her.
Acker looked at Clayton oddly.
“Frivolous?”
Clay groaned. “I believe I called her
frivolous on more than one occasion.” He well understood the insult
now. The lady was not as she had appeared in London. Either she was
mistress of this modest home with no servants for help or she was
one of the servants. On that account he had been wrong. If this was
her life prior to and subsequent London then he could well
understand her gaiety at the balls and routs. Still, it didn’t
change the fact that she was not the innocent, privileged woman she
had presented to society.
Why did her grandfather allow her to
live in this manner? He knew Stanhope stored every quid, but even
these living conditions were a bit much for him. And, why didn’t
she live with her grandfather. When her family resided in modest
dwellings in London, he assumed they all resided in better
accommodations in the country. Stanhope should at least see that
his granddaughter wasn’t living in a place about to crumble about
her ears. Had Stanhope learned of the child and sent her
packing?
Despite her circumstances, Acker
thought highly of Miss Westin, had known her for years, and Clay
would have to tread carefully if he were to woo her into becoming
his mistress.
Chapter 9
Eleanor leaned her back against the
door, dropped the basket at her feet and let the tears fall. For so
long she had waited for Drake to come home. She needed to confide
in him and ask his advice. Now Bentley had ruined even that for
her. Was there no end to that man’s interference in her life? She
had thought to leave him behind in London. Oh, she had tried but
the miserable man had haunted her even here, before his physical
appearance. She knew his character too well, insultingly well,
which kept her contempt for him alive. It was good she felt this
way or she would still be reliving the kiss and his strong hands on
her waist. How could she enjoy the physical so well when she
disliked the man so very much?
It was much later in the afternoon
when Drake returned. Eleanor was kneading bread when he appeared in
her kitchen doorway. She offered him a sad smile. “I am so sorry
for my behavior earlier.”
Drake walked into the kitchen and
settled at the table as he had done so many times in the past. She
long ago gave up trying to make him visit with her in the parlor,
over tea and cakes, as was expected when a titled neighbor came to
call. “I’ll forget the incident if you explain your reaction to
Bentley. Somehow I don’t think insignificant encounters justify the
greetings I witnessed.”
Just the thought of the man had Elle
kneading the dough harder than necessary.
“ Why don’t you let me do
that, Elle,” Leigh offered as she came in the room. “I’m sure you
and Lord Acker would like to visit.”
Drake glanced to the younger sister
and gave her a grateful smile, which she returned before bending
and giving him a hug. “We are all glad you have
returned.”
Once they were settled outside Eleanor
began to relax. “Why didn’t you bring Lord Judgment with
you?”
Drake barked out laughter. “He really
got under your skin didn’t he?”
“ I have never been so
insulted by anyone in my life.”
Drake reached over and grabbed he
hand. “Tell me all. Leave nothing out.”
So, Elle told him everything. It was
painless until she got to the part involving Jamie. “I don’t know
how he learned of Jamie, but however he did, Lord Advocate didn’t
bother to learn the facts.”
“ How so?”
“ He assumed Jamie is my
son.”
“ Didn’t you explain the
truth?” Drake asked.
Elle took a deep breath. “At first I
didn’t understand what he believed. That night in the garden, he
alluded to, very properly, that my lack of virtue made it
impossible to marry anyone in society.”
Drake stiffened.
“ He did however offer a
more, temporary, yet lucrative choice.”
Drake stood and yelled, “He wanted you
to be his mistress?”
“ Shush, the children
Acker looked at Clayton oddly.
“Frivolous?”
Clay groaned. “I believe I called her
frivolous on more than one occasion.” He well understood the insult
now. The lady was not as she had appeared in London. Either she was
mistress of this modest home with no servants for help or she was
one of the servants. On that account he had been wrong. If this was
her life prior to and subsequent London then he could well
understand her gaiety at the balls and routs. Still, it didn’t
change the fact that she was not the innocent, privileged woman she
had presented to society.
Why did her grandfather allow her to
live in this manner? He knew Stanhope stored every quid, but even
these living conditions were a bit much for him. And, why didn’t
she live with her grandfather. When her family resided in modest
dwellings in London, he assumed they all resided in better
accommodations in the country. Stanhope should at least see that
his granddaughter wasn’t living in a place about to crumble about
her ears. Had Stanhope learned of the child and sent her
packing?
Despite her circumstances, Acker
thought highly of Miss Westin, had known her for years, and Clay
would have to tread carefully if he were to woo her into becoming
his mistress.
Chapter 9
Eleanor leaned her back against the
door, dropped the basket at her feet and let the tears fall. For so
long she had waited for Drake to come home. She needed to confide
in him and ask his advice. Now Bentley had ruined even that for
her. Was there no end to that man’s interference in her life? She
had thought to leave him behind in London. Oh, she had tried but
the miserable man had haunted her even here, before his physical
appearance. She knew his character too well, insultingly well,
which kept her contempt for him alive. It was good she felt this
way or she would still be reliving the kiss and his strong hands on
her waist. How could she enjoy the physical so well when she
disliked the man so very much?
It was much later in the afternoon
when Drake returned. Eleanor was kneading bread when he appeared in
her kitchen doorway. She offered him a sad smile. “I am so sorry
for my behavior earlier.”
Drake walked into the kitchen and
settled at the table as he had done so many times in the past. She
long ago gave up trying to make him visit with her in the parlor,
over tea and cakes, as was expected when a titled neighbor came to
call. “I’ll forget the incident if you explain your reaction to
Bentley. Somehow I don’t think insignificant encounters justify the
greetings I witnessed.”
Just the thought of the man had Elle
kneading the dough harder than necessary.
“ Why don’t you let me do
that, Elle,” Leigh offered as she came in the room. “I’m sure you
and Lord Acker would like to visit.”
Drake glanced to the younger sister
and gave her a grateful smile, which she returned before bending
and giving him a hug. “We are all glad you have
returned.”
Once they were settled outside Eleanor
began to relax. “Why didn’t you bring Lord Judgment with
you?”
Drake barked out laughter. “He really
got under your skin didn’t he?”
“ I have never been so
insulted by anyone in my life.”
Drake reached over and grabbed he
hand. “Tell me all. Leave nothing out.”
So, Elle told him everything. It was
painless until she got to the part involving Jamie. “I don’t know
how he learned of Jamie, but however he did, Lord Advocate didn’t
bother to learn the facts.”
“ How so?”
“ He assumed Jamie is my
son.”
“ Didn’t you explain the
truth?” Drake asked.
Elle took a deep breath. “At first I
didn’t understand what he believed. That night in the garden, he
alluded to, very properly, that my lack of virtue made it
impossible to marry anyone in society.”
Drake stiffened.
“ He did however offer a
more, temporary, yet lucrative choice.”
Drake stood and yelled, “He wanted you
to be his mistress?”
“ Shush, the children
Similar Books
