Page 16 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
She followed Lord Glenfield to the drawing room.
“My dear lady.” Lord Ramsgate greeted her, bowing low.
“Good afternoon, Lord Ramsgate,” Eleanor replied softly. She looked up at him, a little concerned. The marquess was obviously tired, dark prints of exhaustion under his eyes. He was standing stiffly, and she could see his knee hurt him because he was stooped slightly, favoring his left side.
“Come! Come. Sit and refresh yourselves. You must be in need of tea and victuals.” He gestured them to the tea-table.
“Thank you,” Eleanor murmured, but she could eat nothing. She was too nervous. She glanced at Lord Glenfield, but he was pouring tea and chatting with his father, clearly at home here.
Eleanor poured herself some tea and helped herself to a dainty sandwich, though she was sure she would not be able to eat anything at all.
They sat and talked, and the butler strode in after perhaps twenty minutes.
“My lord?” he called to Lord Glenfield. “Apologies, my lord, but your solicitor is here. Would you like me to take him to wait in the anteroom?”
“No. No, I’ll see him directly. Excuse me, my lady. Excuse me, Papa.”
“Of course, son. Of course. We’ll keep some cake for you.” He smiled at Eleanor, who smiled back, even though her stomach twisted nervously. It was three o’ clock. In a few hours,dinner would be served. And then...
She smiled at Lord Ramsgate, trying not to let him see she was uncomfortable.
“My dear lady? Would you like some of this Madeira loaf?” he asked, pausing in the middle of cutting a slice.
“No. Thank you, my lord,” she murmured in reply. “But I am not hungry.”
“Oh?” He blinked. “Oh. Well. Very well, then. I suppose you’d like to rest?”
“Yes. Thank you, my lord,” she answered softly. “I think Iwould like to retire to my chambers to rest.”
“Of course, my lady. Of course. I’ll ring for the butler to take you there, eh? I’m going to have some more of this tea and cake. Most reviving after that long trip. I wish you a speedy recovery of your appetite.” He beamed at her.
“Yes. Thank you, my lord,” she murmured, smiling back. Lord Ramsgate was a dear. She already liked him, after the few brief conversations they had together. She could have disliked him for thinking of this wild plan in the beginning. Oddly, though, she found she didn’t blame him. After all, he didn’t know how fervently she’d asked to escape it. Only Lord Glenfield knew.
And Lord Glenfield had forced her into it.
She scowled. Oddly, though, she couldn’t make herself angry with him, either. She looked around the hallway as the butler arrived and led her down it. It was long and white, lined with many windows, sconces affixed to the walls between them. She frowned, her stomach churning with anxiety as the butler led her down the hallway. Soon she would be in the room.
“My lady,” the butler said with a bow. “His lordship said you may request any chamber for tonight. Here are the suites and rooms that are open to you.” He indicated three doors on his left, and another two on his right. She drew in a deep breath.
That is odd, she thought, frowning. Surely, he would send me to a particular place.
She swallowed hard and looked around. It felt so awkward, and she pointed to a room, choosing it without even looking.
“That one,” she decided.
“Very well, my lady,” the butler said with a bow. “I will have refreshments brought up. Would you like to bathe?”
“Yes. Thank you,” Eleanor said at once. Her heart thumped in her chest. Soon, he would be here.
She went into the room. It was decorated in white—the wallswere papered with white flocked silk wallpaper, the curtains white velvet. She looked around. The room was sumptuously appointed, with a big, comfortable bed, a dressing table, a wardrobe and a small nightstand. Another room to the left was a small parlor or space for reading. She swallowed hard. It was all very luxurious.
“My lady?” A woman’s voice came through the door. “I am Miss Whitford. I’m going to be your new maid.”
“Oh. Thank you,” Eleanor murmured. The woman was around her own age, perhaps a little older, with a thin, serious face, blonde hair hidden under a cloth bonnet and big blue eyes.
“I will have a bath prepared for you,” the woman said at once.
“Thank you,” Eleanor replied gratefully.
