A Marriage of Convenience by Fenella J Miller

Author:Fenella J Miller [Miller, Fenella J]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2013-01-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Eleanor wandered about the duke’s main reception room wishing she could change her mind and leave, but she could hear voices coming her way.

‘Who did you say, Finch? Lady Upminster? Impertinent chit, I don’t recall inviting her to visit.’ The irascible voice could only belong to Leo’s father. She turned to face the double doors at the far end of the room. They were opened ceremoniously by two footmen and His Grace, the Duke of Rothmere, strode in.

She smiled in delight. He looked exactly like Leo, including the forbidding frown. Now she knew where Leo got his bad temper from. Remembering her manners, she belatedly sunk into a graceful, deep, curtsy, trying unsuccessfully to hide her smile.

‘I am Leo’s wife, Eleanor, your grace.’

‘I know who you are girl, I want to know what the devil you mean by arriving here without an invitation?’

She straightened no sign of a smile now. ‘I am sorry, your grace, if I have intruded, but I was eager to meet you because Leo has told me so much about you.’

‘None of it good, I’ll be bound.’

She shook her head sadly. ‘No, I am afraid it was not.’

Taken aback by her frankness he asked, slightly less frigidly. ‘Well child, what did he say?’

She half smiled. ‘I am not sure I should tell you, your grace, it was not very complimentary.’

‘Tell me, if you please,’ he commanded.

‘Very well, if you insist. He said that you were the healthiest man of your age in the kingdom.’ She smiled and continued, ‘I suppose that is a kind of complement. And he also said you were impervious to charm, that you would dislike me on principal, and,’ she counted on her fingers, ‘that you had a heart of stone.’

The duke’s bark of laughter echoed round the room, surprising his two retainers who were guarding the doors. ‘Good God, miss, you are an original!’ He smiled, his slate grey eyes, the image of Leo’s, alight with amusement. ‘Come and sit with me. I wish to get better acquainted.’

She stayed with him until the time came for her to change for luncheon. The morning, she considered, had been well spent. After the meal she escaped and decided to visit the library until Leo returned.

This was on the first floor, and ran the length of the West Wing; it shelved thousands of leather bound books. She had been there less than twenty minutes when Sir Bertram Jenkins accosted her. She was almost felled by his brandy fuelled breath; being in his cups made him more dangerous and less likely to be open to reason.

‘All alone, my dear,’ he said, his eyes riveted on her bosom. ‘Permit me to keep you company for a while.’

Eleanor took one horrified glance at the predatory gleam in his eye and started to retreat. ‘I am just leaving, sir, and I have no wish for your company.’ Her voice was correct and formal, a clear indication she wasn’t available for dalliance of any sort. Sir Bertram refused to be denied.

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