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“Why would I want to do that? And how did you even know we were in courtship? I haven’t said anything to anyone.”
“I saw you leaving his home yesterday. I asked around. His valet is courting my maid.” Lady Chapman looked Eleanor up and down with a sneer. “I heard a lot about you. About how you snagged him.”
“From what I recall, I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter,” Eleanor pointed out. “Neither of us had a choice on it.”
“Doesn’t matter if you had a choice of not, you need to call it off.”
She looked almost determined about it. Eleanor was confused. Had Nathan and Lady Chapman had an affair in the past and she was still carrying a torch? It was the only thing Eleanor could think of. Her respect for Nathan went down a little. Lady Chapman was a beautiful woman and she had prospects, but she was everything that Nathan disliked. Eleanor didn’t see them associating beyond a few pleasantries.
“Again, why would I do that? Give me one good reason why.”
Lady Chapman smirked. “Because Lord Brixton and I have an agreement. From before I was married. We made a promise that once I was a widow, we would be married. He would keep himself free for me for always.”
There was a muffled sound behind Eleanor, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Marion clamping her hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking. Eleanor found herself resisting the urge to burst into laughter herself. It was a ludicrous reason, and Eleanor couldn’t see Nathan agreeing to that. Not with how he felt about the army. It had taken a massive twist of his arm to agree to marriage with her. Eleanor didn’t think Lady Chapman had the strength to do the same.
“You expected Captain Reynolds to stay unmarried for the rest of his natural days until your husband died?” Eleanor scoffed. “Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?”
Lady Chapman’s nostrils flared, her lip curling in a snarl.
“His name is Lord Brixton, Lady Eleanor. He is an Earl, and you should remember that.”
“He wants the title of Captain Reynolds, and I will respect it. His choice, I am not forgetting who he is.”
Lady Chapman sniffed. “That title is silly, anyway. Lord Brixton has a more refined air about it. It suits him so much better.”
Eleanor bit her lip. She wasn’t getting into an argument over that. She just wanted the woman gone.
“We made a promise.” Lady Chapman was tapping her cane again, running her other hand over her hair. “And now he’s home from France, I intend to follow through. I can make him happy. You?” she sneered at Eleanor as she looked her over. “You wouldn’t know how to make any man happy.”
The urge to cross the room and slap her for that was great, but Eleanor took a deep breath and counted to ten. She might not really care for her position in society, but she wasn’t about to be made the centre of attention. Lady Chapman would certainly make sure of that if she did react in such a manner.
“If you came here to insult me, Lady Chapman, you can leave right now. I will not tolerate it in my own house.”
“I’ll leave once you agree to break off the engagement.”
The gall of the woman. Eleanor squared her shoulders.
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. This was an arranged match, and the banns are to be published in a couple of days. You want him? Tough.”
The banns weren’t being published anytime soon, but Lady Chapman didn’t know that. Eleanor had hoped the bluff would have her backing down. Unfortunately, it seemed to be doing the opposite. Lady Chapman’s face went red. She looked like she was about to explode.
“Nathan has always been mine,” she hissed. “He knows it.”
“Shame he never got around to telling his mother, isn’t it?” Eleanor shot back. “I’m sure if he was yours, he would have married you before you married the late Lord Chapman, and I’m sure he would have made it known once he knew you were a widow that he was going to marry you when the time was right. I don’t recall any of that and he’s never mentioned it at all.” She folded her arms. “And don’t expect him to stick around after the wedding even if you did have an agreement. He’s going back to France as soon as he says, ‘I do’.”
“Oh, I can make him stay.” Lady Chapman’s eyes glittered. “Clearly, you can’t.”
That was a barb too much. Eleanor could only tolerate so much, and Lady Chapman had used up her second chance card very quickly.
“I think it’s time you leave, Lady Chapman. Parsons!”
The door opened, and Parsons stepped into the room. Lady Chapman didn’t move. She simply sneered at Eleanor, her eyes flashing.
“Nathan is mine, Lady Heavenly. We all know it. You just need to step aside.”
“I told you, I can’t. I wouldn’t even if I could.” Eleanor sauntered towards her. “You’re going to have to get used to being a widow alone, Lady Chapman.”
Eleanor watched as the other woman faltered. She had clearly expected Eleanor to back down and be the meek and mild woman who bowed down to everyone in the orphanage. Eleanor always tried to be accommodating and calm so as not to frighten the children. But this was her home, and she wasn’t about to be insulted in her own house.
