Disgrace and Desire(35)

Jack looked at Eloise. ‘What do you say, madam?’

She crossed her arms over her breast, her whole body shaking.

‘Please, make him go,’ she croaked.

‘Well, sir. You heard the lady.’ Jack took a step forwards. ‘You had best be off with you.’

Lord Berrow straightened his coat and cast an angry glance towards Eloise. She shuddered and looked away.

‘Very well, madam,’ he said coldly. ‘It would appear I misunderstood you. I beg your pardon.’

With a stiff bow he turned and stalked to the door. There was a sudden burst of sound as he left the room, then the door closed again and relative silence settled over them. Eloise glanced up. Jack was still scowling, his black brows drawn together. She said in a small voice, ‘I suppose you will say now that you told me so.’

The heavy frown vanished.

‘I shall say nothing so ill mannered.’ He walked to a side table and filled a glass from one of the decanters. ‘Here,’ he said, sitting down beside her. ‘Drink this.’

She eyed the golden liquid doubtfully.

‘What is it?’

‘Brandy.’

He put the glass into her hand. Cautiously she took a sip.

She grimaced as the pungent aroma stung her senses. She held the glass away but Jack pushed it back.

‘Drink it. It will put heart into you.’

Obediently she lifted the glass to her lips again. The brandy burned as she swallowed it but gradually its warmth seemed to spread through her body. The horror of the past few minutes faded and she no longer felt faint.

‘It would seem I am in your debt again.’ Her eyes flickered over his face. ‘Did…did you hear me cry out?’

‘No, I came looking for you. Over dinner I questioned Alex about your interest in Lord Berrow. He told me that you had been trying to persuade Berrow to sell you some land.’

‘Yes. I came here tonight because I thought…I thought he was going to agree to the sale.’ She put her hands to her cheeks. ‘But he wanted…’

‘Hardly surprising.’ Jack’s hard tone heightened her remorse and she hung her head as he continued. ‘When a beautiful woman seeks out a man to flatter and cajole him, is it any wonder if he thinks he can ask for certain favours? You have gone out of your way to give the impression that you are a woman of the world. No wonder Berrow thought you were his for the asking.’

‘Well, I am not. I am not his or any man’s!’ She swallowed and said dejectedly, ‘I do not suppose he will sell me that land now.’

‘Was it so very important to you?’

Jack put his arm around her shoulders. She quickly damped the flicker of pleasure she felt at his touch. It was a gesture of comfort, nothing more.

‘Yes. Did Alex tell you of my plans for a hospital?’

‘A very little.’

‘I want to build a foundling hospital, in memory of my husband.’ His shoulder looked so inviting that she leaned against him. ‘Tony knew there could be no children from our marriage. And I would have liked children, very much.’

‘You are young, madam. There is still time.’

His words cut at her heart. She knew now that there was only one man she wanted to be the father of her children. He was sitting beside her now, his arm about her shoulders, having rescued her from another foolish scrape.

‘Tony and I had talked about setting up a charitable foundation,’ she said. ‘When he died last year I thought it would be a suitable tribute to him. As an orphan myself I know what it is like to be alone. I was fortunate that Lord and Lady Allyngham took me in and raised me in comfort and luxury but I know that most do not have that advantage, and it is even worse for those poor babes born out of wedlock, or those whose mothers are too poor, or too ill to look after them. The children are left in church doorways, or worse, left to perish at the roadside. We have a good doctor in Allyngham who is very keen to help the poor. He sees the injustice of leaving these children to suffer. We have already financed a small school in the town but I want to do more. I have discussed with him my idea of a foundling hospital and there is some support from the church: we have set up a trust and agreed on a site to build the hospital, a piece of land from my estate, but it is a long circuitous route from the town, unless we can drive a road through Ainsley Wood.’ She handed him the empty glass and gave a large sigh. ‘Well, there is no help for it now. We will have to improve the existing lane.’

‘No need to worry about that now.’ He gently drew her head down on to his shoulder.

‘No. I have been such a fool.’

‘A regular little ninnyhammer,’ he agreed, resting his cheek against her hair.

‘I suppose I should go home, but I do not want to walk out, through all those people. I do not want everyone staring at me.’

‘We do not need to leave just yet.’ Jack leaned back against the sofa, pulling her with him.

‘You will stay here?’

‘As long as you need me.’

She sighed, murmuring, ‘You are a very good friend to me, Major Clifton.’

Eloise closed her eyes. She was so very comfortable. The dim light, which had unsettled her when she had entered the study with Lord Berrow, now gave the room a cosy air. She felt safe, lying with Jack’s arm about her and her cheek resting on his chest. The folds of his freshly laundered neckcloth tickled her nose. A strange inertia had invaded her mind and her body. Perhaps it had not been wise to take quite so much wine.

‘I should not be here with you,’ she murmured, snuggling even closer.

‘You should not be here with anyone.’

She shook her head slightly.

‘No, but definitely not with you. You are dangerous.’

‘Not to you, my dear.’

She smiled as his fingers gently brushed a stray curl from her cheek.

‘Oh, but you are.’

‘I only want to protect you.’

The words rumbled against her cheek.

‘How delightful that sounds.’

‘It is delightful. Let me protect you from Deforge.’

‘How could you do that?’

‘I could force a quarrel on him. He is reluctant to meet me, but—’

She sat up, anxiety cutting through her drowsiness.

‘No! No, if you do that his lawyer will publish the journal!’ She clutched his coat. ‘Promise me,’ she said urgently. ‘Promise me you will not challenge him.’

‘How else would you have me deal with him?’

Her head was swimming, but it was imperative that she make him understand.

‘I have no idea. I only know that if anything should befall him he has given instructions for the journal to be made public. If that happens—! No, please, Jack; tell me you will not call him out.’

‘Very well, if that is your wish.’

She shook her head, wincing a little as something like a brick banged against the inside of her skull.

‘No, you must swear it.’

‘Very well,’ he said solemnly, ‘I swear I will not call him out.’

She looked into his eyes, frowning a little because it was so difficult to focus. At last, satisfied, she nodded and subsided against his shoulder once more. Everything seemed such an effort. She closed her eyes as Jack enfolded her in his arms again.

‘But I still want to help you fight Deforge.’ he murmured the words into her hair.

Secure within the comfort of Jack’s arms, Sir Ronald seemed to pose no more threat to her than a troublesome fly. Her hand fluttered as if to swat him away.

‘I can deal with him,’ she said.

‘He is a dangerous man, my dear.’

‘To you, perhaps.’ Deforge would not hurt her, at least not until he had made her his wife. That thought made her shiver, but she was resolved to wed him, if it was the only way to retrieve the journal. Once the damning evidence was destroyed then she would do what was necessary to escape a husband she hated. But Deforge had threatened to kill Jack. She could prevent that. She could protect him, just as she had always protected Alex and Tony—and now she knew that Jack was as dear to her as either of them. Her hand crept up to rest against his chest. ‘Alex wants me to let you help us, but I cannot allow that.’

‘Why not?’

She shifted impatiently. She was so tired. Why did he keep asking her questions?

‘Because Deforge might kill you. Besides, you might discover the truth.’

‘The truth? And what would that be?’

She shook her head.

‘Oh, no, I won’t be tricked into telling you.’

Even in her sleepy, comfortable state she knew she dare not tell him: he was far too good, too honourable. He would despise her for ever if he knew how deceitful she had been. And he would turn against Alex. She sighed.

‘Poor Alex.’

‘Why poor Alex?’ asked Jack.

Had she spoken aloud? She pressed her lips together. She had drunk too much wine this evening and she must guard her tongue. She must not allow Jack to know any more of her secrets. And she must not allow him to fight Sir Ronald. She gave a little sob and Jack’s arms tightened around her.

‘Eloise? What is it?

She was drifting into oblivion, but even so she knew it was up to her to keep them all safe. As Sir Ronald’s wife she could do that.

‘Why poor Alex?’ Jack asked again.

She said sleepily, ‘I will marry him, and never see you again.’