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Chapter Twenty
As they headed out of London, Eleanor glanced at Byron, who sat across from her in the carriage. They hadn’t said anything to each other since her father went to fetch them a carriage. She hadn’t realized that her actions would result in an elopement. When she went to Byron’s residence, all she’d wanted to do was get out of marrying the Duke of Winnett. In her panic, she had inadvertently made things worse.
She shifted in the carriage. As her father had said, the carriage wasn’t like the kind she was used to. This one was bumpier, and the seats weren’t all that comfortable. Still, she’d rather be in this thing than in a fancy carriage with the Duke of Winnett.
She took a deep breath and released it. No doubt, Byron wasn’t the least bit happy with the turn of events. She had ruined things for him. For all she knew, he might have entertained romantic thoughts on some other lady. She knew very little about him. Most of their talks had been about her and the investigation he had undertaken. Apart from the fact that he had a sister, she knew nothing about his personal life. Just exactly what was the best thing for her to say in a situation like this?
After a moment, she said the only thing she could think of. “I’m sorry I got you into this mess.”
He turned his gaze from the window, and when his gaze met hers, she was relieved to see that he wasn’t upset with her. “I understand that you didn’t know what was going to happen when you came to my home without a chaperone. I thought your father would have explained these things to you, but he didn’t.”
“No, he didn’t.” Because if she had known, she would have asked Eris to take her to Byron’s residence. “My father explains very little to me. He’d rather just tell me what to do.”
“Yes, I noticed that.”
He did? It was one thing for her to be aware that her father treated her more like a possession than a person, but it was another to realize other people saw it, too. She broke eye contact with him and turned her attention back to the window. Besides a building here and there, they were pretty much out of London.
Unwittingly, she recalled the excitement she’d felt when she first came here. Growing up, the governess had told her about all of the fun things to do in London. Her governess had made the balls, the theatre, and other social activities sound like a fairy tale. Eleanor had assumed her father would finally be interested in getting acquainted with her, too. Apparently, his only interest in having her in London was to use her to improve his social standing. That was unfortunate, but what could she do to change the situation? She couldn’t make her father want to know her.
After a moment, she turned her gaze back to Byron. “I don’t understand why the Duke of Winnett would pursue me when no one else did.”
“I’m not convinced the Duke of Winnett was the only gentleman who wished to be your suitor.”
Surprised, her eyes grew wide. “You’re not?”
“There are ways people can prevent someone from receiving correspondence. The problem is how to prove the interference is taking place, especially when someone makes it a habit of destroying evidence right away. The Duke of Winnett is clever. He may be swift, but he’s not rash.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Why would he try to harm me if he wanted to marry me?”
“I’m starting to believe your life was never in danger. If it was, you’d be dead by now. I think he only wanted to dissuade other gentlemen from pursuing you. Most gentlemen don’t want to marry a lady known for being clumsy. It causes embarrassment, and if there’s one thing I noticed about the nobility, they don’t like being embarrassed.”
She supposed that could be true for the incident at the theatre since others would have witnessed that. “What does that have to do with the carriage wheel?”
“I had time to think about that one. Where were you going on the day when the carriage wheel broke off?”
She thought back to the day that particular incident occurred. “If I remember right, I was on my way to meet the Duchess of Ravenshire. She was going to introduce me to some gentlemen on my father’s behalf.” She gasped. “You think that’s why he did it? So I wouldn’t be able to attend that event?”
A smile crossed his face. “Yes, that would be a motive. His aim was to marry you all along.”
“But why me? I’m not the only available lady in London.”
“He knows your father, and your father has a lot of money. You’re his only child. He wouldn’t have to separate out dowries between daughters. The Duke of Winnett is in debt. He needs help out of it. I believe that’s why he wants to marry you.”
Well, now she was even more glad to know the Duke of Winnett wouldn’t be able to marry her. It was insulting to think her only worth was her father’s money. “Now that you’re marrying me, the Duke of Winnett will have to stop with all of that, so I suppose there’s nothing to investigate anymore.”
“I still want to prove he was behind the things that happened to you.” He tapped the seat beside him. “If he was willing to do this to you, then he might find another lady to target.”
Eleanor hadn’t thought of that. Considering how unnerving the duke was, she didn’t want to see another lady being forced to marry him.
“I’m not a betting man, but if I was, I’d say he’ll try to do something to prevent our elopement,” Byron added after a long moment.
She didn’t like the sound of this. She took a good look out the window but didn’t see anyone following them.
“He wouldn’t be foolish enough to show himself in daylight,” Byron said. “He’s too smart for that.”
She settled back into her seat. “When do you think he will do something?”
“It’s hard to say. He suspects I’m aware of what he’s doing. I questioned him about the chairs after you and your father left the ball. I doubt your father has told anyone the real reason I was around you so much, but he’s probably figured it out. Right now, it’s a matter of getting to Gretna Green before he gets to us.”
