A Lady's Deception by Pamela Mingle

Author:Pamela Mingle [Mingle, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Entangled, Select Historical, Historical, historical romance, Pamela Mingle, Secret baby, emotional rebirth, England, 1800s, Regency, Second chance, Tortured Hero, Fling, Knight, Haslemere
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2017-08-27T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

After surveying the cottage interior and getting rid of all traces of Hugh, Eleanor brewed herself a cup of tea and settled on the garden bench with an apple tart. Euphoria prevailed. Was this what heaven was like?

Sadly, Eleanor discovered euphoria was fleeting. She must face reality. She had a child with Hugh, and she’d kept that child from him. Lili’s foster father was primed to blackmail her, if her deductions were accurate. The man was already denying her access to Lili on occasion, or, at the very least, making her visits difficult and worrying. And she suspected one or both of her parents might be in collusion with Abbot.

Things were spinning out of control, and she’d no bloody idea how to fix them.

Her chest grew tight with gnawing dread. Drink your tea. Eat. She forced herself to swallow some of the strong brew and take a few bites of the tart, then she rose and paced around the garden. There had to be a way.

By the time Jane and Minnie had arrived, Eleanor had a plan. Was she brave enough to carry it out? Telling Hugh about Lili seemed the best course of action, despite the consequences for all of them. Hugh was the best of men. He might be angry at first, but when she explained her reasons for withholding the truth, perhaps he would forgive her.

Once Hugh knew the truth, Eleanor didn’t know what would come next. He may not wish to acknowledge a child born outside of marriage. He may be too angry to forgive her deception. She must steel herself to accept his decision, no matter what.

Perhaps he would insist on marrying her, after he’d had sufficient time to absorb everything. She’d thought she didn’t want to marry him, but now…well, now things were different. She liked him. Maybe even loved him. They were compatible physically, and they had always enjoyed each other’s company. They would be good parents to Lili.

What was the point of dwelling upon a serendipitous outcome? Certain as she was that Hugh cared for her, his feelings could be upended by her revealing Lili. Speaking of Lili, it was time for a visit. Eleanor hadn’t been back since her daughter’s illness, and given all she’d learned about Abbot, she was worried about Lili’s well-being. If she completed the vandyking and rouleau trim on the muslin dress before noon, she would borrow the gig and head for the Abbots’. She hoped Jacob Abbot would be at Longmere and not at his home.

A few hours later, Eleanor approached the Abbot home with fear knotting her stomach. How ironic, to experience such unpleasant feelings during what should be a happy occasion, both for herself and Lili. The door crashed open before she’d even stepped down from the gig, and Jacob Abbot strode toward her with a look meant to intimidate.

He stopped, standing so close to her she could see the tiny red blood vessels in the whites of his eyes. Eleanor stood her ground.

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