by Rose, D. L.
Fallen Angel
By D.L. Rose
Copyright
© Copyright 2013 D.L. Rose
www.dlrose.vpweb.com
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission with the exception of brief quotations for use in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and events are the product of this author’s imagination and being used fictitiously.
Dedication
To my son, everything I do is for you. Except when you see me reading and eating chocolate, that’s just for me, and no you can’t have any.
Chapter One
“What do you mean Lord Black is coming here?”
“I told you Eloise,” her guardian frowned, “I need help managing the estate; I haven’t done it in years. Jasper will no longer be my secretary.”
“So hire another,” Eloise pleaded.
“I haven’t the means young lady,” he blustered, “this conversation is highly inappropriate!”
Eloise rolled her eyes. “But--.”
“I will no longer discuss it with you, now be off!”
Eloise almost growled before spinning on her heel and leaving the study. She knew she was being childish but—oh--how she hated Lord Black. Even as a young girl she knew there was a sparkling bejeweled stick, wedged up his righteous arse.
He was a viscount and the nephew to her guardian, Malcolm Pommoroy. Eloise Logan was orphaned, along with her older sister Eleanor, at the tender age of fifteen. Although Eleanor was nineteen at the time she was born of a weak constitution and had not married. Malcolm was a longtime friend of her fathers and became their guardian, as it was willed.
He is a sweet and gentle man, portly around the middle with only a few strands of hair on his head to wave happily in a breeze. He did his best to provide for them with his small but quaint estate, which drew enough income to keep itself afloat and keep its master elbow deep in clay. However; the last harvest of wheat had been small due to a late frost and things were a little tight. Jasper had been acting as estate manager and secretary but suddenly had to leave and the end result was chaos. Without Jasper, no one knew how to run the estate as a whole. Eloise wanted to fix things, to make it so that she could continue her pleasant existence in the tiny village of Coltwyth--running wild--as Jasper liked to say. But Eloise wasn’t only running wild, she liked to read under the old willows, take nature walks for hours, and play hide and seek with the school children; at least until the head master began to behave inappropriately.
Men are beasts.
Now Lord Black would be coming to set things right--whatever that meant. Eloise was positive she would hate every minute of it. Continuing down the hall, Eloise entered the Daisy Sitting Room where she knew she could always find Eleanor mending clothes.
“We’re in trouble dearest,” she plopped next to her sister on the yellow sofa.
Eleanor smiled not looking up from her work. “You’re so dramatic Eloise.”
“I’m serious, Lord Black is coming.”
“Why does that constitute trouble?” She finally looked up.
“He’ll try to … manage me,” Eloise grimaced.
Eleanor laughed. Her laughter was airy and delicate like her; like the tinkling of a wind chime.
“I do not see what is so humorous,” Eloise pouted.
“Little sister, you are two and twenty now,” she smiled.
“And you are six and twenty, what difference does that make?”
“You will have to get used to the idea of being managed. After all, it is time for you to be married. Oh! Perhaps you should marry Lord Black?” Eleanor smiled broadly.
Eloise did not find the humor in that statement. “I am going to get you a cup of Mrs. Brown’s special tea because clearly, you are ill.” Eloise moved to get up.
“Oh come now,” Eleanor giggled, “it’s been years since we have seen him, how bad could it be? What reason do you have to not like him? He has always been an absolute gentleman.”
“Maybe to you, he always looks down his nose at me.” Eloise looked out the terrace doors at what used to be a well-kept garden.
“Well perhaps you were behaving in a manner that required it?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You have to admit Eloise, that there are times when you--.”
Knock, knock, knock.
“Shhhh!” Eloise panicked and went to the doorway. She poked her head outside the parlor and saw Stanwick opening the portal to reveal her dark haired nemesis. “Oh drat!”
“Eloise!” Eleanor scolded. “I see exactly why Lord Black treats you the way he does. Your behavior is not becoming of a young lady.” Eleanor set her sewing down and approached the door. Eloise waved her away but to no avail.
“I feel I have failed you little sister, I should have paid more attention to your deportment as you grew up.”
Eloise turned toward her sister as Eleanor stepped through the doorway into the hall.
“Lord Black is our ally; we could gain a great deal from the example set by his polished manners.”
Eloise scowled. “If I had the notion to be so stiff and unfriendly, I’d take lessons from a scarecrow.”
Lord Black entered the foyer and saw them. He gave a polite nod as Stanwick took his hat and gloves. He was quickly followed in by Bradley, Lord Black’s younger and more jovial brother.
Eloise beamed. Bradley had been good fun and judging by his answering smile, he would not fail her this time.
“Hullo Ladies,” he called down the hall to them.
Lord Black frowned disapprovingly at Bradley. “It is not polite to shout at young ladies.”
“Stuff it Black, its only Eloise and Eleanor.”
Eleanor sailed forth gracefully, halting to exhibit a perfect curtsy. Eloise sauntered over, hands on her hips. “Bradley Pommoroy, as I live and breathe,” she smiled widely then blanked as she turned to the older Pommoroy. “Lord Black it is … to see you?”
He frowned--she frowned. The silence stretched into awkwardness.
Eleanor sighed in defeat. “Lord Black, I believe you are here to see our esteemed guardian. We will not keep you from your business. It is lovely to see you again my lord, Mr. Pommoroy.”
“Thank you Miss Logan, Miss Eloise.” Lord Black looked disdainfully at Eloise who raised her chin defiantly as he turned to follow a footman.
“Oh Eloise,” Eleanor said in exasperation once the gentlemen were out of ear shot.
“Pardon? I think that went well.”
“Your manners are abominable.”
“That is harsh Eleanor and hurts my feelings.”
“And well it should, although tis mostly my fault. I have neglected to teach you the graces of a lady.”
“I don’t want to hear it.” Eloise turned away and stalked back to the parlor.
“The moniker hellcat has been assigned to you,” Eleanor followed ruthlessly.
“I don’t care what others think about me, I am who I am. Our guardian has not found fault with me and until this moment, I did not think you did either.” Eloise entered the parlor and retreated to the yellow sofa.”
“I don’t find fault with you per se, you are a lovely young woman but, you act with more heart than sense sometimes. You are intelligent but impulsive, compassionate but also very passionate to the point of … ” Eleanor tapped her chin in thought, “Wantonness?”
“Wantonness?” Eloise squeaked. “When have I ever behaved wantonly?”
“You flirted quite effortlessly with the new footman when he arrived if you recall. Your manipulative tactics were rather indecent.”
“Using ones feminine wiles is not w
anton or indecent; it’s a woman’s prerogative. How else was I going to convince him to sneak scraps to the stray dog and her pups living by the creek after Malcolm forbade it?”
“Feminine wiles?” Eleanor rolled her eyes heaven ward. “You need some grace Eloise. A little charm--without the use of your feminine wiles--could go a long way towards smoothing your wild edges. Lord Black would not look at you so disdainfully and you would probably make a match for yourself, provided you attended any country dances.”
Eloise groaned. “I don’t want a husband. I don’t need another man ruling my life. Get married if you wish but I am content to stay here and look after Malcolm.”
“That is a shame.”
“Why? All I want is to be free to be myself.”
“I am not asking you to change who you are. All I am asking is for you to act with a little decorum and maturity.”
“That’s not what it feels like.” Eloise pouted.
Eleanor became quiet and when Eloise glanced at her she was swamped with guilt. Eleanor stood in the middle of the room with her hand to her throat staring at the floor with a sad frown. She looked pale and drawn in that moment. Eloise silently cursed herself for the selfish twit she was. Her antics were clearly a strain on Eleanor’s already weak constitution.
“I’m sorry,” Eloise blurted, “I will do better.”
Eleanor still didn’t look at her. “I don’t have the energy to fight with you; I’m going to lie down.”
Just like that their argument was over. Eleanor left the room, her footsteps as silent as a ghost.
“I’m a wretch.” Eloise said to the now empty room. Her eyes began to sting. “I will do better,” she vowed, “for Eleanor.” It wouldn’t be that difficult, although Lord Black would surely test her patience, but Eleanor was worth it. For Eleanor, she would do anything.
“As soon as I am done eavesdropping on their meeting, I will be the perfect example of proper and demure womanhood.” Even to herself the statement felt empty as she stood from the sofa. She would probably fall far short of Lord Black’s righteous standards but he could hang. It was Eleanor she was going to impress, starting this very evening at dinner.
Chapter Two
“Benjamin! How gracious of you to assist me with this tedious and frustrating endeavor.” Uncle Malcolm stood from his chaotic desk and shuffled over to pump Ben’s hand in an enthusiastic handshake.
“Tis no problem at all Uncle Malcolm.”
“I see young Bradley has seen fit to join us as well; escaping a paramour?”
“Not nearly as exciting, I thought it time for a visit with my favorite uncle.”
“Bollocks Bradley, I know about the annual Sinners’ Masquerade. Don’t let it slip to Eloise mind you. Glad to have you here all the same lad. It has been an age since I’ve seen you.
Bradley blushed contritely, “Caught me red handed.”
“We had the pleasure of meeting Miss Logan and Miss Eloise in the foyer,” Ben broke in.
“Fancy that.” Uncle Malcolm returned to his desk and the gentlemen followed to the two chairs before it. “Eloise was a tad upset when I mentioned you would be coming Benjamin.”
“I don’t believe we parted on the best of terms but then, she was very young. I would have hoped maturity would have softened her feelings regarding me, but her welcome this afternoon proved otherwise.”
“Yes, well, stubborn as a mule that one.” Malcolm fingered his pockets looking for his spectacles.
“Ehr um,” Bradley motioned to the top of his head.
“Oh yes, now as you can see,” Malcolm gestured to the maelstrom of papers scattered across the surface, “I have no idea what I am doing.”
“What happened to your secretary?” Ben asked.
“Had a family emergency. He had to return to his father’s farm and take up the reins quite suddenly. It was all very puzzling.”
“Indeed. How is it I can help you?”
“Well as you can see …” Malcolm helplessly gestured to the papers.
Eloise bit her bottom lip in thought as she contemplated all that she had overheard. “Immature am I?” She muttered angrily but then froze. This is precisely what Eleanor meant. Eavesdropping. She nearly groaned aloud, but did not want to be heard by her guardian and his two nephews presently talking on the other side of the door in the library.
“Why don’t you use your study for business matters Uncle Malcolm?” Bradley asked.
“I turned the study into my pottery studio two years ago, it has better light.”
Both gentlemen turned to glance behind them at the slightly ajar door in curiosity. Eloise jumped back for fear of discovery. She peeked again and they had resumed talking with Uncle Malcolm. She breathed a sigh of relief and crept away from the door. Peering around the musty study she could see everything was covered in a fine layer of clay dust. Most of the furniture was covered by cloth and littered with pottery in various stages of completion. Eloise stooped to admire a rather awkwardly misshapen vase when a bark of laughter startled her. Ever curious she returned to the door.
“Marry them off?” Malcolm chuckled. “Eleanor would make a fine docile wife, although her health is delicate. But Eloise? A great hulking Scotsman would have to club her over the head and drag her away to the wilds of the north in order to tame her. I suppose tis my fault; I’ve spoiled her with freedom and turned her into a heathen. I can’t imagine a man would want to shackle himself to a woman like her even with her beauty. I suspect she will stay with me until I die a fat old man.”
“We should at least try to find her a husband. An aging lord would be happy to birth an heir on her and then leave her in the country to run wild I should think. I don’t want her to be a burden on you Uncle Malcolm, not with your limited income from these lands.”
“I couldn’t just marry them off to anyone Benjamin. These girls are like my own daughters. I won’t see Eloise broken by some dictator or Eleanor’s soft nature taken advantage of.”
“Of course not Uncle Malcolm. With a little polish I’m sure we can find suitable husbands for both of them.”
Eloise fumed from the other room. She was surprised Lord Black couldn’t feel her burning animosity boring a hole in the back of his head. Marry them off! Burdens! How dare he think of them as objects to be rid of. If it were not for her promise to Eleanor, she would march right into that room and club him over the head. As for Malcolm’s loving sentiments, well, she knew he loved her but it hurt all the same. She would have to prove to him that she was not a burden but an asset, someone to lovingly care for him in his twilight in exchange for her continued presence here in the only place she could be herself.
Heathen indeed.
She would no longer cause such strife to the people who cared for her. She would be better, she would be exactly what they needed her to be … after she dispatched Lord Black. Eloise had a sudden idea. She could act as Malcolm’s secretary! She was just as intelligent as any man if not more and excelled at her mathematics growing up. How difficult could it be? She would speak to Malcolm later and convince him it would work.
“I think we should start with a bit of organization and then proceed from there. If he was a decent secretary it won’t be difficult to start from where he left off.”
“Good, good.” Malcolm grinned, “Now Bradley, tell me the plans for this masquerade. I’ve heard rumors of course, but it sounds like a wicked affair.”
“One can only hope Uncle Malcolm,” Bradley laughed, “I shall be going as Zeus and hope to find myself a Goddess for the evening.”
Eloise rolled her eyes heavenward.
“And you Benjamin?” Malcolm waggled his eye brows.
“I will not attend. I find such affairs tedious.”
“He will attend and I’ve brought him the costume of a devilish devil to tempt the female guests,” Bradley declared. “You need some fun in your life brother; you’ve grown as sour as a grape.”
“There is nothing wrong with having dign
ity Bradley,” Ben retorted.
“Dignity is only worth having when you have the occasion to lose a little bit of it, only to regain it in the morning.” Malcolm and Bradley laughed uproariously while Benjamin sighed heavily although a smile played about his lean lips.
Eloise scowled from behind the door. How dare they judge her so harshly when Bradley was planning an evening of debauchery of which Malcolm readily approved. But, they were men and life is unfair.
Eloise retreated from her hiding place and returned to her room. She needed to think about a strategy to oust Lord Black and convince Malcolm she would serve as a wonderful replacement as his secretary, all while behaving with ladylike decorum. It was going to be difficult.
She traversed the hall deep in thought of Lord Black’s cold condescending manner. He always made her feel as though she was nothing but a child; someone to be ignored and left in the nursery to play dolls. He belittled her with a mere glance of his stony grey eyes and had that natural air of authority due to his taller than average height. He was classically handsome with an aristocratic brow and nose inherited from a long line of noble blood. His strong masculine chin betrayed his stubbornness and his black locks had a soft wave that would make the very sight of him swoon worthy if he didn’t carry the constant look of disapproval. Oh yes, Eloise grudgingly admitted to herself, Lord Black was quite handsome but only a paragon of virtue and proper decorum would ever gain his favor. How hilarious it would be to bring such a man to his knees. Only an angel could do it.
Hmmm. Eloise paused in thought as she stopped before her door. She could see the barest reflection of herself in the gleaming wood. An angel, it seemed, would be her inspiration. Tonight at dinner she would be the picture of angelic grace. She would even wear white.
***
Eloise was the last to arrive for dinner. She kept her eyes down cast as she took her place next to Bradley, across from Eleanor, and quietly thanked the footman who held her chair. The first eyes she met were Eleanor’s, who smiled with approval. Eloise smiled in return. She knew she was the picture of innocence in a simple white evening gown adorned with a pale blue ribbon tied under the empire cut bodice. She had braided her hair and twisted it into a simple bun at the nape of her neck. The neckline was a tad low but Eloise couldn’t help it being that the gown was two seasons old and her bust had grown since that time. She wore no shawl since the evenings were unseasonably warm this spring and she wasn’t concerned with being leered at by Lord Black or Bradley.