Rupert nodded and managed to smile, knowing that this was not the reason for his stepping back into the shadows. “You are quite right.”
“Then come,” Preston said, firmly, keeping his gaze pinned to Rupert as if afraid to remove it for fear Rupert would hurry back again. “I have made some new acquaintances – some verybeautifulacquaintances, I might add – and have promised you will be introduced to them in a moment. So, shall we take our leave?”
Having no other choice but to accept, Rupert followed after his brother and inwardly prepared himself to be introduced to these young ladies. There was no joy, hope, or expectation within him, however. His heart remained dulled, his spirits weighted, and his whole being filled with nothing but regret.
3
“Would you like to explain to me what happened, Eleanor?”
Eleanor looked up at her aunt as they walked through the park. “Whatever do you mean, Aunt?”
“I think you know very well what I mean,” her aunt replied, as Catherine walked beside Eleanor on the other side, suddenly silent. “Catherine and I both witnessed a dreadful horror wash over your face mid-way through a conversation we were having about your mother. Then, without any explanation, you dropped your glass of ratafia – which then splashed over all of our gowns – and hurried away from us all.”
Shame made Eleanor drop her head. “I am sorry about your gown, Aunt. And for yours also, Catherine. I – ”
“Please, do not think that I need you to apologize,” her aunt said quickly. “That is not at all my concern.” Slowing her steps, she looked into Eleanor’s face. “My only concern is you, my dear. Something upset you greatly, did it not?”
Closing her eyes for a moment, Eleanor nodded and then looked back down at the path as they walked.
“Does your father know of your upset? Is he aware of whatever situation has caused you so much strife?”
Eleanor looked at her aunt. “No, he does not know anything. I should prefer for him not to know either, for he will no doubt berate me and – ”
“And that is not at all what you need at this present moment,” Lady Cumbria said, with gentle understanding. “I do hate to press you so, Eleanor, but if I am to chaperone you, then I must know what has taken place.”
“I can step away, if you wish it,” Catherine said, her voice just as kind as her mother’s. “If it is easier for you to speak, then I can fall back a few steps.”
Taking in a deep breath, Eleanor shook her head. “It is not necessary. I thought that I would have been able to set all of this aside now, but I have been quite unable to do so.”
Her aunt looked at her. “What is it that you have tried to do, Eleanor?”
“Tried to forget him.” The words came slowly, and seeing the frown that instantly dropped into Lady Cumbria’s forehead, Eleanor winced. “I fear that you will think me quite foolish, Aunt, but that is quite all right. I think poorly of my own judgment also.”
Leading her to a bench that was a little away from the growing crowd in Hyde Park, her aunt sat down, and Eleanor followed suit, though Catherine remained standing in front of them both.
“I will not be harsh in my judgments, I assure you,” she swore as Eleanor tried to find the words to even begin her explanation. “But please, do be truthful. Do not hold anything back.”
With a nod, Eleanor closed her eyes, finding it easier to speak when she did not have to look at her aunt or cousin. “Around three months ago, I was out walking in the woods by my father’sestate. They are near the edge of it, and thus, I was quite far from the house.”
“Alone?”
Eleanor twisted her hands in her lap. “Mother had gone to be with Susan.”
“Because she was with child and was finding it all a little difficult, yes.”
“Indeed. Father was not as… careful as my mother and thus, I found myself quite able to do just as I pleased. You may know just how much I adore walking and riding – though I ought not to have gone so far – but I was never afraid of getting lost.” She took in another breath and steadied herself inwardly. “As I was walking, I met a gentleman.”
Catherine caught her breath, but Eleanor did not dare to look up at her, afraid she would see disappointment in her cousin’s face over the fact that she did not instantly hurry away.
“We were both rather surprised to see each other,” she continued, recalling the moment she had seen the tall, broad-shouldered gentleman with those warm green eyes she had come to love so very much. “We talked for some time.”
“You could have been taken advantage of, Eleanor!” Her aunt was wringing her hands. “What if he had done something quite dreadful?”
With a small nod, Eleanor looked down at her hands in her lap. “He did not, however. I learned that he was a gentleman with an estate near to my father’s – the Marquess of Finchley.”
“A Marquess?” Catherine’s eyebrows shot upwards as Eleanor glanced at her. “Then he must have a good reputation, surely?”
“Even those with high titles can be scoundrels, Catherine,” her mother corrected, with a frown. “But it seems that this fellow was not.”
