She took Jenny as her companion and began to explore the neighborhood.Lauriston Street was formed of new, elegant houses close enough to the fashionable centers to be convenient but far enough away to be quiet.In the central gardens of the surrounding squares the spring flowers made a pretty show, and the trees were beginning to bud.The occasional pair of birds swooped and twittered in mating rituals.
The atmosphere of renewal was irresistible, especially as Eleanor felt as if her life was preparing for new bloom.
As they retraced their steps to Lauriston Street, however, Jenny said, “Begging your pardon, ma’am, but I think there is a man a-following us.”
Eleanor immediately recollected that strange night in Newhaven.She stopped herself from turning to search the street and told Jenny to do the same.“What does he look like?”
“I don’t rightly know, ma’am.An ordinary young fellow.But I saw him when I looked back, and I saw him a while ago, and I think I saw him hanging about the street when we came out.There aren’t that many people abroad this time of day, not just ambling about.”
“It is certainly very strange,” mused Eleanor as they walked along.“Jenny, I want you to stop as if you have a stone in your shoe.I will walk on and then turn to come back to you.It will give me an opportunity to see him.”
This maneuver was completed successfully, and Eleanor saw a young, well-built man leaning nonchalantly against some railings staring at a tree in bud.He was dressed plainly and looked like an artisan or clerk.In fact, he looked totally respectable except that such a one should be about his employment, not idling in the street.
As they walked on Jenny whispered, “Did you see him, ma’am?”
“Yes.Young, dark-haired, dressed in brown.”
“That’s him, ma’am.Lawks, do you think he fancies one of us?”She giggled, and then blushed at having suggested such a thing of her mistress.
“It’s possible he’s taken with your charms,” Eleanor said with a smile, though she didn’t really believe it.If they were being followed it was something to do with her husband’s business.But the only business of her husband’s she knew about was his mistress, who would hardly be responsible for having her followed.“Do you know him?”she asked the maid.
Jenny denied this fiercely, explaining she was “going” with a footman at the Arbuthnots’ who would fair kill her if she so much as looked at another man.Eleanor was amused to see, however, that she thought the young man was smitten by her and was flattered at the notion.
Eleanor considered the incident all the way home.He could be a devoted admirer who hung about on the chance that Jenny might go for a walk.But why did he not have employment?
Once home she was forced to put the matter aside as she attended to last-minute details of her first entertainment.As soon as Nicholas returned, however, she told him of the morning’s incident, watching carefully to see if he thought it suspicious.
“What a clever trick to use,” he said when she told how she had made the chance to look at the “follower.”
He considered the matter for a moment then said, “It could have been innocent—some idler admiring two pretty women.I admit, though, it could have been connected with my affairs.I will take care of the matter, but for the next few days I would rather you did not go out without a footman.And avoid isolated places, even in company.”
Eleanor had not expected such a blunt admission.“Am I in danger?”she asked, startled.“What is this business of yours that causes such adventures?”
“You are not in danger,” he said shortly.“If you were, I would take steps to protect you.There is the possibility of some minor annoyance, however, and that is why I wish you to take precautions.As to my business, it need not concern you.”
Eleanor was about to object sharply to this summary statement when he smiled and said, “It will soon be completed.Then, perhaps, we can take a proper honeymoon.We could go to the country.”
She simply could not attempt to drag their conversation back into stormy waters.“Where would we go?”
“We would be welcome at Grattingley,” he said, “but I think we could do without my brother’s company, so, unless a fashionable place such as Brighton appeals, I suggest my estate in Somerset.”
“That sounds delightful.But Lord Stainbridge said your properties were let.”
He smiled ruefully.“The properties I inherited are let, and I receive my income out of the rents.I purchased the Somerset property myself.”
“But…“Eleanor broke off what could be seen as an impertinent question.
“But what?”he prompted her.
After a moment she asked her question.“But how can you afford to purchase these properties?”
He was not put out.“An economical style of living,” he replied with a grin.“Kit considers my income modest, but he is used to bearing the burden of two estates, the town house, the hunting box, the Scottish property, the Jamaica plantation … You see what I mean?For someone who travels alone and by simple means, my ‘allowance’ is a ridiculously large amount of money on top of the income from the properties, particularly as living abroad costs so much less.I could live like a prince in Italy on a half of my income, but I have no taste for that.And so I have invested it.My man of business had instructions to purchase a small house in town and a comfortable property in the country and he has done so.There are moneys in funds, in addition.On some of my journeys I have even managed to earn a little something extra, such as the pearls, for example.”
“But if you wanted an estate, why did you not simply take over one of your own?”
He shrugged and a trace of sadness flickered on his face, as it so often did when the subject of his brother arose.“It is not clear under my father’s will, and his instructions to Kit, whether that is permitted.Besides, I find it desirable to have something independent of him.After all, he might take it into his head someday to try to pressure me into doing something unwise.”
Eleanor caught her breath and would have commented on that but he carried on, “If you can, I would prefer that you not tell Kit of the country estate just yet.He is still coming to terms with the fact that I own this house.”
