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“Well.” Lady Chapman recovered quickly, casting her gaze over Eleanor’s body again. “If I can’t have him in marriage, I can at least have him in bed. He won’t want an inexperienced spinster attempting to...well, I’m sure you get my meaning.”
Eleanor could feel her cheeks burning. How dare she? It was bad enough to say that out loud, but in front of her staff? She stepped towards the woman, feeling some satisfaction as Lady Chapman took a step back.
“That is one thing I am going to put my foot down on in my marriage,” Eleanor hissed. “No mistresses. If he has an affair, he’ll live to regret it. We may not be a love match, but I will not respect a man who sleeps with women with lesser morals.”
“Oh?” Lady Chapman sniggered. “And how are you going to do that?”
“I’m sure I’ll think of something.” Eleanor stepped towards her. “And I don’t think you’ll be so happy about any of the ideas I come up with. My marriage, no matter what circumstances it occurred, will not be threatened by the likes of you. Parsons why is this woman still in my home?”
“Lady Chapman is leaving right now, Lady Eleanor.”
Eleanor went back to her seat, not looking back as Lady Chapman left the room with many splutters and a swish of her skirts. She snapped at Parsons and was still complaining as they entered the hall, the noise becoming muffled as Parsons shut the door. Marion stared at her with wide eyes.
“Did you just threaten her? She’ll start telling everyone that you’re not very ladylike.”
Eleanor snorted. “I was on the shelf until not long ago. I think I crossed that threshold a long time ago.” Eleanor settled on the couch and smoothed out her skirts. “Now, where were we? I believe I was trying to do some sewing. Let’s see if I can do it without sewing myself to it, shall I?”
That had been more invigorating than she expected. Eleanor had to fight the urge not to smirk. It had also been very satisfying.
Chapter Nineteen
Eleanor tried to forget what had happened earlier in the drawing room, but she couldn’t. Lady Chapman’s words had sunk in, and Eleanor couldn’t get them to budge. It was frustrating and putting her in a bad mood. The servants kept their distance and even her father Edward Heavenly and Marion stepped back. Eleanor wanted to apologize to them, let them know it was no one’s fault, but then she would be reminded of the humiliation of being spoken to in such a way by Lady Lorraine Chapman. Parsons was discreet, but Eleanor didn’t trust that one of the other servants had overheard and was telling everyone.
It made Eleanor want to seek the woman out and slap her. Be very unladylike. How dare she come into Eleanor’s house and say that she deserved to have Nathan more than Eleanor? And what on earth was that about making a promise before she was married? If Nathan had made that promise, why didn’t he marry her to begin with? Lady Chapman’s declaration just made her sound like a madwoman who wanted someone for herself no matter what.
Obsessed would be a word for her. Eleanor wanted to say something a little stronger, but that would result in getting a scolding from her father should he overhear her. Ladies did not curse.
Eleanor didn’t feel like a lady right now.
It was a good thing Nathan didn’t come to visit her today, otherwise Eleanor would have unleashed her frustrations out on him. He was the reason that woman had singled Eleanor out with such outrageous claims, and Eleanor didn’t think she was ready to demand what was going on. No matter what he said, she wouldn’t believe him. She needed to have time to calm down before she discussed it like a grown-up.
How did Nathan end up knowing a woman like Lorraine Chapman? She said they had met before she was married. She clearly had a desire for Nathan that seemed to bypass reason. Eleanor had met widows who were determined to get what they wanted before, but Lady Chapman was something else.
Hopefully, Nathan would have the answers. He seemed the more level-headed one of the pair, and Eleanor liked to think she could read him. Nathan Reynolds had seemed pretty open in previous conversations. He had shown no indication that he had someone around who had made a promise to him. Or he had promised her anything.
Waiting around for someone to become a widow, indeed! Lord Chapman could have lived until he was in his seventies. While Lady Chapman had made it clear with her declaration that she was happy to become a mistress with the man she wanted, Eleanor couldn’t see Nathan breaking his gentlemanly conduct and having an affair with a married woman.
She hoped not. She was not about to be humiliated by his philandering, if that did happen. Nathan would know very quickly that he was in serious trouble.
Somehow, Eleanor managed to make it through the rest of the day and headed up to bed for an early night. She kept her distance from everyone, including Marion. Her friend had witnessed it all, and she seemed to understand that Eleanor needed the space alone. A surprise like that was a lot to take in.
There were moments when Eleanor wished she had never been put in this position in the first place. That she had managed to find a husband years ago and she was now happily married. So now if her father’s gambling had gotten out of control, Eleanor wouldn’t be used as a pawn for a marriage. She wouldn’t be a puppet on a string for her father.
Then again, wouldn’t she be a puppet on a string for her husband? Women didn’t get many freedoms. Eleanor had considered herself incredibly blessed for being able to do what she wanted. Men would frown upon what she did. Nathan certainly had. Nobody would have appreciated her charity work.
They would have a hard time stopping her, though.
Eleanor undressed for bed and slid under the sheets. Normally, if she went to bed early, she would lie in bed and read until her eyes started to slide closed. This time, Eleanor’s mind was racing too much to focus on any book. She was still thinking about her interaction with Lady Chapman and how enraged she was still feeling. If she had come here to get Eleanor angry, it had worked.
What was her goal for doing that? She wanted Nathan to herself, clearly, but what could she hope to achieve by coming here and demanding Eleanor brake everything off before insulting her? Did she think Eleanor would just do as she was told? Eleanor might have done so in the orphanage, but not when it was her own life. Not a chance.
Lady Chapman was going to find out the hard way that she had done the wrong thing. Eleanor would make sure of it.
It took a long time for Eleanor to settle. She kept turning everything over in her mind, questioning it all and beginning to doubt herself. Then she realized where her thoughts were going and told herself off. This was ridiculous. That was probably Lady Chapman’s desire all along. To have Eleanor doubting everything around her. Make her insecure.
Not going to happen. Eleanor would not allow it.
Giving up on trying to sleep outright, Eleanor reached for her copy of ‘The Monk’ on her bedside table. That would help get her distracted enough to lull her into sleep. She settled on the bed and opened at her homemade little marker. Perhaps reading about monks lusting after nuns and maidens they shouldn’t be lusting after, would distract her.
