“An excellent idea,” the earl was saying heartily.“I believe I will join you.This crisp, clear weather is very invigorating.”
Eleanor rather thought he was overdoing things.
Over the meal the brothers monopolized the conversation, talking of their home and sharing news of family and friends.Eleanor listened carefully for information about her new family.She drank two glasses of wine, and then lifted her glass to find it empty.She realized her “husband” had neglected to fill it the last time he had filled his own and his brother’s.If I need to be drunk to get through this, she thought, then that is my affair.
She held out her glass.“May I have more wine, please?”
Nicholas looked at her with a smile in his eyes.“No,” he said.“You will find water much more refreshing.”He courteously poured her some.
Before she could frame a response, he resumed his conversation with his brother.Short of climbing over the table to reach the bottle there was nothing she could do, but she made a great many resolutions about Mr.Nicholas Delaney, impenitent villain and tyrant.
She was soon glad, however, that he had stopped her, for when she rose from the table the world lurched, and she had to hold onto her chair to keep her balance.She accepted his offered arm, pleased to see that his face was wisely expressionless.
To her relief, she found that the effects soon diminished, and she was able to climb the stairs unaided to collect her cloak and reticule.She still felt, however, a slight numbness that told her the alcohol had affected her, and a mental detachment that she welcomed.She intended to think as little as possible during the next few hours.
As she made to descend the stairs, however, Eleanor witnessed a tableau below.Nicholas Delaney was awaiting her—all loose-limbed elegance despite a day’s traveling—in his high-waisted green jacket, buckskins, and boots.
A door opened and the woman called Therese came into view, followed by a very beautiful, very young man whose blue eyes narrowed jealously when he saw the occupant of the hall.Therese, however, was obviously delighted, as was Mr.Delaney.Eleanor could not hear the words said, but the tone on both sides was light and fond.Then it became worse.A serious note entered their conversation, and Nicholas carried both the lady’s hands passionately to his lips.
The tableau broke up.
Simultaneously Therese moved upstairs, followed by her sulky swain, and Lord Stainbridge entered from outside.
Eleanor stepped back, both to collect her thoughts and to avoid passing the Frenchwoman on the stairs.In fact, she retreated all the way to her room, and there found to her horror that her hands were tightly clenched beneath the fold of her mantle.Come, this would never do.
She forced herself to confront her feelings.She was jealous.Could there be anything more ridiculous?Of course he had a mistress, and it was not surprising that she was beautiful.He would doubtless set up an establishment for her.It was not uncommon, and, particularly in their situation, provided Eleanor no insult.
Not really.
This desire she felt to run and hide, or to throw a scene, was ridiculous.Nicholas Delaney was that monstrous attacker of just a few weeks ago, and she should be happy that the foreign woman would relieve her of his brutish attentions.
Still, before she could descend the stairs with composure she had to go over again in her mind all her reasons for the marriage.You are doing this for a child you may bear, for a position in Society, for an upright family to belong to…
Suddenly, breaking through her thoughts like a sunbeam, Eleanor wondered what Nicholas Delaney had made of the beautiful young man trailing his mistress up the stairs.She smiled slightly and hoped he too was itched by the green-eyed monster.That unkind wish bolstered her enough that she was able to meet the twins with composure and set out for her wedding.
The trio strolled down the pleasant, winding streets of the port talking idly of minor matters, until Nicholas said prosaically, “We’re being followed.”
Eleanor could not resist it.“Perhaps it is Madame Therese,” she teased, “unable to let you out of her sight.”
She received an unfriendly look.“More than likely.In which case it is I who will be followed.We don’t want the curious to know we are on our way to a church.”He turned to his bemused brother.“Go on as arranged, Kit, and I will meet you there.”
Lord Stainbridge made no objection, but Eleanor could not let this pass.“This is ridiculous.Are you mad?Who on earth would follow us?”
She knew immediately that Nicholas Delaney was not accustomed to having his orders questioned.Even though his face was impassive and his tone level, he expressed displeasure as he said, “As you have suggested, my anxious lovers or any number of other people.I merely wish to make sure that nobody has ready ammunition for blackmail.If I cannot evade whoever it is, the marriage will have to be put off.”With that he disappeared into the shadows.
A minute or so later Eleanor glanced back and saw a figure cross the street and go in the same direction.“We were being followed?”she said in amazement.
Lord Stainbridge nodded.“Nicholas is never needlessly melodramatic.In his way of life he must make enemies.”
“But he might be attacked, killed!”
Lord Stainbridge shrugged.“Inconvenient, I agree.However, he is normally well able to take care of himself.This is the church.”
Eleanor looked at him in surprise, but saw by the pale light from the church windows that he was not as calm as he pretended.How hard it must be to love Nicholas Delaney.Thank heaven she was immune from that fate at least.
It was a small, simple church, neither new nor fashionable.The minister waiting for them was thin, gray, and tired.“Mr.Delaney and Miss Chivenham?”
Explanations were made, and the minister agreed with bad grace to wait for a little while longer.He disappeared into his vestry while Eleanor and Lord Stainbridge sat in a very uncomfortable pew to wait.Eleanor felt that perhaps she should pray; attempt to make something spiritual out of this momentous occasion, but the church was bleak, cold, and uninspiring.She thought instead about her bridegroom.
