Page 72 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
Before she entered, she stopped to thank Aaron’s footman. “Hiddleston is it?”
“Yes, My Lady,” he dipped his head.
“Thank you for seeing me home,” Eleanor case a worried look to the door, “Please give Aa…sorry, the Duke, my thanks.”
“Good day, My Lady,” he bowed formally and backtracked.
Eleanor took in a deep breath and climbed the stairs to her home, expecting a frenzy inside. She entered the foyer and felt the looming space around her was crushing her.
“Lady Eleanor,” Mr. Ambrose’s voice was grave and the lines on the side of his eyes and mouth were deeper. “I am glad you’re home but, if I may be so bold to ask, where have you been?”
She was not going to lie, “I went to visit the Duke of Oberton. I know it was not right but I…I had to speak with him.”
“By leaving without notice?” the butler was clearly bothered. “My Lady, I cannot condone this. I am sorry but I will have to tell His Grace when he comes home tomorrow.”
“It is fair,” Eleanor replied calmly. “I have no objections, Mr. Ambrose and I am sorry for putting you in such a position. I will not let my father blame you or punish you for my foolishness.”
The older man sighed, “I do not think that is something you can control, My Lady, but we can only hope for the best.”
Inclining her head, Eleanor bade him a farewell and went to her room. She entered the room and looked around with transformed eyes. How had she lived her life with such innocence barely two days ago? How had she believed all was well?
Crossing the room, Eleanor tugged out a drawer and just as she was about to drop her mother’s diary inside it, she spied Aaron’s still-confusing dance card. She picked it up and felt a soft smile tug at her lips. Eleanor still did not know why Aaron had given her the note but at this point, it was the least of her concerns.
Turning, Eleanor went to her bed and slipped the diary under the mattress, and onto the board slats. She dropped the mattress and heard the soft huff as it settled on the base. Sitting on it, Eleanor braced her elbows on her knees.
How is Father going to react?
She turned that question over and over in her head but did not come up with a decisive answer. Instead of wasting time on an unfathomable question, she turned her attention to what she could do to prove her father had a role in her mother’s death.
Aaron was right. She probably would not find much there and the odds of finding anything back at the county home at Brisdane was minimal also. She still had to try. The old house was her best bet for finding anything, not this townhouse.
She hoped and prayed that her mother had left her a clue, something damning, something irrefutable. The diary she had was good but she needed something more concrete. No one would send a Duke to prison for anything less than concrete evidence of his guilt.
Still, nothing could be done about it that night and she rang for her maid.
“My Lady,” Lisa said with pronounced relief. “We were worried about you.”
“I understand,” Eleanor replied. “And I apologize for the anxiety I have caused you all. Please send up my supper. If the cook has any more sweet buns, I’ll take that but if not, rolls, preserve, and milk will do me just fine, thank you.”
“I will see to it, My Lady,” Lisa curtsied.
Changing into sleepwear, Eleanor tried to map out how she could get to Brisdane without tipping her father off. Perhaps she could casually ask him to go visit but she had not once shown any interest in going back to the old house in years. That could raise her father’s suspicion.
Brisdane was a five-hour carriage ride from London. There was no feasible way she could sneak out, go there and come back without anyone being the wiser. She had lucked out with Maria and was thankful that only Aaron knew about that. It would not be wise to overestimate her luck.
Gravitating to the window, Eleanor braced both palms on the sill. From there, she could see the tip of Aaron’s house. The things Aaron had done that day, the way he looked at her, how he had asked her to let him in, and lastly, how he had never let her go on believing that he had betrayed her.He truly does love me.
“My Lady,” Lisa said from the doorway. “Your supper. I apologize, cook ran out of sweet buns but she will make a fresh batch tomorrow.”
“That’s fine,” Eleanor’s disappointment was barely heard. She did not move away from the window but finished addressing the maid. “Thank you.”
Introspection was where Eleanor thrived. She had acted like a child with Aaron and probably would have continued to be petty if the situation had not pushed them together as it had. She really had to find a way to thank Darcy. Speaking of, she had not heard from her in a few days. Was she alright? She should send a note or a letter in the morning.
Spooning honey into her milk, Eleanor went back to her first quandary. How was she going to get to Brisdane? Nibbling on the roll, Eleanor was deep in thought when she heard hurried footsteps down the corridor.
Curious, Eleanor wiped her hand and left her room to see the tail of a maid’s skirt disappear around a corner.
That was odd. Is there a fire in the kitchen or something?
