“And the future viscountess will also write to and receive letters from all of her friends.”
Philip had phrased this as though it was a statement and not a question, and the general’s face flashed in anger for a moment. He thought the general was about to contradict him and assert his will, as he typically did. Instead, he inclined his head.
“Eleanor can always write to whomever she pleases.” General Tilney did not look ashamed in the slightest, but at least Eleanor would not be isolated while she awaited their marriage. “Yes, what a foolish thing to ask, my lord. I insist on your writing to one another while you must be apart, but I hope you will not often be gone from Northanger until June 25.”
“I shall not be gone from Eleanor any longer than I must be on account of my business. And I am as eager as you are to see her as Lady Vaughan.” He bowed, reconciling himself to having General Tilney as his father-in-law.
“How fine that sounds,” General Tilney cried, clapping his hands together as they left the library. “Lady Vaughan.”
ChapterSeventeen
Eleanor rushed on her walk back to the Abbey. She was not certain that her father and Philip had concluded their interview by now, but she was too eager to speak with Philip to loiter any longer. Her father would not think to find her and offer his congratulations—he would not consider it a courtesy due to her—but Philip would seek her out.
She could be married this summer, and only had in the meantime to bide her time at Northanger. Eleanor could never before remember feeling this constant, ever-present feeling of everything being light and promising. She had had moments of cheerfulness since her mother died, but they were not a steady presence in her life.
The despair she had felt since Catherine was thrown out and Henry banished was gone, although her father would not soon relent on that count. Perhaps it was optimism or genuine satisfaction, but for the first time since her mother died, Eleanor did not feel a sense of dread about her future.
I feel happy.
She gave a little laugh at the realisation as she neared the house. When had she ever before felt genuine happiness and a lack of anxiety? She would not be the recipient of any tenderness while Philip had to be at Belleville, but despite her father being home, she felt certain that she would no longer have the typical painful emotions assailing her heart while she awaited her wedding.
Her father would still speak over her, override her decisions, treat her without any dignity or respect. There would still be a tremor in her spirits whenever he raised his voice, whenever he criticised her or was impatient with her. But in the promise of a happy life with Philip, it seemed that her sorrow was lifted. She was so grateful that her actions at Welland had not driven away all of Philip’s devotion and love.
She entered the house, and Eleanor was roused from a musing mood by Philip coming into the hall. Her heart palpitated with impatient joy.
“Your father left with his steward,” he said, taking her hand and leading her back into the empty library. “He ordered me to tell you he would hurry back so that we could take breakfast together.”
“When will that be?”
“You know how punctual the general is. He said half past, and so it shall be.” Philip sat on the sofa and pulled her into his lap. Eleanor felt a warmth spread over her, and her breath came short and quick. They could be alone together without fear of reprisal or without the fear of it never being able to last. Philip craned to check the clock on the mantel behind her. Smiling, he said, “We have twelve minutes before we must be at the table.”
He bent down and put his lips on hers. His embrace was gentle, his tongue teasing her lips apart, taking his time. Eleanor moulded herself against him, putting her hands on his shoulders and then through his hair. Philip kept the kiss light but not innocent, and it left her breathless.
Philip’s blue eyes shone brightly. “Can you believe it, Eleanor?” he said, stroking her hair. “After all of those years of thinking I loved you in vain, the general said yes. I know it is only on account of the fortune and title, but I will still take it.”
Eleanor kissed his jawline softly before resting her head on his shoulder. “Will you tell me every day that you love me?” she asked. She felt his start of surprise, but he nodded. “Even after we have been wed a year, or ten years? I am not insecure, you know. It is only after not knowing it for certain, and after convincing myself it did not matter if you loved me as much as I loved you because the general would never—”
“Every day,” he said firmly. “I love you, Eleanor.”
“I love you too. We shall be so happy together,” she whispered, still struggling to believe her good fortune. Love and eternal constancy were to be hers after all.
“I would like to wait six weeks, for Vaughan,” he said, pressing a lingering kiss on her neck. “You do not mind, do you?”
“I could wait all summer if I had to.”
He laughed quietly. “That would not do for me, and I cannot believe you want to stay here any longer than necessary. I did discover you this time yesterday fleeing on a mail coach because you could not tolerate your father one moment longer.”
She sat up to look into his eyes. “I can wait at Northanger because I have the hope of a happier life at the end of it. One can endure anything if there is an end date to their suffering.”
His bright expression fell. “You felt so hopeless here, my dear. Especially after Henry was removed, but still all those years of mistreatment and—”
“It does not matter now.”
Some emotion filled his face, changing it. Philip gripped her tightly and said, “It does matter. You know you can have all the power over Belleville that you want, the power to bring any project to execution, any power equal to your inclination. I will oblige you and serve you in any way. I promise life at Belleville will be nothing like living at Northanger.”
Eleanor smiled. “Are you expecting me to be a demanding wife? Simply because I have been unappreciated here, it does not mean that I will lord over Belleville as though I own it.”
“You already own my heart, so you may as well take full ownership of everything else of which I now find myself possessed.”
