Page 16 of Lady Elinor’s Elf

Confusion reigned at Molliney Park as the travellers returned from their journey abroad.

“You didn’t tell us when you’d arrive,” said Elinor, her brows coming together in a frown as she walked into the hall on her father’s arm.

“Darling, look at you…” Her mother stood and stared at her daughter. “I think you’ve grown into a beautiful woman while we were away.

“She was always beautiful,” said Lord Molliney, pinching his daughter’s chin. “We just didn’t appreciate that fact enough, Cecily.”

“Oh, Papa,” laughed Elinor, letting go of his arm and hurrying to give her mother a hug. “I’m so glad you’re both home safely. I missed you quite dreadfully.”

“I’m thinking we should perhaps go away more often, my love,” grinned Lord Molliney. “We are receiving such a warm welcome home.”

“If you think I’m going to re-pack all this for another jaunt to foreign climes, Anthony, you’re fair and far out.” Lady Molliney shot him a look as she rescued her bonnet from beneath a leather bag. “Now let’s settle ourselves a little, and unpack.”

Elinor headed upstairs to her room.

Happy to be alone, she stripped off her riding habit, struggling to maintain her composure.

Why, she asked herself, had she taken the paper with her?

Was she shocked that a man could read books like that?

After all, the rational side of her said firmly, there are no laws against gentlemen learning about ladies and their… their desires…

From one or two comments she’d heard in London, it might in fact be a very good idea indeed.

But this was Caleb . The man who had awakened her own feelings to an extent that she shivered a little at the memory of his lips on hers.

Had she overreacted? Looking back now, she sighed.

Yes, her best course of action would have been to ignore that piece of paper altogether, and focus on the book itself.

After all, they were looking for what caused it to light up so strangely.

It would be most unlikely that a scrawled poem could cause such a reaction, no matter how shocking it was.

She had to laugh at herself as she tied the bow of her dress beneath her breasts. If shocking books lit up like candles, there would doubtless be a lot more light in many more libraries.

More settled in her mind, she resolved to send a note to Caleb as soon as she could, and apologise for her poor manners. After all, she thought to herself as she left her room, he was someone very special in her life. The last thing she wanted to do was make him angry with her.

The chaos caused by the arrival of the Mollineys lasted for several days, of course, but it eventually calmed down into something resembling a peaceful return.

“I need tea,” said Lady Molliney, crossing the hall in the morning, several days after her homecoming. “I will be needing tea often, perhaps even every hour, until I have sated my need for a decent cup.”

“It’ll be ready in a trice, Ma’am,” beamed Mrs Longwood. “We’re all so excited to have you home again. Now there’s a good fire going in the parlour, since it’s still cold and rainy today…”

Elinor, coming into the hall in time to hear this exchange, nodded. “A cup of tea would be just the thing. I’ll join you if I may.”

She followed her mother into the parlour and saw her Papa sneak a biscuit from the plate beside him.

“Leave me one or two, please?” She took the seat at his side on the couch.

“Damn fine biscuits,” he mumbled. “Can’t find biscuits like this anywhere on the continent.”

Lady Molliney rolled her eyes. “Well, you’re home now, Anthony. Feel free to indulge.” She turned her attention to Elinor. “Now, my dear. At last we have time to enjoy a real conversation. So tell us how things have been with you?”

“Just fine, Mama. Everything has been going very smoothly during your absence. Benson managed the household to perfection, and Jane? Well, Jane’s a rare treasure, as you know.”

“I see.” Her mother raised an eyebrow. “I’m very glad to hear it.” She leant back and calmly folded her hands in her lap. “Oh, did I mention that we visited Peter and Louise in town on our way home? Spent a few days with them, in fact.”

Elinor blinked. “Ah.”

“Yes, indeed.” Lady Molliney continued to gaze at her daughter.

Who sighed. “So I suppose that means you heard about the…um…the incident ?”

“We did.” Her mother sipped her tea. “Apparently, you behaved like the worst hoyden imaginable, and shocked everyone who was present at the event.”

“Well, then.” Elinor swallowed.

“So let’s have it, daughter. What the devil happened?” Her father turned to look at her, his face sombre. “And the truth, please. We’ve heard several versions in London. It’s time we heard yours.”

Pausing for a few moments to collect her thoughts, Elinor bit her lip, hoping that her parents wouldn’t let her down.

“Well, it was like this…”

Elinor kept the narrative simple and straightforward, aware that she had the full attention of both her parents.

As soon as she had concluded her description of that night, she shrugged.

“And so I came home at once. Peter and Louise thought it best, and—knowing how London can be—I did not want to subject them to any unpleasantness.”

Her mother shared a brief glance with her father, then turned to Elinor. “How hard did you slap him?”

“Hard enough that apparently he wore the mark of my hand on his face when he returned to the ballroom.” She lifted her chin. “And please don’t ask me to apologise for it.”

Silence fell. It was only moments, but it seemed like hours to Elinor, awaiting judgement by her parents.

“Not hard enough,” commented Lady Molliney, with a glance at her husband. “If it had been me, he wouldn’t have been able to return to the ballroom at all.”

Lord Molliney nodded. “Couldn’t agree more. Elinor, remind me to teach you where to kick a man that’ll have him squirming on the ground in agony.”

Elinor’s jaw dropped. “But…but…the scandal…”

“Has long been forgotten by now, my dear,” answered her mother. “Of course, if you were to return to town, it would resurface, I’m sure, so unfortunately that journey will be out of the question. At least for the coming Season.”

“Oh thank God,” Elinor exclaimed. “I was dreading the thought of having to go back to London. I really didn’t like it there,” she sighed. “So dirty and smelly, and…oh well, I needn’t worry about it anymore. Thank you, it’s a weight off my mind.”

“And you can be very sure that your Papa and I will also have a discussion about this incident with Peter and Louise.” She shook her head.

“I understand Louise’s ambitions, of course.

She was raised that way, as are so many London-bred girls.

It’s all about making a match, no matter the method. But Peter should have known better.”

“I agree.” Her father nodded. “I should point out, though, that many girls would feel differently about staying in the country, you know.They’d worry about missing all the balls and parties, dancing and meeting new people…”

“There must be something wrong with me then,” she replied. “Because I cannot imagine anything I’d dislike more.”

Lady Molliney leant back in her chair and toyed with her teacup.

“Hmm. Well, all this leaves us with one problem,” she paused and stared at her daughter, “the matter of what to do with you, darling. Of course, this is your home and always will be. But when Peter and Louise return from London? Or, God forbid, your Papa goes to his just reward…”

“Which I hope will be Tattersalls. Some fine horseflesh there, you know. Remind me to tell you about the astounding Barb I saw on the way home, m’dear. Splendid beast. Larger than an Arabian, you know, with tufts of hair on its…”

“Anthony. We are discussing your daughter’s future, not your fascination with horses.”

Thus scolded, Lord Molliney pouted a little, then shrugged. “Very well. Continue. Sorry, Elly.”

Elinor suppressed a giggle, cheered by her father’s use of her childhood nickname, and turned to her mother.

“I do understand, Mama. But it would appear that marriage is not in the cards for me, is it?” A little dart of distress pinged her somewhere around her heart.

“Truly, that is really of no matter. In the Molliney line, I’m quite unimportant, and to be honest, I’d be happy with Oak Cottage, if Peter would consider allowing me to live there. ”

“Hmm.” Her mother thought about it. “An interesting idea, to be sure. However, for now, we’ll leave things as they are, and face those decisions as the need arises. Don’t you agree, dear?”

“What? Oh, yes. Yes indeed.” Elinor’s father sighed and turned his head, giving Elinor a quick wink from the eye that his wife couldn’t see. “I like having you around, Elly,” he whispered.

She laughed. “And I like being here with you both,” she returned, happy that matters had turned out as well as they had.

Benson tapped politely on the door and peered around the jamb. “Beg pardon, my Lord, my Lady. A visitor has arrived.”

Lady Molliney blinked. “Really? Who is it, Benson?”

“Sir Caleb Howell, Ma’am. From Tylwyth Teg Abbey. Requesting the pleasure of a few moments with Lady Elinor.”

Her mother’s face was a picture, thought Elinor. Confusion, surprise, concern, and the worst case of curiosity she’d ever seen.

“How nice. I expect he’s come to welcome you both back home.” Elinor moved calmly toward the door. “I shall be happy to introduce you, if you would find that acceptable?”

“By all means.” Lady Molliney nearly tripped over her chair in her haste to stand, while her husband, on the other hand, merely glanced at Elinor.

“Does he have a stable?”

*~~*~~*

By the time Caleb had realised that Elinor was no longer alone at Molliney Park, it was too late to turn tail and run.

Benson had respectfully suggested he wait in the hall, so he found himself subject to the full scrutiny of two people who simply had to be Elinor’s parents, as they emerged from a side door.

Elinor was with them, and she walked quickly to Caleb’s side.

“Good morning, Sir Caleb. How kind of you to call.” She curtsied, all politeness and cool charm.

He had no choice but to respond in a similar fashion.

He bowed. “Lady Molliney. I trust I’m not disturbing you?” He glanced at her parents.

“Not at all. This is a delightful opportunity to make you known to my family, who have just returned from their travels on the continent.” An elegant wave of the hand followed this statement.

“Of course, I am honoured,” he replied.

“Papa,” Elinor gestured as her father walked up to Caleb, his eyes narrowing a little. “May I introduce our neighbour, Sir Caleb Howell. He’s currently in residence at Tylwyth Teg Abbey, and was kind enough to assist during some of the recent flooding.”

“Ah, yes.” Lord Molliney’s features eased. “You have a sizeable estate over there, sir. And much of it underwater most of the time?”

Caleb couldn’t resist a grin. “You have the right of it, my Lord. And not just the estate either. I just added a few waterlogged cellars as well, thanks to the recent weather.”

“But you manage it all quite handily, I’m sure.” Lady Molliney joined her husband. “I’m Elinor’s Mama.”

“Thank you, my Lady.” Caleb bowed elegantly. “And may I say that I now realise where your daughter gets her beauty and her charm?”

“You may,” replied Elinor’s mother. “But be warned, because I think she also got my temper.”

They all laughed at that, then Elinor turned to Caleb. “May I assume that your visit indicates some success with that unusual volume?”

Facing him, with her back to her parents, she widened her eyes and raised her eyebrows, clearly somewhat disturbed at his presence.

He nodded. “Indeed it does. And it’s quite fascinating—I think you might be surprised when you learn what I have discovered.”

“Papa, Mama,” Elinor turned back to her parents.

“With your permission, may I take Sir Caleb into our library? He has been kind enough to allow me the use of his, from time to time, since I’ve been indulging my curiosity about the history of the area, especially that of Tylwyth Teg. It has so many legends attached to it…”

“Indeed yes,” endorsed Caleb. “It is a fascinating topic. Lady Elinor has introduced me to many stories and legends about my home that I would never have imagined.”

“Your family has owned it for generations, though, has it not, Sir Caleb?” asked Lady Molliney.

“Indeed yes, Ma’am. But the Howell family line that has primarily been in residence is only distantly related to mine.” He smiled a little. “Sadly, time has winnowed the branches of the Howell family tree down to a few remaining stubs. One of which, of course, is me.”

“Well, you’re lucky to have it, lad,” said Lord Molliney cheerfully. “Plenty of land, probably good hunting…tell me, do you have a stable?”

“Papa, before you continue your inquisition, you must let me have a few moments with Sir Caleb so that we can discuss the matter that brought him here.” Elinor admonished.

Her father simply rolled his eyes and shrugged. “Very well. Go and talk books or whatever. I’ll catch the lad later.”

“This way, sir,” Elinor walked firmly across the hall, and Caleb followed after inclining his head politely to her parents.

She whisked him into a small room, and gestured to the two chairs set on either side of a lovely table, which had been settled into a window nook.

“Now. What the devil are you doing here, Caleb?”

He was pleased to see that she kept her voice low. “I wondered if you’d read the paper that fell out of the book, Elinor.”

“Oh.” She quite failed to meet his eyes. “About that…”

He shook his head. “It’s all right. I think you were correct when you said it might be a bookmark, because unless it has something to do with a lot of mythological Welsh figures, it won’t be relevant to this conversation.”

“I’m still not sure what it’s about, to be honest,” she replied. “And with my parents back home, I’m not going to have as much time as I’d like to research it. But I will, I promise.”

“I understand.” He nodded. “However, for me, it’s been quite the reverse. After draining the bogs that my cellars turned into this week, I had time on my hands to settle with the book.”

“And?” She leant forward, excitement lighting her eyes. “What did you learn?”

He stared at her, losing himself in her gaze, feeling his body tighten at the sight of her, the light scent of flowers she always wore. He wanted nothing more than to seize her and drag her over the table in order to kiss her until they were both lost for breath.

“Caleb?” She blinked.

“What? Oh, sorry.” He sighed and dragged his errant thoughts back into line. “Well, you see…”