THE BARONET'S DAUGHTER

CHAPTER TWO

                        CHAPTER TWO

LONDON, NOVEMBER 1816

Eleanor Wellesley sat waiting patiently for her father, Sir Edward, at his lodgings in a narrow Street leading to Golden Square; the meagre light of a flickering candle causing shadows to dance around her, mercifully hiding the shabbiness of the room.

    It was accommodation hardly fitting a gentleman of her father’s rank, and she realized that his position must be even more desperate than she had supposed.

    Wistfully she looked at the cold fireplace; another shiver causing her to pull her woollen wrap closer around her shoulders, and she thought fondly of her warm and comfortable little sitting-room at home in Charnock Park, Northamptonshire.

    But the iciness of the threadbare room was not the only coldness that struck at her heart.

    Sir Edward would be displeased to see her; of that she had no doubt. He had forbidden her to come to him. Yet she had decided she had little choice but to disobey him. He must be made to understand the seriousness of their situation at home; understand their peril.

    With misty eyes she looked at her hands in her lap and at the ring on her finger. It was a man’s heavy gold signet ring, set with one fine diamond. It had been her brother’s and looked incongruous on her small hand, but no matter what befell her, she would never part with it.

    She released a deep and forlorn sigh. She missed Henry as never before. All her life, in the face of her father’s indifference and neglect, Henry had been her stalwart ally; her only comfort. Now he was gone, perishing in the advance on Toulouse, ironically, the very last battle of the war.

    Had Henry lived their fortunes would not be in jeopardy now.

    Eleanor was startled as the clock on the mantelpiece chimed six o’clock, and almost immediately she heard raised voices on the staircase. Her father entered the room soon afterwards.

    Eleanor was shocked at his appearance. He had cut a fine figure in his earlier years, but now his shoulders had a disconsolate droop and his face showed the telling signs of a man given over to dissipation, little sleep and poor food.

    She rose quickly and came to him, pity stabbing at her heart.

    ‘Papa! You look ill.’

    Sir Edward stared sullenly at her for a moment, a queer glitter in his eyes which she did not like.

    ‘Eleanor, why are you come here? I do not wish to see you.’

    Eleanor tried to take his arm to lead him to a chair but he shrugged her hand away.

    ‘Leave me be! I do not need or want your solicitations. You will return to Charnock Park immediately.’

    ‘That is impractical, Papa, at this hour,’ Eleanor said reasonable. ‘I have rented a room for the night on the floor above.’

    Eleanor smarted at the remembrance of the disdain the lodging-keeper had shown to her as she had handed over her five shillings. She found it exceedingly vexing since the lodgings were of a low character.

    ‘Mrs Possimer’s attitude was contemptuous towards me,’ Eleanor continued. ‘And demanded that I pay in advance.’ She hesitated, unwilling to anger him further, yet she must know the true situation. ‘Are you in arrears with the rent, Papa?’