Page 16 of Foolish Bride
Elinor didn’t like it. There was something suspicious about this visit. “Not for several hours. She rides in the park at this time of day.”
He nodded.
“Mr. Wheel, it is a particular surprise to see you today. I do not believe you have ever paid me a call before, or were you calling on my ‘dear mother’?” Hard as Elinor tried, the viper’s tongue that emerged the night she visited Michael couldn’t be tamed.
Thomas studied her for a long moment. He then looked at Sophia, who nodded and shrugged.
“I shall not toy with you, Lady Elinor,” he said.
The silent conversation between him and Sophia annoyed her. “Oh no, please don’t.”
He almost smiled. “I have come because Sir Michael is in trouble and you are the only person who can save him.”
“Then he shall perish.” She never took her gaze from his.
Lord Marlton cleared his throat. “Elinor, will you not even hear him out?”
“Why should I?” Betrayed again, but this time by Sophia. “Are you party to this as well? You call yourself my friend.” She stood, forcing the men to stand.
“Elinor, I only said I would bring Tom here. I will support whatever you wish to do.” Sophia plucked at the fringe on the yellow settee.
“You are just like all the rest. The three of you may leave now.” Elinor turned her back on her company. It was the height of rudeness.
“That will do, Lady Elinor,” Thomas said.
She faced him.
“You will apologize this minute to Lady Marlton, or I swear I will take you over my knee. How dare you be so discourteous to your closest friend? She had only your welfare in mind, and it took much convincing to get her to agree to this visit. You have been hurt, and for that I am sorry. You blame Michael, and perhaps you are correct. I am only privy to part of the story. What I do know is that you are behaving as badly as the horrible gossips that nearly ruined you last year. What is worse is you are behaving that way toward the person who saved you. If not for Sophia, you would no longer be welcomed in society. Now apologize.” Frowning, he propped one fist on his hip.
Elinor’s heart pounded. She wanted to close her ears to him and blind herself to what he said. He’d sapped the anger out of her, and she looked at Sophia, who cried quietly. Elinor burst into hysterical sobbing.
Sophia rushed to Elinor and took her in her arms.
Between sobs, Elinor said, “I am so sorry, Sophia. I never meant… Forgive me…”
“Of course I forgive you. It is nothing. You were distraught.” Sophia gave Thomas a harsh look, to which he merely shrugged.
When she had calmed enough and was sitting on the settee next to Sophia, she looked up at Mr. Wheel. “What has happened now?”
“A comment was made about you at a gaming hell, and Michael has challenged the man to a duel.” Thomas sat and folded his arms.
Dueling was idiotic and illegal. “What does that have to do with me? I understand that it is foolish, but Sir Michael is said to be a superior swordsman as well as a superior shot with a pistol, is he not? I am sure he shall emerge victorious.”
“That is not all, Elinor.” Daniel exchanged a look and nod with Thomas. “Thomas and I do not believe that Michael intends to win the duel.”
“I do not understand.” She tugged at a loose thread on the yellow cushion. When it gave, it left a run in the fabric.
Daniel cleared his throat and walked to the fire. He poked at the flame, forcing it to catch.
Thomas brushed his breeches for the second time and tugged on his waistcoat.
Elinor hoped a hole would open in the floor and suck her out of the room and its uncomfortable silence. Unfortunately, the townhouse was solid. “Where is this duel to take place?”
Thomas stood rigid and crossed his arms. “On a wooded property just outside of town.”
“When?” Her voice was strong, but still she did not allow emotion to cloud her judgment.
“Just after dawn tomorrow,” Thomas said.
