Perhaps he caught her ambivalence, for he grinned.“I refuse to believe I’m casting my pearls before swine.That reminds me, I have something to show you.I shall have a glass of port in the study with you, if you do not object.”
She graciously allowed this, and as they walked to the more comfortable room her mind mulled over the concept of freedom.As she took a seat by the fire and he poured from the decanter left by Hollygirt, she said, “May I have some?”
He raised his brows.“Do you have a taste for it?”
Oh, why would she never learn to avoid impulse?“I have never tried it.I was trying an untrodden path.I’m sorry.It is a silly idea.”
He reached out to touch her hand.“Not at all.And I should not have queried such a simple request.”He held his glass out to her.“I’m afraid this is a dry port.Uncommon, and not to everyone’s taste.”
She sipped the pale golden fluid.It was strong, heady stuff, heavy on her tongue but full of rich flavors.She sipped again.“I like it, I think.”
He rang for another glass and filled it.Then he raised it to her.“To your adventures, my dear.”
“Are you laughing at me?”she asked, and yet it was impossible to take offense at his manner.
“No.”He was quite serious, she saw.“I am full of admiration.Only a fool leaps off cliffs.Small steps are much better in the end.”He sat down opposite her.“I started my traveling when I was ten years old and ran away from home.I had gone a hundred miles and was trying to get taken on as a cabin boy when my father found me.I wasn’t, on the whole, sorry to be found.Which is why I tell you if I find you drowning your sorrows in port, I shall put a stop to your adventures forthwith.”
She raised a brow boldly.“Unfair!May I only adventure as far as you permit?”
“Of course.Until the day comes when you do not care what I say, and then we shall doubtless have a battle royal.You may well win.Now tell me, do you have any other plans for adventure?”
Eleanor could not believe how happy she felt.It was as unaccustomed and delicious as the port.Perhaps it was the port, but it didn’t seem to matter.
“I must have new clothes,” she said, and then added a little awkwardly, “I need some money, actually.”
He was nonplused.“Good heavens, I never thought.My apologies.”He went to a picture on the wall and moved it aside to reveal a small door, which he unlocked.He took out a purse and gave it to her.From a glance she could tell there were over twenty guineas in it.
“That will keep you in funds for the time being,” he said.“I will arrange a regular allowance.Don’t spend that on clothes or the house,” he added.“Have them send their bills to me.”
Eleanor was dumbfounded.“But then what is this for?”
“Whatever you wish,” he shrugged.“Now, I promised to show you something.”He took some boxes from the safe.“There are one or two pieces of jewelry you may like to wear.This is just my magpie pickings.I will choose some especially for you as soon as I can.Kit has the family heirlooms and may suggest you wear them.You must do as you wish, but I don’t advise it.It is still possible he might decide to marry one day, and it would be galling to have to give them up.”
Like a child with a box of toys, Eleanor looked at the jewelry so casually laid before her.There was a beautiful sapphire parure of delicate design and a number of individual brooches and rings.There was also a long string of glowing pink pearls.Eleanor had never seen anything quite like it.
“How beautiful,” she said softly.“It must be worth a fortune.”
“The proverbial king’s ransom, though in this case a rajah.It was payment for a service I did him.Such a number of matched pink pearls is rare.I think it will suit you.Order a simple dress to complement them and we will show you and them off together.”
She cradled the gleaming rope in her hands.“Are we to go about in Society then?”
“Yes, as much as you wish.I may not always be able to be your escort, but you will soon make acquaintances of your own.I suppose,” he said with a grimace, “we should introduce you to the family.I will keep the pearls and sapphires here.Ask if you need them.The rest you may keep by you.”
Eleanor gave the necklace back a little reluctantly.He picked out a ring in which a large diamond was set in carved coral.“This is one of my favorites.”
He slipped it onto the ring finger of her right hand and dropped a gentle kiss upon her lips.
Eleanor saw he was tired.It was in his eyes and his voice, though he masked it well.Did that mean he would not bother her this night?
Instantly she berated herself for the thought.But out of consideration for him she rose and excused herself to go to her bed, thus freeing him to do the same if he wished.She also steeled herself to endure, no, to enjoy, whatever might come.
As Jenny brushed her hair to silk, Eleanor frowned at herself in the mirror.“I wish,” she said, “my eyes were green or brown.Anything but this wishy-washy blue.”
“You’ve very nice eyes, ma’am,” the maid said.“But I could make them finer by plucking your brows.”
“Plucking?Oh, I don’t know.It would not be proper, and it must hurt dreadfully.”
The maid shrugged.“Everyone does it, ma’am, and sometimes a little pain’s worth it, isn’t it?One of the ladies used to say it in French—” The maid stopped her brushing and put her hands to her mouth.“Ooh, I am sorry, ma’am.”
