The Forbidden Valentine

by Isabella Thorne

“I do not think so, Hawthorne.”

  The young man looked at him uncertain what he meant.

  “Will you carry a letter?”

  The boy’s eyes widened. He looked like Firthley had aimed a pistol to his head. “To Eleanor?” He breathed.

  No. To the man in the moon, Firthley thought. Of course to Eleanor. “Yes,” he answered. “Will you do that for me? For your sister?”

  “I cannot. I am on my way back to Oxford,” Matthew said.

  Coward, Firthley thought immediately, and then softened. Matthew was barely more than a boy. He was afraid. “It is a simple thing and it would mean much to your sister,” And to me. David added silently. “Please.” He did not quite stoop to begging, not yet.

  “I cannot,” Matthew said, and David realized the young man had simply not gained his own legs. He was still living in fear of his father’s wrath.

  Matthew was, as Firthley had first surmised, a boy, not a man. What did that say for his Lady Eleanor? Nothing but Matthew’s fear made Firthley so anxious to get Eleanor free. Prior to this moment he had been sure that Eleanor would at least be safe with her family. Now he was not certain. Firthley decided at that moment that he would not relent until she was safely in his arms and protected by his name. Still, Firthley was not quite finished with Matthew. He stood.

  “Very well,” he said. “If you give me a moment to dress, I will treat you to breakfast before you are on your way back to Oxford.”

  Matthew opened his mouth and closed it again. “In the common room?” He said as if the very thought was foreign.

  “Certainly,” Firthley said. “I am sure nothing will go so far to confuse rumor than to think that the Hawthornes and Firthleys are speaking,” Firthley said. He turned and looked at Matthew challenging him. “You do wish to quell the rumors against your sister’s name do you not?”

  Matthew hesitated only a moment before agreeing. “Yes. Of course. Very good then,” Matthew said. “I will await you in the common room.”

  Once the boy was out of the room, Firthley dressed quickly and scrawled a note to Eleanor.

  I do not know if your brother …

  He crumpled the paper, tossed it and started again attempting to give the young man no reason to feel threatened by sending the note. The thought that the young Hawthorne was afraid of his father made Firthley’s guts clench. He had to get Eleanor out of there. Sooner was better. When he finished with breakfast he would sit at the Hawthorne’s gates until he could see her. He would not give her up.

  He wrote swiftly.

  I do not know if my messenger will gain his courage or not; when or even if this may reach you. Only know I will not give up until you are in my arms as my wife. Have faith. Send word when you can.

  Yours and yours alone.

  Firthley did not sign it nor seal it thinking that if Matthew could read the words perhaps he would send the note. David hurried down to breakfast with the task of charming the youngest Hawthorne brother and found truthfully, the charge was not as arduous as he would have once thought. This was the brother that Eleanor loved, and he hoped that the young man loved her.

  ~.~

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The sisters were well into their plans but had yet to discover a way to inform Lord Firthley, when Lily showed up at the door of Eleanor’s prison.

  “What is amiss?” Eleanor asked seeing the puzzled look on her sister’s face.

  “Matthew sent me a book,” Lily said.

  “And?” Eleanor said confused. Lily receiving books was nothing unusual.

  “Well, Father let it though,” Lily said as she entered Eleanor’s room still carrying the book in question. “As you know, Father thinks us all complicit in your liaison with Lord Firthley. He has been most vigilant, checking all of our correspondences, lest one of us sneak out a letter to Lord Firthley for you.”

  Eleanor nodded. That had been the difficulty in sending Lord Firthley a message.

  “Anyway, Matthew has often sent me books, but this one was particularly interesting in itself, and I was quite engrossed in reading it, but the most interesting part was the bookmark enclosed. I did not notice it. I only just reached the pages between which it was hidden, Eleanor. I am sorry for the delay.” Lily pulled a single half sheet of paper from inside her book and handed it to Eleanor. On it was written short message. It was not signed, but Eleanor knew Firthley’s hand instantly.

  I do not know if my messenger will gain his courage or not; when or even if this may reach you. Only know I will not give up until you are in my arms as my wife. Have faith. Send word when you can.

  Yours and yours alone.

  Eleanor looked up at Lily. Tears were making her eyes swim. She had help. At last, she had help.

  “You must send our brother a thank you note for your book at once,” Eleanor said.

  “Of course,” Lily said. “What shall I say?”

  Eleanor began at once composing the missive. “See if you can find one of the Greek translations in the library,” she said. “If Father asks, tell him Matthew requested it for his revisions, and I shall send along my own bookmark.”

  Lily nodded and went to get the book while Eleanor composed a message to Firthley using Viola’s words of love from Twelfth Night. It could have been notes on the play itself. She did not sign it nor did she address it, but only placed it inside the book which Lily was to send to Matthew.

  When the book was successfully sent away with its message, Lily asked, “Why Viola?”

  “You shall see,” Eleanor said. “If our brother is as attentive as I think he is, he will know what I require. And now, I must find a way to leave the house to meet Lord Firthley after he receives my message. I do wish we had Missus Hartfield to help us, but I do not think Father would let her return.”

  “I am sure Mother would be glad to have Missus Hartfield return,” Lily added.

  “She suffers so with her headaches and Missus Hartfield gives her some relief from the engagements which she must attend as chaperone,” Eleanor said. “Perhaps we could have Grace suggest it. Mother would expect no subterfuge from Grace.”

  “It is not Mother we need to convince,” Lily said. “It is Father.”

  Eleanor sighed. She felt as if her plan was falling apart before she could enact it.

  “I do not think we need Missus Hartfield,” Lily said at last. “We can manage this, ourselves”

  “How?"

  “I think you will need somewhat of a distraction to escape the house,” Lily said. “If the servants know you are gone, any of them could alert Father.”

  “Unless I go at night when the house is asleep.”

  “Oh Lud, Eleanor, on the street after dark?”

  “I see no other way.” Eleanor bit her lip. “Otherwise someone will know, and if I am caught out this time all is lost.”

  Lily thought for a moment. “I could tell Mother and Father I will accept Lord Rumfort,” Lily said.

  “Good heavens, no!” Eleanor said. “You cannot.”

  “I did not say I would. I said I could tell Mother and Father I would. I am quite sure that will garner the attention of all of the staff as well as Mother and Father.”

  Eleanor shook her head. “No, Lily. That could end quite horribly, if things should go awry. You cannot risk so much.”

  “I do not think it is such a risk,” Lily said thoughtfully. “Lord Rumfort does not want me. He wants you.”

  Eleanor shivered thinking of the piggy-eyed man.

  “He thinks I am an awful bluestocking. It disgusts him that I could be so manly. He only tolerates me to speak of you.”

  “Oh,” Eleanor said. Lord Rumfort was another problem altogether, but she world worry about him later. She shook her head. “I cannot let you do it,” Eleanor said. “If it all goes to ashes then you are in the middle of it. I cannot do it. Anyway, I think Mother would expect me to be present.”

  “A headache, then?” Lily suggested.

  “I am beginning to feel qu
ite the invalid. No. Missus Hartfield says simple is better,” Eleanor said decisively. “We are making this much too complicated. “I shall just go at night. There will be no need for subterfuge, then. Only, perhaps I will need you to stay awake to be sure that I can get back into the house. If you can spend the night in the library with no one is the wiser, I think no one shall notice if I am not in my bed. We shall send the letter for my Lord Firthley to meet me. And meet him I shall. One must be bold for love,” she said clasping her sister’s hands.

  ~.~

  Eleanor had thought to slip out quietly. Her sisters were not going to let that happen. They had all come to her room at before midnight. “This was supposed to be a clandestine affair,” she said, but she could not change the date or time. Firthley was already alerted.

  “Do you have misgivings?” Lily asked as Eleanor pulled on her black hooded cloak.

  “None,” Lady Eleanor answered but that was not quite the truth.

  “You are sure the gentleman will be able to meet you?” Grace asked wide eyed.

  “Yes,” Lady Eleanor assured her. She paused to look at their faces. “Are you all so worried?“

  “Yes,” They answered together.

  Eleanor took a shaky breath. She was worried too. So many things could go wrong, but she had to do this. She had to see him, and decide once and for all if they would brave the world to be together. If it had to be Gretna Green, they would make their plans.

  “A night time excursion is not the same as a visit in the bright light of day,” Lily said, “I shall be watching out the library window and not rest until you return.

  “Me too,” Betty said.

  “You should be in bed,” Eleanor said.

  “Not until you are home again,” Grace said.

  ‘Thank you, all,” Eleanor said, hugging them.

  Lady Eleanor planned to slip away tonight with enough coin to persuade a Hackney for his service and his silence. Already a note had been sent to warn Firthley to look for her carriage at their meeting place, but there was still a risk that it might have been intercepted and her ruse laid bare. Furthermore, the note passing had become much more tedious with Father watching the mail. Only Lily’s constant supply of books kept him from being suspicious. Eleanor went out of her room, slipping down the hall. The house was nearly dark. Only a few sconces were lit to show her the way, but she slipped out of the servants’ entrance, not wanting to risk the large doors at the front of the house even under the cloak of night, as well as a literal cloak to mask her features.

  Her acquisition of the Hackney was surprisingly uneventful. She wondered how often such a thing was done that a driver might not even wrinkle his face in surprise at a lone, hooded lady with an extra purse for discretion.

  The carriage was musty and worn, but she pushed the observation from her mind. At present, its privacy was all that she might hope for so that she could speak to Lord Firthley without discovery.

  The hired carriage pulled up on the opposite side of the street from the Grosvenor Square crescent block, as she had described in her note to Firthley through Lily and Matthew’s exchange of books.

  Not two minutes later, the door was flung open and Lord Firthley spilled himself inside and called for the vehicle to drive at will.

  “My goodness,” Eleanor gasped at his sudden entrance. “You gave me a fright. I had thought myself discovered.”

  “No,” he breathed heavily from his race across the lawn as he caught her hands into his own. “Are you alright? This was dangerous. Do not ever do something so fool-hardy again.”

  “What?” she asked, surprised that he might think her so delicate. And a little surprised that he was so forceful in his opinion. He suddenly pulled her into his arms and she could feel the rapid beat of his heart as he hugged her close.

  “I was frightened for you,” Firthley whispered against her hair, kissing her lightly.

  He held her at arm’s length and scolded her. “I could not breathe easy until I saw your coach. There are reasons why ladies do not go about unattended. Especially at night.”

  “I am fine,” she said.

  “But you might not have been.”

  “Please,” she said. “Let us not waste these precious moments with cross words. What news?”

  “I am thinking our families will not relent,” he said. “We should go for Gretna Green this night.”

  “Now?” she said startled. Eleanor thought of the harrowing trip that her predecessor had made and thought to be better prepared for the hardship. “I have brought nothing.”

  “I shall buy you new clothes. I shall buy you jewels if that is what you wish. I shall give you the world my dearest, if you but trust me.”

  Eleanor considered it, she truly did, but this night, the blame would fall on Lily for her part in Eleanor’s escape and both Grace and Betty were in her room waiting for her to return. Even Matthew who had just sent the requested package would be in trouble with her family. Besides, she had another agenda, an agenda which may soften his family’s hearts if not hers.

  “I have letters from the previous Lady Eleanora,” she said pulling a small selection of the letters from her reticule. She handed him the package. I could not get the entire collection of letters out of the house, but now, if you can show them to your family. Perhaps they may relent.”

  “I do not think it possible,” he said. “The feud is so fully ingrained in the Firthley background it seems to be a part of them; my Father especially.”

  “Please try,” she urged. “We do not have to hurry. If there is no recourse, then yes, I shall go to Gretna Green with you, and happily. I would marry you, if you offered me but one dress of rags, but if we can salvage our relationships with our families we must do so, mustn’t we? I should hate to think that I may nevermore see my sisters. And what of your own sister? Would you leave Luella?”

  “You are right of course.” David agreed. He hugged her again and whispered in her hair. “Only I do not want to let you go.”

  “Nor I.”

  “Are you safe?” he asked holding her at arm’s length.

  “Safe?” Eleanor frowned questioning what he meant. Did he think she was not safe at her own home?

  “It is not the sort of thing to include with poetry and love songs,” he said hesitantly. “But I must know before I let you go. I must know your father’s sensibilities on the matter. I am sure he would have been very angry, and your brother seemed a man to think first with his fists. After the ball, I worried for you. I was here at the gates until I was forced away. If you had had need of me, I was determined to be here. I knew not what else to do.”

  “You were here?”

  He nodded. “I was afraid your father, like your brother may have been quick to punish. I told your father it was wholly my fault and he should not blame you, but I did not know…” He broke off uncertain as she reached forward and ran her fingers over the scar at his brow where the hairs were split. Robert had done this to him, she thought. He inhaled sharply when her fingers brushed his skin, but did not pull away.

  “It does hurt?” she said.

  “No,” he answered his eyes dark with passion.

  “My father did not beat me,” she said at last taking her fingers from his face. “He would not do that.” Eleanor did not tell Firthley that her father did threaten to. Though, she did not think he ever meant to make good on that threat. “He only confined me. So I could not get word to you.”

  David breathed a sigh of relief. “Then we shall wait,” he said. “I will show the letters to my father. I will speak to him, though I do not think it will matter. I will come to you, three days hence. Either I will come to the front gate with my father to seek to remedy the feud, or I will come to the East gate to away to Gretna Green. Either way, you will be my wife. He tipped her chin up and kissed her long and hard. Eleanor was loathe to leave the confines of the carriage but Lord Firthley signaled the driver to return them to Eleanor’s home.

  “We should
stop some distance from the main gate,” she suggested, but Firthley would hear none of it. If he could, he would have walked her into the manor itself, but he had the carriage stop near to the gate. He flatly refused to drop her off like a harlot on the street.

  Eleanor pulled her hood around her face to cover the blush that had risen to her cheeks as she hurried through the gate. Lily let her in through the servants’ door and on quiet footsteps they slipped back through the still sleeping house and tip toed up the stairs. No one seemed the wiser. When they got to her room Grace and Betty were waiting.

  “Did you meet him?” Betty asked sleepily.

  “Is all well?” Grace asked.

  “Yes,” Eleanor said to both. “All is well. If Firthley cannot convince his father to relent, we are away three days hence at midnight.” To say it out loud seemed to solidify the plan in Eleanor’s mind.

  Lily hugged her and Betty said, “Love will find a way.”

  Eleanor pulled all of them together into an embrace thinking she was going to miss her sisters.

  “Now off to bed before we are all caught,” she said firmly.

  ~.~

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  At daybreak on the third day, Eleanor had packed a bag and tied up the piles of letters, both the ones from the past and her own which she secured in her wooden letter box. She left notes for her mother and father. In them she tried to get her parents to understand that she did not dishonor her family or her name because she loved a Firthley. Nothing could be done to fix the past, but they could only go forward. She hoped that they would put hatred behind them. She signed the letters and sealed them and then she only had to get through the day.

  It was the longest day of her life. Sewing could not interest her. She could not look at her book for nervousness. She could not eat. Her stomach was in knots. By the time evening came, she was in a state. She finally thought that she could retire after supper, but no sooner was she in her room, than Father had put a key to the lock. Eleanor heard the sharp click like a death knell.