Page 17 of Foolish Bride
She nodded. “Come and collect me early enough to stop this madness. I shall be ready.”
“You are doing the right thing.” Thomas relaxed.
Elinor hated everything about this plan. “I will not have his blood on my hands. That is the only reason that I am doing this. If he means to kill himself, he will have to find some other excuse.”
Thomas pointed at her and drew in a long breath.
Waving her hand about, Sophia said, “Very well then, we shall leave you to the rest of your day, Elinor. Daniel and I will, of course, be joining you in the morning. No need to give the gossips more to flap about.”
They made a hasty exit.
Tears rolled down Elinor’s face. She’d cried a river since her meeting with Michael a month earlier. She was sick of crying.
* * * *
An hour before dawn, Elinor waited near the front door. She’d left Mother a note explaining that she had gone out early for a walk. She would think it outrageous, but since Virginia never rose before ten, she would assume early was perhaps nine o’clock. If things went as planned, she would be home before Mother had much time to think about the matter.
The servants would only answer direct questions, and Mother wasn’t likely to ask the time of her departure.
When the carriage stopped in front of the stoop, Elinor rushed from the house. Her heart pounded, and the temptation to run back upstairs was strong.
The footman hadn’t dismounted before she stood waiting to be handed up.
“Good morning.” Elinor climbed in and sat next to Thomas Wheel. Sophia and Daniel faced them.
They muttered good morning before falling silent for the winding route out of the city. At the early hour, only servants and workers occupied the streets.
She should demand they take her home and let Michael take care of himself. That would be the prudent thing to do. Never having done the prudent thing where Michael was concerned, Elinor remained silent as she toyed with the seam of her glove.
Sophia cleared her throat. “What will you say to him, Elinor?”
Elinor shrugged. She had no idea what she would say when she confronted him again. She might strangle him for the trouble he’d caused. Maybe she’d slap his face. There would be some satisfaction in that.
Thomas ran his hand through his hair, causing the dark red locks to stand straight up, “Have you no idea? Perhaps you could tell him how much he has to live for.”
Elinor met his gaze. “Is that what you told him?”
“Yes.”
“And yet he still insisted on the duel?” Elinor wished she could jump out of the carriage and get as far away from Michael and all the things that reminded her of him. Yet, they barreled forward toward the very man who had ruined any hope of her happiness. Idiot.
Thomas straitened his white cravat and fidgeted in his seat. “I see your point. You could tell him how much it would hurt you if he were dead.”
“Mr. Wheel, I appreciate your concern, but you asked me to do this, and I will. Do not presume to tell me what to say.”
He held up a hand, palm out, as if asking for peace. “I apologize. I am sure you will handle the situation to the best of your ability.”
They arrived in an empty field surrounded by trees. The mist hadn’t yet lifted as the sun breached the horizon. Without a soul in sight, panic rose in Elinor’s stomach. Might they be at the wrong field? The idea of Michael lying dead somewhere made her dizzy. She couldn’t bear the thought.
Searching for some sign of life, Elinor saw only leaves swaying in the light breeze.
“To the left.” Daniel pointed to a smudge of something dark moving in the fog.
The driver crossed the field, stopping several yards from the armed men.
As soon as the steps were down, Elinor alighted. She couldn’t make out the faces from twenty feet due to the heavy fog, so she closed the gap.
Four men turned toward her. Two were armed. The others she assumed were their seconds.
