They heard her before they saw her—a heavy thud, the tread measured and slow but determined, every other step punctuated by an irritated grunt. Tilly, the dear, had a habit of muttering what sounded like dark curses and magical incantations as she walked.
Eleanor glanced over at Mr. West. He shifted from foot to foot, his gaze fixed on the hallway from whence these ominous noises originated. She could have clapped her hands with glee. If the sound of Tilly’s approach gave him pause, she couldn’t wait to see what happened when he saw her.
For her part, Eleanor adored Tilly. The whole family did. She’d been their nursemaid for years, but despite their affection for her, there was no denying Tilly was a cross old thing—
Ah! Here she was. The dragon had emerged from her lair. With steel gray hair pulled tight under a prim, white lace cap, a stiff, gray wool gown, rounded shoulders that ended in startlingly large, meaty hands, and grey eyes set deep into a rough, ruddy face, Tilly looked like a steel trap right before it snapped closed on one’s leg. In other words, she was the perfect chaperone.
The heart of a lamb beat under that frightening exterior, but Camden West didn’t know that, and Eleanor could swear she heard a faint, distressed sound escape him when he got his first look at Tilly. Was it a gasp? Or a whimper?
Oh, please let it havebeen a whimper.
Tilly lumbered to a halt in front of Eleanor. “That him, then?” She jerked her chin in Mr. West’s direction.
Tilly never stood much on ceremony.
“Yes.” Eleanor had to concentrate to keep the delight out of her voice. “Tilly, this is Mr. West. He’s kindly offered to take us for a drive in the park today.”
Tilly surveyed Camden West as if he were a rodent she’d just smacked with her broom. “A drive, is it? Well then, Mr. West. Take care that’s all you’re offering.”
Eleanor tried to dive back under her hat in time, but she was sure Mr. West saw her bite her lip to keep from laughing aloud.
As far as Tilly was concerned, every gentleman was a notorious rake, and every outing a potential seduction. Tilly was a staunch defender of maidenly virtue, and her stratagems were as complex and precise as a military campaign. No gentleman would successfully storm a lady’s fortress on Tilly’s watch.
But despite Tilly’s glower, Camden West looked rather pleased with himself. “But Miss, ah . . . Tilly? Surely Lady Eleanor has told you we’re betrothed?”
Eleanor’s mouth dropped open in horror.Oh, dear God. If Tilly told her mother such a tale, Lady Catherine would take it straight to Alec, and then she’d have the hounds of hell nipping at her heels, indeed. “What nonsense, Mr. West! We’re nothing of the sort—”
“Lady Eleanor.” Tilly planted her massive hands on her hips and turned a stern grey eye upon Ellie. “You’re not playing games with this gentleman, are you?”
So he was agentlemannow, was he? Just a moment ago Tilly had been scowling at him as if he were no better than a marauding pirate. “Games?” Eleanor widened her eyes. “Why no, Tilly. Of course not.”
She glared at Mr. West, who gave her the most maddening smirk before he turned an angelic smile on Tilly. “After you, Miss Tilly. My carriage is right outside.”
Eleanor stared at him. Why, in the name of all that was fair, should a scoundrel like Camden West have such a charming, boyish smile? Even Tilly blinked for a moment before she gave them each a suspicious glare, and stalked out the door.
Eleanor turned a baleful eye upon Camden West. “Just the drive this afternoon, if you please, Mr. West. We won’t have time for the marriage today.”
With those crushing words she attempted to sweep past him, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Your scheme won’t work, Lady Eleanor.”
Eleanor flicked a piece of lint from her sleeve. “Nonsense. You can’t know that. You’ve only seen the start of my scheme.”
Itwouldwork. It had to. Her chance at love—her very freedom—rested on the success of this scheme. She’d do whatever it took to hold onto it, even if she had to make herself very disagreeable, indeed. She’d earned the nickname Lady Frost with no effort at all on her part, and by the time she finished with Mr. West, she’d have a worse one.
She quite liked “The Terror of London.” Perhaps that would catch on.
He pulled her closer. “You don’t deny it, then?”
Eleanor’s eye widened. Dear God, if she weren’t wearing such an enormous hat, she’d be able to feel his breath against her neck. An involuntary shiver skidded down her spine. Goodness—did he have to put his lips right next to her ear to speak to her? “I deny nothing, Mr. West. I also admit nothing.”
To her surprise, he chuckled. “You won’t capitulate easily, I see.”
Eleanor’s brows drew together. Why should he sound so pleased about it? What was wrong with the man?
“Let me be understood right now, my lady. You can drag a chaperone everywhere with you for the next two weeks, and we’ll still be betrothed at the end of them.”
Her smile returned. Did he think Tilly comprised the whole of her scheme, then? As clever as he was, it seemed Mr. West would make the same mistake all her suitors had made. He’d underestimate her. “Certainly, sir.”
His fingers tightened on her upper arm. “I didn’t agree to these two weeks so you could find a way to squirm out of our bargain.”
