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Frederick shook his head wearily. “You do not seem to understand.” He glanced sideways at their mother. “You have never understood how your actions reflect upon this family. Allow me to put it to you plainly, Eleanor. You will not disgrace this family.”
“I…” Eleanor stammered. She hated that she stumbled so in Frederick’s presence. With every other person, she always felt courageous and completely self-possessed, but Frederick and his cold, menacing stare unnerved her beyond compare. “I married a duke. That hardly makes me a disgrace to this family.”
Frederick guffawed loudly, in a very ungentlemanly way. “You bewitched the poor man and nothing more. He agreed to a hasty marriage, but now you must hold up your end of the deal.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened in terror.
Frederick cannot possibly know the terms of our agreement. Henry and I were the only two in the garden that night. There is no way Frederick can know the conditions under which Henry agreed to marry me.
But Frederick’s still green eyes told her otherwise. He might not know the specifics, but he certainly suspected the truth. “You will go home to your husband. I do not want you darkening our doorstep again… at least not until you have some pleasant news to share with this family.” Frederick glanced then at their mother and gave her a smarmy smile. The Dowager Countess smiled affectionately back at him.
Eleanor stood, unable to bear any more. She had come to their family home to escape her troubles for a moment, but Frederick only magnified the issues and made them seem worse. “If you will both excuse me, I shall take my leave now. Thank you for the tea, Mother.” Eleanor bobbed a quick curtsy at her family members and then she moved swiftly toward the door.
As she reached the door and the servant stood back to open it for her, Frederick appeared at her side. Eleanor was not sure how he moved so quickly, but he stood directly in her path, nonetheless. “Oh, and sister,” Frederick whispered darkly, “do be sure to follow through with your ‘wifely duties’.” He smirked at those words. “Mother and I shall visit you in a few weeks, and I expect to learn that you have done what is best for yourself and for our family.”
Eleanor gulped down her nerves and then nodded silently. As she exited the room completely, she saw a streak of ginger-colored fur. “Sir Wispy Tail,” she breathed, racing after him. The cat tucked itself around the leg of a table in the hall and when Eleanor approached, he purred loudly.
“Oh, my baby, how I have missed you,” Eleanor said, stooping to scoop the animal into her arms. Sir Wispy Tail nestled his head right underneath Eleanor’s chin. He rubbed his fur softly against her and Eleanor felt a warmth fill her chest that had been absent all day. “Frederick,” Eleanor called out as she moved back down the hall in the direction of the drawing room.
“Hmmm?” Frederick replied, his eyebrow raised in a supercilious manner.
“I wish to have all my pets sent to Lawson Manor,” Eleanor commanded in her most regal tone.
Frederick rolled his eyes and then scoffed, “With pleasure.”
