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CHAPTER10
Eleanor had ventured into Henry’s study to ask whether he might permit her to spend the day at Barrow Hall. Despite herself, she missed her mother and brother, and she felt very out of place in Henry’s home. His grandmother treated her with nothing short of disdain, and Eleanor thought she just couldn’t possibly sit through another teatime with the Dowager Duchess of Lawson sniffing haughtily as though even Eleanor’s scent offended her.
As Eleanor exited Henry’s study, she was overcome by her feelings.
I don’t care what he wants, or what he permits. I’m going.
Eleanor called for her lady’s maid to help her change into travel attire. She also rang for a servant to have the footman bring a carriage around. As she made her way to the place that had been her home her entire life, right up until she moved into Lawson Manor, Eleanor thought longingly of her pets. She had brought Sir Whiskers and Lady Lovely Paws to Henry’s home but prudently left all the others behind. She longed to see them now, and that buoyed her spirits.
But almost as soon as Eleanor entered her family home, she wished she’d had the good sense to stay away. Her mother was perturbed that Eleanor arrived just when she did because she had made plans to go out. Now that Eleanor was here, it would be improper to continue with that agenda. While the Dowager Countess of Barrow fussed over the matter and insisted upon entertaining her daughter in the drawing room, even though it would have been perfectly pleasant to sit in the far cozier sitting room, Eleanor glanced about her former home, searching for her animals.
“Where’s Lady Clawton and Sir Wispy Tail?” Eleanor asked, looking about the room. She’d already checked for them in the hall and even though she imagined her pets would be eager to see her once more, they were nowhere in sight.
Eleanor’s mother rolled her eyes. “I can’t be sure. I’ve never been able to keep up with the animals, dear.”
“But I would very much like to see them,” Eleanor replied, lifting her cup and taking a small sip of tea.
“You will have time to play with your cats later,” the Dowager Countess replied condescendingly. “I wish you would tell me all about your married life.”
Eleanor lowered her eyes and felt all the color fade from her face. She had rather hoped they would be able to avoid talking about Henry. The entire carriage ride here she had fumed over the state of his study. She knew, logically, that she should not begrudge him his sporting ways, as he had acquired those tastes long before he knew her. But, for some reason, she couldn’t fight the fury that rose within her when she saw the way he had so proudly displayed his kills. And that was the way she thought of the animals in the study—they were the animals he hadkilled.
Eleanor could understand how some people hunted because they needed to feed themselves and their families. But Henry didn’t have to do those things. He hunted because he liked the thrill of defeating… dominating… another living being. He proved that all too much in the way he outfitted his personal study. Heads mounted on the wall, and that poor beaver… she could barely stand to think of it. She took another small sip of tea to banish the curiously sour taste that rose in the back of her throat at the thought of that dear animal and his fate.
“Are you listening to me, Eleanor?” Her mother asked, her tone bitter and annoyed.
“I should think not,” a man’s voice interjected, and Eleanor turned in her seat to spy her brother entering the drawing room. “Hello, Mother,” he nodded respectfully at their mother. Then he turned toward Eleanor and gave her a smug smile. “Your Grace.” His tone was acidic, and Eleanor didn’t care for it. But what was she to do? He was her older brother, and like it or not, this was his home now.
Frederick sat in one of the perfectly polished wooden chairs that were next to their mother. “I had rather hoped when I heard the announcement that a lady had arrived that it would be Lady Clay. Imagine my disappointment at finding my little sister had come to call.”
Eleanor’s lower lip stuck out, as Frederick’s words hurt her. But she tucked it back in quickly since she did not want him to see the effect he had on her. Eleanor had always wanted to be close to or at least share some affection with her brother, but Frederick had never warmed to her. He always treated her like a pest, one with which he hoped to be rid of at the earliest convenience.
“Oh, I’m so glad you stopped in to take tea with us, Frederick,” their mother said, looking at her son adoringly. It was as though she hadn’t even heard the snide comment her son had just made about her daughter.
“Anything to please you, Mother.” He gave her a very serene smile, and his green eyes sparkled brightly. Then, he turned his head toward Eleanor and his entire demeanor changed. It was really rather remarkable that he was capable of doing such a thing. Where in one second his appearance was pleasing and amiable, in the very next it was stern and hostile. “Now, tell us all about your new life at Lawson Manor. How are you getting on with His Grace?”
Eleanor’s hands started to shake, and she placed her teacup back on the table that sat in between them. She kept her eyes on the delicate green and yellow teacup and its matching saucer. “His Grace is a nice man. I am beginning to feel very comfortable in his home.” Eleanor was sure as soon as the fib left her lips, her brother would call it out. Frederick had this disconcerting way of reading people, and it had always left Eleanor feeling befuddled. Even now, she could feel his green eyes scrutinizing her.
“Comfortable, you say?” Frederick asked impertinently and Eleanor heard her mother gasp. Eleanor lifted her eyes to see that her mother’s cheeks were bright pink, and her eyes were shining with delight.
“Is this your way of telling us you are with child?” The Dowager Countess could barely contain her glee. “I should have known you wouldn’t come to call out of the blue for just any old reason. You must be here to announce that you are…”
Eleanor shook her head vehemently, and her mother stopped speaking all at once. The hopeful look on her face vanished. “I am not with child, Mother,” Eleanor said carefully.
“But…” the Dowager Countess faltered, “why not? You have lived with His Grace for a couple of months now. Surely, youcouldbe pregnant. Perhaps it is just too early to tell. How are you feeling? Do you feel a bit queasy at all?” She leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, “You know when I was pregnant with you, I didn’t feel ill at all. Rather, I craved biscuits.” Her eyes fell on the biscuit Eleanor had been nibbling. “Should I ask one of the servants to fetch more biscuits? I do believe Cook made some this morning… You know those delicious ones she always makes that have the strawberry jam in them?”
Without waiting for Eleanor to respond, the Dowager Countess beckoned to one of the servants. “Please bring my daughter a plate of biscuits. Pile it high, as she’s eating for two.” Eleanor’s mother turned back to her and winked. Eleanor felt her face flame scarlet. She pushed the biscuit she had been nibbling to the side, but as it was the only morsel on the plate, it still sat in view.
“Mother,” Eleanor said slowly, “I’m not pregnant. I’m not having any cravings or even feeling nauseated for that matter. I can tell you, with certainty, that I am not with child.” She didn’t like to see the way her mother’s face fell so tragically, but she could not stop it. She had to be honest, and if that meant bursting her mother’s bubble of happiness, it was necessary. At least she could tell where Frederick picked up his way of altering moods so quickly as her mother’s face went from one of pure jubilation to one of stricken woe in an instant.
Frederick scoffed. “How could you possibly know that you’re not pregnant unless…” His voice trailed off as his meaning became clear. Eleanor lifted her teacup once more to take a sip, but she was also trying to hide her face.
“No,” Eleanor’s mother moaned. “You must be performing your wifely duties. You must produce a son to carry on the title. The Duke of Lawson must have an heir.”
“I will,” Eleanor began, but she silenced herself when she observed the cold look Frederick was giving her.
Leisurely, he crossed one leg over the other, but he kept his eyes trained on her the whole time. “I know that you and I do not have a loving brother and sister relationship, Eleanor. You have always been a thorn in my side, and I have never bothered to discipline you properly. But I have always thought you an intelligent woman. You’ve always been a bit of an eccentric, indubitably, but when I would tell you to rein in your impulses, you would abide. Why do you test me now?”
Eleanor recoiled as her brother’s words were dripping with loathing. “I…” She faltered. “Myrelationship with my husband has nothing to do withyou, Frederick.” She lifted her chin, hoping that her bold words would stop her brother from pushing the issue further. They did not.
