Read Online Fenella J Miller by Lady Eleanor's Secret - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lady Eleanor's Secret
Ads: Link
around, Eleanor glanced up at the nursery windows, knowing the children would be there. The row of faces, white blobs against the glass, made her throat thicken and her eyes fill. She blinked. A movement at a window on the first floor caught her attention.
Edward.
She shrank back against the squabs, praying he hadn’t seen her. Sally, who was sitting next to her, clutched her hand. Her brother had recognized her. Her husband was slumped on the other side taking up most of the seat. Foster was squeezed into the far corner. At least they would not know their flight had been discovered.
“What is it, my dear? Are you sad to leave the children?”
Her head flew up to meet Bentley’s sympathetic gaze. “Yes, my lord, they were most distressed at my leaving so suddenly…” Her voice trailed away; she could manage no further explanation.
“When the dust has settled, you must invite Lady Thorrington and your niece and nephews to stay at Blakely Hall. It will be good for my…our children to have playmates.”
She rummaged in her reticule until her fingers grasped her handkerchief. When she had wiped her eyes and blown her nose, she felt ready to ask some important questions. “If you are feeling well enough to talk, sir, there are some things that I need to know.”
“The names, ages and disposition of the children?”
“Yes, indeed. I wish to be a good mother to them…” She paused, perhaps this was not the time to talk about her duties as a wife.
“Lucy is the oldest. I’m not sure of her age.” He turned to Foster for assistance.
“Miss Lucy is eight, Miss Elizabeth seven and Master Alexander is five, my lord.”
“Thank you. I have spent so little time at Blakely since my first wife died that I have lost contact with them. I am relying on you to supply what I cannot.” He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Eleanor was horrified at his callousness. When the children had lost their mother so tragically he should have supplied the love and stability they needed and not abandoned them to the care of servants. They must have been devastated to be ignored in this way. She would not be surprised to discover they had run wild with no parent to supply firm guidance as well as love.
They were obliged to stay for one night at The Red Lion in Colchester High Street. Foster organized the accommodation and took care of his master. She and Sally ate supper upstairs and were waiting at half past seven the next morning, as instructed, in the vestibule. Today was market day and the noise from the livestock on sale outside made conversation difficult.
The carriage appeared promptly and she decided it would be better to wait inside than stand around being gawped at in the yard. “Come along, Sally, let us get in. I am sure Lord Bentley and Foster will be with us very soon.”
She had been sitting there a good fifteen minutes before the door opened and Foster almost pushed her husband inside. “Good gracious! You look decidedly poorly, my lord. Do you think you should be travelling today?”
“We are two hours from my home, madam. If I am to be laid up, I would much prefer to be in comfort.” With that, he collapsed on the seat and closed his eyes. His face had an unnatural waxy hue; she did not like the look of him at all. She leant across and touched his hand. He didn’t stir, he was deeply unconscious.
“Foster, I think Lord Bentley is very ill indeed. I do hope there is a good physician to be found when we arrive at Blakely Hall.”
“There is, my lady. I have taken the liberty of sending the groom ahead by post horse. The doctor should be waiting when we arrive.”
The more she knew about her husband’s valet the better she liked him. He was more a man of affairs than a mere servant. “Thank you. I wish we had remained at the abbey until he was well.”
Foster cleared his throat. “In the circumstances, my lady, it was far better that you left immediately.”
What did he know? Had downstairs
Edward.
She shrank back against the squabs, praying he hadn’t seen her. Sally, who was sitting next to her, clutched her hand. Her brother had recognized her. Her husband was slumped on the other side taking up most of the seat. Foster was squeezed into the far corner. At least they would not know their flight had been discovered.
“What is it, my dear? Are you sad to leave the children?”
Her head flew up to meet Bentley’s sympathetic gaze. “Yes, my lord, they were most distressed at my leaving so suddenly…” Her voice trailed away; she could manage no further explanation.
“When the dust has settled, you must invite Lady Thorrington and your niece and nephews to stay at Blakely Hall. It will be good for my…our children to have playmates.”
She rummaged in her reticule until her fingers grasped her handkerchief. When she had wiped her eyes and blown her nose, she felt ready to ask some important questions. “If you are feeling well enough to talk, sir, there are some things that I need to know.”
“The names, ages and disposition of the children?”
“Yes, indeed. I wish to be a good mother to them…” She paused, perhaps this was not the time to talk about her duties as a wife.
“Lucy is the oldest. I’m not sure of her age.” He turned to Foster for assistance.
“Miss Lucy is eight, Miss Elizabeth seven and Master Alexander is five, my lord.”
“Thank you. I have spent so little time at Blakely since my first wife died that I have lost contact with them. I am relying on you to supply what I cannot.” He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Eleanor was horrified at his callousness. When the children had lost their mother so tragically he should have supplied the love and stability they needed and not abandoned them to the care of servants. They must have been devastated to be ignored in this way. She would not be surprised to discover they had run wild with no parent to supply firm guidance as well as love.
They were obliged to stay for one night at The Red Lion in Colchester High Street. Foster organized the accommodation and took care of his master. She and Sally ate supper upstairs and were waiting at half past seven the next morning, as instructed, in the vestibule. Today was market day and the noise from the livestock on sale outside made conversation difficult.
The carriage appeared promptly and she decided it would be better to wait inside than stand around being gawped at in the yard. “Come along, Sally, let us get in. I am sure Lord Bentley and Foster will be with us very soon.”
She had been sitting there a good fifteen minutes before the door opened and Foster almost pushed her husband inside. “Good gracious! You look decidedly poorly, my lord. Do you think you should be travelling today?”
“We are two hours from my home, madam. If I am to be laid up, I would much prefer to be in comfort.” With that, he collapsed on the seat and closed his eyes. His face had an unnatural waxy hue; she did not like the look of him at all. She leant across and touched his hand. He didn’t stir, he was deeply unconscious.
“Foster, I think Lord Bentley is very ill indeed. I do hope there is a good physician to be found when we arrive at Blakely Hall.”
“There is, my lady. I have taken the liberty of sending the groom ahead by post horse. The doctor should be waiting when we arrive.”
The more she knew about her husband’s valet the better she liked him. He was more a man of affairs than a mere servant. “Thank you. I wish we had remained at the abbey until he was well.”
Foster cleared his throat. “In the circumstances, my lady, it was far better that you left immediately.”
What did he know? Had downstairs
Similar Books
