Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

E leanor stood at the edge of the frozen pond, her ice skates secured to her boots as she waited for Montefeltro to join her. Her gaze roamed the gathering, hoping to find one person amongst the many. Disappointment and a desire to take her leave rushed through her as she completed a quick scan of the attendees to discover James was not in attendance.

It was silly of her to hope he would be there, especially since she had yet to discuss her concerns with Montefeltro. She’d spoken so little with James over the past few days. It hardly seemed appropriate to hope for something to grow between them once more. For all she knew, he held a candle for another woman.

Montefeltro sidled up next to her, a bit wobbly on his skates. “I do not see him yet.”

“Who?”

Montefeltro held his hand out to her as he assisted her onto the ice and then slowly stepped onto the pond himself. “Does he enjoy ice skating?”

“If you speak of my brother…”

“I do not speak of David. Must I say his name, amore ?”

Eleanor straightened her shoulders as she held her head high. She hadn’t done anything wrong. She’d fought every urge and desire that had come her way. There was no reason for shame. “And what of your interest in a certain young lady?”

“I feared you had noticed.”

The location for this conversation wasn’t ideal. Skating off to the side of the pond, she waited until a few skaters passed by to meet Montefeltro’s searching gaze. “Have you developed feelings for Miss Hartwell?”

“No more than you have for Mr. Bailey.”

Eleanor shook her head, unwilling to allow him to think the attraction had begun upon their arrival in town. “I have cared for James Bailey for many years. It was foolish of me to believe I could return to Emerald Falls and not suffer the effects of what occurred between us.”

“Then it is what I have suspected. You are in love with Mr. Bailey.”

“Love? You have read too many books of fiction, Montefeltro. I most certainly am not…”She allowed her words to die away without finishing the sentence.

It was easy to deceive everyone by staying silent. But outwardly denying the way her heart lit up like the countless number of stars shining in the night sky each time she was near James…well, she couldn’t form the words.

Eleanor bit down on her lips to keep from saying anything that might be taken as a declaration of love. After all, if she were to declare herself, should it not be to the man she loved?

“I am not angry. Nor are my sensibilities injured by this admission.” Montefeltro reached out and placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder.

Eleanor couldn’t look at him. She folded her arms around her middle as she averted her eyes, only to see Miss Hartwell and her maid walking along the frozen lane. “Then it is my fault you have turned your attention to Miss Hartwell. Do you wish to end our engagement and offer for her hand?”

This was the second time in her life a man had sought her hand and found her unworthy. Montefeltro was certainly ending their engagement. No one would blame him. She had deceived him by not admitting that her cap had long been set for another man.

“Mr. Bailey has earned a place of friendship in my life, which means I am determined to see both of you reconciled and married before Epiphany.”

Eleanor whipped around. Her attention fully settled upon the count. “Lord Montefeltro, whatever are you rambling on about? Have you not seen the way he reacts when I am nearby?”

“A ruse to make you believe he no longer cares. Mayhap it is a protection for his own sensibilities. Men, after all, are human. A beautiful woman such as yourself can hardly expect a man not to be affected by your presence.”

James might have once been in such a predicament, but she had superior knowledge to Lord Montefeltro. It would take far more than a meddlesome Italian count to fix what had been lost between her and James. “My lord, you have assumed far too much. If you have decided against our union, then I must know this very moment.”

Montefeltro took her hands in his. “Neither of us entered this engagement with the assumption of more than friendship. It was convenient for our circumstances. But I cannot in good conscience allow you to accept me as a husband when your heart belongs to another. Nor should you wish to connect yourself with me when I have finally fallen in love with a woman who is not you.”

She squeezed his hands. Had she not wanted this? She’d hopelessly planned the day before that she should end her engagement and convince Montefeltro to offer for Miss Hartwell while she worked to win James’s heart once more. Now, if she had help, would it be possible for two people to succeed where one might fail?

“If we agree to this, I have one stipulation.”

“I will agree to almost anything you request.” He winked at her to offer levity. His smile reached his eyes for the first time since they’d met.

Eleanor took a deep breath as a carriage broke through a break in the trees. A small gasp escaped her throat as she recognized James’s driver. He had finally arrived at the skating party. Meeting Montefeltro’s eyes, she made her request. “If we fail, which we likely will…”

Montefeltro looked ready to argue with her, but she held her hand up, stalling anything he might say to dissuade her from this request.

“Please, I beg of you, do not leave me to watch as James falls in love with another woman. He is bound to take a wife in the next few years. His mother will see to it that the entail is secure through her eldest son. I can learn to quell my feelings. No one, not even you, will ever know after this moment that I once held a candle for Mr. Bailey. I am not asking you to give up your heart. But you must have a friend in Italy in need of a wife. Someone you can convince to marry me.”

Montefeltro pulled up her hands, bowed his head, and kissed her knuckles. “You must not fight these feelings. Your heart must tell you it is wrong to accept any proposal not offered by the man you love.”

Her thoughts had screamed in protest every night as she’d contemplated the prospect of marrying Montefeltro and leaving her family. But if she honestly listened to her heart, she knew it wasn’t her family she mourned. It was James.

Dash it all ! Eleanor kept her thoughts to herself as she released Montefeltro’s hands. “There is a history between James and me that cannot be undone.”

“A man needs only the proper inducement to forgive and move forward. We shall provide that to him.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Montefeltro chuckled. “I am Italian. We have a passion for food and family, but most importantly, we believe in love.”

“Yet, you were willing to settle for a marriage of friendship. Why?”

“I once believed you and I could find love. But now…now I realize love has already claimed your heart. I have also experienced the thrill of a heart stolen away by the sweetness of love. The heart does not easily forget—nor should it, when it has loved so deeply.”

Eleanor blushed. He couldn’t possibly know how deeply she loved James, could he? Montefeltro quirked an eyebrow at her, waiting for a response. Had he asked a question? She reviewed his last words and decided the question was in his assumptions. She had two options. The first would be to hide away in her parents’ home, never to leave again for the embarrassment of two failed courtships. The second would be to accept Montefeltro’s help. Choosing her heart, she met Montefeltro’s gaze.

“How shall we proceed?”

Montefeltro lifted her hand and twirled her in a circle on the ice. “We, Miss Dove, shall agree to end our courtship and put all our efforts into securing happiness.”

She couldn’t help the laugh that escaped as they skated around the pond. “Yes, he does.”

“Pardon?”

“You inquired earlier if Mr. Bailey enjoys skating. He once said the pond was simply a ballroom made of snow and ice. Skating is essentially dancing on ice.”

“Very astute.” Montefeltro took her hands and led them both into a circle. When they were too dizzy to stay upright, both she and Montefeltro found their way to the side of the pond to sit for a spell.

“Montefeltro?” Eleanor said as she clutched her hands together inside her muff. “When shall I tell my mother we have ended our engagement?”

“Not until you have secured Mr. Bailey’s offer for your hand. I will delay in making a request for Miss Hartwell, to minimize repercussions in Society for both of us.”

Eleanor quirked an eyebrow at Montefeltro. “James is too honorable to steal another man’s intended. We must think of an appropriate way to speak with him.”

“You underestimate the power of love.” Montefeltro pinched the tips of his fingers together and kissed them before whimsically lifting his hand into the air. “When Cupid’s arrow strikes, there is no way for a gentleman of honor to walk away.”

Love had never done anything positive for her. It had brought a bout of heartache and loneliness. But there was an inkling of hope in the way Montefeltro spoke of the heart that made her believe all was not lost. She was considering his words when he stood and held his hand out to her.

“Now, we must get back onto the ice so you may flirt with Mr. Bailey and I may seek out Miss Hartwell.”

Eleanor allowed him to pull her to her feet. They both stepped back onto the ice, but as they did so, Montefeltro lost his balance, toppling to the ice, both feet nearly flying over his head.

“Oh, goodness, are you injured?” Eleanor tried to crouch down so she could assist him but found her skates moving forward as she fell over beside him.

“Eleanor!” James’s voice carried over her laughter, making her stomach flutter as he approached. When he knelt beside her, his concern suddenly made everything Montefeltro had claimed seem correct. “Pardon me. I did not mean to be so informal. Miss Dove, are you injured?”

Eleanor shook her head, happiness exploding as he held his hand out to assist her to her feet. “I am quite well. Although, I fear Lord Montefeltro might need assistance.”

Montefeltro sat up, rubbing his backside as he placed his feet on the ice. But before he could stand, he let out a yelp. Miss Hartwell instantly skated to his side, her concern evident as she fought the urge to reach for him.

“My lord, are you unwell?”

Montefeltro lifted his hands, palms up, as he let out a laugh. “It seems I have twisted my ankle.”

James waved to his driver. “Help me carry him to the sleigh. We shall take him into town and find the surgeon.”

“There is no need for you to leave the party. It has only just begun.” Montefeltro’s lips twitched as he met Eleanor’s eyes.

In that moment, she knew his ankle was perfectly sound. The Italian scamp was playing matchmaker, and poor James had no idea he was being set up. Well, Eleanor thought, there was no time like the present for her to attempt a coup on James Bailey’s heart. She would have to thank Montefeltro for his skilled acting, especially if everything turned out as she hoped.

Montefeltro continued speaking, but this time it was to James. “Please, allow me the use of your sleigh. If possible, will you do me the favor of escorting Miss Dove back to Dove Hall after the party?”

James accepted the request far easier than she would have expected. There wasn’t an ounce of displeasure or argument upon his person. In fact, it seemed he was rather pleased to accept the duty. “I would be honored. That is, if Miss Dove does not have any objections.”

Eleanor forgot she was wearing skates and standing on ice as she heartily accepted and then instantly fell backward, only to be caught by James before they crashed to the ice. As they burst into laughter, Eleanor somehow found the wherewithal to formally accept his offer. “I am most pleased, sir.”

Miss Hartwell fought with her skates, attempting to remove them with the greatest of haste. “Might I accompany you into the village, Lord Montefeltro? I have had my fill of skating this day, and I would not wish for you to be unattended with such a grievous injury.”

Montefeltro nodded. “You are too kind, Miss Hartwell.”

Eleanor fought the smile that kept creeping onto her face as she watched James and the driver situating Montefeltro in the sleigh. Miss Hartwell covered him in a wool blanket, securing it tightly about his arms and legs as though she were tucking him in for the night. By the time the sleigh left, Eleanor’s face was hurting from all the happiness this situation had brought into her life.

“Shall we rejoin the party?” James asked.

“I would be most happy to do so.”

Thankfully, the rules of ice skating were not as strict as the rules of dancing. If they were in the ballroom, one dance would be permitted, possibly two. But on the ice, Eleanor was able to skate the entirety of the afternoon with James. They skated around the pond, visiting with their neighbors as though neither had a care in the world.

Before the party ended, they sat around a large fire, singing carols and drinking steaming cups of wassail. A table of cakes and biscuits were set out, so James made a plate, and they shared it as they joined into the festivities.

It was a pity the activity had to end, for she didn’t want the magic of the day to fall by the wayside, never to experience it again. Each ice-skating party Eleanor had attended had held its own bit of magic that could only be captured once, including this one.

Since his sleigh hadn’t returned, James tied the laces of their skates together and threw them over his shoulder. He hummed a merry tune as they slowly walked along the snow-covered lane toward Dove Hall.

“You skated elegantly,” James said. There wasn’t an ounce of laughter within his words. The sincerity was everything she’d come to know and love about James Bailey .

“Thank you, Mr. Bailey. Although I must look a fright. The exercise has nearly worn me down.”

“If it were my place to say as much, I would regale you with tales of your beauty. Of course, I would have to mention your wit and charm as well.”

Eleanor stopped walking, which caused James to do the same. She tilted her head to the side, wondering at his statement. “Why should you not say it?”

“Montefeltro.” The count’s name filled the air around them, making her remember James was fully unaware that she was no longer engaged. Of course, that situation was as new to her as it would be to him.

She turned back to the path ahead, part of her wishing they had requested room in a sleigh as a slight wind rustled the trees and patches of snow fell from the branches. But if they were surrounded by their neighbors, she couldn’t possibly tell him of her failed attempt at the marriage mart.

Carefully, to not sound wanton, she thought it best to hint at her situation instead of speaking the words directly. “A woman does not mind hearing of her beauty and intelligence, at least not if the compliments are from a gentleman of impeccable character.”

As they started walking once more, her muff slipped out of her grip and fell to the ground. James instantly picked it up, handing it to her with an exaggerated bow. “Your hand warmer, my lady.”

Eleanor laughed. “Thank you, kind sir.” She accepted the muff. She then placed her other hand in front of him. “For your troubles, you may kiss my hand.”

James took her hand, lifting it to his lips as though he were in a ballroom. But before he placed a kiss upon it, he released it and took a step backward. “I apologize, Eleanor. We are being quite silly. I was caught up in the moment.”

Eleanor left the path as she took up humming the carol he’d been humming before. They joined together with the tune until they came to an old abandoned well. She stepped up on the rocks around the well and peered down into the depths. “Have you ever made a wish?”

“Upon a star or on an abandoned well?”

“This is not an ordinary well. This is a wishing well.”

James scoffed. “Folklore, I suppose.”

Eleanor reached into her reticule and took out a coin. “If you toss in a coin and make a wish it is supposed to come true.”

She didn’t wait for him to respond. Instead, she made her wish and dropped her coin. For a moment she wondered if the well had frozen over, but she need not have worried. The splash of water echoed up to her landing with perfection in the water.

James watched along with her. Once he heard the sound, he quirked a skeptical eyebrow in her direction. “What did you wish for?”

“I cannot say. If I do, my wish is sure to not come true.” She held her hand out and moved it slowly across the opening of the well. “It is your turn.”

He dug in his pocket, pulling out a small purse and then a coin. It made her stomach flutter to see him join in with the levity, although she knew he played along simply to mollify her, for he was far too sensible to make a wish at a well. James made an exaggerated pause that left Eleanor wondering if he would follow through, and then just as she was certain he would place the coin back in his purse, he leaned over the rim of the well, stuck his tongue out just a little, closed his eyes, and dropped the coin.

She leaned forward, waiting for the splash. When it finally came, James leaned against the well, his arms folded. “How long must I wait for wish fulfillment?”

“That depends on you, Mr. Bailey.” She hopped off the rocks and trudged through the snow to the kissing gate. It was a shorter path to Dove Hall, which was preferable given the setting sun and the increase in the wind.

Eleanor didn’t have to turn around to know he was following her. His footsteps quickened as he ran ahead to push the gate open instead of leaving her to do it herself. Before she walked through, Eleanor turned around. They had flirted, a little, avoiding the chasm between them. She couldn’t continue in this manner, hoping all had been forgiven but never truly knowing.

“James,” she spoke his Christian name, feeling the immediate intimacy of the connection they’d once shared. Even after their fight of two years before, he’d never rescinded the offer to refer to him informally. But when their courtship had ended, it had no longer felt right to do so out loud. “I have wanted to apologize so many times. I wrote several letters and burned them all, too afraid of how you would react. Too frightened you would not understand and we might never heal what broke.”

With this admission, the magic of their afternoon completely evaporated. She stood, waiting in front of the man she loved for him to either accept her apology or to deny her once more. The seconds ticked by, marked only by the wind and the occasional plop of snow as it fell from the trees around them.

“I wish you had sent them.” His response was barely above a whisper, but it was exactly what she had hoped to hear. “I also regret our argument.”

She’d planned this conversation for far too long not to say everything her heart desired. Yet, her mind went completely blank as she stared into his eyes, a confirmation of his words blazing in his repentant irises. “You do?”

“Most ardently.”

“You must believe me when I tell you it was a misunderstanding. I walked back into the ballroom needing a sip of punch. I was overwhelmed. Moreover, I wanted a proposal. My silly childish expectations had been that it could only be perfect if it happened under the stars, and there weren’t any stars that night. It was cloudy.”

James placed his hands on her arms, keeping a proper distance between them. She stopped speaking, her words having made little sense, even to herself. James’s eyes softened. He cleared his throat and then spoke so softly, she might have missed his words if the wind had not stopped howling through the trees. “Eleanor, one of my greatest regrets will always be the moment I ended our courtship.”

She reached out to him, placing her hand upon his arm. “Then all is right between us?”

James took a step backward, creating distance. She was ready to tell him of the developments between herself and Montefeltro when David ran through the trees, past the well, and over to the kissing gate.

“Eleanor. Bailey.” He took a moment to catch his breath before speaking again. “I have the sleigh. The surgeon has visited Montefeltro. His ankle is well.”

“I am happy to hear,” James said. He stepped away from the gate. “I will leave you to the care of your brother, Miss Dove.”

“We cannot allow you to walk home in this weather. You will catch your death.” Eleanor looked to David, pleading with him to convince James to accept a ride.

James dipped his head, first to her, then to her brother. “I am an accomplished walker, Miss Dove. It allows me time to ponder. What better time to do so then in the beauty of a winter setting?”

She didn’t argue with him, but only because she could see he would not be deterred. The world around them would be quite peaceful, if not for the chasm between them. As he stepped farther away, she wanted to follow him. Pull him back and beg him to offer for her hand once more. Instead, she approached the situation in the most proper fashion. “Thank you for your escort at the party. I very much enjoyed the afternoon.”

As the sleigh headed off in the opposite direction from which James was walking, Eleanor turned on her brother. “You could have insisted he join us in the sleigh.”

“Bailey is a good and decent man. I cannot condone what you are doing to him. Yearning for a man you cannot have. Creating false hopes. Flirting while you are engaged to Montefeltro.”

“We are no longer engaged.” The words burst out of her, a burden lifting from her shoulders. “Montefeltro and I are not to be wed.”

David groaned as he buried his head in his hands. His voice was muffled, but she heard every word. “Mother will be sorely displeased.”

“Is not my happiness important? Should I not marry whom I love?”

There was always the chance her brother would argue the point. Marriage and love were not synonymous. One was not necessary, but the other was unless she wanted to become a burden upon her family. She waited for his response as the sleigh slid smoothly upon the path taking her home.

David took a moment to consider his words. “It seems I am the one who must marry for money. ”

Eleanor smirked. “Montefeltro’s wealth would have been of little consequence to you and our father.”

“True, but he did not need your dowry. If you marry James, father will likely have to pay the full twenty thousand pounds.”

“Pardon me?” Attempting to stay calm, Eleanor fisted her hands under the wool blanket. This was the first she had heard of her father’s desire to withhold payment of her dowry. “The funds for my dowry have been allocated since before my birth. He must honor that promise.”

“The funds have been set aside, but negotiations have always been expected.”

She would have to speak to her father on this matter. As she reviewed the conversation, she suddenly caught hold of her brother’s statement. It made little sense since their father had always been frugal in his spending. “Why must you marry for money?”

David laughed. “It was a jest.” In a more serious tone, he admitted, “Father was pleased with the prospect of a daughter marrying for the title of a contessa.”

“Then no one in this family cares about my wishes?” Eleanor pulled the blanket over her shoulders and glared out at the snowy landscape. They had wanted the match with James when she had been courting before, but now that a wealthier and titled man had entered her life, it seemed a good man of moderate fortune would not be acceptable.

“We wish you all the happiness in the world.”

“Well, then, I suppose I must find a way to tell James Bailey I am no longer engaged.”

David laughed even harder. “How did you not manage to inform him during your time together?”

“It was not easy, I assure you. Flirting is quite difficult when you have more important matters to discuss.”

“Important?”

“Apologies.”

“Well, did you take care of the matter?” he asked.

“Somewhat. If you had arrived five minutes later, I might have found the courage to say all that needed to be said.” The entire confession, the part where she declared her love for him, would have taken far longer than five minutes, but she could have hinted toward the truth.