Page 51 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
Lord Grovedale glanced awkwardly about, wetting his lips. When none of the others spoke, he began.
“My lord...Lady Glenfield was hurrying off into the grounds, in the company of a man.”
“What?” Sebastian’s voice was harsh. He stared at them all, disbelieving. “If you’re fooling, I warn you...” he began harshly, but Lord Grovedale shook his head.
“I am telling the truth. I have heard say that the fellow is her brother, but...” he raised a brow and Sebastian frowned.
“She does have a brother,” he said firmly. He looked around the group, but nobody said anything, and he cleared his throat. “She went that way?” He pointed.
“Yes. Down the path,” Lord Grovedale replied.
Sebastian turned and walked swiftly off, nodding briefly in thanks. His heart raced. What on Earth had happened? He knew Eleanor would not...do as the man had implied. She was certainly talking to her brother. But what was he doing here?
He hurried down the path, gritting his teeth in the cold and stumbling on the stone paving. It was dangerous outside. The garden was not well lit and the chill in the air was decidedly unhealthy. He glanced around, hearing a noise.
“Whoa! Whoa!” Someone yelled.
Sebastian tensed, his hair on the back of his neck lifting in shock. But just as he readied himself to attack, he heard laughter.
“Tommy, stop mucking about,” someone else yelled. More laughter followed.
It’s the coachmen and the grooms, Sebastian thought wildly. They were waiting with the coaches for the guests, and it sounded like some of them had been taking more than a little of the good ale his kitchen provided. He swore under his breath.
It was no place for a lady to be wandering around.
He raced on down the path, not even sure what he was looking for. He had no idea where she might have gone. The path led to the water-garden, which was as yet unfinished, the small ornamental lake dug, but nothing planted around it. He frowned. Surely, she couldn’t have thought to go and dig new beds for the garden at night?
He hurried past. It was dark and cold outside, and he peered into the gate of the small garden, but there was no sound coming from there.
“Eleanor?” he called.
Nobody answered.
Sebastian drew in a deep breath. She could be anywhere.
He walked on, hurrying down the path. All he knew was that someone had seen her follow this path and so he raced down it as fast as he could manage in the dark. He was dimly aware of the stables on his right and then he ran on further and halted.
“...you don’t understand! He has done nothing!”
Sebastian went stiff. Just ahead of him, around the hedge that separated the grounds around the house from the woodlands of the rest of the estate, a man’s voice was raised. Someone was shouting.
“I tell you; I am certain...” a woman’s voice began, but Sebastian raced forward as soon as he heard her, cutting off what she had been about to say. He would recognize that voice anywhere.
He raced around the hedge and stopped in shock.
Eleanor was standing with a man, who had one hand on her wrist, stopping her from running away. His other hand was raised as if he would strike her. Sebastian’s blood froze.
“Release Lady Glenfield immediately,” Sebastian whispered menacingly. “Or there will be dire consequences.”
“Sebastian!” Eleanor cried. She ran to him and hid behind him. Sebastian wheeled round, glaring at the man.
“How dare you,” he demanded. He glared down. The man stiffened, glaring up at him. He was shorter than Sebastian recalled, with the same brown hair and hazel eyes as his sister. His face was slender, his jaw square and his nose long and elegant, different to the small, pretty nose of his sister. It was undoubtedly her brother.
“And you, sir?” Eleanor’s brother demanded. He couldn’t recall the fellow’s name. “And you? I might ask you the same question?”
“Impertinent fool,” Sebastian growled. “This is my home. And this lady who you were harming is Lady Glenfield. Lest you have forgotten.”
“It’s not me who has no memory,” Eleanor’s brother shouted. “You’re the one who has no memory of our agreement.”
