Page 26 of The Duke and the Spinster

“I will not argue with you, for I have come to realise that it is impossible for you to see me as others do. But why should I return? Surely my disappearance is a far better solution than any other.”

Garrett had settled onto the couch beside her and now, cautiously, he reached out and took her hands. He wanted to do far more, to pull her into his arms, to hold her close and defend her from the world, but he could not – propriety did not permit it, nor had he earned the right – yet.

“I can see how it might have seemed so to you, but no, it is not a solution, not at all. For your family will not be protected by your disappearance – far from it. You disappearing will still hurt them, for, unless they, and the servants lie, and lies require ongoing care, and are nearly always eventually revealed, your disappearance will cause still more gossip and scandal. Disappearing will ruin Eleanor’s prospects as surely as any other kind of gossip will. Better to be there. We will find a way to deal with the rest, all of it. I promise you.”

She stared at him again, as if his words had torn away all her hope, and a glitter of unshed tears filled her eyes. Her hands lay limply in his. In that moment, he knew that he would do anything, anything at all, to protect her, to ensure that she never had to face cruelty from others again. The enormity of the strength of his feelings scared him – yet he would not deny them. But he would not think too closely about them, not yet. She sighed, her shoulders drooping.

“I do not know how that could be possible. But now that you say it, I see that you are right. Running away solves nothing.”

A great sense of relief rushed through him, and his fingers tightened on hers. When she spoke again, her voice was very soft.

“But how will I return without anything being noticed? Without my reputation being ruined, anyway? This is hopeless. I wish that I had never agreed to come to Upper Nettlefold with my family. I could have been happy, staying at home, reading, and ignoring the world. Then, none of this would have happened!”

“But, if you had not come with your family, I would never have met you – and I cannot wish for that to be the case. Your family have stayed in since you disappeared. If asked, they will say that you are ill. I have my carriage, with only my coachman to know anything of it, and I told my family that I was coming to Bath for an urgent piece of business. If we leave here before dawn tomorrow, we will be back in Upper Nettlefold late in the afternoon. We will find a way to get you into Hardcastle House, so that none are the wiser to the fact that you ever left the town.”

Lady Juliana looked at him, a faint trace of hope in her face, then nodded.

“It is worth the attempt. If it fails, I am no worse off than I am now, nor are my family.”

“That is true. Thank you for agreeing, for I fear that, if I did not succeed in returning you, your family would never forgive me, would likely give me the cut direct.”

She laughed, a sudden bright sound in the otherwise solemn conversation, shaking her head.

“I do not think my mother capable of choosing to cut a Duke, no matter what the provocation!”

His fingers tightened on hers again, and she looked down, startled, as if she had not realised that he held her hands. She flushed, a delicate pink colouring her cheeks, and gently pulled her hands away. At that moment, Lady Bellinghaugh spoke, surprising them both, for they had completely forgotten her presence.

“Your Grace, will you join us for dinner? At least have a good meal before you set off early tomorrow?”

“I will, and gratefully, my Lady. But for now, I will take my leave of you, and arrange myself lodging for the night.”

“I will inform the cook immediately. Juliana, perhaps you could arrange that for me?”

Lady Juliana rose, smiling, and turned to him.

“Certainly, Aunt. Your Grace, I bid you farewell until this evening.”

Once she had left the room, Lady Bellinghaugh turned to him and spoke.

“You’ve done well. I didn’t expect her to be so easily convinced. You’re correct of course, her disappearing would not serve her purpose at all well. I trust you to get her back, even without a maid – perhaps that is best – less people knowing of the deception – I trust you to be honourable. But… should this be discovered, that you have spent such a long journey, alone with her in a closed carriage, I would also expect you to do the honourable thing. Watching you, I do not think that you would find marrying her a hardship.”