Defiant Heart Read online

  Defiant Heart

  Jeanie Johnson

  This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters are from the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is pure coincidence.

  Copyright 2016

  All rights reserved.

  Jeanie Johnson

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Surely, you can’t be serious, Hector.” Lady Fiona’s voice lowered, as she leaned closer to her husband. “Eleanor will never agree to it.”

  “She doesn’t have to agree. She is our ward, and must do as we ask her.” Sir Hector Belington’s worried expression belied his very words. He knew his niece was headstrong and hard to handle, which was all the more reason it was desirous to get her married off to a suitable husband as soon as possible. Nelly had already come out, but if Eleanor was not safely married, it would mean that Eleanor would continue attracting all the suitable men before Nelly had a chance to blink her eye.

  Nelly was such a mouse, while Eleanor was flashy and bold. Way too bold for her own good, Hector was thinking, but for some reason men seemed to be drawn to her like moths to a flame, while she, as easily as the flame, managed to burn their wings, as she turned them down, one after another. Hector had promised his step brother on his death bed that he would take care of his only daughter but at the time he did not realize what a chore that would turn out to be.

  “You know how picky she is when it comes to choosing a man. There has not been one man that has even caused the slightest light to come into her eye,” Fiona continued. “And you cannot force her to marry someone she does not agree to marry.”

  “I cannot force her, but I can persuade her to do so. If she refuses to marry, I will have no other choice but to insist she find a suitable position in some acceptable household, because I refuse to be burdened with her any longer. After all, she has become of age now, and has to either marry or fend for herself.”

  “How can you speak of your brother’s daughter like she is a burden?” Lady Fiona, puckered her brow. “We all love Eleanor, especially Nelly. She has been like a sister to Nelly, and you know that.”

  Hector, shook his head and shrugged. “You well know that Drake was not my real brother. He wasn’t even related to us by marriage. He was just a waif that my father decided to take in and adopt. No telling what kind of blood Eleanor has running through her veins. It is probably what makes her so wild. She manages to attract men away from Nelly, right out from under her nose. What kind of loving sister is that?” He felt at his wit’s end, in spite of his fondness of Eleanor.

  “She doesn’t do it on purpose,” his wife defended. “Heaven knows, she is not interested in them. She tosses them as soon as they land. If Nelly had any sense she would follow Eleanor’s lead and be a little more outgoing. She could have any of Eleanor’s cast off’s if she put a little energy into it. She allows it to happen because she gets tongue tied when she is around men.”

  “All the more reason to make sure Eleanor is safely married, and situated, so Nelly will have more of a fighting chance,” Hector insisted.

  Fiona stood up and started strolling about the sitting room, her footsteps muffled by the oriental carpet that covered the marble floor. Hector sat lounging on the divan eyeing his wife, as her skirts swished about her ankles. “Who is this man anyway? I have never heard of him.” She turned and eyed her husband, thinking how handsome he still was, after all these years.

  “I am not surprised. Sebastian Brentwood pretty much keeps to himself. He owns a fleet of Merchant ships. I am sure you have seen them docked at the inlet from time to time. This is one of his major ports. He is a very busy man. He is not interested in attending genteel gatherings, or following the custom of the ton. After all, he is an American, not an Englishman, so he doesn’t follow custom the same way we do. He should get along marvelously with Eleanor since she is such an adventuress, not ever caring what anyone thinks about her.” His mouth turned up in a smile just thinking about it.

  “What makes you think he will marry her?” Fiona asked hesitantly.

  “We both know how the men fall at Eleanor’s feet. Why wouldn’t he want to marry her? He asked me to keep an eye out for someone suitable that he could marry. I don’t think he is very particular. He needs an heir to carry his business forward in the future, so I am sure he will not be as choosy as Eleanor happens to be. Just as long as she is beautiful, which we both know Eleanor is, and has a good name, which she does. He will be here in a few weeks and I am not giving Eleanor a choice,” Hector announced in a determined voice.

  “Where did you ever meet this Brentwood fellow anyway?” Fiona wanted to know.

  “At the clubs. He comes in sometimes, and we got to talking one night. He’s quite the ladies man but wants to settle down now. He’s good looking enough and is very well off, so I don’t know what Eleanor would have against him.”

  “Most of the men that Eleanor has turned down were good looking and swimming in money. Good luck,” Fiona smiled. “You will need it.” Then she outright laughed and Hector frowned at her. The door opened, disrupting their conversation. “Oh, it’s you, Theodore. Are the girls ready yet?”

  “You know them mother. I could hear them calling to each other between their rooms about dresses, when I passed Nelly’s door. I presume we will be fashionably late as usual.” He gave a knowing grin, as his blue eyes lit up. “Will you be staying until the end, or will I have to escort my sweet sister and cousin home?”

  “You know how these functions tire me out,” Fiona smiled, meeting her son’s blue gaze with her own blue eyes. “We will let you know. Better take the carriage, just in case. Your father and I will use the coach.”

  “Very well mother. I’ll go inform the groom.” He turned and Fiona watched his broad shoulders as he retreated out the door.

  He was so handsome, with his fair hair and blue eyes, the same as his sister, herself, and Sir Hector, she thought. Nelly was pretty as well, so why was she so shy? Why couldn’t she be more like her brother or cousin Eleanor? Fiona realized though, that Eleanor was nothing like either of her children, or their family relations. She had dark hair and dark eyes, and though she was a beauty, there was something subtly different about her, which indicated she might not even be any part English. After all, her mother had been Italian and dark haired just like Drake was. It was a pity the woman had to die right after giving birth, and then not too many years later Drake died of the Spanish flue.

  At one point she was almost afraid that Theodor was about to offer for Eleanor, which she knew Hector would never stand for, so it was lucky that like all the other men who were eagerly suiting her, that Eleanor also turned poor Theodor down as well. Every once in awhile she noticed Theodor giving Eleanor a sad look though, when he didn’t think Eleanor was looking. But that was for the best, and Fiona began to agree with her husband. It was best if Eleanor was set up with someone, so her own children could get on with their lives.

  “Don’t tell me you are going to wear that red dress again!” Nelly was eying Eleanor as she came into Nelly’s room.

  “Why not? I am getting used to it by now,” Eleanor laughed.

  “As well as everyone else in this town. You are starting to get the nick name of the Lady in Red,” Nelly informed her.

  “Well since Uncle Hector refuses to buy me any other gowns, I have no other choice. He thinks it will discourage me from attending the balls and making a spectacle of myself,” she chuckled. “I know he is completely ashamed that I am even a member of this family. Anyway, I change it a little from time to time, so while it is still red, it looks a little different.”

  “That is not the reason Papa doesn’t want you to attend the balls. The real reason is, he thinks you are preventing me from findi
ng a husband.” Nelly gave a little pout. She liked her cousin, because Eleanor made life so exciting, when she was around.

  “As if I would. I have turned down all the silly men in this area. You could have any one of them if you would just learn how to give them a come hither stare.” She wrinkled her nose at Nelly. “Like this, dear girl,” she giggled and gave Nelly a demonstration of her womanly charms.

  “It may work fine for you,” Nelly simpered, “but when I try it, I get all embarrassed, and if a man was captured by my stare, I would just die of awkwardness.”

  “You are very pretty,” Nelly. “I don’t understand why you would feel awkward. Just smile and let the man do all the talking. Heaven knows they love talking about themselves. All you have to do is nod once in awhile.”

  “Yes, they are rather full of themselves, aren’t they?” Nelly agreed, with a giggle.

  “Which is the very reason I keep turning them all down. And if I turn them down, you can be sure, they are not worthy of you either, so it is just as well they don’t approach you. I will just have to find you someone myself, if it worries Uncle Hector so much.”

  “Don’t you dare.” Nelly warned. “That would embarrass me even more.”

  “You are never going to find a husband that way. And you know that is exactly what Uncle Hector wants for you. I mean, isn’t that a woman’s calling? I just wonder if that is the only purpose a woman has in life, to find some man to take care of her, while he is off entertaining himself in other ways? All they want is someone to produce an heir, and then once she has done that, they are perfectly content to spend all their time hunting, or going to the club, or what ever else grabs their interest, such as mistresses on the side and leaving the sweet little wife at home to entertain herself. Well if I have to entertain myself, I don’t need a man around, now do I?”

  “Only who will support you?” Nelly wanted to know.

  “Well, I suppose that is the rub. If you don’t have money of your own, you are stuck letting some man grope you, and get you with child, so the cycle can start all over again.”

  “You make it all sound so awful,” Nelly shivered.

  “Oh, perhaps not for you. You are suited to be married, but I am not.”

  There was a tap on the door, and Eleanor turned her dark head, and raised her well shaped eyebrows.

  “Mother and father are getting impatient,” Theodor called through the door.

  “We are coming Teddy,” Nelly called. “You will never guess what Eleanor is wearing.”

  “Something red, I presume,” he responded, and they all laughed.

  Eleanor flung open the door. “Ta-dum!” she laughed, as she twirled around. “It is off the shoulders this time. Do you like it?” she asked, as her dark eyes sparked at Teddy’s blue ones.

  “As much as I love you,” he grinned.

  “You are always so kind,” Eleanor laughed.

  “You’re coming in the carriage with me. Mother and father are taking the coach,” he informed her, as he offered her one elbow and Nelly the other.

  “Good,” Eleanor stated. “You are always such good company, and if I were to ride with Uncle Hector, he would be at me to accept the hand of the first man who offered.”

  “Will you hold the men off forever, Eleanor? After all, you are going on twenty now, and to some that is considered a spinster,” Teddy inquired, looking down at her with a knowing expression.

  “All the men I have ever met, don’t hold a candle to you, Teddy, and we know Uncle Hector would never let you marry me,” she laughed good naturedly.

  “I wouldn’t care, if you would only accept me,” he said truthfully. “I would do it anyway.”

  “I am sure you would, Teddy. That is what I like about you,” she laughed up at him, again. “You are defiant just like me. But I love you too much to let you get in trouble with Uncle Hector. You know my father was only your father’s step brother. He had no title. They took him in out of pity, and even though he and your father were close, it doesn’t change the fact that I do not have an ounce of blue blood in my veins.”

  “But you have the name, so what does that matter?” Teddy insisted.

  “What’s in a name? Do you know my father didn’t even know what his Sir name was? He was so young when your grandfather found him, wondering the streets of London. He just knew his first name. When they asked him, he just said he was Drake boy. Now wouldn’t that make it rather hard to create a family tree? Just Drake boy to go by. That must have been how his parents referred to him when he was little, but you know how important family trees are, don’t you?”

  “Silly girl. I could care less about family trees. We could start a new one.”

  “Silly boy, I was never meant to have a family, let alone a family tree,” she insisted. “And you are the heir, who needs to produce new heirs. Preferably ones with the kind of blood your father approves of,” she pointed out.

  “I don’t see what the fuss is about. Cousins can marry, and since you aren’t even related to me, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Personally, I don’t think your father approves of me, even though I have been taken under his wing for all these years. I know I couldn’t possibly have any blue blood, because I just don’t feel like I fit here. I don’t feel like I fit anywhere, to tell you the truth.”

  “If you married me, you would fit,” Teddy insisted.

  “No, Teddy. Even if I married you, I would never fit. So let’s drop it, all right?”

  Teddy gave her a long uncomfortable stare, and then smiled. “Doesn’t mean I won’t bring it up later,” he winked, and helped the girls up into the carriage.

  ******************

  “That’s the girl,” Sir Dutton Galesburg, whispered to Sir Percy Macomb. “She turns her nose up at anyone who gets close, even though she flirts and dances beautifully, but just pretend like you are truly interested, and she drops you flat. Now her cousin is pretty and has a fortune behind her, but she is about as interesting as a brick wall, so if you are looking for conversation, I wouldn’t advise you bother with her. If you are interested in insults, you could try the lady in red,” he laughed.

  “So what is your wager?” Sir Percy asked, as he eyed the two women who had just entered the room on Teddy’s arms.

  “You have to dance with her at least three times. I have never seen her dance more than once with anyone but her cousin. Then you must manage a kiss. But the kiss has to be willing. If you succeed I will put up my hunter against your gray.”

  “How can I prove the kiss?” Percy wanted to know.

  Dutton smiled. “I plan to be close behind. I will have to witness it.”

  “Sounds fair enough, but what will Glenda ever say, if she finds out that I was kissing another woman?” Percy chuckled.

  “Glenda knows what a rake you are. She will probably just laugh about it. I am surprised she even agreed to have you, considering you are so deeply in debt,” Dutton yawned.

  “Glenda may have money, but she is no match to that beauty. Besides, I haven’t officially accepted the inevitable, which is the only way out of my financial dilemma. So I suppose a stolen kiss here or there is still due me. You will have to introduce us,” he pointed out.

  “Wait for a bit. You need to watch her in action first, so you can get past her guard,” Dutton suggested.

  “Yes, I see the wisdom in that,” Percy agreed, as his dark head turned and watched Eleanor walk by. She was already becoming surrounded by men, and a few women as well.

  “Someone seems to be watching you rather intently,” Teddy whispered in Eleanor’s ear.

  Eleanor laughed. “Surely you know they are merely snickering behind my back at me, making jokes about my dress,” she smiled, as she flipped open her fan and covered her mouth, then looked in the direction Teddy had nodded.

  Eleanor’s dark eyes, landed on a set of gray eyes appraising her, and she gave him a slight nod, indicating that she noticed him watching her. “Well apparently he has
never seen my red dress before,” Eleanor said, turning back to Teddy. “I have never laid eyes on him. Do you know him?”

  “He’s a friend of Dutton.”

  “You mean that uppity Sir Dutton that thinks he is the best dressed dandy this side of London? I didn’t think anyone as good looking as that man, would have anything to do with Sir Dutton. In fact, I do believe he is better dressed than Dutton,” she appraised him as well.

  “I wouldn’t trust any friend of Dutton’s. You know how upset he was at you when you put him in his place, after he was so shamelessly forward with you.”

  “And it was a pleasure to put him in his place,” she laughed. “But what can he or his friend do? I am not interested in any man…oh except for you,” she smiled, not wanting to hurt Teddy’s feelings.

  “I have a hard time believing that, Eleanor. I mean you dance divinely, and you can lure any man to your side with one look. If you were interested in me, you would accept my many proposals. So if you are not interested in them, why do you insist on coming to these functions?”

  “It is a game, to keep me entertained,” she smiled. “Do dance with me, Teddy, while we talk. I think he is watching us. Perhaps we should give him a show.”

  “Along with everyone else? I think not. My parents are in the room, after all.”

  “You see, Teddy,” she laughed, as he took her into his arms. “You do not know how to live dangerously. That is why we would never suit. You just are not willing to take any risks. And you claim you want to marry me, tisk tisk.” She reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Oh, but I keep you well entertained, don’t I?” He looked down into her face and gave her a sad smile. “You know very well that to participate in such intimate behavior in public is not acceptable, and you doing so, makes you appear blatantly wanton. It is going to ruin any ghost of a chance for you to attract a worthy man,” he told her what she already knew. “Why do you tempt fate, Eleanor? You will not take a husband, and yet you flirt shamelessly with every man who comes near you. You are driving everyone, including me, crazy!”