Rather than beg his pardon, she turned on him and poked a finger in his chest. “Have you gone mad? What happened to Eleanor, and why would you think I had anything to do with it?”

This was too much. “You were the one who gave her the information on the mines, and she decided to take one and make it a model based on those damned pamphlets you gave her. Now two criminals just tried to attack her.”

Aurelia’s chin rose. “I gave her the information because she asked for it. What I want to know is how she came by a mine.”

“She inherited one.” This conversation was not going at all the way it should. “What do you mean, she asked for the information?”

“Dear,” his mother said. “Let us go to the morning room and you can explain everything to us in a calm manner.”

“I don’t want to go to the morning room and I am anything but calm. If she hadn’t stabbed one of them, she would have been killed!”

“Oh, good Lord,” Aurelia huffed. “We will get nothing from him. I’m going to see Eleanor. If she had the presence of mind to wound a criminal, she will be able to explain the situation better than he is doing.”

His sister strode out the door and Mama donned her hat. “Your sister is right. You need to compose yourself. I will see you later.”

He needed a brandy. A whole bottle of brandy.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Eleanor lingered at Hatchards, collecting her sister’s books and searching for some of her own. She had to think about her future. There was no point in remaining in Town. Grace would agree Eleanor could return home within the next few days.

Turner helped her into the coach. By the time she arrived at Worthington House, Lady Bellamny, Lady Montagu, and Lady Lytton were there with Grace, Matt, Kenilworth, Rothwell, and Merton.

Her sister quickly rose from the sofa and came to her. “Eleanor, are you well?”

“Yes.” Eleanor nodded. At least she thought she was. “I was a bit shaky at first, but Lady Bellamny was so matter-of-fact, I felt myself again.” Eleanor looked around her sister. “Thank you, my lady.”

“You are welcome, my dear. No one died, and as far as I could see, there was no reason to go into hysterics about the matter. The blackguards have been arrested and taken in. If they are smart, which I will depend upon, they will confess who hired them.”

“There are ways to provide inducements,” Matt said in a grim tone.

Lady Lytton pressed her lips together for a moment. “Was all this caused by the pamphlets I gave you?”

“No, of course not. Whatever”—Eleanor studied her ladyship’s face for a second—“or should I say, whoever gave you that thought? I would have acquired them myself, eventually.”