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CHAPTER18
Ijust know he is going to side with his grandmother.
Eleanor looked dolefully at Henry as he stood only a few steps from her side, but his grandmother was nestled between them. Her severe features were twisted into a fierce scowl as she waited for Henry to make his decision. Eleanor couldn’t bear the waiting and so she glanced down at her feet. Lady Lovely Paws, Sir Whiskers, and Sir Wispy Tail were only making matters worse by slinking about now. Eleanor contemplated shooing them away, but she thought this might prove the Dowager Duchess’ point: the animals needed to be sent away.
He’s always hated the animals, especially these cats. This is Henry’s chance to be rid of them once and for all. I’m surprised he hasn’t already seized the opportunity and called for the stable hands to collect them all at once.
Just the thought of her adoring cats being picked up by the scruffs of their necks and carted away by a pair of stable hands brought fresh tears to Eleanor’s eyes. They had been her companions for so long, offering her comfort when she needed it most. The thought of them being pulled from her side forevermore broke her heart into very tiny pieces.
Eleanor felt Henry’s eyes on her, and so she tried to straighten her shoulders, preparing herself for whatever announcement he might make.
Henry cleared his throat and took a step away from his grandmother. He nearly toppled into Frederick, as he was still standing closely behind Henry’s back. Henry gave Frederick an irritated look, but Frederick seemed unabashed. He looked on the spectacle with an amused grin, no doubt relishing the opportunity to see Eleanor lose all her animals once and for all.
Eleanor was surprised as when Henry regained his composure, he moved to her side. He put a firm hand on her elbow and spoke in a tone that was low and secretive. “Your Grace, you must understand. I feel obligated to act.” Eleanor nodded her head, knowing that her fears were being brought to life. Henry was going to acquiesce to his grandmother’s demands. While Eleanor had been able to put her foot down before, she would never be able to question Henry’s authority now. Her animals had ruined the prized roses. There was no getting around their misdeeds. Large tear droplets leaked from Eleanor’s eyes and coursed down her cheeks. She lifted a hand to brush them hastily aside, but Henry beat her to it.
His thumbs brushed softly over her cheeks, and she lifted her eyes to gaze into his own. The blue color was clouded over, and Eleanor could tell Henry was just as upset by the decision he was forced to make as she was.
“Henry, I understand,” Eleanor whispered. Henry shook his head minutely.
“I don’t think you do, Eleanor. The animals must leave the manor, that much is for certain, but the situation does not have to be so dire. I will help you find good homes for them. I’m sure one of my tenants will be grateful for those goats, as they do provide milk, don’t they?”
Eleanor was surprised by Henry’s question. “Yes, they provide milk,” she replied weakly.
“Then, I know of a farmer or two who will appreciate their presence. And your cats and birds might make good pets for some of the local children. I heard you say that one of the black ones was an excellent mouser. Don’t you think someone could benefit from having the cat around their house?”
Eleanor nodded. It was Sir Whiskers who loved to chase after the mice. The thought of letting her cherished feline leave her side was painful, but she felt marginally better thinking that he might become a companion for someone else in need. Henry slowly began to lead Eleanor away from the group. She knew this was probably considered rather strange behavior, but she did not wish to continue this conversation in front of her brother and mother, nor did she wish to see Henry’s grandmother cast accusatory glances in her direction any longer.
Henry led Eleanor through the gardens and back down toward the pond where they had spent most of the afternoon just the day before. How long ago that seemed! So much had changed since then. A raft of ducks floated on the pond, as they had yesterday, and Eleanor cringed, thinking what Henry might decide to do with them.
“The ducks may stay,” Henry said as if he were reading Eleanor’s thoughts. “As long as they can relegate themselves to the pond.”
A smile rose to Eleanor’s lips unbidden. “How can one tell a duck where to fly?” She asked, unable to stop herself.
Henry smiled at her and ran a hand through one of the long curls that had escaped Eleanor’s coif. “Eleanor,” Henry said, his voice low and contemplative.
Eleanor spoke simultaneously. “Henry.” They both chuckled and then he motioned for her to proceed. “Henry, I must tell you how much I appreciate this kindness. I know you are being lenient on the animals for my benefit, and mine alone. I am so thankful you are willing to help me find homes for my pets.”
Henry’s smile faded away then, and the hand he had been gently stroking through Eleanor’s locks fell away. He held both arms stiffly at his side. Eleanor’s insides quaked as she recognized the abrupt change in Henry’s demeanor. All at once, the tenderness vanished, and he appeared nervous.
Henry chewed on his lower lip and then he gazed off, out into the pond.
“What is it, Henry? You are doing an admirable thing, showing both kindness to me, and appeasing your grandmother. I merely want to show you my gratitude.”
Henry shook his head despondently. He turned to look back at Eleanor and she could see the conflict in his eyes now. The blue was so dark now, it seemed almost as black as the pupil. “I’m afraid you have misconstrued the situation. I want to help you, Eleanor. I do not want to see you completely shattered by this misfortunate incident, and I don’t mind standing up to my grandmother and facing her wrath later. I’m sure she will be satisfied with the result, but she will think I showed weakness by agreeing to help you find homes for the animals. I will have that conversation with her later, but I cannot accept your gratitude now, as I have not done all this for selfless reasons. I want to help you, but I also want to help myself.”
Eleanor stepped away from Henry slightly. “What are you saying?”
His eyes looked positively miserable, and his voice broke when he whispered. “I have agreed to help you with your pets, but that is for my own personal gain. I wish for us to finally make good on our marriage contract and conceive a child.”
“Henry,” Eleanor groaned. “We have been over and over this. I will consent to have a child, but not until the time is right. I do not wish to be forced into the matter.”
“Please, Eleanor,” Henry said quietly. “My grandmother has already begun to pester me on the issue, and I fear that after this debacle she will be questioning our every move. She may be placated for the moment when the animals disappear, but she will not be put off for long. She will want to know why we haven’t given her a grandchild.”
“Henry, I will not conceive a child so your grandmother can have something to…” But before Eleanor could finish her thought, Henry interrupted her.
“If you will not do this for my grandmother’s sake, do it for mine.” His eyes searched hers and Eleanor felt weak in her knees. She did not want to hurt Henry by rejecting him again, and now she feared that he might retract his offer to help her find homes for her pets, should she not agree to this contract. Plus, Eleanor couldn’t help but feel sorry for Henry.
She knew he was even in a more awkward place than she was. As a second son, he never would have been expected to marry so early or to produce a child immediately. He might have been free to travel the continent for a few more years, or he could have studied the law or gone into the militia. Eleanor could not catalog the many ways Henry might have been a different man if his brother had lived to become the Duke, rather than Henry.
