Page 21 of A Desperate Proposal

I’m not? I suddenly feel it. She returned his smile, however forced, and stood slowly, bowing her head. “Lord and Lady Summersby have gone to great lengths for my care and comfort. I daresay I should not have recovered so quickly if not for their consideration.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“You look…” She tried to focus on Henry’s attire, because looking in his face made her stomach twist. He wore dark colors, as was his custom— tight, black trousers, well-shined Hessian boots, and a maroon vest over a white, muslin shirt. His navy tailcoat must have been a recent purchase as Elinor had never seen it before. It all suited his slender physique. Very fashionable. And … different? Was it the fussy brocade of the vest or the exquisite twist of his cravat that niggled at her mind? “You also look well.”

Henry preened under her observation. “I think London agreed with me. The variety of company and so much to see and do. It’s exhilarating.” He settled on the chaise beside Mary, whose expression had become rather opaque. The variety of company? What does he mean by that? Elinor swallowed hard. This was not the Henry she’d said goodbye to four months—almost a lifetime—ago. The man who warned her of the vice and villainy that could be found in London and its endless social whirl. Her fingers drummed against her seat and Henry kept talking. “The peace celebrations and the Grand Duchess’s arrival spawned so many excellent parties already, I can scarcely imagine what wonders the Tsar and the Germans’ presence will spur on.” He looked right at Arabella, his smile growing as his little sister’s brow furrowed.

“That is because your imagination has always been stunted, brother,” Arabella snapped. “If you say the parties are excellent, they must be very droll indeed.”

“A pity you’ll never get to see them for yourself to know for certain.” Henry stretched his legs, ignoring Arabella’s mutinous scowl. “But I do hear you’ve been out riding and keeping company with the new Earl of Asherton. Well played, Bella. I didn’t expect you to throw yourself at a rake of the first water so early on.”

“Henry.” Mary tapped his arm. “Lord Asherton is Lady Summersby’s brother.”

“And the most boring of the three, from what I’ve heard. Pity the other two are dead. They’d have kept Bella better entertained.”

“Do not tease your sister in such a manner,” Elinor’s crisp tone surprised even herself. “It isn’t proper for you to speak so loosely. Nor should one speak ill of the dead or of those who are our friends.”

Arabella blinked at Elinor before fixing a pretty smile on Henry. “She’s right, you know.”

Henry’s brows arched and his deep sapphire eyes narrowed. “So, the Ruthvens are friends already?” His attention swung back to Arabella. “But has Lady Summersby told you of your new friend’s bastard daughter? Of all the duels, deceits and whispers surrounding his brothers, and their ungodly and un-mourned sire?”

Arabella’s nose twitched. “Now who’s been reading the wrong sort of novels?”

He clasped his hands, leaning forward, keeping his voice low. “They say the man murdered his wife—Lady Summersby and the new Earl’s mother—once he’d tired of keeping his second wife as a mere mistress. Though they still had to secure her divorce. I even heard some tales that she’s been exiled to Italy on the new Earl’s orders. A few whispers that poor old Asherton’s demise was hastened along, too.”

Elinor stared in helpless confusion. Henry didn’t gossip. Nor did he say unkind words for the sake of it. And surely none of it could be true! But Henry never lies. Not ever. He’s going to be a man of the cloth, after all. Though looking at him now, she suspected the cloth would be made of the finest silk. Her stomach seized painfully, and she put a hand to it to try to ease it.

Luckily, Henry’s words had no such affect upon Bella, who made an unladylike sound. “How uncouth of you to say such things under Lord Summersby’s roof. If he should hear the things you’ve said of his wife’s kin, I’m certain he would never welcome you back.”

Mary held out a hand to cut her brother’s reply off. “That is enough, Henry. I do not wish to hear this tale over again.”

“Then leave, Mary.” Henry’s rough answer set all three ladies aback, and the expression he cast his eldest sister was nothing short of arctic. “You know as well as I do, letting Arabella run headlong into that kind of match because you’re too missish to tell her the truth won’t end well for any of us.”

“But must you tell it in such a… a frank manner?” Mary winced, wilting under her brother’s iron will. “I accept it must be told this once. Not ever again.”

“Very well.” That fierce stare fixed upon Arabella. “Regardless of what Mary thinks, I am sparing you the ugliest parts. I doubt even she’s heard the half of it. I will not detail every sin laid at the Ruthven brothers’ feet, but even this one’s a shark, Bella. And one in low water to boot. The sire left debts from here to Naples, and where he didn’t have debts, his sons left a trail of broken hearts and reputations.”

The blood rushing past Elinor’s ears kept blocking out Henry’s words, but she caught the gist. He’s a rakehell. He’s in debt. That’s why he kissed me. That’s why he’ll never ask for anything else…

Arabella bit her lower lip, and bowed her head. “A very good thing I hadn’t considered marrying him. It was only to be a bit of an amour.”

“Arabella!” Mary pressed a hand to her chest. “Speak of loose talk. I never imagined… Heavens! Elinor darling, I’m so sorry you’ve been abandoned to this madness.”

“You speak as the soul of purity now, Mary?” Arabella’s nose wrinkled. “Motherhood’s ruined your memory.”

“I decidedly was not planning an affair with a peer for a summer’s amusement like some … some French refugee. If Mama even thought—”

“Leave her, Mary.” Henry sighed. “You know Arabella likes to say shocking things for fun. She’s provoking you to hide her own disappointment. Father will never have the money to make her alluring to an impecunious earl.”

“But she—”

“No more!” Elinor cried, whether from temper or pure desperation she didn’t know. “I have chaperoned Arabella all this time, and she has been neither mad nor untoward. And Lord Asherton has been nothing but a gentleman when he is with her.” Which was entirely true, come to think of it. “You have warned her, and that is well, but now you are being unnecessarily cruel. Perhaps Mary was right. We could all use a nap.”

“You do seem pale, Ellie,” Arabella said helpfully. “I bet the cordial is wearing off.”

“Oh. Blast, but you’re right.” Mary rose and put a light hand on Elinor’s forehead, her own creasing with worry. “I am sorry. I know how sensitive you are. Truly, we should have spoken with Bella apart.”

“Indeed.” Henry looked grim now, too. “But I do think it’s for the best to warn you both. After all, a rake may aim at anyone he pleases. If you win your suit with Mother, Mary, Elinor will be in company the same as Bella this summer, with an even more fragile situation. Shielding her from knowledge of who and what to watch out for will do her no favors.” He cleared his throat. “I am sorry for discomforting you, Elinor. I fear you must be on your guard with strangers, no matter how charming they seem.”