A Marriage of Convenience

by Miller, Fenella J

  Leo had been reaching forward to grab the shoulder of the speaker but at the young man’s words he dropped his hand and pushed forward. His brusque, ‘Excuse me’, caused the two men to visibly wilt and vanish into the press of people surrounding the ballroom. No doubt they knew the punishment that he had meted out to Bertram and didn’t wish to receive the same.

  Leo saw his young bride, radiant, surrounded by attentive young man, and the poison settled into his heart. Insane with jealousy he strode across the room, his face hard and cold.

  Chapter Seventeen

  ‘I believe this is my waltz, Eleanor?’

  She smiled and looked up at Leo. Her stomach plummeted. What had she done to anger her husband? Whatever it was, it was bad, very bad.

  She curtsied. ‘Yes, my lord, it is. But if you will excuse me, I am too fatigued to dance again, even with you.’

  He nodded, the epitome of politeness. ‘Then I will escort you upstairs after you have made your adieus.’ She placed her trembling hand on his rigid arm and allowed him to lead her down the line of tabbies watching, sharp eyed, from the gilt chairs at the side of the ballroom.

  She curtsied, nodded and murmured her good nights, a fixed smile pinned to her face. She prayed no one was able to detect her fear and see Leo’s anger.

  The hour was approaching one o’clock and Mary was dozing by the fire when they entered. Before she could speak Leo summarily dismissed her. Eleanor wanted it over, whatever it was. ‘Well, my lord, what am I supposed to have done this time to so displease you?’

  He let his eyes trail contemptuously up and down her figure but he didn’t answer. She flushed under his stare and anger stirred. How dare he look at her like this? She had done nothing to be ashamed of whatever he might believe. She glared back, her fear replaced by indignation.

  ‘I am waiting, my lord.’

  His eyes narrowed at her defiance. ‘You might well ask, wife; I was under the impression I had married an innocent but I have been deceived.’

  For a moment she was too shocked to speak. Her husband was accusing her of something so awful she couldn’t bear to name it even to herself. He took her silence as proof positive of her guilt. ‘So this is why you have been denying me my rights? You knew I would discover your deception if I shared your bed.’

  Eleanor erupted, common sense and calm discussion were forgotten as her hurt burst out. ‘How dare you accuse me of such foul behaviour? You are despicable. How I ever thought I could be happy with you I cannot imagine. Get out of my room. Your presence makes me sick.’

  She heard the click of the door as it closed behind him and her shoulders sagged. She stumbled across to the bed and collapsed; her eyes remained dry but her heart was in pieces. She lay their listening to the last carriages leaving and heard the silence of the night reclaim the house. Wearily she sat up, stiff from lying still for so long. She had to leave Rothmere, leave her husband, and find shelter somewhere faraway where he could never find her.

  Decision made she felt better, stronger, ready to take back her life from Leo and become the independent, unencumbered person she had always wished to be. She grabbed the bell-strap and pulled it gently. Mary would have to organise the packing and alert John. The carriage would need to be ready. If she didn’t make her escape before anyone else was up she would be stopped; especially if either Leo or Gareth heard about it.

  ‘Is there something wrong, my lady, I thought you were abed?’

  ‘We are leaving, immediately. When I’m changed you must go down to the stables and tell John to put the horses up. I’m going to ride Rufus, so have him saddled as well.’

  Mary shook her head but refrained from comment. ‘Will I pack some food for the journey, my lady, as we won’t be waiting for breakfast?’

  ‘If you can, Mary, but only if the kitchen is unoccupied. I don’t want to alert the household.’

  The trunks were packed and John and two grooms crept up the backstairs to collect them. By the light of the full moon and with the frost crisp under foot, Eleanor slipped, shadow like, from a servants’ entrance and headed for the stable yard.

  ‘The baggage is aboard, my lady; I’m sorry, but it was necessary to place some of it inside.’

  ‘Is there still room for Mary?’

  ‘Yes, my lady, and for yourself, if you wish to travel inside later on.’

  ‘Excellent. Then we must leave, I want to get a distance between Rothmere and us before anyone realises we’ve gone.’

  John tossed her into the saddle and jumped onto the box. The candle lamps were lit on each corner, but their light was dim and without the full moon they would have been obliged to travel in near darkness. The subdued procession trotted out of the yard and took the tradesmen’s route behind the barns.

  After a ball no one would be expected to rise before noon. Breakfast, for those who required it, would be served in their rooms. Melville and his army of servants would have the great house to themselves. By the time the first guests drifted downstairs everything would be immaculate, no sign of the previous night’s revelry apparent.

  Leo had had time to think. Had he been mistaken? Her anger appeared to be genuine. His lovely young wife had turned her back on him in disgust and he had ruined any chance they had ever had of having a real marriage.

  The girl he had married had turned into a woman and rejected him and his unjust accusations, totally. He wished his intemperate words unspoken, cursed his temper and his jealousy. He remembered how they had planned to pass the night and knew, by his unforgivable error of judgement he had denied himself, perhaps for ever, the pleasures of the bedroom.

  He abandoned any hope of sleep and at seven o’clock rang for his man to bring him water to shave. As the sky turned pearl grey and the first ribbons of pink appeared he headed for the stables. He needed a gallop to clear his head. John was nowhere around, which was odd, but a Rothmere groom appeared when he called.

  ‘Yes, my lord? Shall I saddle Hero for you?’

  Leo hesitated; should he take Rufus this morning? ‘Yes, please. Is John not about?’

  ‘Shall I see, my lord? I reckon he’s having his breakfast.’

  ‘No, saddle Hero. I will speak to him on my return.’

  Two hours later it was full light, but the sun had no warmth and the park was still white. Leo had achieved his aim; he was exhausted and ready to sleep. He returned to his room, almost knocked on the door of Eleanor’s chamber, but refrained; she needed her sleep. Time enough to try and repair the damage he had done when they were both rested.

  He half smiled as he sat for Sam to remove his mud spattered boots. Today was Christmas Eve; when Ellie saw the presents he had for her maybe she would begin to forgive him. He would beg her pardon, explain how he had come to make such a mistake, and pray the spirit of Christ’s birth would prompt her to take pity on him.

  ‘My lord, wake up, wake up. His grace is here, and wishes to speak with you.’

  Leo was instantly awake. ‘Let him come in, Sam. Don’t keep him standing outside.’ He leapt out of bed and snatched up his brocade dressing-gown and barely had time to tie the belt before his father burst in.

  ‘Eleanor has gone, Leo. What in God’s name did you say to her last night to cause her to bolt?’

  Leo strode across to the communicating door and flung it open; his father must be mistaken, Eleanor was in her room as she should be. But the room was empty, the bed unslept in, and he realised, in that instant, that he loved his wife. That she was the most important thing in his life, without her he would merely be existing, not living.

  As the enormity of his loss sunk in, he slumped against the door frame in despair. His stupidity and filthy temper had driven her away. This was no more than he deserved, he wasn’t a fit partner for her. He straightened; glad now the marriage was in name only. It would have to be annulled; he would set his little bird free. She could have Monk’s Hall and he could go to the devil.

  Whilst allowing in his misery he had been ignoring t
he duke quietly standing beside him. A firm hand on his shoulder shook him back to the present.

  ‘Get after her, my boy; it is never too late. That gal loves you and when she has calmed down she will be ready to forgive you.’

  ‘What’s the point, your grace? I accused her of being impure! I realise now I was insane with jealousy to speak such nonsense. I cannot ask her to forgive me, my position is irretrievable. I am going to get the marriage dissolved. It is all that is left for me to do.’

  ‘I have never heard such drivel. What are you thinking of, boy? If you love the gal, fight for her.’

  ‘I don’t deserve her. She’s too good for me.’

  ‘Poppycock! You are the equal of any woman in this country. Your birth is impeccable and so is your fortune.’

  ‘I have no money, your grace, apart from the funds from Aunt Prudence.’

  His father shifted uncomfortably. ‘Not so, my boy, not so. I released your dear mother’s estates to you years ago and confirmed the title to you.’

  ‘What? Why was I not told of this? God damn it! I would not be in this mess if I’d known.’

  ‘From what young Eleanor told me, my boy, if you didn’t wish to see the estate in some wastrel’s hands to gamble and drink away, you had no choice, either of you.’

  Leo scowled at his parent. ‘I would have been marrying for Ellie’s sake, not my own. Good God!’ His face miraculously cleared. ‘Of course, the money means I can put things right. I can give her Monk’s Hall and all Aunt Prudence’s funds. Thank you, sir, I apologise for my incivility.’

  The duke laughed and slapped Leo, hard, on the back. ‘Forget it, boy. I have. Now time is passing; you must leave immediately. The sooner you sort things out with your young woman the better.’

  ‘I don’t expect her to forgive me, but at least I can give her what she truly deserves, her independence. Even as a slip of a girl she vowed she had no wish to marry and become any man’s chattel.’

  ‘Stuff and nonsense, my boy. Eleanor needs you as much as you need her. Give her a little time and space, she will come round.’

  ‘I pray that you’re right. Now, please excuse me, your grace, I have things to organise.’

  Less than ten minutes later Leo, mounted on Hero, thundered out of the yard, Sam close behind. They were travelling light; the baggage would have to find its own way home.

  ‘You must go in now, my lady, it’s getting light. You’ve been too long in the saddle.’

  ‘No, John; I prefer to ride, Rufus will see I come to no harm.’ She leant down and knocked on the coach window. Mary lowered it, her face anxious. ‘We should be at Monk’s Hall in less than an hour, Mary. I’m riding ahead to warn them of our arrival’

  Eleanor gave neither John nor Mary time to protest. She urged her mount forward into a canter and disappeared down the road. She knew the way from here; she had ridden this way often over the years. Rufus’s long raking stride ate up the miles until he could smell his stable. Without waiting for permission he broke into a gallop and she grabbed a handful of his flying mane to steady herself.

  They raced down the drive and clattered to a halt outside the Hall. She dismounted with difficulty, finding her legs were unstable and for a moment she needed to hang on to the saddle to steady herself. ‘Stand, Rufus. Wait here. I’m going to knock.’

  She hobbled up the marble steps and hammered on the door. She heard Brown’s footsteps as he headed in her direction. There followed the sound of the bolts being drawn.

  The door swung slowly open. The butler’s mouth dropped. ‘My… my lady, we did not expect you.’

  ‘Of course you did not, Brown. Please get someone to take Rufus round and see to his needs. I require a hot bath prepared immediately and something to eat. I am sharp set for I have eaten nothing since supper yesterday.’ She gave her instructions briskly as she entered, allowing Brown no time to question her about Leo. ‘Mary and the luggage will be here shortly. See that there is someone to greet her and take care of things.’

  ‘Yes, my lady, at once.’

  She paused on the stairs. ‘Have the tray sent up with the bath, oh, and send Smith to me.’ Aunt Prudence’s abigail was, since her mistress’s death, semi-retired but would no doubt enjoy the challenge of making Eleanor respectable.

  The tray of coddled eggs and crispy fried ham with fresh bread and home churned butter arrived before her bath was ready. Eleanor wolfed it down. Every joint and muscle ached and groaned after her exertions and she sank into the hot bath with a sigh of pure pleasure.

  For a few moments she relaxed and allowed the heat to seep into her weary bones, easing her stiffness and warming her chills. Her eyes flickered and closed and she began to drift into welcome oblivion.

  ‘My lady, you must not sleep in there, you could drown.’ Smith’s anxious voice jolted Eleanor from her dreams.

  ‘I’ll get out now, Smith; I’m so tired I can scarcely keep my eyes open.’

  ‘It is hardly surprising, my lady. I cannot believe you rode all the way from Rothmere.’ Smith enveloped Eleanor in a warm towel as she spoke. She was too fatigued to even dry herself unaided. Like a child she was draped in a warm flannel nightgown and led to her bed. She stretched out, feeling the warmth from the sheets soothing her tired body.

  She had attended a ball, stayed up all night and then ridden for hours, small wonder she was exhausted. She snuggled gratefully onto her goose down mattress knowing she could sleep for a couple of hours only if she was to be gone before her husband arrived. Her party had made excellent time, but Leo was a soldier, he would travel even more quickly.

  Whilst Eleanor slept the staff of at Monk’s Hall, organised by Brown, carried out her detailed instructions. Boxes of books, pieces of furniture, clothes, carpets and food were found and packed into an open cart and the coach. John, the grooms, and Mary were also enjoying a few well-earned hours of sleep.

  Brown, once appraised by Mary of the reason why her ladyship had arrived so unexpectedly, was efficiency personified. He might be a stickler but he, like the rest of the staff, loved the new Lady Upminster and he would break all the rules to see her safe from that rogue she had been forced to marry. At 2 o’clock precisely Mary woke Eleanor with a hot drink and a tray of scones baked specially for her.

  ‘It’s time to go, my lady. Everything you asked for has been done. The coaches are ready outside. Two maids, two footmen, plus the two grooms and Tommy, the stable boy, as well as John, Smith and myself, have agreed to accompany you.’

  ‘That’s wonderful news, Mary. I still ache all over. It’s a good thing I’m travelling inside today. I’m sure I would fall off if I tried to ride.’ She yawned. ‘Do you know if Rufus is still sound?’

  ‘John said he’s as sound as a bell. He ate his fodder and drank a bucket of water and is eager to be off again. It’s a pity you have to leave him behind, but John’s says he would be too easily recognised’

  The staff had assembled, haphazardly, in the entrance hall to wish their young mistress farewell. Only Brown was privy to the secret of their destination and he would never reveal it. Tears glistened in her eyes as she left the house she loved, knowing she could never return.

  She had her jewellery and all the money she been able to find. Taking the gold Leo kept in the study safe for expenses had felt like thieving, but she had no choice. Where she was going every penny would be needed if she, and her small party, were to survive.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The bells were ringing to celebrate the birth of Christ as Leo galloped through the moonlit countryside. He and Sam had already stopped briefly to rest their mounts and slake their thirst. For the third time he slowed his desperate pace and allowed Sam to catch up.

  ‘How much further, do you think, Sam? You’re a better judge than I.’

  Sam stood in his stirrups and, taking his eyeglass from his saddle bag, peered over the fields towards the distant sound of bells. ‘That’s the bells of Lampton, my lord, if I’m not mistaken.’ He sa
t down and folding his glass, returned it to the bag. ‘That means we have another ten miles, no more. We should be there in an hour.’

  ‘Good, I pray we’re in time.’ The two men relaxed, sharing a pasty and a few swallows of watered wine. The heavy breathing of the horses accompanied their meal.

  Sam handed the flask back to Leo. ‘My lord, forgive me for asking, but why are you so desperate to reach Monk’s Hall? What is it you fear could happen there?’

  Leo gathered up his reins and shoved his feet back in the stirrups. ‘She will not stay at the Hall, Sam. She will go elsewhere and then I might never find her.’

  ‘Not find her, sir? She’ll not travel alone, surely? And anyway a coach or two and a chestnut stallion should not be hard to track. Don’t despair, we’ve found smaller targets before this, haven’t we?’

  ‘You’re right, and Ellie and her entourage will be safely asleep when we arrive. I’m worrying unduly.’ He clicked at Hero and galloped off into the night and Sam had difficulty keeping him in sight.

  Leo had expected the house to the darkness. Why were the lamps lit outside at one o’clock on Christmas morning? His mouth was dry as he vaulted from the saddle and ran up the steps. The door swung open as he raised his fist.

  ‘Good morning, my lord, we were expecting you.’ Brown greeted him, his words polite but his tone unfriendly.

  ‘Is Lady Upminster here, Brown; tell me man, is she here?’

  ‘No, my lord, she is not. She departed several hours ago. I have no knowledge of her intended destination.’

  In his rage of disappointment Leo threw his gloves and whip across the hall. ‘God damn it to hell! Sam, we are too late, she has gone.’ The despair in his voice caused the butler to frown.

  ‘Do you require refreshments, my lord, before your bath?’

  Leo didn’t answer. He strode across the hall and headed for the library. ‘Sam,’ he shouted, ‘bring two bottles of brandy.’ He was too late; he would drown his despair in alcohol; being drunk, the misery of his loss would be less painful.