Page 73 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
Turning back, she went to finish her supper and had nearly finished it when Lisa came to her door and knocked, “My Lady, my apologies for—”
“Oh, just get out of the way,” a booming voice cut Lisa’s words off. The maid shrunk away with fright on her face. Eleanor’s heartbeat had rocketed to her throat. She had not expected to see her father that night nor early tomorrow.
“Father!” Eleanor almost stuttered. “You’re home. I thought you’d be here tomorrow.”
The Duke's eyes narrowed, her father’s voice was deceptively quiet. “My business in Twickenhamwas done and I decided to come home early only to hear something disturbing. What is this I hear about you going over to Oberton’s house without a chaperone?”
“Father, I—” she swallowed.
“Choose your words carefully, Eleanor,” Fenton warned.
“I was not thinking father,” she finally said. “I felt stifled and I just…left. I am sorry.”
“You’re sorry,” her father intoned as red was clawing up his neck. “Do you know what danger you could have put yourself in? If someone of any notable rank had seen you with him, and without a chaperone, your reputation would be ruined.”
“Father, for God’s sake, yes, I broke the rules of propriety and I acknowledge that, but I am not a child!” Eleanor replied.
“Until you are married, you are to me,” he snapped back.
“How can you be so—” Eleanor gaped. “Father, do you plan to keep me under lock and key for the rest of my life?”
“If you test my patience, I will,” her father’ growled. “I do not trust Oberton, nor do I like him. That boy has too much foolhardy pride for his own good.”
“All this because he tried to interrupt our meeting with Greenville?” Eleanor asked. “You and I both know that is not any reason at all. Aaron is a good man, father, brilliant and kind to all.”
Shock was painted on the father’s face before the red deepened to mottled purple, “You have leave to call him by his Christian name?”
Instantly, she recalled what she has just said and slapped both hands over her mouth in horror.
“This is it, Eleanor,” the Duke’s voice was tight and strained. “You will not see him. I forbid you.”
It felt like she had been punched in the stomach. “Father! No! Please!”
“My word stands, Eleanor,” he stated. “I would advise you to forget him and everything pertaining to him. From now on, he is nothing but a stranger to you.”
“I love him!” she blurted out.
Her father had already turned with his hand on the doorknob. He did not turn and his voice had gone hard, “Excuseme?”
“I love him,” Eleanor clarified, “and he loves me.”
Her father had not moved and his shoulders had gone rigid like a line of steel had been rammed through his bones. The silence was painful until he spoke.
“You will love another. Do not make this into some trite Shakespearean tragedy Eleanor, first love never lasts.”
“Mother would have never done this to me,” Eleanor said. “She would have let me be free to love him.”
“Your Mother is not here,” Fenton said tightly.
“Did she die how you said she did?” Eleanor was on an impudent roll. “How was she suddenly ill? I’m starting to think you lied to me.”
“Good night, Eleanor,” he said stonily.
The click of the door sounded like a death knoll to Eleanor who softly sank to the ground. Her heart was beating furiously. This banishment was not going to work. Her father might think she would play the perfect prisoner but she was set on proving him wrong. One way or another, she was going to get out of here and sooner better than later.
Chapter 20
It took a lot to render the unflappable Julius Wilcox silent, but the words Aaron had just spoken had. The constable's face was grim and his lips were pressed in a tight line. They were in Lady Darcy’s sitting room, supplied with glasses of cool lemonade while the lady of the house was in her kitchen.
