AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Why did she let her good nature get in the way and speak to him in the first place?Because you’re a fool, that’s why. You think there’s good in everyone. You forgot there is nothing good about Matthew Leyton.
Why didn’t she go back inside the house as soon as she saw him? At least Eleanor wouldn’t have to talk to him now.
“I do think you’re perfect for me, Eleanor.” Leyton went on. “Even now in your old age.”
Marion winced. Eleanor’s eyes widened.
“I beg your pardon? What did you just say?”
“I…” Leyton winced. “That came out wrong.”
“It certainly did.” Eleanor folded her arms with a scowl. “I am on my own by choice. Even if I was going to find myself a husband, it wouldn’t be you. Not after what you did to me. Let it sink in this time and go away.”
“But don’t you want to start over? Second chance?”
“No. I will admit, I was considering it, but now I’m most certainly not.”
Leyton looked perplexed. “What have I done to make you suspicious of me again?”
“You opened your mouth,” Eleanor shot back. “Even if we were to start over and you called on me properly, I know Father would refuse you. After what you did in his presence, he’s certainly not going to entertain you.” She turned towards the house, picking up the basket as she walked away. “Just stop hoping for something that won’t happen and go home.”
As soon as her heart stopped racing, Eleanor was going to send a letter to Mr. Leyton’s parents. They were still alive, last she heard, and they were meant to oversee their son. Hopefully, a stern word in their direction would have them reeling Leyton in. Eleanor wasn’t in the mood to deal with someone who didn’t seem to be content with apologizing and starting over. If he had started with the apology, Eleanor might have entertained a chance at reconciliation, but Matthew Leyton didn’t apologize. He never apologized. It was never his fault.
* * *
Nathan could smell the smog of London before they reached the docks. That was just London all over. You could smell it before you saw it. It was how things had always been. Nathan had been born in the family country home on the Isle of Wight, but he had been raised in Brixton for most of his life. He was used to the thick smoke in the air from the factories and the terrible smells that came with it. A factory that made soap out of animal guts was close by, as well as the factory that made bone china. The whiff of animal bones was stronger than anyone realized.
But to Nathan, it smelled of home. London was his home, for the most part. Not society, socialising with people who had fake smiles and considered themselves better than anyone else. Not the theatres and the public houses. It was the atmosphere, the sights and the smells. It made Nathan remember good times when he was a boy. His mother had been a bit more relaxed back then, and his father had paid a lot of attention to him then as well.
His father had supported him going into the army, and he had been proud when Nathan wrote back to say he had been promoted to Captain just a month before he died. His mother, not so much. She had expected Nathan to do his duty and stay at home. She wanted Nathan to stay after he came back for his father’s funeral. Nathan wasn’t about to shirk his duty as an officer. He was needed, a man in charge of a platoon. It wasn’t something he could throw aside anytime soon. Not in his heart.
Right now, his main concern would be to see what his mother wanted. If he was here under false pretences, Nathan would walk away and focus on his investigation. He was sure he would be able to find Eric Black. London was his playground. Nathan’s father had taken him practically everywhere, an avid adventurer through and through. Nathan had inherited his father’s desire for something exciting in his life.
He knew all the nooks and crannies, and he knew people who delved deeper into those places. Eric Black wouldn’t be able to hide from him once Nathan got a whiff of his scent. He wouldn’t stand a chance.
But a bath and cleaning up would come first. Nathan washed while he was in France, but not very often, and he had let his hair grow out. It brushed the collar of his shirt, and he had been growing a beard. He didn’t really trust anyone to put a razor near his throat to shave, not after the French bribed a few of their younger soldiers to report back to them about military campaigns. One of them had been Nathan’s bath man. After that, he was reluctant to let anyone shave him.
At least the barbers in London wouldn’t have been bribed by the French.
His ship docked at one of the berths, and Nathan picked up his bag, ready to disembark. The ship’s captain gestured at him to go down the gangplank first.
“You go, Captain Reynolds. I’ve got a lot of things to unload, so it’s best you go now.”
“All right.” Nathan shook the burly man’s hand. “Thank you for the journey home, Captain Marks.”
“It’s my pleasure, Captain. Take care.”
Nathan planned to. As far as he was able. Picking up his rifle and hoisting his bag over his shoulder, he went down the gangplank. People were milling around, busy with their regular lives. The docks always had something coming in and going out, as London was the centre of the world right now. Nathan had always marvelled at what came in from countries around the world. Great Britain traded with just about anyone if it got them something in return.
“Nathan!”
Nathan turned, and found himself beaming. A man with dark hair and broad shoulders was striding towards him with a broad smile. He was wearing the clothing of a man in society, clearly a nobleman. Several of the women working around him gave him interested looks, watching him as he walked past, but the newcomer didn’t appear to notice them. That was Nathan’s friend all over; he didn’t seem to notice when anyone was looking at him.
At least there was a familiar face to meet him off the boat.
“Simon!”
Nathan leaned his rifle against a nearby crate, dropping his bag before embracing the man. At six-one, his friend didn’t come anywhere close to Nathan’s height of six-four. He stood back and surveyed the other man.
