To Love a Scoundrel (Zebra Historical Romance) (29 page)

At last, she crested the bluff, the stiff breeze blowing
her cape out behind her. The sun had begun its slow descent, coloring the sky with wide swaths of orange and
pink. As she gazed out to the deep blue sea, a feeling of
helplessness washed over her. How lonely the seemingly
endless water made her feel, how tiny and insignificant.
How much less she enjoyed the view, without Frederick
there to enjoy it with her.

Glancing up at the gnarled tree beside her, she had
the sudden urge to climb up to the same low branch
she'd sat on before, to experience once more that wondrously liberating feeling. Yet, deep in her heart, she knew it would not be the same. Nothing in her life
would ever be the same, without Frederick by her side.

She dropped her head to her hands, sighing in despair
as a lone gull called out, circling above, its wings flapping on the wind. Something was not right; Frederick
was not himself And, oh, how she wanted to follow him
to London, to find out why. How would she bear it, the
long, lonely trip to Essex, the wait for him there, with
this odd, uncomfortable feeling, niggling at her mind,
making her doubt his affections for her?

"I thought perhaps I'd find you here," a voice called out,
startling her so badly that she bumped against the tree.

She turned and saw Selina there on the bluff, stray
blond locks whipping about her flushed face.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Selina asked, wrapping her
scarlet cloak more tightly about herself "If only a bit
chilly. I'm sorry I startled you. I hope I'm not intruding
on your solitude"

Though she'd come to the bluff wishing to be alone,
she was suddenly glad for the company. "Not in the
least. I'm happy you've found me," Eleanor said, smiling weakly. "I was thinking perhaps I'd climb this tree.
You should join me; the view is extraordinary."

Selina laughed, a bright, cheery laugh. "Climb a
tree?" she asked. "Eleanor, are you mad? Why on earth
would you wish to do that?"

"Because I want to," Eleanor answered. It was the
truth, after all.

Selina chewed her lower lip, then shrugged. "Well, I
suppose. If you must. But what shall I do if you fall?"
She glanced back over her shoulder, back to the house
in the distance, as if measuring the time it might take
her to go for help if necessary.

"Don't fret. I shan't fall, I promise. I'm good at this,
actually."

Selina ran one hand along the twisted trunk in question,
her blond brows drawn into a frown. "I cannot for the life
of me fathom why you should wish to climb a tree"

Eleanor tried her best to explain. "Because the view
is better. Because it feels lovely to have your feet swinging beneath you, and ... and ... well, just because I
want to, that's all." She shook her head. "Haven't you
ever done something, for no other reason than simply
because you wanted to?" she asked, realizing the question had been Frederick's.

"I'm not entirely sure," Selina answered, then shook
her head. "Very well. Go on, then. Climb your tree.
Shall I give you a leg up? Is that the correct phrase, `a
leg up'?"

"I haven't any idea. But look at you, you're shivering.
We should go back to the house"

"But what of your tree?" Selina asked, giving its
trunk a pat. "We're leaving on the morn, after all. You'll
miss your opportunity, if you do not do it now."

"Truly, it does not matter. Besides, it would not be the
same," Eleanor said, staring off at the sea, remembering
the ship with brightly patterned sails.

"Has this something to do with Frederick? I confess,
I heard you quarrelling before he left. Is ... is everything settled between you?"

"Yes ... no. Perhaps," she amended, entirely uncertain. "I'm wearing his betrothal ring, so I suppose it is"

"And that is what you truly desire? To marry him?"

"It is, Selina. I love him. I know it is hard for you to
understand, after so many years of hearing me say I had
no wish to marry for love. But now it is my greatest
desire. I could not be satisfied, otherwise. I know you
have your doubts, but I can assure you that Frederick is
a good man. He could have killed Mister Eckford yes terday, but he spared him instead. That speaks highly of
his character, doesn't it?"

Selina nodded her agreement. "Indeed, it does.
Henley said most men would not have shown such restraint. If you love him, I am happy for you. Truly I am,
if you are certain he loves you equally so in return"

A shadow of doubt flickered across her consciousness. He had not said the words, had not declared his
love, not in so many words. But he did love her. She was
certain of it, truly certain. And that was precisely why
she needed to go to London rather than rattle about
Covington Hall, allowing the chasm of doubt to reopen
and grow by the day.

Why had he left her there, worrying over him, ordering her to go to Essex and wait? She could not wait, not
when they'd parted under such difficult circumstances,
him unable to meet her gaze, to touch her, to declare his
love.

"Eleanor?" Selina was saying, and she snapped her
attention back to her friend. "He does love you in return,
does he not?"

Eleanor swallowed hard before replying. "Indeed he
does," she said, her heart swelling with the certainty of
it. "Oh, Selina, dearest, you must do something for me.
You must ask Henley to take us to London rather than
home to Essex. Tomorrow. I cannot explain why, but you
must believe me that it's entirely necessary that we go"

"But Henley said-"

"That Frederick wanted me to wait for him at Covington Hall, yes, I know. But I must see him at once; it
cannot wait. London is on the way, besides, and I shan't
tarry there but a day or two"

"Is it really so important to you?" Selina asked,
reaching for her hand. "Whatever it is you feel that you
must do?"

However could she explain it to her? That she simply
needed to see Frederick, to make certain things were
indeed settled between them? To make sure that the
look of defeat-of guilt, she realized-meant nothing?
That his manner upon his departure had only to do with
the fact that a bullet had recently grazed his flesh, and
nothing to do with her?

How silly that sounded, to her own mind. How selfish. He'd been shot; his sister's welfare was in question.
Had she truly expected flowery declarations of love, his
fawning attentions while such heavy matters weighed
on his mind? Of course he was distracted. How could
she have expected otherwise? He'd come to Devonshire
for one purpose, and one purpose alone, and it had
nothing to do with her.

Still, she wanted to go to Town. And according to
Frederick himself, that should be reason enough. She
nodded, her mind made up. "It is truly that important
that I go. I would not ask this of you, otherwise"

"Then you shall go, Eleanor," Selina said, squeezing
her hand with a determined smile. "I will not allow
Henley to say no. Oh, I have my ways," she added, smiling wickedly.

"Do you, now?" Eleanor teased, her mood at once
lightened.

"Indeed. I'll tell you all about it, once you and Frederick have wed"

Eleanor's smile was a guilty one as she realized that
perhaps she already knew a bit more about such matters
than any unmarried lady should rightfully know.

Frederick ducked as a brightly patterned piece of
china sailed through the air like a missile, missing his
head by a mere fraction of an inch.

Molly was not taking the news well. Not that he'd
thought she would, of course, but he had not expected
such histrionics at this. This was far beyond the pale,
even for the temperamental Molly.

A king's ransom worth of porcelain and crystal lay at
his feet, shattered into a million tiny bits. Plates, vases,
pitchers-nothing had been spared her wrath. All of it,
paid for with his coin.

The last few days had been unpleasant enough, what with
dealing with Eckford. He'd quickly and efficiently seen to
that business before moving on to his next problemMolly. He'd thought he would send her packing with a pout,
some practiced, deliberate tears, perhaps. He'd expected a
whore's trick or two, an attempt to use her physical charms
to change his mind. Indeed, he'd been fully prepared for
such a thing as that, ready to deflect any advances, to decisively thwart any attempts at seduction.

But this? Shouting, screeching, throwing dishes at his
head? Damnation. All he could think of was returning to Essex, to Eleanor as quickly as possible. He wanted
this over, done with. Now.

"How dare you?" Molly shrieked, her tirade apparently
not yet spent. She sent another piece of china sailing in
his direction. "How dare you turn me out like this?"

"Come now, Molly," he reasoned. "I'm not turning
you out. You might have noticed that I'm the one leaving the premises" He indicated his packed bags, lying
in the front hall.

"Bastard!" A flying teacup followed the epithet.

"Bloody hell, will you stop this madness? Calm
down, and listen to me. I'm giving you ample time to
find other accommodations. I will not simply turn you
out on the streets"

"You're casting me aside like yesterday's rubbish, you
arrogant ... arrogant-"

"Arrogant what? I think you've run through all the
choices already, have you not?" Devil take it, but he was
tired. Weary. Entirely drained. This had to stop, and now.

Glaring at him, she reached for a saucer. He was across
the room in an instant, grasping her wrists together, manacling them before she did any more damage.

"Stop this," he said, endeavoring to make his voice
gentle, placating. "I've given you my word that I will
pay the rents for a full month more, but no longer. Do
you understand? Our association ends now."

"You're hurting me, you bastard. Get your hands off
me at once," she cried, wrenching her hands free from
his grasp.

Bloody hell, but he didn't mean to hurt her. He'd been
the cause of enough pain, enough hurt as it was. He
raked a hand through his hair, doing his best to ignore
the dull ache in his shoulder.

Just that morning he'd received confirmation of Cornelia Darby's death, not three months past in Shropshire. Lost a babe, likely his own, and hemorrhaged to death.
He would make sure that Molly did not suffer the same
fate, but that did not mean he would betray Eleanor's trust
in the process.

"Our association ends now," he repeated. "Though I
will not put you out on the streets"

"You said that your betrothed held no appeal at all,
that you would have plenty of time to spend with me,
that you would use her money to buy me-"

"Damn it, I know what I said." He did not need any
reminders of his cruel and careless words. "But the situation has changed"

"How so? Have you suddenly developed scruples?
A conscience? Do not be a prude, Frederick. You would
not be the first married man to keep a mistress"

"As I said, the situation has changed" He eyed her
coldly, hating the man he'd been not a month before.

"Has this something to do with that tart in Shropshire?" Molly asked meanly, her eyes narrowed to slits.
"Are you casting me aside for some shriveled up old
prune?"

A vein throbbed in his temple as rage surged through
him, nearly choking him. He clenched his hands into
fists by his sides, willing his temper to abate before he
did something rash. "You'd best shut your mouth right
now, by God, or I'll-"

"Don't you dare threaten me, Frederick Stoneham. Is
it your betrothed, then? Is she a cruel, heartless woman,
one who will keep you on a short leash? Prevent you
from seeking your pleasures? No?" she asked when he
said nothing in reply.

All he could think of was that he must have been a
fool to have ever found her the slightest bit appealing.

"Or is it that you fancy yourself in love with her? Is
that what this is about? You've not been away more than a month, Frederick. You barely know the woman. No, I
cannot accept it ""

"You haven't a choice. You will accept it, and you will
begin to look for other accommodations at once"

"That's it, then, isn't it? You think yourself in love
with your well-bred lady. I never would have believed it
of you. Tell me, how long did it take for her to spread
her legs for you? Surely she could not resist a man as
practiced in seduction as yourself," she purred, trailing
one manicured nail down the front of his coat.

In a flash, he captured her wrist tightly in his grasp. "So
help me God, you will not speak one more word about
her, do you understand me?" he growled. "I have tried to
be fair and accommodating, but you are sorely testing my
patience. All association between you and I will cease at
once. The rents will be paid for one month, and one month
only. If you encounter any difficulties, you may contact
my solicitor." He produced a crisp white card from his
waistcoat pocket and laid it on the table beside him. "I
suggest you do your best to secure another benefactor as
soon as possible. Have I made myself clear?"

"You're a fool, Frederick Stoneham," she spat, nothing but hatred in her eyes. "You care for nothing save
yourself and your own pleasure. I hope you rot in hell."

With a curt nod, he released her wrist and headed to
the front hall to retrieve his bags.

"You're in luck, then," he said, reaching for his hat
and tipping it onto his head. "As I'm very likely to do
just that. Good day"

"Jermyn Street?" Eleanor asked, unable to hide her
astonishment. Releasing the heavy draperies, she turned
from the window where she'd stood for the past hour, staring out at the street. "Are you certain? That's not
quite ... well, respectable, is it?"

Selina only shrugged, stabbing at the fabric in her
hoop with an embroidery needle. "Henley specifically
said `Number Twelve, Jermyn Street, but you cannot
possibly go there.' I suppose it is a bit unsavory, or else
he would not have said that"