Chapter 21

 

 

 

Eleanora, Althea, and Sybil sat in the parlor, drinking what remained of the lemonade. Christian and Archie had just departed.

“I cannot believe Allenby taking in Archie like that; does he mean it? To sponsor the boy until he comes to work here, with us?” Sybil marveled.

A small smile curved about Eleanora’s lips as she sipped her drink. “He means everything he says.”

“Oh, does he?” Althea said, one eyebrow raised. “Do tell. What has happened between you? Something is sparking. It could have lit the lights in this house, every house on the street, in fact.”

Did she want to discuss this when she didn’t even completely understand what was happening between them? Who else was there to discuss such a sensitive subject? There was no one she trusted more than her sister and cousin.

“Christian says he is falling for me. And the thing of it is, I’m falling for him,” Eleanora confided.

“Well, don’t look so miserable about it,” Sybil smiled.

“I don’t want this,” Eleanora said dejectedly. “I had my life planned, the agency—”

“Oh, what drivel,” Althea dismissed with a wave of her hand. “Life never goes as planned. A duke is in love with you? Such a problem to have.”

“He claims that we can have it all,” Eleanora sighed.

She then proceeded to tell them, in general terms, about his declarations. Most of the conversation Eleanora kept to herself, as it was private. And, drat it all, she wanted those emotional attestations of his to stay close to her heart.

Sybil and Althea exchanged astonished looks.

“Do you believe him? Well, obviously, you just said he means everything he says. I think you’re more than falling. You are in love with him. Deeply and irrevocably. You don’t want to admit it,” Althea stated.

“I don’t know what to do,” Eleanora wailed.

“What’s this? The confident Eleanora Galway having doubts?” Sybil teased.

“You both say I’m impulsive, act without thinking. What if this is one of those times?” Eleanora didn’t dare mention that she had initiated the sex in the carriage. Talk about impulsive. But it had been ultimately satisfying and utterly enjoyable.

“What you do is embrace it. Reach out for it with both hands and hold tight. See where it goes. Christian is right; why can’t you have it all?” Althea said.

“But it might mean—I don’t want to lose you both!”

Sybil laughed. “His townhouse is minutes away by carriage. It’s not as if you’re moving to Northern Scotland. If it ever comes to that. I agree with Althea. See where it goes. Savor it.”

Mrs. Bartle entered the room. “Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Corbett Buchanan is here.”

Sybil immediately flushed.

“Perhaps,” Eleanora whispered to her cousin. “You should take your own advice. See where it goes.”

“With Buchanan? He’s a drunkard,” Sybil hissed through her clenched teeth.

“Corbett is troubled, haunted. A little compassion would not go amiss. You don’t have to marry the man.”

The doctor walked into the room, wearing a proper afternoon suit and not looking as disheveled as he had of late.

“He’s quite handsome, Sybil. Underneath that is a good man.” In a louder voice, Eleanora said, “Do come in and sit, Corbett. We have lemonade.”

He sat in the chair. “Ladies, I’ve examined the hand and done blood analysis. The markers are the same as the leg. They are from the same person.”

Eleanora passed him a glass of lemonade. Corbett frowned and placed it on the table.

“We have concluded an old friend of the peers is behind these disturbing deliveries. At least, he is our number one suspect,” Eleanora said.

“I’ve no doubt you will bring this case to a swift conclusion,” Corbett replied. “I’ve been thinking over your uncle’s offer. Working for him on salary. I think I might give it a go.”

Eleanora clapped her hands together. “Brilliant! You won’t regret it, Corbett. Speaking of which, Althea, will you fetch Corbett’s fee?”

Althea rose and exited the room.

Corbett faced Sybil. “I’ve come with another purpose. Miss Sybil, I would like it if you would join me for dinner and a show, anytime you say.”

Eleanora gave Sybil a soft nudge under the table.

But she said nothing.

“I admit I’ve been in a bad place,” Corbett continued. “But I want to climb out of the pit. I’ve started to make improvements in my life already. Give me a chance, Sybil. One chance, please.”

His words were soft and sincere, and his gaze never left Sybil. His look was hopeful, and it was clear to Eleanora that he was smitten and had been for quite some time.

“Corbett, I-I—,” Sybil sighed.

“Perhaps I should give you privacy,” Eleanora said.

“No, stay.” Corbett stood, then dropped to one knee in front of Sybil, taking her hand. “I’ve stopped drinking and ceased all other vices. This last week’s been difficult, but I’m making an effort. I care for you very much. Give me a chance.”

Sybil looked up at Eleanora and smiled shakily. “And see where it goes?”

“Yes, exactly that,” Corbett replied eagerly.

“Yes, dinner and a show. After this case concludes. But know this, I cannot be with a faithless man, a liar, one who has no honor or respect, for himself, or others.”

Corbett kissed her hand tenderly. “I understand.”

Althea bounded into the room. “What did I miss?”

Eleanora snatched the pound notes from her sister’s hand, laid them on the table, then spun Althea about. “Come, help me in the kitchen. I’ll explain everything.”

As Eleanora slid the parlor door closed, she caught of glimpse of Sybil leaning in to kiss Corbett.

Well, they had a chance at happiness. Eleanora hoped it all worked out.

Perhaps, it might work out for her as well.

 

* * *

 

 

“You’re doin’ this for Miss Eleanora, ain’t you?” Archie stated as he gave Christian another of those narrow-eyed gazes. “You like her.”

Christian moved aside the curtain and stared at the street. He had asked Michaels to take a circuitous route to the townhouse so he could talk to the lad.

“I more than like her. I’d do anything for her. Eleanora sees something in you, they all do, and I have the means to give them what they desire.” He released the curtain. “I want to know why you haven’t been completely honest with them.”

“Cor. Give over. You’re talkin’ out of your arse.”

“How long have you been on the street?” Christian asked.

“Don’t know, don’t care,” Archie sulked.

“I think you know exactly how long you’ve been on the streets, and you know your age, even though you told Eleanora you had no idea. I believe you’re playing a role. You’re not the complete street waif you pretend to be, though you are homeless. You did it to fit in. Am I correct?”

An uncomfortable silence filled the carriage. The only sound was the clip-clopping of the horse’s hooves against the cobbles.

“How did you know?”

Archie’s voice changed, a tone deeper, no cockney accent.

“I didn’t, not completely. It was a hunch.”

“Miss Galway’s right; you are good at the investigating. I’ve been on the street for two years since age twelve. I ran away from an orphanage, the one I was placed in after my father passed. He was a clerk at a bank; we had a comfortable enough life. Then, when he died, there was no one I could go to, or at least, no one claimed me. What little savings my father had, paid for my upkeep. That’s what they told me.”

“Why run away?” Christian asked, completely fascinated.

“Who’s going to adopt an older boy? No one. The only interest was from a fisherman who wanted me for cheap labor. He had a cruel look about him. I decided I was going to look out for myself, earn my keep—on my terms. So, I ran.” Archie shrugged. “I soon learned to fit in.”

“Why not confide in Eleanora? And why admit it to me?”

“I’m making good coin with her—and on the street. I’m making more than if I got a job in a factory. I’ve had schooling up to age twelve; I can read and write. As for Miss Galway, I wasn’t ready to tell her. I’m still not.”

“You’ve had different schooling these past two years,” Christian said, his voice soft.

“You don’t want to know. And I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Fair enough. So, again, why tell me?”

“Since you’re going to pay for my upkeep and education, I thought that I’d better come clean. In another year or two, I was going to tell Miss Galway. Until then, I wanted to make as much money as I could; however, I could. I’ve got money stashed away. But then the Galway sisters offered me a job. I wasn’t expecting that.”

“You’re wise beyond your years, Archie.”

“You have to be on the streets.”

“What’s next?” Christian sat back and folded his arms.

Archie sat back and folded his arms, too. “Let’s be honest; I can’t stay with you. It’s folly.”

“I own a large townhouse. In the rear of the property is a small outer building, with two good-sized rooms. I’ll turn it into a guesthouse, just for you. Come and go as you please. Take your meals and use the facilities in my place, but you will have privacy. Once you’re earning your keep legitimately, you can pay a small stipend in rent. Be your own man. Take control of your future.”

“It’s that easy for you?” Archie said, his voice quiet.

“Yes, things come easy for me. I’m a duke, after all.”

“All right, then. I’ll make the break after this case. I’ll need a bag of coin to hire the ones I trust. We’ll watch The Ten Bells, and that Blond Bugger’s place, for the footman. And the baronet’s flat. I’ll report to Miss Eleanora—”

“You’ll report to me. I’ll introduce you to the staff. Once the servants know who you are, the quicker I get the message.” Christian banged on the roof of the carriage, and Michaels picked up the pace. “While we’re at my place, I’ll get you the coin and show you the outer building. We’ll discuss the rest after the case, as you say.”

“Miss Eleanora won’t like it, me reporting to you.”

Christian smiled. “No, she won’t. I’ll explain it. If she insists that you report to her, we’ll change the arrangements. Until then, report to me, day or night. Whether I’m at home or not. My staff will know how to get a message to me.”

Archie sighed wistfully. “I’m really getting out, away from the filth.”

“You are. Take this opportunity, and make it a success.”

He nodded, his eyes glistening. The first show of emotion from the lad. “I will, and thanks, to you, and the ladies.”

“You can thank them properly later. Are you still hungry?”

“I hate to admit it, but aye—I mean, yes.”

“Good. My cook, Mrs. Tallmadge, is amazing. She will get meat on your bones in no time at all.”

A genuine smile from the boy.

A curl of warmth moved through Christian. Yes, he was doing this to please Eleanora. But he also wanted to do a good deed for once in his life.

Why not sponsor the lad? How many diamonds in the rough were out there, only needing a chance to allow them to shine?

Once Christian returned to parliament, he would make damned certain those stuffy lords looked into the plight of those less fortunate. There were a few within the body that genuinely cared about the poor, like Aidan Wollstonecraft, Earl of Carnstone. The man was closing in on eighty, but still a vibrant man with a cause, like his father and grandfather before him.

There was also Harrison Hornsby, Duke of Gransford, and his brother, Tremain Hornsby, Viscount Hawkestone. Having two brothers serving in the House of Lords was rare. Viscount Hawkestone was an extinct title on the maternal side of the family, resurrected by letters patent and bestowed on Tremain for his service during the Zulu War.

Didn’t he hear that the Wollstonecrafts and Hornsbys had collaborated on various causes, including a home for those with special needs? Yes, there were enough well-meaning men he could approach.

And if any of them turned him down, nothing was stopping Christian from investigating and developing an opportunity on his own. A place for young boys, and another for young girls, to learn a trade. Get proper schooling, and give them a chance in this often-harsh life.

Christian had been bored, adrift, lonely.

All that changed with meeting the splendid Eleanora Galway.