Page 23 of Disguised Desires of a Scarred Duke
“Behave yourself, Mr Black. Or I might have to punish you for getting out of line.”
Eleanor blushed as she said such bold things to a gentleman, but watching his deep intake of breath and difficulty controlling his desire for her was worth every word.
Later that evening, Regina and Eleanor read together in the candlelit library while sipping chamomile tea. Lady Whitfield had already gone up to bed complaining of a headache.
Eleanor could tell her sister was having as much trouble concentrating on her book as she was. She slurped loudly from her teacup to get her attention, then crossed her eyes at Regina when her sister looked up.
“You really are a bad influence on me, sister,” Regina whispered, though no one else was in the room to hear it. “But I cannot thank you enough for introducing me to Mr Montrose. He’s a true gentleman and silly as a boy!”
Eleanor put down her novel and reached for Regina’s hand. “They really are a lot of fun, aren’t they? Mr Black and Mr Montrose are admirable allies against horrible Mr Phillips, to be sure. But we must keep our wits about us, sister. Your mother would never allow these men to become our husbands. Whatever you do, don’t fall in love with the banker’s son.”
Regina frowned. “Aren’t father’s accounts through Montrose Savings and Loan? Mr Montrose comes from a very respectable and well-to-do family. I’m sure Mother would see and appreciate that.”
Eleanor thought for a moment, then nodded her head. “You could be right, my dear. Maybe she would approve of Mr Montrose despite his lack of royal blood. Mr Black, on the other hand …”
She stopped herself from finishing that sentence and let the question of Mr Black’s status in society linger in the air.
Regina patted Eleanor’s hand. “An estate agent is a perfectly respectable profession. And marrying for love is every woman’s dream, is it not?”
“Love? Who said anything about love?” Eleanor sat up straight and pulled her hand away. Memories of her mother and father’s loving relationship came flooding back. She did want a love like theirs and always had.
But at what cost?
If she allowed her growing feelings for Mr Black to blossom, what would happen to her sister? Would loving a man Margaret would never allow Eleanor to marry cause a scandal and become Regina’s ruin?
Eleanor’s desire for Mr Black was too strong. She had to slow it down, at least, before they did something she would regret.
It was already causing her to make bad decisions that could harm her sister’s prospects. And no love for a man could ever be prioritized over the love for her sister, whom Eleanor could never betray.
Whether Lady Whitfield had any say in the matter or not.
She started to choke from the anxious pressure pushing up through her ribs. It wrapped around her heart and squeezed so hard she thought she might faint.
“Eleanor! Are you alright?” Regina leapt to her feet and patted Eleanor on the back as her coughs racked her body, then subsided.
After sipping some lukewarm tea, Eleanor reassured her sister and sat back in the soft lounge chair. Regina returned to the seat across from her with a furrowed brow.
“My apologies for the scare, sister. I’m fine now. Something caught in my throat,” Eleanor said.
Regina’s face relaxed again, and she smiled. “Choked on the thought of loving Mr Black?”
Eleanor’s sigh was a heavy one, but she gave Regina a weak smile in return. “I do not deny that I am attracted to Mr Black and enjoy his company. But falling in love so soon is a dangerous state for the heart of a Whitfield daughter. The season is young. Let’s take our time. If for no other reason than because we’ve recently been disillusioned by a charming man who was someone other than he presented himself to be.”
Regina frowned again and looked down at her folded hands in her lap. “I’m sorry Mother is trying to match you with Mr Phillips again. I cannot understand why she prefers him over everyone else.”
Shadows danced across the walls from the fluttering candle flames as Lottie, Eleanor’s maid, opened the library door and asked if the ladies were ready for bed.
“Don’t worry Mr. Phillips won’t have any power over us ever again,” Eleanor whispered in her sister’s ear, then looped her arm with Regina’s and blew the candles out.
As she later gazed at the full moon through her bedroom window, Eleanor hoped she was right.
Chapter 11
William grumbled under his breath as he lugged the heavy picnic basket through the maze of blankets spread out around his feet. He felt the weight of the world on his shoulders today but wasn’t exactly certain why.
Though his father’s ledgers were in disarray, nothing disturbing had surfaced yet that caused an imminent threat to his family’s estate. Still, something about the numbers made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
He was missing important details that needed discovering before his life could move forward.
