Wells had to admit, his mother had handled the Enrights with aplomb. They’d agreed to welcome both Charles and Eleanor back into the family, even agreeing to outfit Eleanor with a trousseau—provided she returned to London to live with them. Wells was certain Charles’s sister would decline the offer; he also chose not to divulge Eleanor’s betrothal to his steward. He still needed to speak with Father as to how the hell he should go about knighting John.
On the carriage ride back his mother was remarkably quiet as she stared out the window at the rain-drenched street.
“Thank you,Maman.” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I am in your debt.”
“Nonsense, Roland.” She finally looked at him. “You love her, don’t you.” It was more statement than question.
“I do,Maman.”
“Then I am happy for you, son, for marriage is not easy.”
He was surprised by her candor.
“Promise me you will treat her better than you have, dear.” Her eyes focused on him. “She’s not had it easy for some time now, nor has her sister, and for all my pushing you to take a bride I . . .” She inhaled a breath. “I do not wish you to imagine all women are like me.”
“Whatever do you mean,Maman?”
“I mean that I have not been unhappy with your father, Roland, only we were not in love when we married, so it was easier to forgive the other our many failings.” She looked out the window again. “Oh, I love the old bugger well enough now, the way one loves an old horse, you know.” She grinned a little crookedly. “He’s had his mistresses and I my lovers and we getalong well enough butyou. . .” She shook her head. “If the girl truly loves you, you’ve the capacity to hurt her much more than your father ever could have hurt me, you see.”
And he did see, rather suddenly.
“So I would beg you, son, tread carefully now. Ask for her hand properly, court her a while if necessary. Let her know she is not your second or third choice but your foremost. She must know she is wanted, Roland, desired above all others. I don’t care how stubbornly she may refuse you at first.”
He patted her hand. “You have given me sound advice,Maman, which I aim to take. I do not wish to hurt her more, yet I am still not certain she returns my affection in full. And I must be certain before I?—”
“How could she not, dear?” His mother reached out to touch his cheek with her other gloved hand, a rare sign of tenderness for her. “But clearly, you must know this for yourself, I understand.” She dropped her hand and withdrew the other to straighten her skirts. “I shall look forward to the announcement of your engagement, son, provided you do nothing so rash as to disappoint me.”
And she was back, the mother he adored despising.
“Oh I am sure I will,Maman.” Wells grinned, shocked at the sudden affection he felt for her.
The grin she returned him mirrored his own. “No doubt you will, Roland. No doubt indeed.”
Yet the warmth Wells felt towards his mother was soon eclipsed by remaining, needling doubts. As he gazed out the window of the swaying carriage, insecurity gripped him like a vise. He did not doubt his love for Charles; he doubted the very plan Li had helped him form. Should he trust his old friend’s counsel, or trust his mother’s words instead?
The carriage hit a rut, further jostling his thoughts as a small voice whispered he was not worthy of love. He was desirableonly as future Duke. Despite Eleanor’s staunch assurance, Wells feared Charles did not, in truth, return his full affection. She might not lovehim,Roland Rutherford, at all.
As Cuthbert had so bluntly reminded, she was not the first woman to have run from him.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
If Charles were to survive this night, she’d need to keep her wits about her and her emotions in check. And she was afraid she’d fail on both counts, so enraged was she by this latest turn of events. The last thing in the world she’d dreamed might happen to her in London was to be coerced, once again, into becoming some man’s mistress. Only this time she’d committed no crime deserving of punishment, making her plight feel all the more deeply unjust.
She’d been thrown into a carriage and taken to what she assumed was another of Madame LeBrecht’s abodes, yet this house was no shop, but also no true residence. She remained flanked on either side by the two hulking men who’d thwarted with ease her attempt to flee between carriage and doorstep. Their grip on her arms had made it painfully clear escape was futile.
She was now being hauled through the opulent house to some upstairs room, one as yet unoccupied, for the noises heard through doors she passed indicated most rooms were in active use. With a sinking heart she knewMadamehad not lied. She would indeed be better off some gentleman’s mistress than be kept here serving multiple men.
Her thoughts briefly flew to Miss Griswald, to whom she’d sent Lord Wellesley’s crew for just such a purpose. Was this now God’s punishment for that? Yet Mamie had been pleased to receive new clients. Mamie ran her own business. As far as Charles knew, the Cumberland madam had chosen her profession, not been forced into it. But then, what did she know of Miss Griswald’s past, or even her predilections? What did she really know of anyone?
Before she could blink, Charles was pushed into a dimly lit, ornately furnished room and approached by a stern-looking woman dressed like a housekeeper. The lady snapped fingers over her head to order a bath and within seconds, it seemed, servants carrying buckets of steaming water traipsed into the room. They began to fill a large tub beside a corner dressing screen, which stood to one side of a lavish four-poster bed piled high with decorative silk pillows. The entire room was heavily perfumed with an overly sweet, cloying fragrance that made Charles’s nostrils flare in distaste. Oleander, perhaps, or jasmine. Whatever the scent, it was too much. The entire room was garish.
Suddenly the two strongmen were gone and the servants gone and only the stern housekeeper remained, eyeing her from head to toe, frowning.
Charles scowled back.
“In case you get any ideas, miss, the windows are nailed shut and the door locked from outside. Attempts to escape or injure will be thwarted by those keeping watch.”
Keeping watch?Charles’s thoughts raced.From where?Her heart thudded in her chest even as she heard a faint rustle from behind the screen.
