Page 79 of A Secret Consequence for the Viscount
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Eleanor had barely looked at him save for one glance just before the ceremony began. She was smiling at Cecilia now, a smile that gave the impression that every single thing in her world was exactly as she would want it, his defection a trifling thing, a small inconvenience only.
Eleanor’s middle name was Christine. Like her mother’s. Like their daughter’s.
Eleanor Christine Elise Huntingdon. He consigned her full name to memory.
He was glad that Jacob and Frederick and Oliver were here. It made the day safer somehow with them around. Eleanor would also accompany her brother and sister-in-law home afterwards. A further protection. For the next twelve hours he would not need to worry about her at all.
The thought of that made him smile and as he turned he caught her eye. She smiled back. And the world simply stopped. Just her and him in a room full of winter sunlight and flowers.
The ache of sorrow inside him nearly brought him to his knees, there in the blue salon of Vitium et Virtus, for after the joy of Oliver’s happiness his own seemed compromised beyond recognition and there was nothing now that he could do to make it different if she was to stay safe.
I will always love you.
God, had he just said that? Relief filled him when he realised the words were in his head, although Jacob was looking at him oddly, a sort of shared understanding in his eyes that made no sense whatsoever.
He was pleased when Frederick called him away to help with the wine that had to be brought up from below because it allowed him an excuse to leave her side and regain his sense.
Once in the cellar Frederick turned on him. ‘What the hell are you doing, Nick? Eleanor looks as though you have just stabbed her through the very heart and Jacob has all the appearance of a man who wants to kill you.’
‘My memory is back, Fred, and Eleanor Huntingdon and I were close once.’
‘How close is close?’
‘We were together just before I disappeared.’
‘God,’ he said as his hand slid through his hair, sweeping it back. Such blasphemy in a man usually so very articulate worried Nick further.
‘And now? It’s Oliver’s wedding, for God’s sake. Even he is starting to realise that things are not quite right.’
‘Someone wants to do her harm, Frederick, because of me.’
His friend put down the bottles he had gathered and took in a deep breath. ‘Another note?’
He shook his head. ‘A meeting this time. The informant told me Eleanor was being watched.’
‘So you think to put distance between you. To fool the one who wants to harm you?’
‘If it looks as though I am interested in others I think he will only target me. With my history...’
Fred swore again and took the cork from a bottle of wine before finding two glasses and handing him one. ‘I think we need this more than anyone above does.’
There was silence for a moment before Nick began to speak.
‘I’m the father of her child, Fred. We slept together again two nights ago and the next day I discovered that she was a target, too, because of it. If anything happens to her...’ He could not go on.
‘You love her? My God, you do.’ A smile covered his friend’s face, broad and surprised. ‘You never do things by half, Nick, I had forgotten that about you. You couldn’t just tell her?’
‘That someone still wants to kill me and that if she’s in the way she will be hurt, too? She’d never let me out of her sight.’
‘I see your point, for Georgiana would be exactly the same. Jacob has to know, though, so that he can make sure Eleanor stays safe when in his care.’
‘You’re right.’
‘And Oliver is part of it, too.’
‘Tell them today for me after I have left, Fred, when you think the time is right.’
