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“I believe someone did this to ruin Demeter’s day.”
“That is a little extreme is it not?”
Eleanor huffed out a breath. “You do not know...” She waved a hand. “You cannot understand...”
“Understand what?” More than anything he found himself wanting to understand this prickly woman. What drove her? What frustrated her? Why was she still not swayed by his charms?
“My family...we are not conventional.” She paused. “Well,Iam not conventional.”
“What is conventional?”
Her gaze narrowed. “Are you trying to be obtuse? You know my father sired me outside of his marriage.”
“You would hardly be the first.”
God knew, Oliver’s parents had dabbled in numerous affairs—always discretely of course—but not quietly enough that he did not find out about them most of the time. He loved women but he also loved the closeness that came from really getting to know one’s lover. As far as he was concerned, that was not possible when one was sneaking around with several lovers at once. Far better to have one mistress at a time and keep it that way.
“He brought me over from Jamaica when my mother died,” she continued.
“You were eight were you not?”
“Indeed.”
“I imagine it was rather a shock to come here.”
She nodded. “My stepmother did what she could to make me welcome and I am grateful to her every day for what she did, but she could not hide the truth from me—duke’s daughter or not—I am different.” She grimaced. “I had thought I was accepted until that...gossip.” Twining her fingers together, she eyed them. “It made me realize I will never be truly accepted.”
“I see.”
At least Oliver thought he did. He’d never really thought much about the rumors from two years ago or how they might have impacted her. She’d been targeted because of her skin color, there was no doubting that, but he was so used to dismissing gossip that he had never considered it might truly hurt her.
“But why would someone do this to Demeter? Surely it makes more sense to steal a gown of yours.”
“I’m not getting a new gown for one, however, what better way than to attack my family for accepting me than spoiling their wedding day?”
He wasn’t so certain. It seemed a rather wild leap. Regardless, he had no desire for Blake and Demeter’s day to be ruined so he would do what he could to help.
“What should we do?” he asked.
“We?” She shook her head. “No.Ishall continue to investigate this. I...have experience in this.”
“You Fallon women do seem to like digging into matters,” he commented, recalling how Demeter had helped Blake reveal his cousin for the fraud he was.
“We must help ourselves when others will not.”
“Well, I am here, ready, and willing.” He gestured widely.
“Maybe I do not want you.”
“Tough.” He leaned forward, adopting a wolfish grin. “You are stuck with me, Ellie.”
“I’m Eleanor,” she said primly. “And I do not need your aid.”
“Going to throw me out of the carriage?”
She eyed the still open door as though taking that solution into consideration, then her gaze ran up and down him. “Very well,Ollie,” she countered. “But I warn you do not get in the way of my investigation. I know what I am doing.”
“I always did love a commanding woman,” he said before he could prevent himself.
