Then the next day I was only just in time to stop her from killing herself, so I am looking after her for you.(Nicholas sighed.)
You know I can’t marry her myself, but you won’t mind, and women always seem to like your company.She was a virgin, Nicky.Besides, if she is unmarried, she will be in danger from her brother or Lord Deveril, who appears to want to marry her.You will be able to handle them.And there’s the possibility of a child, who would, after all, be a Delaney.
I really think it is essential that you marry her, and I am sorry to have to say this, but I will cut off your allowance completely if you do not comply.The honor of our house is at stake.If you can be at Newhaven on the 29th or thereabouts we will meet you there, and the ceremony can take place quietly but immediately.I have already inserted a notice to the effect that you have married in France, in case there should be a child, you see.So don’t be seen about too much without her, if you see what I mean.
Your loving brother, Kit
Nicholas Delaney closed his eyes in disbelief.Even for Kit this was a ridiculous handling of an incredible situation, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.Then he shrugged, read the letter again, and threw it in the fire, watching carefully to see it was thoroughly burnt.As he watched the flames he thought, Lionel Chivenham’s sister!He’d never heard of her, which was a good thing, he supposed.He wondered how old she was, what she looked like.Kit had neglected the details.
He could refuse, of course, and simply take off for a distant part of the globe.The financial threat didn’t bother him, but the fact it was made at all told him how desperate his brother was.Kit had never even hinted at such a thing before, not even when he’d been trying to get Nicholas to stay at home.
However, it wouldn’t suit him to go traveling again just now.He had to go to England very soon to take up the business that had started with Richard Anstable’s death.
He rubbed a hand down his face.God, what a mess!He knew, however, he would not be able to resist Kit if he was really set on this course.He had developed the habit early in life of extracting his twin from his problems.Besides, he loved him.
Shaking his head at the ironies of life, he sat down to compose his reply.He hoped his famous prowess with women would prove up to the demands about to be put upon it…
Chapter 3
In later years, Eleanor could only think that it was shock that enabled her to survive the waiting period so calmly.
She lived quietly at the hotel under the name Mrs.Childsley, only venturing out on occasional walks in either her coal-scuttle bonnet or a veiled hat.Lord Stainbridge visited frequently and brought journals and books, but she still had too much time to think, too many unpleasant dreams when she slept, and too much opportunity to have doubts.By sheer determination she refused to entertain them.She had made her decision.She would be under Lord Stainbridge’s protection and her husband would be mostly overseas.It would work.
Finally the day came for Eleanor to climb into Lord Stainbridge’s luxurious traveling carriage for the journey to Newhaven.Her principal feeling was one of relief.She felt as if she would almost have been as relieved to be going to her execution, only to be on her way, to have it done.
As the four horses pulled the carriage smoothly into motion, Lord Stainbridge turned to her.“I hope you do not mind leaving the maid behind, my dear.I felt it better that servants be as little involved with this as possible.She will hopefully never know Mrs.Childsley did not exist.”
“No, Lord Stainbridge, I do not mind.I am not accustomed to a maid in any case.”Eleanor was pleased with her level tone.
The earl smiled his approval.He seemed very relaxed and in command of the situation.Quite different from when she had first met him.“Good.Now, I have heard from my brother and he will be arriving at Newhaven this evening, as arranged.The weather seems clear, so there should be no impediment.He enclosed this for you.”
Eleanor took the sealed package with surprise.The package was not large but obviously contained a small, hard object.As she broke the seal and opened the paper, she felt a frisson of alarm.Suddenly her husband-to-be was becoming a reality, and the pretty emerald ring she found in the package made him more so.
The note was simply addressed in beautiful, flowing penmanship to Miss Eleanor Chivenham.It was a strong, decisive hand—not what she would expect from Nicholas Delaney.The letter was short and simple:
Dear Eleanor,
You must know I share all your feelings and anticipation at the thought of the ceremony to come.I can say no more.Please wear the small gift enclosed as a sign of your kindness towards me.Soon I will have the right to give you much more.
Nicholas Delaney.
An ambiguous and possibly alarming note, but Eleanor realized it could be read as expressing great devotion.It was undated, and if it was seen by anyone it could not gainsay their supposed relationship.This forethought, and the style of the letter, conveyed a sense of the man that would have been comforting if it had not been so unexpected.
She read it through again.This time, however, a note of antagonism, of reluctance, seemed to predominate in the letter.She considered the ring.Plain gold with a simple faceted emerald.Why did its quality seem to speak clearly in counterpoint to the letter?From a simple man this ring would have been a great gesture; from the earl it would have been close to an insult.From his brother it seemed to state clearly a precise degree of concern and obligation.
It was surely ridiculous, however, to think Nicholas Delaney had expended such thought on the matter.He had doubtless purchased the first adequate ring he could afford.She should be pleased he had bothered.
“That is a charming ring,” said Lord Stainbridge.
Eleanor looked up to realize he would dearly love to know what was in the note.She almost passed it to him, but some notion of loyalty to her future husband stopped her, and she folded it neatly to put it in her reticule.
“Your brother is very thoughtful,” she said.
“I’m glad.”The earl sounded relieved.
“Your brother is willing, Lord Stainbridge?”Eleanor queried.She had to know.This was all bad enough without a resentful husband.
The earl flushed.“What has he said?Of course he is.”The note of bitterness that so often touched his comments about his brother returned.“I assure you Nicky never does anything he does not wish to.If he wanted to avoid this marriage he would simply have left for the antipodes and not returned for years.”
