Page 13 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
He raised a brow. He was about to say something, but Papa called to them from across the room.
“Mayhap we should consider finding some luncheon, mydear Eleanor,” Papa said warmly. “Lord Ramsgate must hurry to a meeting, and I must also. I would be pleased if we had taken our fill of luncheon before that, however.”
Eleanor nodded, a brief grin of pure relief brightening her face as she looked at her papa.
“Yes. I think that would be most pleasant,” she agreed.
“I will walk you to the entrance,” Lord Glenfield said at once, standing back as Eleanor stood up so that she could walk past him.
She looked at him coldly. “Thank you,” she replied. Her voice was icily formal, and she hoped he noticed.
He beamed. “It would be an honor,” he said, and Eleanor frowned. He was so strange. He teased her mercilessly, but sometimes she was not sure if he was teasing her or not.
He walked ahead of Papa and her to the doorway and turned as they reached it, bowing low to them both. His gaze on her as he straightened up was sardonic and amused and she felt her spine tense, a mix of wariness and something warm that she couldn’t identify racing through her blood.
“Good afternoon,” he said as he stood back in the doorway while they tugged on their cloaks and hurried to the door.
“Good afternoon, Lord Glenfield,” Papa said politely. “Give my regards to your father.”
“I shall, sir. Good afternoon, Miss Montague.”
“Good afternoon,” Eleanor said formally.
She glanced back as she walked down the stairs, and she saw his dark gaze on her as he shut the door. She shivered.
“Let us find something to eat, Papa,” she said as he helped her into the coach.
“Indeed, my dear.” Papa said kindly and hauled himself up into the carriage beside her. He shut the door and the driver set off. Eleanor gazed out through the window, her thoughts not on the scenes that passed by the doors, but on the hour or so thatthey had just spent in Ramsgate House. She felt herself frown as they rattled through the streets, and shuddered, pulling her mantle closer though it was not cold.
Everything she felt about Lord Glenfield was confusing. He was infuriating. He was impossible. And in just over a week, she would be bound to him.
She could not make sense of that.
“Here we are, my dear,” Papa said, interrupting her thoughts. “This is a fine inn for taking a quick luncheon in London.”
“Thank you, Papa,” Eleanor murmured, and stepped out of the coach. Her thoughts were elsewhere as she walked up the steps behind Papa, though, and she frowned, unable to make herself think about something other than Lord Glenfield. His dark eyes haunted her throughout lunch, and she found herself getting annoyed with herself for thinking of him, but unable to prevent it. His dark-eyed gaze haunted her, and that mocking smile, and she could not fathom if he infuriated her or distressed her, but she could not let herself feel either, because she could not escape her fate, which was taking her inexorably towards a wedding withhim.
Chapter 6
Eleanor sat in the coach, her gaze focused on the silk gown that draped over the seat and her knees. Beautiful, made of pale ivory silk imported from the Far East, it was a gown anyone would have loved. She stroked the silk and tried to think of something to say.
Her mind was entirely empty.
Opposite her, she could almost feel Lord Glenfield’s dark, brooding presence. She lifted her eyes to glare at him. He had done this. He had forced her into this union and now there was no escape.
It was not his plan, but his Papa’s, she reminded herself crossly. He did not decide to do this, or want to, any more than she herself did.
She looked down again at the gown. Beside her, on the seat, a copy of the King James’ Bible sat; an old copy with a worn leather cover and a handwritten name in the front. It had belonged to her great-great grandfather and had been handed down to successive members of the family for generations. Her mother had given it to her at the church, just before she had alighted into the coach. Eleanor frowned at it. It was unlike her mother to part with such an important item, which, she supposed, was more the birthright of Jonathan than herself, since it was him who would continue the family name. All the same, she was glad to have it. In the space of silence and discomfort, of so many new things, it was a cherished presence.
“So,” Lord Glenfield said opposite her, clearing his throat. “Well. We’re getting close to Ramsgate Manor now. That is our home. Of course, it’s Papa’s home, really. But it will be ours too.”
“Oh.” Eleanor replied softly. She looked over at him,studying him as he talked. He looked the same as always...tall, with a chiseled profile and a romantic mouth. When she wasn’t looking into his eyes, she found him rather handsome. It was his stare that disconcerted her. Whenever he looked at her, she felt as though her skin was aflame, a discomfort so intense filling her she had to hastily look away.
I don’t know what is wrong with me.
She glanced at him, and blushed, looking hastily down.
“I take it you’re not one for long coach trips?” Lord Glenfield asked softly.
