Jo Beverley - [Rogue ] by An Arranged Mariage Page B

moved it aside to reveal a small door, which he unlocked. He took out a purse and gave it to her. From a glance she could tell there were over twenty guineas in it.
    "That will keep you in funds for the time being," he said. "I will arrange a regular allowance. Don't spend that on clothes or the house," he added. "Have them send their bills to me."
    Eleanor was dumbfounded. "But then what is this for?"
    "Whatever you wish," he shrugged. "Now, I promised to show you something." He took some boxes from the safe. "There are one or two pieces of jewelry you may like to wear. This is just my magpie pickings. I will choose some especially for you as soon as I can. Kit has the family heirlooms and may suggest you wear them. You must do as you wish, but I don't advise it. It is still possible he might decide to marry one day, and it would be galling to have to give them up."
    Like a child with a box of toys, Eleanor looked at the jewelry so casually laid before her. There was a beautiful sapphire parure of delicate design and a number of individual brooches and rings. There was also a long string of glowing pink pearls. Eleanor had never seen anything quite like it.
    "How beautiful," she said softly. "It must be worth a fortune."
    "The proverbial king's ransom, though in this case a rajah. It was payment for a service I did him. Such a number of matched pink pearls is rare. I think it will suit you. Order a simple dress to complement them and we will show you and them off together."
    She cradled the gleaming rope in her hands. "Are we to go about in Society then?"
    "Yes, as much as you wish. I may not always be able to be your escort, but you will soon make acquaintances of your own. I suppose," he said with a grimace, "we should introduce you to the family. I will keep the pearls and sapphires here. Ask if you need them. The rest you may keep by you."
    Eleanor gave the necklace back a little reluctantly. He picked out a ring in which a large diamond was set in carved coral. "This is one of my favorites."
    He slipped it onto the ring finger of her right hand and dropped a gentle kiss upon her lips.
    Eleanor saw he was tired. It was in his eyes and his voice, though he masked it well. Did that mean he would not bother her this night?
    Instantly she berated herself for the thought. But out of consideration for him she rose and excused herself to go to her bed, thus freeing him to do the same if he wished. She also steeled herself to endure, no, to enjoy, whatever might come.
    As Jenny brushed her hair to silk, Eleanor frowned at herself in the mirror. "I wish," she said, "my eyes were green or brown. Anything but this wishy-washy blue."
    "You've very nice eyes, ma'am," the maid said. "But I could make them finer by plucking your brows."
    "Plucking? Oh, I don't know. It would not be proper, and it must hurt dreadfully."
    The maid shrugged. "Everyone does it, ma'am, and sometimes a little pain's worth it, isn't it? One of the ladies used to say it in French—" The maid stopped her brushing and put her hands to her mouth. "Ooh, I am sorry, ma'am."
    Eleanor laughed. "Honestly, Jenny. Don't tell Mrs. Hollygirt, but I don't mind what happened before I married Mr. Delaney. What were they like, these ladies?"
    Jenny was goggle-eyed at this liberal view but not averse to gossip. "Well, there really haven't been that many, ma'am, and all foreigners. They were all beautiful... Well, no," the maid said thoughtfully as she recommenced her brushing. "Not really that, but fascinating."
    Eleanor thought fascinating was worse than beautiful. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn't resist a further question. "Were they common or ladies?"
    Jenny had to think about it. "Well, Mam'zelle Desirée, she was a lady sure enough, but could she scream and swear! All in French, but a body can tell what's being said. The master hit her once to shut her up, and it was about time, too."
    Eleanor felt a tremor of nervousness at this information. She should have known