Please believe I write not from jealousy or malice but from a desire to avert the extreme unhappiness which faces your daughter in this union.
During a shopping trip, she left the letter herself at the receiving office, hoping she had shed at least one burden from her life.
She needed some relief.Since their argument Nicholas had treated her with icy punctiliousness on the few occasions when they had met.It was far worse than his impersonal courtesy and her heart was breaking.As the days passed and she heard nothing her anxiety over Deborah returned.She paid another visit to the Derrys.
They were as affable as before.On this occasion Mr.Derry, a tall and dignified man with shrewd eyes, was also present.
Mrs.Derry spoke first.“How kind of you to call again, Mrs.Delaney.Your brother left not fifteen minutes past.”That gave Eleanor no hope the matter was over with.“He was so pleased to hear you had called.He admitted that the two of you are not close, but he spoke kindly of you and seemed very fond.”
“Believe me,” said Eleanor with a smile, “I am quite as fond of him.”Then she had to sit and hear all the plans for the wedding and even give advice on some points.
At last she could escape.Mr.Derry made to escort her to her carriage, but as they went he asked for a private word.Eleanor agreed with a sinking heart.As she had expected, he produced her letter and asked for her opinion upon it.
“It seems a sincere missive,” she said cautiously.
Mr.Derry was not to be put off like that.“Come, come, Mrs.Delaney.What is that to the point?You know your brother.Is that letter truthful?”
With a sigh Eleanor said, “Yes, sir.I am afraid it is.”
“My word.”Mr.Derry began to pace the room.“Can you give me more details of his wickedness?”
Eleanor was uncomfortable.“Mr.Derry, my brother is most expensive, and this marriage would be excellent from his point of view.You are asking me to spoil his chances.Also, as you know, people differ in their tastes, even in families.We have never got along.In fact, we dislike one another heartily, though in fairness I must say he has never lacked friends.”She finished this wandering and useless speech by saying, “Also, I am afraid of him.”
“Mrs.Delaney!You think he would harm you if you speak against him?”
“He told me so.”
“My word,” he said again and resumed his pacing.
“This letter says he is a hypocrite,” he barked at last.
“So he is.He always appears jovial and pleasant even when he is doing the most unpleasant things.”
“It also says he is deeply entrenched in debauchery.”
Eleanor gave up all resistance.“Mr.Derry, I was forced by circumstances to live in my brother’s house for a brief period.I left it to marry.You might truthfully say I fled from it.It was a place of drunken orgies, including all the vices of which I am aware and doubtless many of which I am not.The servants were chosen to be participants in these revels, not for any domestic qualities they might possess.I only kept my virtue by locking my door.”
And, she might have added, in the end that did me no good.
She stood up.“There, that is the truth.You must do what you think best, but I ask you not to reveal my part in this to my brother.”
The worried-looking man took her hand.“Mrs.Delaney, I can only thank you for your frankness and assure you of my discretion.”
Eleanor took a calm leave of the man, but she had little hope that her brother would not perceive her hand in the ruin of his plans.She thought briefly of telling the tale to Nicholas and asking for his help, but as things were between them at the moment it seemed impossible.She would have to wait to see what happened.
When, three days later, she was taking her morning walk and saw her brother coming toward her Eleanor knew immediately there would be trouble.It was virtually unheard of for him to be out of his bed so early in the day and indeed, when he was close, she could see by his red and heavily pouched eyes that he was short of sleep.
“Dear sister, good morning!”He was as usual all affability.She discounted it completely.
“Brother.”She nodded and walked on.
He fell into step beside her.“I have sad news for you, Nell.My engagement to Miss Derry has been terminated.And after you had gone to such pains to befriend the family.A quite unexpected kindness on your part.”
Eleanor hoped she was not showing how his words affected her.“Am I to assume your betrothed detected your true nature?”
“Deborah?Never.She couldn’t perceive a wall before her face.No, it was dear Papa Derry who cut up rough.Had enquiries made.I don’t suppose he came inquiring of you, did he, sister dear?”
Eleanor suspected he knew of the time she had spent closeted with Mr.Derry and so she said, “Yes, he did, actually, and I assure you the temptation to tell the whole truth almost overwhelmed me.”
