Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

E leanor woke to the sunlight streaming through the lace curtains of her bedroom windows. She sat up with a groan, her head aching from last night's excitement. Had everything really happened, or had it all been a dreadful dream? She prayed it was the latter, but until she went down for breakfast and saw her father, she wouldn't be certain. A painful knot in her stomach told her the truth. She already knew deep down that it had happened. Still, she clung to the desperate hope that she was wrong.

Her maid entered the room with a bright smile. "My Lady, what shall I fetch from the wardrobe today?"

"The yellow silk dress with the white ribbons, if you please, Agatha."

Agatha complied, and Eleanor climbed out of bed and let her maid dress her in silence. Usually, she and Agatha would discuss the latest news and gossip about the ton , but she was in no mood to do so today, so she remained silent.

"Is everything well, My Lady?"

"Why would you ask that?" Eleanor snapped as Agatha pulled the laces of her corset tight.

"You seem rather subdued this morning, is all, My Lady."

"I am well. Everything is well."

Nothing is well.

Agatha wisely chose to fall silent then and helped Eleanor into her yellow and white silk dress without further comment. She laced it up at the back and fastened the hooks at the neck and waist. Then, she styled Eleanor's hair into a simple bun, leaving a few wisps of curls at the nape of her neck before smiling and stepping back. "Is it to your liking, My Lady?"

"It will do. Thank you, Agatha." Eleanor rose and headed out of her room towards the morning room, where she and her father usually broke fast in the mornings.

When she reached it, she knew with a sinking dread that she hadn't imagined everything that transpired the previous night. It was reality, not a bad dream. Her father was absent. He was never absent. Each morning, William made a point of waiting for her to come in and break her fast with him. It was their morning ritual. And whenever they didn't speak at all to one another before dinner, they made certain breakfast was the one time where they slowed down and spent time with one another. Eleanor had always taken breakfast with her father for granted, but now, as she sat down at the table and stared at his empty seat, she felt the loss of it keenly.

The butler approached with a maid carrying a tray of food. "Lady Eleanor, your breakfast."

Eleanor smiled up at him, but it was forced. "Where is my father, Mr. Huntley?"

"Away on business in town, I am afraid, My Lady. His Grace told me to tell you that he believes he will return in time for dinner but that he had urgent meetings and that they regrettably called him away before breakfast." The butler placed a steaming plate of eggs, toast and bacon in front of her. "He wished me to assure you that there was no cause to fret. Is the food to your liking?"

"Yes, thank you." She waited until the butler and maid retreated to begin picking at her food. Usually, this was one of her favorites for breakfast. This morning, however, the smell of food turned her stomach. She stayed at the table and tried to make herself eat it anyway.

After a few bites, she rose and swept out of the room in search of the comforts of the library and a good book to take her mind off whatever her father might be doing in town. He had sworn to rectify her state as a single woman as quickly as possible. That meant he might be arranging a husband for her even now. Dread quickened her steps, and she hurried into the library to locate a book to distract herself from her worries. Let him arrange whatever he pleased. She wouldn't let it ruin her day even if he was being unusually cruel towards her. She would worry when something was certain.

William stepped into the smoky interior of the gentlemen's club he and his brother Edward frequented. They would usually meet later in the morning for some whiskey and talk about their businesses, but today, he wished to escape the house sooner to avoid seeing his daughter. He doubted he could face her and hold strong on the matter of marriage when she was so against it.

Still, he was determined to see her wed as quickly as possible. Eleanor was already older than most unmarried daughters of his peers, and he would not see his only daughter become a spinster. Once he had spoken to Edward about the situation, there would be no going back. Someone would need to hold him accountable for it and help him in procuring a match, and Edward always came through for him.

William clasped his brother by the shoulders and gave him a broad smile. Edward was younger by a few years and had inherited the Marquisate of Winchester after a petition to the court at their uncle's passing. The two brothers had remained close despite the years between them. "Edward, how are you?"

"Well enough, William." Edward eyed his brother appraisingly. "You look downright knackered, though."

"My daughter is proving difficult," William muttered, heading towards their usual table in the empty club. "And I need a stiff drink already."

"What could have possibly gone so wrong with her? She is strong-willed, but she is generally not intractable enough to drive you to drink before breakfast!" Edward joined him, sliding into the chair across from him. "Tell me what happened, William. You will feel better if you do, trust me."

William sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. "I need to find her a husband, Edward, but she is proving most unpleasant about it. We ended up arguing about the matter last night. She is determined not to be, in her words, ‘leg-shackled' no matter who the man might be. I am worried she will end up on the shelf if I let it go on much longer, but I am equally determined that I will no longer put it off."

"I see." Edward pursed his lips. "No matter the man, she is quite determined, you say?"

"Indeed," William uttered flatly.

A server came to take their order, but William waved him off, deciding the drink could wait. Edward raised his brow, and William leaned forward and said in a low voice, "Tell me, Edward, do you have any men in mind who might be suitable for her? Men who will not mind that she is… less than tractable but will be gentle with her? Despite her opinion of me at the moment, I would not be well-pleased to see her wed to a man who could not appreciate her in time. At the very least, I need to see her wed to a man who is of good character and manners."

Edward stroked his beard and nodded slowly. "I have heard that Phillip Lewis, the Duke of Richmond, may be battening down the hatches after his uncle squandered the money intended for his estate. He is a good man and a better friend, and I do believe he might actually suit our headstrong, willful Eleanor quite well once she has been given time to come round to the idea of being a married woman. He has the charm and elegance to wrap her around his little finger if she could be convinced to give him a chance. He has not spoken directly to me about the financial difficulties he is in, though I doubt he has mentioned it to anyone. He is too proud to do it."

"I do not intend to give her a chance to refuse. Has he made mention of seeking any arrangements?"

"None that I have heard. He certainly never spoke of it to me, but I think he would be amenable. Come to think of it, William, I seem to remember catching a glimpse of him speaking with young Eleanor at the ball last night." Edward frowned in concentration and nodded. "Indeed, I am certain of it. It was but a brief glance, and I thought little of it, but I do recollect seeing them before Lord Tweeddale demanded my attention."

William's brows rose. "Did you? I asked her how her night went, but she made no mention of meeting the Duke of Richmond."

A sly smile slipped on Edward's lips. "Did she not? Well, it is hardly a surprise. Perhaps she did not wish you to know she'd been enamored already. Or perhaps she did not know it was the Duke of Richmond she had met. It would be just like him to fail to mention his title. He is a hard worker with little interest in putting on airs, and the title came to him late in life after he already made a name for himself in the financial market. I am given to understand that his small fortune is simply not enough to handle his estate's sorry affair."

"I see…" William smiled too. "Perhaps he would be the perfect choice, then. Eleanor will come with a high amount for her dowry as well as numerous properties when I pass. Could you arrange a meeting with this friend of yours?"

"I could. Expect a word from me in a week or two. Do you think you can keep Eleanor in check until then?"

William smiled wryly. "I think I can manage that much, Edward."

"Then I will bring the Duke of Richmond to the table. I have little doubt he will prove amenable."

William rose, tossing a few pounds onto the table to pay for the drinks. "Thank you, Brother. You have no idea the relief you have brought me this morning."

"Go home to Eleanor, William. You look worn." Edward raised his glass in farewell. "I shall see you with the Duke of Richmond in a few weeks, if not sooner."

William took his brother's advice and left the gentlemen's club with a sigh. He hoped that Eleanor would not hate him too much for what he and Edward were planning and hoped even more that, if the Duke of Richmond proved amenable and agreed to marry her, she would not despise him for his part. Whether she did or not, however, it simply had to be done. He would not allow her to continue chafing at the role she was to play on account of being one of the fairer sex.

William loved his daughter, but it was because he loved her that he could no longer allow her to run as wild as she pleased. It was time to curb her childish antics and push her into adulthood. If his efforts were not enough to achieve it, he was certain the Duke of Richmond's would be. He tucked his hands into his pockets and climbed into his waiting carriage to go home.

Eleanor was grateful when Sarah called on her. Her father had returned a few hours ago and closed himself off in his office. She had knocked at lunch to beg him to come to dine with her, but he had refused, and he had not left his office since. Her original intent had been to have another discussion about his demands that she marry. In the light of day, it seemed a more promising prospect, and she had hoped to convince him to see reason. Now, she simply wished that he would speak more than two words to her and that he would open the door so that she would know their angry exchange last night was forgiven and forgotten.

Sarah provided a welcome distraction from that situation. She sat with Eleanor in the drawing room by the window while they both worked on their embroidery projects.

"Sarah, I have something that I simply must tell you," Eleanor murmured at length. "It really is quite extraordinary, though not in the marvelous way as the word usually implies."

Sarah lifted her head, and she looked at Eleanor with a frown. "Well? Do not speak in riddles, Eleanor! If you have something to say, then say it."

"My father has demanded I marry," Eleanor stated bluntly.

Sarah stared back at her blankly.

"Did you not hear what I said? He has demanded I?—"

"Marry. Yes, I heard quite well, thank you…" Sarah's frown deepened. "What I am perplexed about is why you think that so dreadful. I know, I know. You believe being leg-shackled to a man is the worst fate for any woman to endure. But really, Eleanor, you cannot have imagined you would escape such a fate forever."

"I did!" Eleanor grumbled. "He shouted at me too! Shouted , Sarah. He told me that he was my father and that he would be obeyed as if my wishes in the matter do not concern him."

"I am certain they do," Sarah countered tremulously. "Perhaps you are growing too hasty in your concern, Eleanor. Has he mentioned whom you shall wed?"

"No, and that is the worst of it. I do not think he knows, and if I do not set my heart on anyone in a few weeks, I am certain he will sell me off to the highest bidder."

"Eleanor!" Sarah gasped. "Your father would never do such a thing. You know he loves you! Truly, I cannot imagine what has put you in such a state. He let you escape marriage for a very great deal of time, much longer than most of us have. You would become a spinster if he does not push the matter, and that is far worse than being wed."

"It is not!"

"It most certainly is. You would be fit to do nothing but chaperone other ladies' daughters if they would even allow that and would not perceive you as a sign of ill fortune, since you would be unmarried. You would never fit in with society. The ton ?—"

"Forget the ton!" Eleanor dropped her embroidery on the window seat and rose, pacing the length of the foyer with her long skirts swishing about her ankles. She rounded on her friend and crossed her arms with a huff. "Really, Sarah, you know I believe it is a fate worse than death, and my father knows it too. How can he do this to me?"

"Perhaps he has good intentions after all?" Sarah set her own stitching aside, her hands fluttering over the red silk ribbon tied just below the bust of her white cotton lawn dress. "Why talk ill of your father so? Have you not taken the matter up with him?"

"I tried, but he would hear none of it."

"Then, you must obey. As much as it may pain and anger you, you are his daughter, and you must." Sarah rose and took Eleanor's hands in hers. "Let us forget about the matter, for now, Eleanor. Yesterday, we spoke about going to the market to look for threads. Shall we go now?"

Eleanor pulled her hands free and turned to the window with a sigh. "I am in no mood to look at cotton twists and gold threads."

"Please, do not be in such a mood," Sarah pleaded. "It is not the way of the world for a woman to remain unmarried. I am certain your father will find a good man, Eleanor, but you must trust him to do it."

Eleanor shook her head with a bitter laugh. "So even you are on his side? Does no one understand how I feel about the situation?"

"I know how you feel, though I cannot claim I understand." Sarah touched her shoulder gently. "And I do sympathize with you. I know this must be dreadfully difficult news for you. Still, your father is a good man. He will not give you to a man who will hurt you or unduly restrain you."

Eleanor bit back her reply, but she couldn't help thinking it over. She wasn't so certain her father was the good man she'd imagined him to be after all. Not after everything that had transpired the previous evening after the ball. He had coldly disregarded how she felt and refused to give her any say in the matter, let alone any answers. He'd yelled at her when she proved stubborn. Were those the actions of a good man? Eleanor wasn't certain. She was only certain that she had no wish to marry or to trust him to find her a husband.

"Let us return to our stitching, Sarah. I am in no mood to go to the market." She sank into the cushion on the window seat and resumed her embroidery.

Sarah rejoined her, and the two of them sat together with their heads bent as they worked on their stitching. The tension between them eased, but they maintained the silence, each lost in her own thoughts and concerns and in no mood for idle discussion.