Page 52 of Disguised Desires of a Scarred Duke
By late afternoon, Eleanor and her group had secured four of the ten total scavenger hunt treasures. Since enjoying their frozen treats, they’d found a basket of lemon-scented soaps, a decorative bowl filled with rose-scented candles, and some small gift-wrapped boxes of carved wooden animals.
She thought about saving some of their finds for Anthony, then decided against it. His attitude this morning made it known that he was bored and irritated.
His anger about Cecil, though warranted, was getting on Eleanor’s nerves, too.
Yet he’d been gone for only a handful of hours, and she already missed him. She ached to feel his body against hers again. To explore more of their longings in private would likely help them both release some of this tension. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be possible with so many activities taking up their time.
In need of talking to someone she could trust about him, Eleanor decided to confide in Regina that she might be falling hard for Mr Black after all.
“I knew it! I knew the two of you had feelings for each other!” Regina wiggled in her chair and clapped her hands. The sisters were gathered together in Eleanor’s room for some rest before dinner.
“Well, I’m not certain that Anthony feels as much for me as I do for him, but … oh, I’m just a mess of questions right now, Regina!” Eleanor flopped down on the bed on her back and threw her arms over her head.
“What do you mean? Are you saying you have questions about Anthony?” Regina asked.
“Yes! About Anthony, about love. And about what to do when you suspect there’s more to a man than he’s revealing.”
Eleanor sat up and chewed her thumbnail as she looked out the window at the setting sun. She was nervous about what Anthony had been trying to tell her. She also worried about what he’d accidentally revealed already if what he said about his family home was to be believed.
“Anthony is nothing like Cecil, but I worry that I …”
Regina sat next to her sister and took her hand. “You worry about what?”
“I’m beginning to think that I attract untruthful men. I’m worried that Anthony, like Mr Phillips, has secrets, too.”
“Oh no! Has Anthony given you reason to believe he’s lying to you?”
Eleanor stood up and started pacing in front of the window. “He’s been trying to tell me something he says I need to know, but we haven’t had a chance for any privacy. Oh, Regina! What if he tells me something terrible? Or what if he thinks he isn’t good enough to be with me because of our mother’s disapproval, so he’s pretending to be something he’s not to make our love possible?”
Regina stood and wrapped her hands around her sister’s upper arms to still her. “Stop! Eleanor, what in the world are you saying? Mr Black is not the kind of man to worry what Lady Whitfield thinks of him. We both know that.”
“Yes, but … he told me that he grew up in a home similar to this one. He seemed surprised that he had said it at all, but he claimed that it’s true and would tell me more soon. So, what do you suppose explains that?”
“Eleanor, he might come from a very wealthy family. There is no reason to believe that he’s lying about that, is there? I think that our mother has made her way into your head and caused you to question your own judgement. I believe that Anthony is being honest with you. But if you have doubts, you need to find a way to talk to him about it. Maybe Edward and I could help you find the privacy you need to do so when Anthony returns.”
Regina pulled her sister close for a long hug as Eleanor battled tears. “You’re right. I’m losing faith because of men like Mr Phillips. Anthony is a respectable businessman with a good reputation. It’s also possible that he comes from a very well-to-do family. I need to trust him. I feel so much better for talking with you, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sister. Now let’s freshen up for dinner and put all these worries behind us tonight. We only have two nights left before we leave, so let’s make them count!” Regina said.
Eleanor nodded and felt grateful for her sister’s soothing guidance.
“You have grown and matured so much lately. I’m forgetting which one of us is the older sister now!” Eleanor said.
“There’s a handsome banker’s son waiting downstairs that I can thank for that!” Regina laughed and twirled around the room with Eleanor until they both fell onto the bed again.
…
Dinner was a fine affair that would be followed by dancing in the grand ballroom. Eleanor was especially aware of Anthony’s absence as couples in dazzling formal clothes moved about the dining hall.
The meal had twenty courses, which was dazzling all by itself.
Cousin Harrison, Miss Miller, Regina, and Mr Montrose had all become quite close to each other today during their scavenger hunt adventures. The laughs and comradery continued through dinner and the most decadent dessert courses Eleanor had ever enjoyed.
Her cousin was in a wonderful mood, too. It did Eleanor’s heart good to see him so happy with his love by his side and no bitter rants from Margaret bringing him down. Harrison had become like a second father to Eleanor and her sister over the past few months.
She felt tears sting her eyes as Eleanor thought how lucky they were to have the new Lord Whitfield taking great care of them all.
“My dear cousin, it has come to my attention that you will be five and twenty next month! Are you excited for that milestone?” Lord Whitfield asked from across the table.
