A Marriage of Convenience

by Miller, Fenella J

  ‘Humbug!’ she exclaimed giggling. ‘But you did ask so I will complete my tale. There was little to do during the hot afternoons except sleep. So I learnt to cut and sew and then, as I became expert, to make all our new clothes. Mary, and Smith, Aunt Prudence’s abigail, did the bulk of the sewing. My task was mainly to design, cut and finish.’

  ‘I’m impressed,’ he said as if he meant it. ‘I imagine there can be few ladies of quality who have such a talent. You made your own wardrobe from choice, rather than necessity?’

  ‘Of course, but as you know I grew up in different circumstances to these. I learned to economise and make do very early in life. Although Papa’s income was modest we managed quite well. I could never be comfortable living in excessive luxury when others under my protection did without.’

  ‘Noble sentiments, my dear, but you had best keep your radical thoughts to yourself in company.’

  Eleanor looked, with exaggerated care, around the empty room. ‘I wasn’t aware that we had company; but I assure you when we do, I’ll refrain from commenting on the lamentable conditions that many of the tenants’ of wealthy landowners are forced to live.’ This was a matter dear to her heart and not even Leo’s disapproval would stop her expressing her feelings.

  He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘Enough, little firebrand; I’m on your side, you’re preaching to the converted.’

  ‘You are?’ Her face was illuminated by her smile. ‘I hadn’t realized. I’m so glad you agree with me. There is so much good we can do once Aunt Prudence’s legacy is released.’

  ‘This returns us nicely to an original point. I’ve spoken to the vicar and a letter is on its way to invite my brother and his wife to attend the ceremony. Will you be ready in two weeks?’

  ‘The matter is already in hand.’ She smiled a second time in his direction quite unaware of the effect she was having on him. ‘Or at least it will be if you will excuse me to attend to it.’ She rose gracefully as she spoke.

  Leo surged to his feet and politely bowed. ‘I’ll see you at dinner, Eleanor. I’ve business to see to but will be in the study if you need me.’

  Ten minutes later Eleanor and her maid crept quietly up the back stairs each carrying a candelabrum, not wishing to attract the attention of the servants. Eleanor wished to search through the trunks of exotic garments and materials that were stored in the attic.

  Brown would be scandalized by her intention. No lady would dream of visiting such a place; a footman should be sent to remove the trunks for her. That course would take too long and she was determined to find the things she needed immediately. The attic door opened easily with no squeaking to alert a watchful servant.

  ‘Give me your candles, Mary. I’ll hold them up so you can see.’ The combined light flooded the space allowing them to explore to the furthest corner. The steeply pitched roof meant only the centre of the room was tall enough for Eleanor to stand upright. Mary, a head shorter, was able to search more easily, the danger of banging her head much less.

  ‘Here we are. I’ve found the ones we want, Miss Ellie. There must be a dozen stacked away over here.’

  Eleanor carefully balanced the candelabrum on a nearby shelf and joined Mary on the floor. The trunk lids were flung back, the resulting clatter ignored in her eagerness to examine the contents. She was so immersed in her discovery she failed to hear the attic door open.

  ‘What in God’s name are you doing up here?’ Leo snapped from behind her.

  Startled she jumped up and cracked her head on a beam. ‘Ouch! That hurt… that really hurt.’ She moaned and sank back to the floor clutching her head in her hands.

  He was immediately contrite. ‘Here, Ellie let me see. What have you done?’ He tried gently to prise her hands away. ‘Please, little one, I cannot help you, if you will not let me look.’ He spoke soothingly, as though to a small child injured in a playtime fall.

  She looked up removing her hands as she did so. She glared directly into his sympathetic eyes. ‘Go away, Leo, there’s nothing wrong with my head. I was merely demonstrating to you the stupidity of yelling and scaring a person half to death.’

  He sat back on his heels, from his expression unable to decide whether he was exasperated or amused by her antics. He smiled. ‘Ellie, you are an idiot! You could have hurt yourself.’

  ‘Exactly! So please keep the parade ground voice for your soldiers, in future, my lord,’ she replied, her smile quite disarming him.

  He sighed. ‘I give in. I’m sorry I shouted at you. Next time I find you rummaging through old clothes in the attic, giving an excellent impression of a burglar, I will enquire politely and quietly, what on earth you are doing.’

  ‘Burglar? Did you think we were burglars? How ridiculous! As if a burglar could get up here in daytime without being seen! I’ve never…’ She collapsed, unable to continue, made helpless by laughter.

  He scowled at her sitting cross legged in front of him, totally unfazed by his frown. He got to his feet, deftly avoiding the beam, obviously perplexed by her behaviour. ‘I’ll leave you to your work,’ he said a little stiffly. ‘Is there anything I can do for you before I depart?’

  ‘Thank you; could you arrange for some footmen to carry these trunks down to the ballroom.’

  ‘Ballroom?’

  She attempted to rise, finding she was acquiring a crick in the neck conversing with him from her position on the floor. Unfortunately her dress had become entangled around her feet and she pitched, headfirst into him. For the second time that day they fell full length on the floor.

  ‘Good God, Ellie! You’re beginning to make a habit of this!’ Leo exclaimed when he had recovered his breath. She opened her eyes to find them inches away from his. The feel of his arms holding her steady and the touch of his warm breath on her cheeks was sending her blood fizzing around her body.

  There was a small, discreet cough, from above them. ‘Excuse me, Miss Eleanor, are you hurt by your fall?’ Mary enquired.

  He carefully pushed her aside then regained his feet and pulled her up beside him. From the glitter in his eyes he was fully aware of the effect he had on her. ‘I’m sorry, my dear,’ He stepped away. ‘If you’re unhurt, I’ll go at once and organize the men to remove the trunks.’

  He turned to go but she called him back. ‘Leo, why did you think we were burglars? Surely you couldn’t hear us in your study?’

  ‘Of course not – I was dragged from my work by a footman who informed me that there were burglars in the attic. And as my manservant was already sent on an errand, I had to investigate the matter myself.’

  She smiled and waved him on his way. He closed the door with a decided snap.

  Chapter Five

  Inclement weather for the next few days meant Eleanor was able to devote all her time to the construction of her bride clothes. The ballroom now resembled a dressmaker’s workshop. She had even discovered the wife of the village blacksmith had been a milliner for a prestigious London emporium and the woman was more than happy to make as many poke or chip-straw bonnets as required.

  Already her willing band off seamstresses had made all the necessary petticoats, camisoles and nightrails she would require. Also finished were a second riding habit, three walking dresses with matching pelisses and three day dresses in Indian muslin. Almost complete was her first fashionable evening gown. The girls were hurrying to stitch the cream silk Eleanor was intending to wear for her wedding.

  ‘I do believe it’s stopped raining at last, I’m desperate for some fresh air and exercise after being cooped up in here for days.’

  Mary immediately left her sewing to join her mistress at the French doors. ‘It will still be wet underfoot, miss; you’ll ruin your gown.’

  ‘I’m not going to walk, I’m going to ride. Rufus must be as eager as I am to get out into the sunshine.’

  Less than twenty minutes later Eleanor arrived in the stable yard. She hadn’t forgotten she was forbidden to ride her horse astride and ordered
the groom to fetch a suitable side saddle.

  ‘He don’t like the looks of this, Miss Eleanor,’ Matthew warned, watching the huge chestnut horse back away stamping his hooves angrily.

  ‘Let me do it. Maybe he’ll be quieter for me.’ She approached her horse, speaking softly to him as she advanced. ‘There… there… Rufus; steady boy, I’ve nothing here that will hurt you.’

  The horse settled at the soothing sound of her voice and he allowed her to place the side saddle on his back. The girth was quickly fastened and the single leather adjusted to fit.

  ‘Up you go, Miss Eleanor,’ the young man said and expertly tossed her into the saddle. She had no time to place her foot in the iron or shorten her reins before Rufus exploded. The unaccustomed shape and strange stance of his rider was too much for his fiery nature. Bucking and cavorting he shot across the yard depositing her on the cobbles. From her undignified position on the ground she pulled hard at the reins and spoke sharply to the frightened horse.

  ‘Be quiet, Rufus. Enough, stand boy…stand.’ The stallion froze in mid buck suddenly aware his beloved owner was speaking to him from beneath his hooves. His head came up from between his legs and he nuzzled Eleanor as if puzzled by her unexpected position.

  ‘Stupid horse,’ she scolded crossly and pushed his nose away. The terrified groom appeared by her side and, unsure whether to take the horse or assist her to her feet; he attempted to do both and succeeded in neither. Rufus, freshly startled, snatched the reins from his hand.

  She scrambled to her feet ignoring Matthew’s tentative gesture. Once again she spoke steadily to the horse. ‘Stand still, Rufus. Stand.’ The horse calmed and waited quietly for her to gather his reins firmly in one hand. She patted his sweaty neck and made soothing noises. The hated side saddle was now hanging askew. ‘Remove this and put my normal one on please. I don’t think it will be possible to ride side saddle after all.’

  ‘Yes, Miss Eleanor, right away.’ Rufus was re-saddled in minutes and the groom, for the second time, tossed her aboard. He mounted on a showy bay hack and they set off together; he following a respectful distance behind.

  Eleanor knew she had ignored Leo’s instructions but felt she had no option. If her horse wouldn’t accept a side saddle then there was little she could do; no one else could ride him safely and the horse needed to be exercised. As she wasn’t riding unaccompanied she had only disobeyed one instruction after all.

  She had a glorious ride, the going perfect for galloping and jumping. When she returned to the stable two hours later the watery, late October sun was setting. Leaving Matthew to take care of Rufus she ran back along the path praying fervently her escapade had gone unnoticed.

  The long corridor was empty; no sign of Leo waiting to reprimand her for her actions. ‘Thank goodness I’m undetected. It’s possible I’ll be able to explain what happened. Maybe he will understand why I had to disobey him, ‘she said to herself.

  She slipped quietly up the backstairs and hurried into her bedchamber. Mary had left her bath gently steaming in front of the dressing-room fire and her clean garments were ready on the stand. Without waiting for her abigail to answer the summons of the bell Eleanor undressed and stepped into the waiting water.

  Mary arrived a few minutes later, her face pale. ‘Oh, miss, why did you do it? His lordship is so angry with you.’

  Eleanor’s heart sank and she shivered in spite of the warm water and roaring fire. ‘How can he know? Who could have told him?’ She got out as she spoke and grabbed the towel from Mary’s outstretched hand.

  ‘Not half an hour ago he came to the ballroom to speak to you and when he discovered you’d gone riding he went off to find you. He must have seen you. No one would carry tales to him, you know that.’

  ‘I don’t see how he could have done, not without me knowing.’ Then she remembered. ‘He would have seen the man’s saddle had gone and the side saddle was still there.’ She frowned and then smiled ruefully. ‘It’s too late for speculation. I must go down and face the music. I do hope he’s calmed down a little.’

  To a casual observer she presented the appearance of fashionable young lady without a care in the world. Her face reflected none of the panic she felt at the thought of her forthcoming interview with an irascible colonel more used to recalcitrant troopers than young ladies. Her legs were trembling as she walked sedately to the library and she feared her hands wouldn’t be shaking too much to allow her to open the door. She knocked, wishing she could disappear, be anywhere but there.

  ‘Come in.’ Leo commanded. She pushed open the door and stepped in her head held high, determined not to show how frightened she was.

  ‘I gather you wish to see me, Leo,’ she said politely.

  He strode down the room towards her, his face set, his eyes as cold as the sea. ‘Do not stand there, Eleanor. Come in and close the door. What I have to say to you, I wish to say in private.’

  She walked across the room and sat down on a straight backed chair, thankful her legs had managed to carry her that far. He followed her but didn’t sit; instead he turned and faced her, his back to the crackling fire.

  He opened his attack without preamble. ‘I expressly told you not to ride astride; you disobeyed me.’ His expression was grim and she decided now wasn’t the time to offer an explanation. She hung her head, hoping her apologetic posture would soften his heart. It did not. ‘It’s too late for remorse, young lady. As your legal guardian and your betrothed, I have a right to be obeyed. Look at me.’

  Miserably she raised her head and met his eyes. She flinched from the anger there. ‘I have decided you will not ride at all until I give you leave. Not astride, not side saddle, not at all. Do I make myself clear?’

  ‘Not ride? You cannot mean that!’

  ‘I mean it. All the grooms have been told that if they have the temerity to disobey, they will be turned off, instantly.’

  She was aghast. She was the only one who could ride her stallion; he trusted and loved her. How would he feel if she abandoned him to stand in his loose box all day and every day? He had been used for stud during her long absence and it had taken weeks to accustom him to being ridden again. Her face reflected her worry and he watched, his mouth tight, his expression uncompromising.

  ‘And,’ he continued harshly, ‘I would strongly advise you to forget any plan you might have to tack-up for yourself.’ His eyes bored into hers; she was unable to look away. ‘I’ve never raised my hand to a female but will not hesitate to do so if I am disobeyed again, Eleanor.’

  ‘You would beat me? Are you saying you would beat me if I don’t do as you say?’ Her voice was scarcely above a whisper.

  ‘That is exactly what I’m saying. If you persist in behaving like a spoilt brat you can expect to be treated as one.’ He turned his back on her thus ending the conversation.

  Eleanor, chastened beyond belief, slipped out of the room tears spilling unchecked down her cheeks. Knowing Mary would be waiting in her bedchamber she fled along the corridor and out through the side door into the garden, desperate to find a place of solitude; to hide away to cry out her misery in private.

  She ran across the grass, her silk slippers soaked in seconds and the hem of her dress dragging in the damp. Exhausted she collapsed inside a hidden arbour at the far end of the extensive rose garden and dropped her head into her hands. She wasn’t crying because she was unable to ride, that was a hardship she could endure; she wasn’t crying because her beloved horse would go unexercised - a groom could turn him out. No, she was weeping for her lost dream.

  Her marriage was never going to become a union based on love and respect. How could she live happily with a man who would impose his will by physical force? A husband had the right in law to chastise his wife, but she had never dreamt Leo would wish to exercise that right. Then she remembered the unkind words she had overheard three years before and her sorrow turned to anger.

  The tears dried on her face. ‘How dare he talk to me like that? I’
m not his daughter and neither am I his wife, yet. I’m nineteen years of age and I will not be bullied by a redundant soldier.’ She had spoken aloud and her words gave her courage. She stood up aware she was shivering, not from fear as before, but from cold. The sun had fully set and a soft persistent rain had started to fall.

  Eleanor left the safety of her hiding place and hurried back through the rapidly darkening garden, well aware her prolonged stay outside in nothing more than a thin muslin dress, was hardly sensible. She ran the risk of sustaining a head cold or worse if she didn’t get into dry clothes soon.

  She hoped to be able to slip back indoors and gain the security of her bedchamber without further confrontation. As she stepped, a bedraggled and miserable picture, through the side entrance she came face-to-face with the one person she most wished to avoid.

  ‘Sweet heaven! Where have you been, Ellie?’ Leo’s voice was full of concern, his face etched with worry. ‘Look at you; you’re soaked and shaking with cold.’ Not waiting for an answer he swept her up into his arms and carried her, too tired and cold to protest, upstairs where Mary would be waiting with warm clothes and a hot drink. He shouldered his way in and placed Eleanor gently down in front of the roaring fire. ‘Little idiot,’ he growled. ‘Why did you run off like that?’

  She lifted her white face and said bitterly, ‘You said you would beat me. How can I marry someone who would do that to me?’

  He pulled her roughly into his arms and hugged her fiercely. ‘I was angry. I have the devil’s own temper and I spoke out of turn; I’m not used to being gainsaid. I wouldn’t hurt you, little bird, whatever I might say. I will never raise a hand to you, I give you my word.’

  Eleanor wriggled out of his embrace. ‘But I believed you, Leo. You frightened me.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Ellie. I shouldn’t have threatened you, that was wrong.’ He gave her a little shake. ‘But, my dear, my instruction still stands, you will not ride until I give you leave.’ She opened her mouth to protest, but seeing his expression decided to remain silent. ‘I will leave you to change; I’ll see you at dinner, we need to talk.’