As Amy fell back in horror, he redirected his attack at his wife.“Since you have been so unwise as to come here,” he said coldly, meeting her wide blue eyes, “you may as well know the truth.Tonight I leave with Madame Bellaire, the woman I have always loved.You know I would never have married you if my brother had not forced me by threatening me with penury.You have my name.I will not let you or the brat starve.Be grateful for that.”
At the admission, Eleanor felt an icy rage boiling in her and was glad of it.It killed, for the moment, the pain.“I want nothing from you,” she choked out.“You are despicable!”She struggled for words to express her feelings, and then spat, “Oh, go wallow with your middle-aged whore!”and turned her face crying to the wall.
He lunged to lean over her before the spark of laughter could be seen in his eyes.God, he wished he’d seen Therese’s face at that hit.
“Better than a silly chit always wanting my attention and creating scenes!”he choked out.
When Amy started a protest he swung on her.“Shut up!”
He looked around in desperation, hoping he looked as if he was speechless with anger and trying to be sure he had covered enough ground to satisfy the watcher.He decided he had.Now to see if he could salvage something for his brave, wonderful darling.
“I have had enough of this,” he said coldly.“I am having you sent home.”He turned Eleanor and put his hands tight around her neck.Blue eyes clashed with brown.“If we ever meet again, madam, you will be more controlled and discreet.Do you understand?Controlled and discreet.”
Eleanor’s face seemed to freeze and she swallowed.“Yes, I understand,” she whispered, staring at him.
“Remember,” he snapped and strode out of the room.
Amy ran to Eleanor.Eleanor wrapped shaking arms around her.
“How could he?”choked the younger woman.
“Because he is despicable,” said Eleanor stonily.“Don’t speak to me of him.”
In a few moments their captor came to lead them down the stairs again to the same curtained carriage.
“Are they really taking us home?”whispered Amy as soon as they were inside.“Just like that?”
“I’m sure they are.Nicholas would never let them hurt you, at least.”
“Oh, Eleanor!”Tears of disillusion ran down Amy’s face.“How could he?”
“We will not discuss it,” said Eleanor, dry-eyed.
The coach came to a stop.Their guard helped them quickly down.“There you are ladies.Just a few streets from home.I said you had nothing to fear.Good night!”
Eleanor watched the carriage disappear and then set off briskly for Lauriston Street and home, refusing to respond to anything Amy said.Hollygirt nearly collapsed when he opened the door to them.
“Mrs.Delaney!Thank God.And Miss Haile.Heaven be praised!”
Instantly Mrs.Hollygirt was there too, with the rest of the staff following.
Jenny fussed over Eleanor until she put a stop to it.
“Hollygirt, I want tea,” Eleanor said in a brisk voice.“Sweet and well laced with brandy.Send a message to Lord Middlethorpe immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said the butler, patently relieved to find her in command.“But we were to send a message to Mr.Cavanagh’s.”
“Then do so, Hollygirt.Who knows we were missing?”
“Mr.Layering gave the alarm, ma’am.But I don’t know who he told.”
The tea came quickly and Eleanor made Amy drink some of it, though she did not like it.Eleanor herself found it very comforting.
As she sipped and grimaced, Amy looked anxiously at her friend.“Eleanor, are you all right?”
“I’m thinking.I wish Peter were here.I wonder if he is waiting at Cavanagh’s.”With sudden exasperation she said, “I need to know what’s happening!”
After a few more minutes of silence, Amy asked in a small voice, “Eleanor, is Nicholas usually so horrid to you?”
