Tenacious Trents 01 - A Misguided Lord (13 page)

“
I really think you should
tell him the truth.”

She stiffened. “Why?”

“
Because I think he has a
right to know.”

Eleanor stood and brushed the dirt
from her hands. “He has a right to nothing. He judged me without
facts, and based only on assumption.”

Drake grinned at her. “I can see you
are still angry.”

Eleanor threw up her hands. “Of
course, I am still angry. My virtue has never been brought into
question before.”

Drake stepped forward and grabbed one
of her hands. “All the more reason to tell him the
truth.”

“
Why? What would it
change?”

“
For one, he would feel
horrible,” he said with a devilish smile.

Eleanor jerked her hand
back and went about gathering the dying weeds recently yanked from
the garden plot. “I don’t care about that. Besides what could come
of it now? Either he would demand the money back, which I cannot
pay,” she said over her shoulder. “Or, he would feel honor bound to
marry me, which would never do. I couldn’t imagine being married to
a man like him. He is so narrow minded, judgmental,
condescending.”

“
Fine.” Drake blew out an
exacerbated breath.

“
And, you won’t tell him
either.” Her eyes bore into his.

“
I promise, but could you
do me a favor?’

She hitched an eyebrow at him and
crossed her arms over her chest.

“
I just want you to be nice
to Bentley when you see him.”

She narrowed her eyes at Drake. He was
asking a lot of her.

“
You don’t know him like I
do.”

“
Nor am I sure I care
to.”

“
If you would just tell him
the truth about Jamie things could be different.”

“
A man who rushes to
judgment as quickly as he doesn’t deserve the truth.”

“
There is something else
going on, but I can’t figure it out.”

“
Don’t waste your time.
That gentleman has more moods than a chameleon has colors. I am
still surprised you are friends with someone like him.”

Sadness reflected in Drake’s eyes. “He
may be a wealthy lord, but it has not been easy for him. You have
made him act out of character. I think his heart may be
thawing.”

“
Hah.”

“
I know he insulted you
terribly and as your friend I should call him out.”

Eleanor stiffened. “No. Don’t do
something so foolish.” The thought of Drake facing Bentley in the
dawn on some green lawn somewhere sent terror through her veins.
She would die if something happened to Drake on account of her.
And, she didn’t want Bentley shot either. As much as she resented
him for his insult, he didn’t deserve to die. And, she could tell
him the truth. But it still galled her that he jumped to
conclusions without asking questions. Until he asked directly, she
wasn’t about to enlighten him.

“
Had he kissed you before
that night?”

Eleanor’s face heated, remembering
their first encounter. She had hoped for Bentley then.

“
Your blush is enough of an
answer.” Drake grinned. “Bentley has never kissed a
woman.”

Eleanor snorted.

“
He has never kissed an
unattached miss in a public venue.” Drake emphasized. “He is too
controlled. The fact that he kissed you, twice, is interesting in
itself.”

“
How so?” Did she want to
know? Oh, why was she even curious? He was a dreadful man and she
wanted nothing to do with him.

“
He likes you more than he
wishes and it has upset the balance of his well-organized
life.”

“
Oh, Drake, you always want
to see the best in people.”

His face hardened. “No, you don’t want
him to know the truth about you and there are things about him you
don’t know either. His father was a difficult man and very hard on
Bentley. Just give him another chance, or at least just be nice
until the week is over.”

Eleanor studied Drake. If he was
asking this of her, even after Bentley had insulted her, there was
something more to the man. Not that she cared, but she would do as
Drake asked. It was only for a few days and then that man would be
gone.

*

“
Elle has agreed to join
the festivities this week.”

Clay glanced up from his seat when
Acker walked in the room.

“
She has promised not to
gouge your eyes out.”

Clayton grinned. This was perfect. He
would make amends and then see if they couldn’t come to some
agreement. Not that he would mention his plans to Acker. Despite
her fall from virtue, Acker still thought highly of Miss
Westin.

“
You must promise me not to
insult her again. She means a great deal to me and I would hate to
have our friendship ruined as well.”

So, if he managed to get Miss Westin
into his bed, he could lose one of the few true friends he had. Was
bedding Miss Westin worth the risk? He studied Acker. What the man
didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Clay was fairly certain, despite how
close the two were, that Miss Westin would not tell Acker of any
arrangement she and Clay made. “I will be on my best
behavior.”

“
I want you to also
promise, or admit that you may have misjudged her.”

Bentley arched an eyebrow.

“
Maybe ask her about her
family instead of jumping to conclusions.”

What was there to ask? The child is
two and Miss Westins mother died some three years ago. Surely they
weren’t trying to pass the boy off as another brother? “I will
speak with Miss Westin.” He would woo her like he had never wooed a
lady before. Not that he had any experience in such a matter. Now
he wished he would have paid more attention to Jordan. He had an
easy way with ladies and Clayton needed some of that skill if he
was going to make things right with Miss Westin so that they could
come to a mutually satisfactory agreement.

*

Eleanor stared at her reflection, glad
that she had given into Leigh on this one count. Had she followed
her own prerogative she would have nothing to wear to the
festivities at Acker Hall. When Eleanor had been prepared to remake
or sell all of her London wardrobe it was Leigh who had insisted
she hold some gowns back, just in case. Eleanor had hated the waste
but was now glad for it. That left her with only one difficulty to
overcome.

How she allowed Drake to talk her into
this madness she didn’t know. Nevertheless, after their discussion
a few days earlier she had promised to be nice to Lord Bentley. She
doubted her opinion would be altered but Drake had asked it of her
and she wasn’t about to be the one who spoiled the festivities.
Lord Glum could do that all on his own.

The guests were milling about on the
grounds when Eleanor arrived. Acker escorted her about and
introduced her. Most she had met in London and was enjoying
becoming reacquainted with. That was until Lord Bentley approached
and asked her to accompany him on a stroll through the gardens. Her
first instinct was to reject him but before she could utter a word,
Acker squeezed her elbow reminding her of her blasted
promise.

Once they were away from the others,
Bentley spoke. “I would ask that we begin anew, Miss
Westin.”

She looked up at him
skeptically.

He hurried to continue. “I regret any
insult in London.”

“
Any or every?” She was not
going to make the apology any easier for him.

“
I judged your character
without getting to know you. I would like to repair that
error.”

“
Why?” She wasn’t sure she
trusted his motives.

“
Because Acker thinks
highly of you and I value his opinion.”

Elle’s lips quirked. “Did Drake make
you promise to be nice as he did me?”

Bentley returned her smile. “No. He
made me promise not to insult you again.”

Eleanor turned to face forward. “I
see.”

He stopped, causing Elle to halt as
well and look up at him. “Because Acker thinks so highly of you,
and I came to like you in London. I would like to know you better
and hope to alter your opinion of me as well.”

She should tell him that she had only
promised to be nice but Drake did consider this man a friend.
Probably one of Bentley’s few redeeming qualities. She owed it to
Acker to get to know the man. “Very well, for Drake’s
sake.”

Eleanor and Lord Bentley spent no more
time talking that day, much to Elle’s relief. She had promised to
be nice but that didn’t mean she had to go out of her way to seek
the man out. In fact, spending time with Bentley was the very last
thing she wanted to do. It wasn’t her dislike for the man that was
the problem. It was her attraction, despite how she felt about him
that bothered her most. How could she like a man who had insulted
her so deeply, and made such improper advances? It was because of
those dratted kisses. She had thought that with time she would
forget or at least get over them. Unfortunately, it was not to be
because the moment he offered her his arm, Eleanor’s heart had
begun to pound. Even when she was coolly speaking to him, her mind
was recalling how his lips, hands and body next to hers had felt.
Thank goodness no one could read her thoughts, especially Bentley,
or he would believe her to be the wanton he had accused her of
being.

*

Clay felt he had finally made positive
strides with Miss Westin that first day of Acker’s party. Though
cool, if not frosty in her address, she had still agreed to allow
them to become better acquainted. There was nothing he would rather
do either.

The feel of her lips upon his was
branded into his mind and how well she fit against him. However,
for the moment it was probably best not to dwell on the aspect of
her soft form. Why torture himself unduly until she agreed to be
his mistress?

First, he would chop away
at the wall she had erected, in self-preservation no doubt. Not
that he could blame her. He had been judgmental and rude in London.
Her fall from virtue was no excuse for him to treat her with any
less respect. It wasn’t as if she were a member of the demimonde.
If that were the case her grandfather would never have introduced
her into society. No, Bentley was beginning to suspect that Miss
Westin had probably made one mistake in trusting the wrong man. The
result was a tarnished reputation and Jamie. Both had unbelievably
been kept a secret from the
ton,
which was a remarkable feat in itself.

Everything he had come to learn about
the lady herself, including the connection with his own good
friend, had Clay intrigued. She had an inner strength one rarely
saw in one of her gender and station and he was sincerely anxious
to know her better. It would make their future relationship all the
more enjoyable. Furthermore, the devotion to her family was
unquestionable. It was a shame she wasn’t a virtuous
lady.

She may have made a wonderful countess
and brought warmth back into Bentley Manor. Not that Rose and
Madeline didn’t bring their share, but it wasn’t the happy place he
remembered from childhood and the older he became the more he
wanted it back.

*

Clay had been standing at the back of
the parlor, speaking to acquaintances yet facing the door so he
wouldn’t miss her arrival. A small smile formed on his lips when
she stepped into the room. Her mahogany hair was pulled up and
behind her head and misbehaving curls framed her face. Today she
wore a creamy yellow dress that complimented her rosy complexion.
Miss Westin was also determined, if her ramrod spine and defiant
tilt of her chin were any indication. Oh, she had a lively smile
for those who greeted her but Clay knew invisible armor had been
donned and he hoped he was the reason. If so, then her
consideration of him was moving along more quickly than he had
dreamed. Or, she dreaded speaking with him, her hate running deeper
than he feared. Either way, he would soften her toward
him.

Slowly, so as not to be obvious of his
intentions, Clayton circled the room until he nonchalantly appeared
at her side. If possible, Miss Westin stiffened more at his
approach.

The group of guests were readying
themselves for a walk to the lake where the servants would provide
a picnic luncheon. Those who were adventurous intended to take the
boats out.

“
Good afternoon, Miss
Westin.”

Her smile was tight and he suspected
she clenched her teeth as well. He lifted her hand. “You look
lovely today.” He bent and kissed the back. Miss Westin snatched
her hand away so quickly one would have thought he bit her. Had she
pulled back any quicker, Miss Westin would have been cutting him
direct but Clay didn’t mind. The fact that physical contact with
him, no matter how innocent, affected her spoke volumes. He smiled
politely, ignoring her rude actions, knowing triumph was in the
near future.

If anyone noticed the overly quick
withdrawal of her hand, no one said a word though an eyebrow or two
seemed to raise. Clay could read the speculation behind those
experienced with society and its rules. They were now probably
speculating as to the curious relationship between himself and Miss
Westin. He had danced with her often before her disappearance and
the guests at Acker’s home were the type who would remember that
detail. Though Clay hated to be the source of gossip, this served
his purpose. Not one of the gentlemen would approach her with
intentions if they believed he had staked a claim.