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“I don’t know about a good thing, but it does keep you busy. And I know you like to be busy and look after people, which is why I haven’t protested too much.”
“At least you know where we stand. And Captain Reynolds is going to find that out as well.” Eleanor shook her head. “I’m not stopping what I love doing because a man tells me I should. He can’t impose rules on me when he doesn’t follow them himself. If he can’t accept it? That’s too bad.”
Edward Heavenly gave her a wry smile. “I must say, it’s going to be interesting when you two start clashing on this subject.” He slapped his thighs as he rose to his feet. “Right, I’m sure you’re not wanting me to hover around you asking if you’re alright. I’m going to head into my study and get through that paperwork.”
“Father?” Eleanor touched his arm as her father stepped around her. “You’re not going out tonight, are you?”
Edward Heavenly arched an eyebrow. Then he smiled and shook his head.
“Not tonight. I think you need me more than the cards do.” He kissed her temple. “You know where to find me, Eleanor.”
* * *
“Here.”
Nathan looked up and saw the full glass in front of him. Simon stood over him with a wry smile.
“What’s this for?”
“You look like you need it.”
Nathan groaned as he took the glass. “I didn’t realize that I looked that bad.”
“Not quite.” Simon settled in the chair across from him. “But you do look troubled, Nate.”
Nathan didn’t know how to respond to that. He was troubled, but not in the way that Simon thought. Lunch had passed by a little more pleasantly than he expected. Eleanor Heavenly was not the woman he expected. Compassionate, a kind heart, and she respected his rank.
And she had fire. Not to mention stubbornness. Nathan knew he was going to have his work cut out for him arguing that Eleanor was in danger helping children, especially those who were in danger of vanishing into thin air. What if she was known to the gang? What if they decided to hurt her? Nathan was certain that this would be painful for him, knowing that Eleanor had been harmed because of her charity work.
He admired her determination, but he just wished that she would find something else to do.
Simon chuckled as he sat back and crossed his legs. As soon as Eleanor and her chaperone had left his home, the second time in two days after Vanity pressured him into letting Eleanor come over again to become more acquainted, Nathan had headed straight over to Simon’s house. His mother had immediately started trying to get him to sit down and talk about Eleanor, and all Nathan wanted to do was run away. He didn’t want to discuss Eleanor Heavenly with Vanity. He didn’t want to see the triumphant look on her face when she realized that she had chosen well for him.
Because Eleanor was just what he would look for in a woman. If only he could stop worrying about what she did in her spare time.
“So,” Simon started with a grin, “was Lady Eleanor Heavenly unattractive?”
“No, she wasn’t. She was very attractive, actually. Not at all what I expected. And she’s kind, sweet. She even addressed me as I wanted without any prompting.” Nathan frowned. “It’s just…”
How could he say this without sounding like a whining child?
“What?” Simon prompted. “I would’ve thought that those qualities would be perfect for you.”
“She’s involved with an orphanage, Simon. Lady Eleanor spends her spare time at one of those places the nuns run, helping out with the children.”
Simon blinked. Then he stared.
“You...you don’t think...she’s not one of those smuggling the children, is she?”
“No, I don’t believe that.” That had never crossed Nathan’s mind. “You can tell by the passionate way she spoke about the children that she cares and she’s helping them out. But I have a feeling that she might unwittingly be associated with these people.” He rubbed at his eyes. “She may not know, but she’s going to be seen as an obstacle if she protests too much defending these children.”
From Nathan’s experience and attempts to find the culprits in France who acted as the counterparts for Eric Black’s gang, he had found bodies of people who tried to defend the children or help them out. They killed anyone they considered a threat, and Eleanor might be considered a threat, especially if it was discovered that she was engaged to marry Nathan.
He didn’t want Eleanor hurt. She was too sweet.
Chapter Sixteen
“Nathan?”
