street, throw herself into his arms just as she had done so many times before… but was denied at present. A small sigh broke from her lips as she watched them walk away, wondering if he would look over his shoulder to see if she was nearby.
He did not.
“They cannot give any sign that we are present,” Catherine murmured, as if she could read all of Eleanor’s thoughts. “They must continue on their way.”
“Yes, you are quite correct.” Closing her eyes, Eleanor gripped the bottom of the carriage seat, trying to contain both her own nervousness and anticipation about what was to come. Leaving the ball had been easy enough, for her father had permitted herself and Catherine to take a turn about the room together, while he went in search of some fine French brandy. Eleanor had every expectation that he would not remember their presence until they returned, although they could not take too long.
The carriage rolled forward, the driver following after Lord Finchley’s carriage as he had been instructed. Eleanor held her breath as they came to a stop, relieved that there was still enough light from both the full moon and the flickering lanterns for her to see by.
“You are not going to step out, are you?” Catherine whispered, as Eleanor nodded. “You cannot, Eleanor! You will be – ”
“I have a plan,” Eleanor broke in, taking her cousin’s hand and pressing it. “Trust me, my dear cousin. When we see someone approach, we must step out of our own carriage and quickly make our way towards Lord Finchley’s. It is only a small distance away. All will be well.”
Catherine, her eyes rounded, said nothing but looked out of the window instead, leaving Eleanor to do the same. Quite how long they sat there for, Eleanor did not know – but all thought of the ball and her father was quickly forgotten. Instead, she thought of Lord Finchley, of the threat he was under and about his sister… and what would become of them all should news get out about her child.
“There.”
Catherine nudged her, and Eleanor’s breath caught in her chest, seeing a small figure stepping out from the other side of the street. She could not make them out, but seeing them begin to approach the carriage, reaching for the door, she quickly stepped out herself.
“Docome along!” she exclaimed loudly, walking towards Lord Finchley’s carriage with hastened steps and hoping that Catherine was following behind. “It must be this one, I am sure of it!”
The figure ahead of her stopped at once, the door of the carriage now pulled open.
“Goodness, you quite frightened me!” Eleanor put one hand to her heart as Catherine followed after her. “Forgive me, I have left something… well, something of note in another carriage, and I cannot seem to locate it. The carriage, that is.”
The person stepped back from the carriage but said nothing, and Eleanor, her eyebrows lifting, saw that it was nothing more than a young man – a young man who was not dressed in any sort of finery.
“Is this your master’s?” Catherine, coming to stand beside Eleanor, shook one hand in the young man’s face. “You are not here tostealfrom these fine carriages, are you?”
“What else can I do, miss?” The fellow dropped his head but began to step back, moving away from them. “I am ever so hungry and these rich folks… well, sometimes there’s something that might get me some food.”
Catherine tossed her head. “And you thought to approachthiscarriage?” she asked as Eleanor let out an exclamation of what she hoped sounded like shock. “Would you have come for my own one next?”
“No, miss, I promise you, I – ” Without warning, the young man turned on his heel and ran off into the darkness, leavingEleanor and Catherine alone. Eleanor made to shut the door of the carriage, only to frown and pause. Then, after a moment, she looked back at Catherine, speaking in a loud voice.
