by Ella Edon
Edward Heavenly gave her a wry smile. “I must say, it’s going to be interesting when you two start clashing on this subject.” He slapped his thighs as he rose to his feet. “Right, I’m sure you’re not wanting me to hover around you asking if you’re alright. I’m going to head into my study and get through that paperwork.”
“Father?” Eleanor touched his arm as her father stepped around her. “You’re not going out tonight, are you?”
Edward Heavenly arched an eyebrow. Then he smiled and shook his head.
“Not tonight. I think you need me more than the cards do.” He kissed her temple. “You know where to find me, Eleanor.”
“Here.”
Nathan looked up and saw the full glass in front of him. Simon stood over him with a wry smile.
“What’s this for?”
“You look like you need it.”
Nathan groaned as he took the glass. “I didn’t realize that I looked that bad.”
“Not quite.” Simon settled in the chair across from him. “But you do look troubled, Nate.”
Nathan didn’t know how to respond to that. He was troubled, but not in the way that Simon thought. Lunch had passed by a little more pleasantly than he expected. Eleanor Heavenly was not the woman he expected. Compassionate, a kind heart, and she respected his rank.
And she had fire. Not to mention stubbornness. Nathan knew he was going to have his work cut out for him arguing that Eleanor was in danger helping children, especially those who were in danger of vanishing into thin air. What if she was known to the gang? What if they decided to hurt her? Nathan was certain that this would be painful for him, knowing that Eleanor had been harmed because of her charity work.
He admired her determination, but he just wished that she would find something else to do.
Simon chuckled as he sat back and crossed his legs. As soon as Eleanor and her chaperone had left his home, the second time in two days after Vanity pressured him into letting Eleanor come over again to become more acquainted, Nathan had headed straight over to Simon’s house. His mother had immediately started trying to get him to sit down and talk about Eleanor, and all Nathan wanted to do was run away. He didn’t want to discuss Eleanor Heavenly with Vanity. He didn’t want to see the triumphant look on her face when she realized that she had chosen well for him.
Because Eleanor was just what he would look for in a woman. If only he could stop worrying about what she did in her spare time.
“So,” Simon started with a grin, “was Lady Eleanor Heavenly unattractive?”
“No, she wasn’t. She was very attractive, actually. Not at all what I expected. And she’s kind, sweet. She even addressed me as I wanted without any prompting.” Nathan frowned. “It’s just…”
How could he say this without sounding like a whining child?
“What?” Simon prompted. “I would’ve thought that those qualities would be perfect for you.”
“She’s involved with an orphanage, Simon. Lady Eleanor spends her spare time at one of those places the nuns run, helping out with the children.”
Simon blinked. Then he stared.
“You...you don’t think...she’s not one of those smuggling the children, is she?”
“No, I don’t believe that.” That had never crossed Nathan’s mind. “You can tell by the passionate way she spoke about the children that she cares and she’s helping them out. But I have a feeling that she might unwittingly be associated with these people.” He rubbed at his eyes. “She may not know, but she’s going to be seen as an obstacle if she protests too much defending these children.”
From Nathan’s experience and attempts to find the culprits in France who acted as the counterparts for Eric Black’s gang, he had found bodies of people who tried to defend the children or help them out. They killed anyone they considered a threat, and Eleanor might be considered a threat, especially if it was discovered that she was engaged to marry Nathan.
He didn’t want Eleanor hurt. She was too sweet.
Chapter Sixteen
“Nathan?”
“Hmm?”
Simon was watching him curiously, his head tilted to one side. “Are you starting to find her more than a bit attractive?”
“What? No!” Nathan shook his head, wondering why this felt like it was sounding hollow. “Of course not. But she’s a genuine person. You don’t get many of those people nowadays. I don’t want someone like her getting hurt.” He grunted and took a swig of his drink. “I doubt she’s going to listen to me, though.”
“I’m sure she will.” Simon shrugged with one shoulder, raising his own glass to his lips. “Maybe you should ask her about the children disappearing. Maybe she has a lead she doesn’t know about that could help.”
Nathan snorted. “You’re mad if you think I’m going to get her mixed up in all of this.”
“She already is.”
“And two meetings are enough for me to know that she’ll go poking her nose into darker places she shouldn’t be and find out something that puts her life in danger. I ask her for information, and then I’ve got to worry about her more than I already am.”
“More than you already are.” Simon laughed. “Sounds like you might have met your match.”
“I didn’t want a match in the first place,” Nathan grumbled. He sat back and stretched out his legs. It felt good to talk openly with his friend and not have to choose his words. “But at least Mother has found someone I can be friends with. Marriage to someone I can’t stand would be uncomfortable, to say the least.”
“Like Lady Chapman, for example.” Simon sipped his drink. “I have heard from various sources that since her husband died, she’s been waiting for you to come back so she can seek you out.”
“I know. She kept sending me letters.”
“She did? What did you do with them?”
“Trust me, you don’t want to know.” Nathan scowled. “She wants to marry me, and she’s made that clear. But it’s not going to happen. My intended marriage to Lady Eleanor is all but set in stone.”
“You think that’s going to stop her?”
“Probably not.” Nathan waved a hand. “Look, I don’t want to talk about Lorraine Chapman. I want to figure out who the head of this smuggling gang is. A name could mean anything, and it doesn’t immediately give me a face.”
Simon grinned. He sat up, putting his glass aside. “Well, I have some contacts that have said there might be lead at that tavern near that orphanage the nuns run, where your Lady Eleanor helps out.”
“She’s not my lady.”
“From the way your cheeks are reddening, I’d say she already is.” Simon rose to his feet. “If you’re up for something to do, that could be a good place to start. We might be up for some time, though.”
Nathan didn’t mind staying up all night. He had done it on patrol once. While he didn’t appreciate being awake for three days straight, it was doable, and it was preferable to going back home and listening to Vanity talk about how suitable Eleanor Heavenly was. Nathan didn’t need to hear that right now.
“I’m up for it, but I can’t go dressed as I am.” Nathan gestured at his attire. “I’d stick out like a sore thumb.”
“Already thought of that. Davidson has procured us some clothes we can wear to blend in with the crowd once we cross the threshold.”
Nathan frowned. “Us? You’re coming as well?”
“Of course I am.” Simon spread his hands. “There’s no way I’m letting you do this on your own.”
“Only because you want in on some excitement,” Nathan grumbled.
“That, too.”
There was no arguing with him, and if he was honest, Nathan would be grateful for Simon’s presence. His friend wasn’t a soldier, but he was the man Nathan would want to have at his back, especially when attempting to filter into the underbelly of London. Nathan rose to his feet and rolled his shoulders.
“Then let’s get changed and go. If we’re lucky, we might be a
ble to find something before darkness falls.”
Eleanor hadn’t planned on going to the orphanage. It wasn’t her night to go, but after her interaction with Captain Nathan Reynolds, she wanted to get away and do something to get rid of her frustration at his reactions.
He thought he could stop her from coming here and looking after the children. They needed someone here, someone to be a mother for them, and Eleanor wanted to be that person. She wasn’t going to immediately forget about them because she was getting married. That was not fair to the children, and Eleanor could not simply turn around and walk away. It was ridiculous that Nathan expected her to stay at home waiting for him while he was putting himself in greater danger.
He hadn’t thought that through.
Captain Reynolds. His name is Captain Reynolds.
Eleanor shoved that aside. Not now. She had to get through the courtship first, and to get Nathan to realize that she wasn’t a wilting flower. She could look after herself, and Eleanor felt like she was doing a lot of good with the orphanage. Nathan would see it. Eleanor was determined to make him see it.
With Jonathan chaperoning her, Eleanor headed over to the orphanage as soon as she came back from Nathan’s home. The second time in two days. Eleanor hadn’t expected to go to see the captain again so quickly, but Lady Vanity had been determined, almost desperate, to have Eleanor back again, so Eleanor had ended up accepting. She didn’t want to make the Dowager Countess annoyed by refusing.
This second time had proven their first meeting wasn’t a fluke. They really did get on well. Eleanor and Nathan had ended up sitting in the corner of the morning room, Lady Vanity and Marion sitting at the other end playing cards, giving them privacy while being in the same room. Nathan didn’t look too impressed that they had been pushed together again, but the more they talked, the more Nathan began to loosen up. They found that they had similar tastes in music and art, the latter surprising Eleanor. She didn’t think a soldier would know much about art, but she did keep forgetting that Nathan was an Earl, first and foremost.
He was such an easy person to talk to, although Eleanor found herself going speechless whenever Nathan smiled. He really did have a nice smile. When he smiled, his eyes twinkled, and that just lit up his whole face. Eleanor couldn’t stop herself from staring. It was nothing short of a miracle that he was still unmarried, even with the fact that he was married to his love of being a soldier.
She could get used to being his wife. If he remembered that he had a wife. Eleanor wasn’t about to be betrayed because this was a convenient marriage. She wouldn’t allow that to happen, and she would make sure Nathan knew she would make his life a living hell if he so much as touched another woman.
Getting a little possessive, aren’t you? He’s not even yours yet.
He will be soon.
Eleanor had to calm herself whenever she started thinking of Nathan Reynolds as hers. This was not how she usually behaved at all. She liked to think of herself as a level-headed, calming person. She didn’t jump into these lines of thought. But with Nathan, it was almost natural. Like Eleanor was scared he would disappear if she let him go.
Why was she even thinking like this? It was a marriage that had been arranged, and they had simply agreed that they could manage this marriage and remain friends - they had that much respect for each other - so why was Eleanor considering Nathan as something more?
She really needed to get out more if she was beginning to think like this about a man she had only met twice.
Eleanor headed into the orphanage and after assuring Sister Cecilia that she was fine to be working that day, she threw herself into feeding the children, reading them stories or simply playing games with them. Several of the younger children jumped up for a cuddle, and Eleanor wasn’t about to deny that. She couldn’t deny these children anything.
That was the only thing she missed about being married. It meant she couldn’t be a mother. Eleanor loved children and had always wanted them herself, but that required a husband, or she would either be shunned from society or would have to give her child away. Eleanor wasn’t prepared to go through that, just for a child. It would have to be marriage, and that felt like a selfish reason for finding a husband.
Marriage was meant to be for love, but now Eleanor was realizing she didn’t have a choice on this.
At least, if she did manage to conceive, she would have someone at home with her who would love her unconditionally.
Eleanor focused her efforts on the children, helping them get washed and ready for bed. She read stories to the younger children before tucking them in and then sorting out the laundry. It wore her out, but Eleanor didn’t mind. She felt like she was doing something this way.
When she finally looked at the clock in the main lobby, it was nearly nine at night. She had been here for almost six hours. No wonder she was worn out. Eleanor yawned and put the folded laundry to one side.
“I’d better head home now, Sister,” she said as she undid her apron. “It’s really dark.”
Sister Cecilia looked up and frowned. “Are you sure you should be going home alone? Why didn’t Jonathan stay.”
“He didn’t look very well when he escorted me here.” Eleanor hung the apron up on the back of the door. “I didn’t want him passing on what he had to the children. He needed his rest.”
“But he left you unattended.” Cecilia pursed her lips. “After what you’ve said about this Leyton man, you shouldn’t be on your own.”
Eleanor rolled her eyes. “I’m going to be fine. I can take care of myself. Leyton tries to touch me, and I’m going to let him know that it was a bad idea to come close to me again.”
“Don’t be so sure that will put him off. Years committed away from society hasn’t helped.”
“Maybe not, but I can make sure he knows that he’s not going to win.” Eleanor waved as she left the room. “Goodnight, Sister. Sleep well.”
“Goodnight, Lady Eleanor.”
Eleanor found her coat and slipped it on. It was dark, but it wouldn’t take long to get home. If Eleanor was quick, she would be back before anyone realized she was there. Eleanor was good at sticking to the shadows.
Her father was going to be cross that she had sent Jonathan home and she came back without an escort. But Jonathan had looked rather green as they walked over in the afternoon, and he had admitted that he had been sick earlier in the day. Eleanor didn’t want to bring him inside and make all the other children sick. They were her priority, and she had told Jonathan to go home and rest.
She was only thinking of everyone’s welfare. That was all. But after her father Edward Heavenly had told her not to go anywhere alone with an escort...Eleanor winced. She was going to be in big trouble once Edward Heavenly found out.
Other women in society would have been shocked and scandalized at how Eleanor conducted herself. She wasn’t like them, preferring to be at the edges as much as possible. She didn’t get invited to galas and balls, which Eleanor didn’t mind. She was happy to be left alone. Life wasn’t about swanning around looking pretty, talking about the latest fashion, and whether the Prince Regent was going to grace their social engagement. There were more important things to do.
Like taking care of the children of the next generation. That made Eleanor feel like she was giving back.
Stepping out into the street, Eleanor tugged her bonnet down over her head and wrapped her coat tighter around her. A chill had suddenly set in, and it was making her shiver. If she hurried, she would be able to curl up in front of the fire for a while before bed. Providing her father Edward Heavenly didn’t find out about Jonathan coming back without her.
She was at the end of the street when she heard someone following her. The footsteps were quiet, but Eleanor’s ears picked up on them. She glanced over her shoulder and saw a dark shape duck into a nearby alley. Eleanor slowed, her heart picking up the pace. Someone really was following her.
Eleanor had said she could take care of herself
, that she was able to stand up to anyone. In broad daylight, that might have been the case, but in the dark, her confidence seemed to have left her. Eleanor was beginning to panic. She wanted to be at home. She needed to get home. Now.
Turning, Eleanor began to hurry across the street. Despite its proximity to various theatres and other places of entertainment, the street she was on was surprisingly quiet. If something happened now, there would be no one to come to her aid.
Why did she have to be so arrogant? Eleanor was beginning to regret it.