“I’m very sorry,” she said, but added, “Marriage to a stranger is a dreadful step to take, though, and to such a one as your brother…”
She saw her doubts distressed him, but no matter how much he might love his twin, how else could he expect her to feel?
“It is not necessary that you decide at this moment,” he said hurriedly.“Nicholas left the country early this morning.It will be some weeks before he returns.”
He calmed and smiled gently.“You must be exhausted, Miss Chivenham.This is no time to be making decisions.Just be assured, whatever you decide, I will take care of you.What I suggest for now is that we install you in a hotel with a hired maid.You will be a widow.We will buy what you need immediately and you can assemble a modest wardrobe at your leisure.”
Eleanor fought back a surprising flood of tears.The prospect of someone taking care of her was likely to undo her as all her trials had not.Her sturdy independence, however, would not let her acquiesce so easily.“What will happen, Lord Stainbridge, if I do not marry your brother?”
The question did not appear to upset him.“If you prefer it, Miss Chivenham, you may set up house quietly somewhere as a widow, and I will support you.It is not, however, a course I recommend.There are always those ready to question a widow without connections, especially if she has a child.And, to be honest, I would prefer a child of my … my brother’s to grow up as part of the family.”
Eleanor had already faced the threat of pregnancy, but this cool discussion frayed her nerves.“From what I gather of your brother,” she said sharply, “there should be any number about.”
Again he flushed uncomfortably.“I have heard of none, and Nicholas would never abandon a child.He is very kindhearted.You must believe me.In truth,” he added, almost with desperation, “when he learns of this affair he will want to marry you and make all right.He will be as shocked as I by what was arranged.You will see.”
Eleanor looked away, bewildered by this relationship.Lord Stainbridge, an elegant man of the world, appeared to idolize his debauched twin and suffer to the heart at any criticism of the man.She, however, had experienced the other at his worst, even if in the briefest of encounters.
Either Lord Stainbridge was grossly deluded, or Nicholas Delaney had acted completely out of character.
“Perhaps when I meet Mr.Delaney,” she said carefully, “and we become acquainted, I may be happier at the prospect of this marriage.”
She was surprised to see that this conciliatory speech did not ease the earl at all.“I am not sure that is possible, Miss Chivenham,” he said, nervously pacing.“As I said, it will be weeks before Nicky returns.If there is a … a child, then the sooner you are wed the better.I believe you should be married as soon as he returns.In fact, I had thought we might give it out that you met in Paris and married there, returning with him.”
Surely the recent events have turned my wits, thought Eleanor, for this plan seems insane.“Even if I were fleeing the country this moment, my lord, and I do not have the means, it would be a very sudden attachment.”
Lord Stainbridge chewed his lip again.Eleanor was beginning to find it an irritating habit.“Where exactly was your home in Bedfordshire?”he asked suddenly, “and how long is it since you left it?”
“Near the village of Burton Magna.I left just after Christmas.”
He nodded with satisfaction.“Then if it should become necessary, we can give it out that you met Nicky in the country.It is only ten miles from Burton Magna to Grattingley, though I do not recall that our families knew each other.”
Eleanor was bleakly amused that he would even consider that the lowly Chivenhams of Burton Magna would be on terms with the local magnates, the Delaneys of Grattingley.He seemed to be cocooned by wealth and privilege from all understanding of lower forms of life.It must be that same wealth and privilege, however, that made him confident that all problems would bend to his wishes.She hoped he was proved correct.
“And my trip to France?”she asked.
He waved that off.“Everyone in the world is going to Paris these days, Miss Chivenham.The situation in your brother’s house became impossible,” he declared, “and you, in effect, eloped.”
“Eloped?”protested Eleanor in outrage.Then she realized that she was no longer in a position to care about such niceties.Coming back to earth with a thump, she accepted that a clandestine marriage was probably the best she could now hope for.
A clandestine marriage to a drunken, debauched black sheep.
She knew she was in danger of losing control.Her dignity seemed to be all she had left in the world, and consequently it was precious to her.Desperately she rose.“I am sorry, my lord.My head is spinning and I cannot think straight.Please could I become your ‘widow’ and get some rest?Can we talk of all this later?”
“Of course,” he said with his sweet smile.“You must trust me.It will all work out perfectly.You will see.”
Wealth and privilege.
In no time at all, it seemed, she was installed in a pleasant room in the quiet Hotel Marchmont, which was patronized mostly by clerical men and their families.An agency maid took charge of the basic items that some, presumably trustworthy, person had purchased for her.The woman behaved as if the situation was perfectly normal, and perhaps it was.
The aspect of the situation that bothered Eleanor most was the wedding ring the earl had provided, and which she felt obliged to wear.It seemed almost sacrilegious.
As he left, Lord Stainbridge slipped a purse into her hands with enough money for her to buy what she needed and pay vails.Eleanor could have wept at such thoughtfulness; not being penniless was a tremendous relief.She lay down on her bed to relax for the first time that day.She even drifted into a light sleep, but was awakened before she was fully rested by a scarcely remembered and yet horrible nightmare.
Sitting bolt upright in the bed, hands over her mouth, she swallowed against nausea and told herself she was safe.Even if her brother was to find her here, he could not harm her.She was under the protection of a powerful earl…
It was no good.She needed to escape the room.She had sense enough not to run into the unknown, but she hurriedly called for her maid and went out into the bustling street.
There were shops nearby, and as she calmed she began to take pleasure in looking at the wares displayed.It was not an area patronized by the ton, of course, but to Eleanor the goods were entrancing.When she recalled that she now had money to spend, her spirits began to lift.
