Fenella J Miller Read Free

lady.”
    Eleanor was fortunate to have the support of Betty and Mary. Without them her life would be intolerable.

Chapter Two
    The afternoon passed pleasantly enough but Eleanor jumped every time a door opened or she heard footsteps in the passage. The children were washing their hands, ready for nursery tea, when the footmen arrived with a message demanding that she go downstairs immediately to her sister-in-law’s apartment. She prayed Jane was the one who wished to speak to her, not her brother.
    “I hope I shall not be long. Betty, give the children their meal immediately it arrives. Don’t let it go cold on my account.”
    “What shall I tell them if they ask where you are?”
    “Just say that I have come down to the library to find a fresh book to read to them before they go to bed.”
    She was familiar with the house, having stayed there several times before. This was the third time she’d been summoned to the first floor since arriving three days ago. Hopefully Jane wished to speak to her on some other matter and not about the interlude at the lake.
    She paused outside the door to check that her hair was pulled back correctly and her dress was free of cobwebs from her scrambling around the attics. She knocked firmly on the sitting-room door.
    Her heart sank. Her brother bid her come in.
    “You took your time. Fifteen minutes have passed since I sent for you.”
    Eleanor did not apologize for it made little difference to his treatment of her. If he was in a mind to be brutal, nothing she nor Jane could say would deflect him. At least he had not managed to break her spirit or cause her to lose her self-respect. She shuddered to think what might happen to her if she ever removed her dowry from his keeping. The interest was all he had to live on much of the time.
    “Well, I am here now. I am about to serve the children’s meal. You would not wish them to eat cold food, I am sure.”
    “I don’t give a damn about their food.” He strode across the room and she braced herself for a blow, but he stopped and grabbed her wrist instead, twisting it cruelly.
    “What is this I hear about cavorting in the lake?”
    She stared back at him, determined not to flinch. “Lord Bentley fell in and the children went to assist him. He was no way discommoded by the experience. In fact, he positively enjoyed being wet.”
    He dropped her arm and stepped away. “If I have any reports of misbehaviour from any of my children you know what to expect. Either you shall be the whipping boy or I shall thrash each of them in turn.”
    “Will that be all?”
    He didn’t answer but gestured towards the door. She turned and made a dignified exit, relieved she had escaped with nothing worse than a bruised wrist. His threat was not an idle one; she had received two beatings in the last six months in order to protect the children.
    She stumbled to the window seat at the far end of the corridor.
    How much longer she could endure this punishment? Why didn’t Jane protest?
    Hating a member of her family was wrong, but her brother was an evil man, a gambler and drinker like their father had been before him. He was deeply in debt again. The only time he came home was when he was insolvent. The longer he stayed, the worse his treatment of his family became.
    Her face was wet and her nose running; she could not return to the nursery until she was more composed.
    “Here, Lady Eleanor, take this.”
    To her astonishment, Lord Bentley pushed a soft white handkerchief into her hand and then joined her on the seat whilst she mopped her face.
    “I did not hear you approaching, my lord. I’m sorry that you should see me like this. I thank you for the handkerchief.” She blew her nose and pushed the soiled item to her pocket, knowing better than to offer to return it.
    “Your wrist was not bruised like that earlier in the day. Who did that to you?”
    Her eyes flew up in horror. He must not intervene on her behalf, it would make matters so much