Page 53 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
“Very well,” Sebastian said tightly. “And what charges were these?”
“They said I stole money,” Jonathan said, his voice close to weeping. “They said I had made bogus investments to fleece clients of their wealth. I did no such thing. I was stupid,” he admitted, and this time Sebastian thought he was crying. He could hear how his voice was breathy, difficult to follow. “I invested badly. The shipping company I invested in could not make the voyage they promised. They could not make a profit. The clients lost all their money.”
Sebastian swallowed hard. Jonathan was sobbing and he looked away. His heart twisted. He looked at Eleanor, who was white-faced, the tracks of recent tears on her cheeks. He glanced around the darkened garden, not sure what to think.
“My wife. My children,” Jonathan whispered. “They aregoing to take my children. Without my income, the only place they can go is the workhouse. I can’t...”
“What?” Sebastian whispered. He looked at Eleanor, who was sobbing.
“No,” she said softly. “No. Please, no.”
Sebastian went to her, taking her hands in his. He looked into her eyes. She was crying now too, and he reached out to hold her.
“No,” she whispered, holding tightly to him. “Not the children. Please. Please, don’t let them take the children.”
“It’s all well,” Sebastian murmured, feeling completely inadequate to help. He held her close, breathing in the lavender scent of her hair. He tightened his arms around her, feeling her shake with her sobs. Across the gap, he glared at Jonathan.
“You’ve upset Lady Glenfield quite enough,” he told him crossly. “But I will help you. Let us all go inside, where it’s warm and safe and we can discuss what we can do.”
Jonathan cleared his throat, but Eleanor glared at him, and he said nothing. He fell into step with Sebastian, and they walked towards the house.
“What exactly did my father promise you?” Sebastian asked, walking slowly up the path. It was extremely dark under the trees and Sebastian shivered in the cold. He glanced at Eleanor, who was still clearly cold, gripping the coat tight around her shoulders. They were much further from the house than he had thought—he realized that he must have run through the grounds without thinking.
“He promised to organise that the court would drop the charges,” Jonathan explained.
“He did?” Sebastian frowned. His father must have been very sure that Jonathan was innocent, because he would never interfere in such a matter if he truly believed someone was guilty. He glanced up at Eleanor, who was walking in front ofthem. Jonathan was behind her, and Sebastian walked in the rear. She tensed, and Sebastian stiffened.
There was someone coming along the path.
His first thought was that some guests had strayed from the ballroom, and he smiled to himself in amusement, but then a light, harsh and bright, shone on the path.
“Who goes there?” An angry voice shouted. “Stop, in the name of the law!”
Chapter 20
Sebastian heard Jonathan yell, but his only thought was for Eleanor, and he ran ahead, just as she screamed and wheeled about, running back into the darkness of the garden.
“Eleanor,” he said gently. He took her hand in his, then wrapped his arms tight around her, holding her close. “Shh. It’s all right.”
He looked up to face the threat, and his spine slumped with relief.
“Mr. Gleeson. What are you doing here?” he asked the gardener, who blinked in astonishment.
“My lord?” he gasped. He held the lantern higher and peered at him, then gasped in disbelief. “Beg pardon!” He lowered the lantern that he had been holding again. “I thought there were thieves about, my lord. I’m sorry. So sorry.” He was holding a walking-stick in his other hand, and he lowered it, looking apologetically at his boot-tips.
“Very well,” Sebastian said tightly. “Apologise to the lady. She was most upset.”
“At once,” Mr. Gleeson answered, bowing low to Eleanor. “Begging your pardon, my lady.”
“Of course,” Eleanor said gently. “You were just doing your job.”
“A bit overly-conscientiously,” Sebastian murmured, but he nodded to the fellow. “On your way, then,” he told him firmly. “And if you hear any disturbances, please report them to the butler immediately.”
“Yes, my lord. I will, my lord.”
Sebastian breathed out. He had feared that Jonathan had been pursued by the Watch, and evidently Eleanor had thoughtthe same, because as soon as the gardener had wandered off up the path she collapsed against him, breathing out exhaustingly.
Sebastian looked at Jonathan hard.
