Obviously shocked and hurt, Lord Stainbridge took Eleanor aside to tell her she was free to remain in his home if she wished.She refused as politely as she could, amazed that he would even make the suggestion.Even had she wished to do so, it would be an impossible arrangement, one that would cause a great deal of talk.
Despite her refusal of this offer, however, Eleanor’s feelings were mixed.She no longer felt that she needed protection from her husband, and she now knew Lord Stainbridge was not the paragon she had supposed.She suspected, however, that Nicholas Delaney was something of a libertine and she feared finding herself in a ménage similar to that of her brother.
Number 5 Lauriston Street, however, turned out to be a charming, stylish residence.The glossy black door with shiny brass fittings was opened by a dauntingly respectable butler.Eleanor was immediately surrounded by an aura of wealth, good taste, and above all, respectability.She could smell it along with the aroma of beeswax polish.It was wonderful.
It was a masculine household, however, and when Nicholas led her aside to await the assembling of the staff, it was to a functional library, completely lined with books.
“What a lovely room,” she said, running a cherishing hand along the surface of a walnut desk.“I suppose you will guard it jealously.”
“Not from you, Eleanor,” he said with a pleased smile.“You are welcome to come here whenever you wish.If I need to be private then I will tell you.We will fix up a boudoir for you as soon as possible, but for the moment this is the coziest room for informal use.I’m afraid I was not quite honest with Kit.I have been used to using only one bedroom, the dining room, and this library.But it will not take long to arrange matters.”
“Lord Stainbridge seemed very upset to find you had not told him of this house.”
He was riffling through a stack of letters on the desk.“My brother is a strange fellow, Eleanor.He dislikes many of his responsibilities but he relishes playing the benevolent despot with me.I have no doubt he did the same with you.And for all that I love him, I will not live in his pocket.It would not be good for either of us.”
Eleanor silently agreed with this.“But this house must cost a great deal of money for such little use.”
He laid the post aside, having found nothing of urgent interest.“My one indulgence.But as I said, a good investment.I have appreciated having a home where I can live quietly—and escape the matchmaking mamas.”He grinned at her.“That is one burden you have relieved me of, my dear.”
In one sense it was a gracious statement, and yet it reminded her that he had not wanted to marry.It also reminded her of his skills in dissimulation and manipulation.“How frank you appear.But then, all this must be known to the servants here, I suppose.”
A faint hauteur on his face warned of his displeasure.“Useless to expect, of course, that you would hesitate to question the staff about your husband?”
She reacted instinctively.“Oh, one never questions.One need only give them leave to talk and talk they will.They know everything.”
“Good God, I hope not, for all our sakes.”He appeared deadly serious.
Eleanor remembered the mysterious events before their wedding and all her newborn confidence ebbed away.
“In many ways, Eleanor,” he said, “the next few weeks would be a great deal easier if you were a simpering ninny.But then,” he added in a lighter tone, “when I envisage a lifetime with such a female I am not unhappy with my lot.”
Eleanor found scant comfort in this.What was to happen over the next few weeks and how would it affect her?Before she could decide whether to question him the butler came to tell them the staff was assembled.
Hollygirt, the butler, presented his wife, the housekeeper; Mrs.Cooke, who was in fact the cook but unmarried; a footman; a parlor maid; a groom; and a gaggle of awed lower servants.Hollygirt formally offered the couple the best wishes of the staff, and then Eleanor followed the housekeeper upstairs.
Mrs.Hollygirt flung open a door.“The master bedroom, ma’am.”
This room too, delighted her, being large with full-length windows filling the room with light.The furniture was in the slender, modern style, and the draperies were of brown velvet trimmed with gold.On the floor, however, were two dark bearskins, complete with head and claws.
“Good heavens!”Eleanor exclaimed.
“Nasty, barbarous things,” said Mrs.Hollygirt with a sniff.“The master has some funny stuff, begging your pardon, ma’am.It will be a pleasure to have a lady here.”
She indicated two doors on either side of the room.“That one is the master’s dressing room and this one is yours, ma’am.It’s rather bleak, not having been much used.”The woman’s face tightened as she realized she had made afaux-pas, but Eleanor ignored it.
“I will enjoy decorating it to my taste, Mrs.Hollygirt.”
The older woman hurried through to another unfurnished bedroom, totally out of character with the parts of the house Eleanor had seen so far.Though not dissimilar to the master bedroom in size and shape, it was made horrible by walls, curtains, and carpet in sickly shades of pink, green, and cream.
“Oh,” was all Eleanor could think to say when faced by this bilious vision.
“This room, the nurseries, two other bedrooms, and the drawing room haven’t been touched since Mr.Delaney bought the house, ma’am.They are as the previous owners left them.No doubt you will wish to have them redecorated.”There was a clear implication that if she didn’t, she had no right to be mistress of the house.
“Oh yes, indeed,” said Eleanor.“It will be one of my first tasks.Let us leave.”
Eleanor had to fight back a grin.She was delighted there were shortcomings to be overcome.This was her home, hers to do with as she wished.She wondered how much money she would be allowed to spend and how she could find out.With a frown, she supposed it would depend on Lord Stainbridge’s generosity.Not a pleasant situation.
Back in her dressing room, Eleanor found her few pieces of luggage had been brought up and a maid was carefully putting away her garments.
