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Cecilia knew about her financial situation. Eleanor was embarrassed to admit it, but it couldn’t be kept a secret, not even from the nuns at the orphanage. Cecilia had reached out several times with offers to help, but Eleanor had been too prideful to accept it. She thought she could handle it. But the more her father kept going out, the more Eleanor knew she was going to have to swallow her pride. Cecilia wouldn’t judge her, nor would any of the other nuns.
“Watch out, Eleanor. Behind you.”
Marion was looking over Eleanor’s shoulder, towards the street. Frowning, Eleanor turned to look over the bushes. Her heart sank when she saw the tall, slim man with fair hair standing on the other side of the street. He didn’t move as people went past him, several of them giving him odd looks, but he didn’t seem to notice. His gaze was focused on Eleanor.
Chapter Seven
Oh, God. Not him. Not now. Eleanor had managed to get away with not seeing him for the last few years. Evidently, her luck had run out in more ways than one.
“When did he come back to town?” Marion hissed. “I thought he moved away years ago.”
“I thought the same.” Eleanor bit back a growl. “Why didn’t anyone tell me about it?”
“Would anyone let you know that the man who was constantly harassing you ten years ago is back in London?”
“They should.” Eleanor felt her heart racing as the man started to cross the road. She clutched Marion’s hand. “Don’t you dare leave me alone with him.”
“Not a chance,” Marion whispered back. “Do you want me to use the shears on him?”
That was tempting, but Eleanor knew it would just make things worse. She could only hope that Matthew Leyton’s behaviour wasn’t as bad as before and age had changed him. Maybe they could have a decent conversation. While Eleanor would happily not see Leyton ever again, she wasn’t a vindictive person. She wanted to be sociable with everyone, even Lady Lorraine Chapman. Life was too short to be angry at people, and Eleanor had spent many years hating Leyton.
If he had changed, maybe they could start over. If he hadn’t, Eleanor would be happy telling him where to go.
Leyton reached her, staying on the street. He didn’t cross the threshold of their property, taking off his hat and bowing from the other side of the steel railings. Eleanor was relieved. At least he hadn’t forgotten his manners about property boundaries.
“Lady Eleanor.” His voice was as smooth as before. Deeper, but just as smooth. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Mr. Leyton?” Eleanor took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Even telling herself to be cordial, her instinct was to run. “What do you want?”
“Can’t I come by and see how you are?”
“I don’t really know. I remember what happened the last time you wanted to talk to me.” Eleanor suppressed a shudder. “That is not a fond memory.”
Leyton looked a little uncomfortable. Good, he should be uncomfortable after what he did years ago.
“I just...I just want to talk, Eleanor.”
Then Eleanor had a flashback to that day when he had followed her during a ball. Eleanor had stepped out for some fresh air - it was a hot evening - and Leyton had followed her. Eleanor had given him the benefit of the doubt back then, and it had almost cost her a scandal.
It was then that Eleanor realized that she couldn’t give him a second chance. Her gut was telling her to run. The memories of what he had done before wouldn’t leave her alone, and Eleanor could feel her hands getting sweaty inside her gardening gloves. Taking a deep breath, she took off the gloves, folding them over her secateurs.
“Matthew, I gave you that opportunity during our first season. I thought you were awkward around me and acting strangely because you were young, but you showed your colours that night. I’m not going to do that again, and certainly not alone.”
Leyton blinked. “That was ten years ago, and you still remember that?”
How could Eleanor forget it? And it didn’t help that Leyton looked almost the same as before. He was a bit more refined about his face and his body had broadened out a little in the shoulders, his hair receding back from his forehead, but he was still an attractive man. This made it even more terrifying that he could do what he did because he just had to smile that women melted over.
Except for Eleanor. Her instincts had told her that Matthew Leyton was bad news. And they were telling her now that it was best to keep her distance from him. He may be on the other side of the fence, but he could easily cross into Eleanor’s property. Eleanor glanced at Marion, who nodded once. At the slightest signal, they were running. Eleanor had a bad feeling about this already.
“You scared me that night, Mr. Leyton. I knew I should never be around you.”
“What about now? We’re older and wiser now. At least, I am.” Leyton spread his hands. “Can we at least start again? See where this goes now?”
“You’re asking for another courtship?”
“Of course I am.”
Eleanor knew it. He hadn’t learned anything. If Leyton was a decent man, he would be asking for forgiveness and an opportunity to be friends. But there was that look in his eyes, that slightly crazed look that made the hairs on the back of Eleanor’s neck stand up.
