by Ella Edon
Hopefully, Nathan would have the answers. He seemed the more level-headed one of the pair, and Eleanor liked to think she could read him. Nathan Reynolds had seemed pretty open in previous conversations. He had shown no indication that he had someone around who had made a promise to him. Or he had promised her anything.
Waiting around for someone to become a widow, indeed! Lord Chapman could have lived until he was in his seventies. While Lady Chapman had made it clear with her declaration that she was happy to become a mistress with the man she wanted, Eleanor couldn’t see Nathan breaking his gentlemanly conduct and having an affair with a married woman.
She hoped not. She was not about to be humiliated by his philandering, if that did happen. Nathan would know very quickly that he was in serious trouble.
Somehow, Eleanor managed to make it through the rest of the day and headed up to bed for an early night. She kept her distance from everyone, including Marion. Her friend had witnessed it all, and she seemed to understand that Eleanor needed the space alone. A surprise like that was a lot to take in.
There were moments when Eleanor wished she had never been put in this position in the first place. That she had managed to find a husband years ago and she was now happily married. So now if her father’s gambling had gotten out of control, Eleanor wouldn’t be used as a pawn for a marriage. She wouldn’t be a puppet on a string for her father.
Then again, wouldn’t she be a puppet on a string for her husband? Women didn’t get many freedoms. Eleanor had considered herself incredibly blessed for being able to do what she wanted. Men would frown upon what she did. Nathan certainly had. Nobody would have appreciated her charity work.
They would have a hard time stopping her, though.
Eleanor undressed for bed and slid under the sheets. Normally, if she went to bed early, she would lie in bed and read until her eyes started to slide closed. This time, Eleanor’s mind was racing too much to focus on any book. She was still thinking about her interaction with Lady Chapman and how enraged she was still feeling. If she had come here to get Eleanor angry, it had worked.
What was her goal for doing that? She wanted Nathan to herself, clearly, but what could she hope to achieve by coming here and demanding Eleanor brake everything off before insulting her? Did she think Eleanor would just do as she was told? Eleanor might have done so in the orphanage, but not when it was her own life. Not a chance.
Lady Chapman was going to find out the hard way that she had done the wrong thing. Eleanor would make sure of it.
It took a long time for Eleanor to settle. She kept turning everything over in her mind, questioning it all and beginning to doubt herself. Then she realized where her thoughts were going and told herself off. This was ridiculous. That was probably Lady Chapman’s desire all along. To have Eleanor doubting everything around her. Make her insecure.
Not going to happen. Eleanor would not allow it.
Giving up on trying to sleep outright, Eleanor reached for her copy of ‘The Monk’ on her bedside table. That would help get her distracted enough to lull her into sleep. She settled on the bed and opened at her homemade little marker. Perhaps reading about monks lusting after nuns and maidens they shouldn’t be lusting after, would distract her.
Next thing Eleanor knew, she was opening her eyes. The room was dark, and the fire had gone out in the grate. Her book was lying open, pages down, on her chest and she was lying diagonally across the bed. Eleanor couldn’t even remember closing her eyes and falling asleep.
But she knew what had awoken her. The door to her bedroom had opened. There was a very distinct creak to it, and it never failed to rouse Eleanor. Initially, she didn’t move. It could have been Marion checking on her, or her father. When he was sober and not gallivanting around looking for the next game of cards, Edward Heavenly always looked in on his daughter before he went to bed.
Eleanor waited. The door closed again. Then she heard the soft footsteps coming towards the bed. That had Eleanor becoming fully awake. Her father Edward Heavenly never entered her room, not unless Eleanor permitted him to, the servants wouldn’t be sneaking in here. They knew better.
Someone else was in the house. In her room.
Eleanor pretended to shift over in her sleep, taking hold of the book in one hand. She kept her eyes closed as the footsteps came closer, stopping at the side of the bed. Then there was silence other than heavy breathing. It sounded fast, like he was anticipating something.
Then Eleanor felt fingers brushing against her cheek, moving her hair aside. It was almost like a gentle caress. And it made her feel cold.
With a cry, Eleanor lashed out. Using the book, she knocked the hand away and then swung again, hitting something hard. There was a grunt, and then a moment of silence. Eleanor opened her eyes and scrambled away across the bed, only to be tangled up in the sheets. Then her intruder grabbed her ankle, and Eleanor screamed. She was dragged back. Eleanor kicked back, catching her intruder in the stomach. There was a grunt and her ankle was released, but Eleanor was grabbed around the waist and hauled down the bed. Eleanor kept screaming, thrashing around and trying to hit whatever she could.
The first blow to her face stunned her, and Eleanor lay there dazed. Then she felt a pressure on her neck. Hands grasped at her throat and the dark shape above her moved in even closer. Breath tickled her ear.
“You should’ve done as you were told.”
The hands tightened, and Eleanor gurgled. She couldn’t breathe. She needed air. Eleanor reached over and grabbed at his face. Then she dug her nails in. Her attacker screamed and let her go, all the air coming back to Eleanor in a rush. She kicked out of the sheets and crawled away, falling out of the bed.
She lay there in a heap, the room spinning and struggling to get her breath back. She could hear voices and shouting, along with a muffled curse close by. Then the door creaked open and closed, footsteps hurrying away. Eleanor wanted to go after the man. Tackle him herself.
But her body just wouldn’t move. She could only just manage to breath. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, hoping that her staff managed to catch him.
It looked like Nathan was right. She was a target, and they were brazen enough to come into her home to attack her.
She was in trouble. A lot of it.
“Ouch!” Nathan flinched and jerked away from Simon’s prodding fingers. “Careful! My head is still delicate.”
Simon sighed. “Well, if you wouldn’t wriggle while I was trying to be a nursemaid, then maybe it wouldn’t still be delicate right now.”
Nathan scowled. “Your bedside manner needs some practice.”
“And you need to be on your toes more.”
Simon had scolded him on that several times since Nathan’s attack two nights before. He had gotten Nathan back to his and tended to his head, which was bleeding profusely. No wonder Nathan felt dizzy. It took a while for the bleeding to stop, and by then Nathan decided he wasn’t going back to his home. Vanity would take one look at him and start getting hysterical. It seemed the slightest thing would set her off every time Nathan walked into the room; he didn’t want to give her more reason to shriek.
So, he spent the night at Simon’s. If he could recover here, then going home with a headache and a delicate scalp wouldn’t raise many questions. Nathan knew if his mother discovered what he had been up to and why he had been dressed as a smelly street worker, she would become more than hysterical. Vanity didn’t know about the children, and she would consider his investigation ridiculous. In normal circumstances, it would be ridiculous; children went missing all the time.
But Nathan knew there was more, and while they hadn’t found much during that evening searching through the streets, they had found enough to know that Eric Black was behind all of this. Nathan didn’t know how they were managing to snatch the children, but with the current climate in the lower classes, getting children to come to them wasn’t that difficult. The temptation for a better life and a family would be great. Nath
an would find it tempting if he was in that position.
It took a whole day for Nathan to feel remotely better and for the headache to be lowered to a dull ache. He had sent a note to his mother to let her know he was stopping off at Simon’s house for a few days. She could complain all she wanted, but Nathan was a grown man, and he wasn’t bringing his injuries home. Vanity would fuss, but she didn’t really do anything. It did get annoying after a while.
Now they were sitting in the club, Nathan nursing his drink while Simon kept inspecting his wound. His friend had been hovering since he chased the man away before he squashed all the breath out of Nathan’s body. It was irritating; Nathan didn’t need someone to be a nurse to him, not now he was better.
But you would want Eleanor nursing you, wouldn’t you?
Enough.
If only he had seen who it had been, but it had simply been a dark shape. The gaslight had been behind him, and that had his face in shadow. Nathan tried to focus to see if he could remember anything more, but the only thing he could vaguely remember before his head hurt too much was a scarf over the man’s mouth and nose. He had been lurking in the shadows. Waiting for whom? Was it a mugger looking to get some money? Unlikely, seeing as Nathan had been dressed as someone who would more likely be the one carrying out the mugging. Or was he a target? Had someone seen through his disguise?
Nathan had been going over it in his head until it was too painful to think about. He wasn’t getting anywhere. He had a hard head, but he wouldn’t be for long if he kept taking knocks like that.
“What were you doing in that part of town, anyway?” Simon asked as he took a seat across from him, the chess board set up between them. “I thought we were going to wait outside the orphanage for our coach?”
“Didn’t I tell you before?”
“No, you’ve either been talking gibberish or sleeping.” Simon arched an eyebrow. “But seeing as you were near the home of the Heavenly family, I presume it was something to do with a certain lady.”
Nathan sighed. He eased back into his chair, leaning his head gingerly against the cushion propped it up for his head. The gentle pressure felt nice.
“I got to the orphanage early and I caught her coming out. Alone.” Nathan scowled. “I walked her home, just to make sure she was safe.”
He could still remember the kiss. The urge to touch her. He could still feel the stirring in his gut. What was it about this woman that made her different to everyone else? Surely, Eleanor Heavenly wasn’t the only sweet, kind woman in London. Nathan had encountered many of them before. She was the only one he wanted to pull into his arms and not let go.
Three times he had been in her presence, and all Nathan could think about was kissing her again until they were both breathless.
“Are you worrying about a woman’s safety, Nathan?” Simon asked with a sly grin.
“Why shouldn’t I? I’m not cold.”
“But this is Captain Reynolds I’m talking to. Concern for welfare is one thing…”
“You make it sound like we did something sordid. We didn’t.” Nathan shifted in his chair. “I’ve only had three interactions with her.”
“Sometimes, that’s all you need.”
“She’s a frustrating woman, Simon.”
“You’ve also called her beautiful, bright, compassionate and kind. And she can carry a conversation with you that’s interesting and debate with you as much as she wishes.” Simon chuckled.
Nathan was beginning to appreciate how attraction worked. It didn’t care how long you had known someone; it was unpredictable. Nathan didn’t like unpredictable, but he wasn’t about to underestimate it.
Chapter Twenty
“She’s stubborn. How am I supposed to be married to a woman who pushes back so much?”
“Nathan, if you married a woman who wasn’t stubborn or had no personality at all, you would be back in France before you even conceived an heir.” Simon winked. “With Eleanor Heavenly, I can see you lingering a little more.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Simon,” Nathan growled, but he felt a pressure in his gut at the mere thought of Eleanor growing with his child. Fatherhood hadn’t been something he had considered for some years; Nathan was happy either way. Now it was becoming a lot more tempting.
She would make a fantastic mother. Eleanor loved children. She would raise a child that Nathan would be proud of.
“I know you, Nate. She’s done things to you after just three interactions. I know you’re not willing to admit it yet, but she’s touched you.”
“I’m only doing this to get Mother to stop pestering me. That’s all. I’ve got more important things to deal with.”
But even as he said that, the words seemed to ring hollow. That was not sitting well with him. He had been back in London less than a week and already Nathan was getting distracted. He needed to focus on his investigation and find this Mr. Black. Not focus on his future bride, no matter how enticing she was.
He needed to keep his distance from Eleanor for the moment. Until he got something solid with his findings. That needed to be his main priority. Even as he said it, Nathan knew that he wouldn’t be able to do that.
“You Reynolds?”
Nathan looked up. A fair-haired man his age was standing over him, hands clenched at his side with a dark scowl. He was standing far too close, and Nathan had to resist the urge to lean back into the chair.
“I’m Captain Reynolds. And you are?”
“Leave Eleanor Heavenly alone.” The question was ignored. “She’s not yours.”
Eleanor? Nathan blinked.
“And why would I leave her alone?”
“Because she’s mine,” the young man snapped. “We’re meant to be together, and Eleanor knows it.”
Nathan glanced at Simon, who looked equally bewildered. Where had he come from? From his conversations with Eleanor, he had gathered that Eleanor had never found a husband because she had had the cards stacked against her. Had she been lying?
Then Nathan saw the expression in the man’s eyes. Slightly wild. He was either desperate or mad. Nathan wasn’t sure which at the moment. He rose to his feet, causing the man to step back before he was knocked back. Nathan was easily taller than him, the other man’s head barely brushing his nose. And from the widening of his eyes, he wasn’t expecting Nathan to be that tall.
“Well, Mr…?”
“Leyton.” The man squared his shoulders. “Matthew Leyton.”
That name sounded familiar. He had to be a member of the Leyton family. Nathan knew Dominic Leyton, who was a little older than Nathan and Simon. Dominic had been a placid, sensible type. Settled down early with an equally sensible but sweet young lady. From the look of it, Matthew wasn’t as calm as his brother. He looked almost manic.
What was going on?
“Mr. Leyton.” Nathan fixed the other man with a cool stare. “Lady Eleanor and I are preparing to be married. It’s been in the works for a while now, and from the interactions I’ve had with Lady Eleanor, I don’t recall your name ever coming up.”
Leyton’s eyes flared. “You can’t expect Eleanor to go through with something you forced her into?”
Nathan folded his arms. “Are you suggesting that I somehow managed to force a young lady to marry me when I wasn’t even in the country at the time?”
“I wouldn’t put it past you.” Leyton’s lip curled in a sneer. “She doesn’t want to marry you.”
“How do you know?”
“I know Eleanor. She wouldn’t marry someone like you.”
Nathan bristled.
Simon snorted. “And what would that be, Sir? A decorated soldier who’s served his country? Or an Earl? What are you, anyway?”
“A better man than him.” Leyton jerked his chin at Nathan.
Nathan highly doubted that. This man seemed to think he could get what he wanted just by walking into the club and demanding that Nathan left Eleanor alone. Or was he threatening him? Nathan was not having it. H
e straightened to his full height and felt some satisfaction at seeing Leyton take half a step back.
“Lady Eleanor and I are getting married, end of story.” He used the voice he put on when disciplining his soldiers when they broke the rules. It always had men quaking, and it seemed to be working. “Unless you want to cause trouble, I suggest you back off and leave her be.”
Leyton blinked. Then his eyes narrowed, his bravado coming back.
“No. She’s mine. I’m going to have her. We’ll be gone before the wedding happens, trust me.”
Nathan snorted. He would like to see that happen. Not if he had anything to do with it.
“Listen closely, Mr. Leyton. You have any contact with Lady Eleanor, and I’ll make sure you’re chased out of London. I hear the navy are still looking for people to serve on their ships. Perhaps I can introduce you to a couple of friends who work on those ships. They need a swabber’s mate.”