Page 41 of Courting the Earl
He had to make things right with Eleanor.
Chapter 24
Geoffrey wanted to march straight to Grosvenor Square and speak to Eleanor, but he listened to Holbrook’s advice to wait one day. Both he and Eleanor had already experienced a whirlwind of emotions today.
After a restless night’s sleep, he rose early the next morning and scratched out a quick note. He imagined that it would be intercepted by Lady Appleby, so it was straight and to the point, stating simply that he intended to call that afternoon. It was returned several hours later unopened, the wax seal still in place.
He crumpled the note in his hand and glanced at the mantel clock in his study. It was early afternoon. He hadn’t seen a wedding notice in the morning papers, which meant Appleby’s town house would be filled with the usual hopefuls who were calling on Lydia.
He didn’t want an audience for his discussion with Eleanor, and so he waited. Or rather he paced anxiously. Finally, when he deemed it would be safe, he set out. He should arrive just as the last of the callers were leaving.
When the butler showed him into the drawing room, he found Lady Appleby waiting for him.
“I wondered when you’d show up,” she said, offering him her hand.
He bowed over it. “I’m sorry for arriving so late. But I wanted to speak privately with your niece.”
She shook her head, not bothering to hide her displeasure as she sank onto the settee. “Eleanor isn’t here.”
He should have come here yesterday after leaving Holbrook’s. “Where is she? When will she return?”
She stared at him for several long moments, a frown telling him she was displeased with him. He wanted to shake the information loose from her. Instead, he dropped into an armchair.
“You hurt my niece a great deal yesterday. I’m not sure she’ll forgive you.”
He stared at her for several seconds, taken aback by the accusation. But he couldn’t deny he’d behaved petulantly. He wasn’t shocked by her words so much as he was by the fact she’d spoken them about Eleanor. She’d always fluttered about Lydia, and he’d assumed she didn’t really care about her niece’s feelings. Appleby would have fretted about the land and expectations, but it seemed that his wife, at least, cared for Eleanor. And Lydia. It was clear she loved her cousin.
Still, he was long past making assumptions. If accusations were going to be made, then he’d give as good as he got.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he raised one brow. “Suddenly you care about Eleanor’s feelings? I was under the impression you felt she existed solely to serve her cousin.”
Lady Appleby had the good grace to flush. “I admit to being a little consumed about Lydia’s season. But I can assure you that I love my niece very much. She has been an asset to her cousin this season, yes, but she also deserves to be happy.”
He nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. I know that she loves you all very much. Until this moment, I wasn’t sure the feeling was mutual.”
“Of course it is. Which is why I must ask how you intend to proceed. As Eleanor pointed out, we cannot force her to wed.”
“Is that not what your husband tried to do when he told us that we needed to do our duty and fulfill the sale agreement that had been made between him and my father?”
“My husband can be shortsighted, and it appears that he made a muddle of things. It was I who broached the subject of a match between the two of you. He latched onto the idea and thought only of the precious land he’d sold. But Lydia told me that the three of you had spent a great deal of time together over the past few weeks. She came to me after Lord Stanley left here yesterday, but she said that she suspected there was something between the two of you.”
The last statement surprised him. He’d always thought that Lydia was self-absorbed, but apparently she was more observant than he’d realized. “Your niece and I—”
Lady Appleby waved her hand, cutting off his protest. “I don’t really care what happened or didn’t happen between the two of you. I require no details. I know that Eleanor would never betray her cousin while the betrothal was in place, but Lydia told me that she allowed the two of you to wander off on occasion. That while you always seemed stiff and formal with my daughter, the same couldn’t be said for how you behaved with Eleanor. Added to the fact that my niece always speaks highly of you…”
It was clear the woman wasn’t finished with her little speech, so he remained silent.
Lady Appleby sighed. “I thought that proposing a marriage between the two of you would serve to make everyone happy. I don’t know what you said to Eleanor when my husband allowed you some time together, but I can tell you she was very hurt. She tried to hide it behind happiness for her cousin, but a woman knows when another woman’s heart has been broken.”
The words struck him like a physical blow. “I need to speak to her. To apologize for my behavior.”
She examined him before asking, “And that is all?”
There was no point hiding it now. Besides, the Applebys were Eleanor’s family. It was only right that he let them know his intention. And he was finding it far easier to speak to Eleanor’s aunt, who seemed genuinely concerned for her niece. “I’ve come to ask her to marry me. To beg her forgiveness for my stubborn behavior. She did nothing to deserve it, and I shouldn’t have taken my annoyance with your husband out on her.”
Lady Appleby gave him a sympathetic smile. “Oh, trust me, I’ve already given him a piece of my mind about how he mishandled the situation. But I must say, this is excellent news. It seems we’re to have two weddings after all.”
“Please tell me that she hasn’t left London.” It was his worst fear after learning she wasn’t here. Would she have quit town to avoid him altogether? Did she hate him that much now?
