Page 80 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
Chapter 22
The glimpses Aaron took of the London streets revealed roads and walkways strewn with garbage, drunken and hollering men, carts smoking with charred meat and stray dogs ducking in and out of men’s legs.
His eyes and attention turned back to the one thing he cared about and was tempted to smile. Huddled into the warm seat of the carriage, Eleanor sank into Aaron’s loving hold and rested her cheek on the side of his neck.
“Are you sure she will receive us?”
“She will take you in without question,” Aaron said softly. “It might be late but Lady Darcy loves you like a sister, she will never turn you away despite the inconvenient time.”
“But there is also the danger,” Eleanor’s reply was hesitant. “We’d—well,I’d—be putting her in unneeded danger.”
Strong hands shifted her on her seat, Aaron’s gentle hold pulled her closer, “She has Wilcox, Eleanor.”…and my Bow Street Runners…“She is adequately protected. I promise you—Lady Darcy will face no harm.”
Her eyes searched his for a moment, nodded with the security she saw there and settled back. “If anyone was to see us, our names and houses would be mired in shame before dawn broke…well, I would be, not you really. I’d be a fallen woman in their eyes while you’d probably—and I say this word lightly—suffer for a week.”
Aaron’s jaw clenched at the despicable double standard of society. It galled him how a man’s reputation was never damaged to the level a woman's would be. Men, in the right station and with enough money, could get away with murder when it came to actions of indiscreet intimacy. Women, however, were not so fortunate. They were the ones who paid for it, with the names; fallen, slattern, and harlot, prefixed and suffixed to their names.
“I know a few,” Aaron murmured.
“I don’t doubt it.”
The carriage turned into the Kensington community and Aaron felt Eleanor lean closer into him. “I’m sorry.”
He could barely move his head as her face was wedged up under his chin but he tried his best to make eye contact. “For?”
“Not seeing you for who you are,” Eleanor explained. “I am repeating myself a thousand times, but I think it bears repetition. I apologize for my younger self. I was terribly blind.”
A snort turned to chuckle escaped him, “Fret not my love, I cannot say my younger self was any different.”
The slowing of the carriage broke the soft peace they had felt since boarding the vehicle and Aaron felt the ball of worry, one that had loosened moment ago, begin to contract in his chest. Looking out at the dark house with a single flicker of light in a lone window, Aaron prayed that he was right in making this choice.
Stepping out, Aaron gave the driver an order to stay and took Eleanor’s clammy hand in his. He felt the crunch of pebbles under his boots and heard the lone cry of a night owl as they came to the door and knocked.
Eleanor had gone tense beside him and both her hands were now tightly clutching on different places on his arm. Aaron barely shifted his head to give her a comforting look when a steel barrel was pressed in his face. She gasped deeply.
Julius’ pistol was an inch away from Aaron’s face and the Duke could see the moment his friend’s brain connected with his eyes. Only then did he lower the gun.
“Hell’s teeth, Oberton,” the constable had said through gritted teeth. “Are you that intent on sending me to the gibbet? I could have killed you.”
Aaron had pushed the gun away, “Forgive me for the late visit, but this is important.”
Seeing the question in Julius’ eyes, he stepped away to reveal Eleanor who was standing just behind him. He could see Julius’ surprise from the corner of his eye as he had turned too, but what he did see was pain. Eleanor’s face was stoic, but her eyes radiated pain.
“Come in,” Julius tugged the door open and they entered in relief.
In true policeman fashion, Julius stuck his head out and scanned the driveway and surrounding area with narrow, suspicious eyes before closing the door behind him and latching it—with three different iron bolts.
“And your distrust proves itself.”
“Can’t be too careful, Oberton,” Julius replied. “Darcy was strident in mothering me and I am here to protect her in case the blackguard who wanted to kill me come to harm her too. And don’t get any ideas, I sleep three rooms away.”
Taking Eleanor hand, Aaron ushered her into the sitting room where Julius lit a few lamps. The constable had barely turned to go and summon Darcy when the lady in question was at the doorway holding a candle.
“Eleanor?” she asked while stepping in the room.
Her hand slipped out of his and Aaron didn’t even resist. She went to Darcy with wooden jerky steps, rather like a puppet whose master was pulling the strings.
Lady Darcy had simple hugged with one arm, “Let’s get you something warm.”
