Charles dismissed Feeley.Dressed in a banyan, he sat by a small fire with Plato’sSymposiumin his hands. Although it was a favorite of his, he had been unable to take in a word. He grinned and shook his head. He’d long suspected Nellie would surprise him. What he hadn’t anticipated was his own loss of control. At a soiree? He hadn’t succumbed to kissing ladies at parties since he’d been a green youth!
On returning home, he sought the calm of his study, then left after a few minutes, having failed to settle. Undoubtedly, there was a powerful attraction between him and Nellie, which he’d felt from the first moment of meeting her. Was this the way his life would be? At the mercy of his emotions? His much longed for peace, constantly disturbed? He wished he could embrace the episode wholeheartedly. But something held him back. Was it Nellie? What drove her to smile seductively and act that way? And make the extraordinary request for him to kiss her?
He went over their conversation, which preceded the kiss. While he couldn’t pinpoint it precisely, he became convinced she intended her action to be a distraction. It was obvious she didn’t want him to question her. What lay behind such a fierce need for secrecy left him completely in the dark. He put the book on the table and abandoned the chair, needing sleep. Jason would be up early to drag him out for a ride in the park.
Charles stripped off his banyan and put it over a chair for Feeley to deal with in the morning. Naked, he stretched his limbs, yawned, then slipped beneath the cool linen sheets.
He lay with his arm beneath his head. How contented Jason was. Might he wish for such connubial bliss? Beverly seemed a steady sort of young woman. A perfect wife for his brother. Nellie was different. He suspected that if she disagreed with something, she might refuse to obey him. This marriage could rock his orderly world.
He blew out the candle and stared into the dark. Drusilla came to mind. Her pleading eyes as she offered him her congratulations. She’d attempted to explain why they’d been unable to marry, how she could not dissuade her father from marrying her to Thorburn. Charles, embarrassed for the widow, said he understood, and left her, bringing the conversation swiftly to an end. They were in danger of becoming a subject of interest, which was unfair to Nellie. And what was the point in dredging up the past? Still, he admitted that seeing her again, so classically perfect that no women in the room, or indeed in London, could hold a candle to her, did conjure painful memories he’d fought hard to forget.
Marriage had changed Drusilla, and Michael and his father’s deaths had changed him. Their lives took different paths years ago. He bashed the pillow and closed his eyes as thoughts of Nellie pushed Drusilla from his mind.
Chapter Nine
At a knockon her bedchamber door, Nellie put down the book she had been trying to read, and rose, disturbing her dog. Peter abandoned the sofa and jumped onto the bed.
She was surprised to see her sister-in-law so early this morning, and smartly dressed for travel, wearing a buff-colored carriage gown, and an Indian shawl over her shoulders. Beneath her smart bonnet, her face appeared strained and sad.
“May I have a word, Nellie?” Eliza asked. “You aren’t preparing to go out?”
Nellie had a sense of foreboding. “I haven’t anything planned for this morning. I’m to dine with Charles at Shewsbury Court to meet his brother and his brother’s wife, but that’s not until this evening.” Nellie took her arm. “Do come and sit down, Eliza. It’s lovely to see you. Shall we have tea?”
“No, please don’t worry about the tea.” Eliza’s brown eyes were red-rimmed. “I don’t know who else to turn to. I hate burdening you with my troubles when you must be so happy. I would have spoken to Marian, but she’s not here in London.”
“What is it, Eliza?” She patted the sofa when Eliza remained standing, her York tan gloves crumpled in her hands.
Her sister-in-law sat beside her and took a deep breath. “It’s Nat. Yesterday at the Tighe’s party, a woman warned me he is having an affair with Lady Hattersley. I was so shocked that I wasn’t quite sure what to do about it.”
“Oh, my dear.” So Nat was up to no good again. Horrid for Eliza to have learned of it that way.Save us from these interfering busybodies, Nellie thought with exasperation. “People can be spiteful. Are you sure it’s true?”
Eliza nodded, taking a handkerchief from her reticule, and blowing her nose. “He admitted it when I asked him. Said it was what men did, and it meant nothing. He only loves me.” Her large eyes filled with tears. “That was supposed to comfort me. But it doesn’t.” A sob escaped her throat. “How could it? I love him and could never betray him. How can he do this and say he loves me?”
“I believe he does love you. But it does not excuse him for hurting you.” Anger coiled in her chest as she placed an arm around her slim shoulders. “What will you do?”
“I shall take Julia home to the country. I am sorry, it appears I will miss your wedding. It’s inexcusable, I know, but I cannot stay here another day. If this woman knows, then half thetondoes. It’s mortifying.”
“Thetonthrives on gossip. But their attention soon turns to the next scandal. This will be forgotten in less than a week. I do hope you can come to our wedding. As it’s some time away, I shall not give up hope. But if you cannot, then you must not let it concern you. Charles will also understand.” Nellie wished Eliza would stay and fight it out with Nat and ignore the gossips, but that wasn’t in her nature.
“I can’t bear telling your mother. I’m such a coward, Nellie.” Eliza sniffed and dabbed her eyes. “Your parents will be angry.”
“Leave that to Marian and me.”
Eliza stood quickly, bringing Nellie to her feet. “I must go. I have a carriage waiting. Thank you for being so understanding.”
Nellie kissed her cheek. “Nonsense. I am very sorry, Eliza.”
When the door closed, Nellie stalked the room while Peter watched her. “Nat is a brute! Why are men like this?” Peter yawned. Nellie sat down and stroked the dog’s back. “Oh, poor Eliza!” Should she have it out with Nat? Somehow, she doubted it would make a scrap of difference. He already knew her feelings on the subject. If only Marian were here.
Nellie left the bed and tidied her hair before the mirror. She must tell her mother why Eliza left.
That evening, as the Dountry coach pulled up on the gravel before the front portico of Shewsbury Court, her mother turned to her. “Don’t forget to smile, Nellie,” she said as the door was opened and the steps put down.
“Yes, Mama.”
She’d been in low spirits all day. Her mother had refused to talk about the situation between Eliza and Nat. She merely said to leave them to sort it out. Such things were so neatly brushed under the carpet! It left Nellie deeply sympathetic and apprehensive about her own future. Would Charles’s mistress or another lady feature in it?
Eliza had left a note for Nathaniel. Not long afterward, he’d come to see Nellie, angry. And when he’d got no sympathy from her, he’d flung out of the room. An hour later, she heard he’d left the city.
