Page 45 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
“I’d be delighted.”
* * *
Rays of sunshine blasted through the storm clouds of fear. Eleanor had gone to Aaron’s townhome with the fear that she would be solidly rejected and sent home but now, against all odds, he had not only gone from accepting her but to asking her for courtship.
The road from antagonist to suitor seemed blurred, but for once in her life, she didn’t question it. It felt right. As they began talking, the small seeds that had begun with attraction were germinating into admiration, especially now that she knew Aaron was not only handling his dukedom but also a trading company his uncle had left him.
“What imports does the company get?” she asked while swirling in milk in her tea.
“They mostly demand goods like coffee, wet sugar that we mill into white, cotton for textiles, and salted meats,” Aaron replied. “It’s a good source of income especially when my men in the colonies handle the reaping and production there, half of my work is done.”
“Aren’t you afraid of underminers?” Eleanor asked. “It seems to me that it can be very easy to steal from you by not cataloging all stock and selling the extra for a secondary profit.”
“It is and that something is I can hardly control,” Aaron admitted. “I must have faith that my men are doing their job. It might be naïve but I cannot be in two places at the same time, my social placement doesn’t allow me to ferret out crime.”
“Speaking of,” Eleanor said, “did they catch thieves who hurt Mr. Wilcox?”
The expression that crossed Aaron’s face was guarded, “We have made progress.”
“I’m all ears.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not send your mind into a flurry,” Aaron replied.
“Did we not just agree on not letting any disagreement be left unresolved?” Eleanor counter-argued. “Are you breaking your own terms so quickly?”
His lips twitched, “You would make a perfect lawyer. But…” he sighed. “I was at Whites the other night and I overheard two gents speaking of the kerfuffle at the docks where Wilcox was injured. I sent an investigator to probe the incident and last night he tracked the blackguard down to a tavern at Wapping…I accompanied him and almost got shot for my efforts.”
Eleanor’s chest expanded with fear but she swallowed it down, “How did it end?”
“Turns out, it was either Newgate and the gaol or debtors’ prison and starvation, so with no other options he turned the pistol onto himself.”
“It is resolved then,” Eleanor said pragmatically. “He saw that the noose was dropping around his neck and dictated his own terms.”
“Ever the practical one, aren’t you?” Aaron murmured.
She shrugged, “It sounds cold and unchristian of me, but better his life than yours.”
“Are you concerned about my life, My Lady?” Aaron smirked.
“If our agreement will stand for more than one day, yes,” Eleanor replied. She then glanced at the clock and noted it was coming to half-past five. “Well, My Lord, I do believe it is time for me to take my departure. We cannot let all the mystery unfold in one evening, can we?”
The Duke gave a soft laugh as he stood. Holding out his hand, he gently assisted her up. “Mark my words I do think your mysteries will be as Daedalus’ labyrinth, with every corner I will find one more.”
He then stepped away and kissed the back of her hand, “Good evening, Lady Eleanor.”
Fighting the tremors that threatened to overtake her, Eleanor curtsied, “Good day to you too, Your Grace.”
As he accompanied her and the smiling Miss Malcolm to their carriage and inside it, Eleanor felt a growing sense of peace in her stomach. Things had certainly taken a leap that day with developments that she had never expected.
Aaron had shared parts of his life with her, he had been candid with her and himself, a little facetious, but she could handle that…but why could she not shake the feeling that he was hiding something from her?
Chapter 13
From what Eleanor understood about the instigation of a romantic relationship, it was normal to daydream. Then again, her relationship with Aaron was not at that point yet, despite the kiss, so she did not allow her mind to think it over too much.
But she couldn’t help that the memory of that unexpected kiss stained her cheeks at random moments and her heart began to palpate irregularly. She was back in the garden with only the smell of flowers, cool air, and her memories to keep her company.
She used the back of the handheld spade to pat the dirt over the replanted rosebush before dropping it into the basket and tugging off her gloves. She rose and went to sit at the bench she had ordered her gardener to reposition on her square of land.
