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Frustrated, Byron returned the ledger to the dresser and left the bedchamber. He was close to figuring this case out, and yet, he was unable to fit that final piece of the puzzle into place. Why would he tamper with a carriage wheel or make her fall over the balcony railing at the theatre?
Eleanor hadn’t received any promising offers, and her father was getting impatient. Byron could warn her father that the Duke of Winnett only wanted her dowry, but he wasn’t sure that would be enough to make her father say no to the marriage. Her father was far more concerned with influence than money.
What makes you think you would have a chance to marry her if the Duke of Winnett wasn’t interested in her? Her father would never agree to a match between you and Eleanor.
Byron shoved the thought back into the recesses of his mind. He wasn’t here to dwell on his feelings. He was here to work. Since when did his feelings get tangled up with his job? Perhaps this was his fault. He had suggested her father hire the Duchess of Ashbourne to help Eleanor attract gentlemen, and blast it if the strategy hadn’t inadvertently worked on him.
But there was more to Eleanor than how she looked, and there was more to her than how much money her father had. Once a person got to know her, it was easy to be drawn to her. She didn’t seek out the attention of people for the sake of influence like her father did. She wanted people she could be herself with. She didn’t like to put on a pretense like so many noble people did. She felt awkward and shy, but she was refreshingly sincere. In some ways, she reminded him of his sister, except he was romantically drawn to her.
He shook his head. He wished her father hadn’t asked him that question about how desirable Eleanor was. All it’d done was bring up all of the thoughts and feelings he’d been able to force down. He could only guess how long he’d been fighting his attraction for her, but he didn’t want to think about that, either. He had to concentrate on his job. Tonight, he wasn’t going to dance with her. He couldn’t. Anything that was the least bit romantic was going to be his undoing. He was going to spend the entire night to the side of the room, and if Piers gave him grief over it, so be it.
***
Eleanor’s father gestured for her to go over to him when the dance ended. She hid her apprehension and made her way across the room. Had she done something wrong? Was he going to take her to the duchess and demand the money back before the evening was even over?
“Lady Cadwalader has asked to make your acquaintance,” her father said with an excited smile on his face. “I bet this has something to do with you joiningLadies of Grace. I knew that group was going to be beneficial for us.”
Relieved she hadn’t done anything wrong, she followed him to a group of chairs that weren’t being used. She gave a quick scan of the ballroom but didn’t see Byron. She did, however, see the Duke of Winnett, and he was looking in their direction. With a shiver, she turned away from him. If she wasn’t careful, she wouldn’t secure another suitor. So much depended on how well she followed the duchess’ instructions tonight.
Her father gestured to a chair. “After you, my dear.”
As soon as she sat in the chair, it collapsed under her. She ended up hitting the hard floor. She barely had time to overcome her shock when her father hurried to slip his arm around her and help her stand up.
She took in the startled glances from the people nearby. Then someone laughed. Then someone else laughed. And from there, others joined in. Her face grew hot with embarrassment.
“This isn’t funny,” her father snapped at the group before he cupped his hand under her elbow and led her toward the doorway of the ballroom.
She couldn’t make out what the people around her were saying. It was bad enough everyone was staring at her. She lowered her gaze so she wouldn’t have to see them as her father escorted her out of the townhouse.
“What happened in there?” Byron called out from behind them.
Her father waited until they were on the sidewalk to face him. “The chair broke when my daughter sat on it. We’re leaving.” He pulled on her elbow, and she resumed their hurried pace.
Byron kept up with them. “I’ll go back and see what I can find. Afterwards, I’ll be at your townhouse.”
Her father nodded but continued to go to their carriage.
She didn’t look back as Byron returned to the townhouse. She didn’t want to see anyone right now. All she wanted to do was hide in her bed. How was she going to live down the humiliation? Not only had she broken a chair, but there had been a few moments where her gown had been up to her calves. Sure, she had stockings on, but those did little to cover up her legs. This was worse than everyone looking over at her when she almost fell from the balcony at the theatre.
She brushed back a couple of tears and got into the carriage as soon as the footman opened the door. She put her hand up to her face so that no one could see her in the window.
Her father waited until the footman shut the door before he said, “I hired Mr. Tumilson to prevent things like this from happening.”
“This isn’t his fault,” she replied. “It was just an accident.”
“It’s his job to anticipate these things.”
“Who could have anticipated me breaking a chair?”
Her father only let out a frustrated sigh and crossed his arms as the carriage moved forward.
She wiped her eyes again, but it did no good. The tears refused to stop. All she could do was close her eyes and hope they’d soon be home so she could be alone.
***
By the time Byron made it back to the ballroom, the Duke of Winnett was overseeing the maids as they were removing pieces of the broken chair.
“Take these other chairs out of here, too,” the duke instructed one of the maids.
