‘There is something I need to tell you,’ he said. The change of subject would no doubt drive all thoughts of lurking villains from Lady Rothley’s head.
As Eleanor and her aunt sat down, Pacey returned.
‘Are you at home to Mr Weare, my lady?’
Eleanor leapt to her feet again. ‘Why, yes, of course, Pacey. Please show him up.’
Matthew cursed silently. His confession must wait.
She crossed the room to greet her cousin as he came in wearing a sheepish expression. He kissed Eleanor on the cheek. Their family resemblance was strong—James was tall with an abundance of thick dark-brown hair and the same tawny-coloured eyes—and yet he seemed somehow less vital than Eleanor; faded, almost.
‘Before you say anything, Eleanor, allow me to apologise once again for the welcome we gave you the other day. It was a somewhat trying day all told.’
‘Oh, James, there’s no need. I told you that I understood. Is Ruth not with you? Is she still unwell?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so,’ he said. ‘It’s the strain, you know. That appointment on Tuesday was with her doctor. She finds these things intolerable, but I’m afraid they are necessary. He has given her a restorative for her nerves, so she’ll soon be her old self again.’
James walked further into the room and started when he became aware of Matthew, shooting him a suspicious look from beneath bunched eyebrows. ‘Mr Thomas, isn’t it? Good day to you, sir. I didn’t expect you to have a visitor this early in the day, Cousin. Please forgive my intrusion.
‘Lady Rothley, your servant.’ He bowed.
Matthew held James’s gaze as he stepped forward and gripped the other man’s hand, noting the deep worry lines around his eyes and mouth.
‘I had hoped to talk privately with my cousin,’ James said pointedly.
‘You have had ample opportunity since we called upon you on Tuesday.’ It was a provocative statement. Matthew knew very well—thanks to Timothy—that James had not called as promised, but had sent a note to Eleanor instead.
James’s jaw tightened. ‘Eleanor is well aware that my wife has been unwell since then and that I could not leave her. What exactly is your interest in my cousin, sir?’
‘James, really, there is no need for such a challenge. Mr Thomas has called in to assure himself that I am still alive.’ Eleanor’s voice wobbled, belying her attempted humorous note.
‘Alive? What do you mean?’
‘It is time you told James what has been happening,’ Lady Rothley said.
‘I know, Aunt, and I intend to. We had an eventful journey to London, James, and Mr Thomas came to our rescue. He appears to think that places him in a position of obligation to me.’
Matthew watched James closely as he elaborated. ‘Your cousin and her aunt had the misfortune to be involved in a carriage accident just outside Ashton. One of the horses was shot and the carriage overturned.’
‘Shot? Good God, Eleanor. Are you all right? Was anyone hurt?’
His shock was evident. If James had been involved, he was a convincing actor. But who else could be responsible? It was this man who stood to gain from her death.
‘Everyone escaped unscathed, James, please don’t worry.’
‘And, following that,’ Matthew continued, ‘a young girl was brutally attacked in the very room that you reserved for Lady Ashby in Stockport. Fortunately—although not for that poor girl—I had insisted that the ladies stay in Ashton overnight as they were already shaken by the accident.’
James blanched and groped blindly for the seat behind him, sinking into it. ‘No...’ he breathed. ‘Oh, my God, Eleanor! And she was in the room I reserved for you, you say? I can’t believe it. What a...what a terrible coincidence. But thank goodness you are all right.’
‘You believe it to be a coincidence?’ Matthew glared at James.
‘Mr Thomas...please...’ Eleanor said.
‘What?’ James looked wildly from one to the other. ‘What? You believe...you mean...you think I had something to do with it?’
‘James, of course not. It must have been a coincidence. Mr Thomas has merely taken some wild notion into his head. Of course I don’t believe you had any hand in it.’ Eleanor looked daggers at Matthew, who was unrepentant.
‘You must stop denying the gravity of this, my lady. You are the common factor to these incidents. Someone attempted to kill you on three occasions. That—’ he glared at James ‘—is no coincidence, and when I find out who—’
‘And who, precisely, are you, sir?’ James snarled, springing to his feet. ‘Matthew Thomas? Where are you from? Can anyone vouch for you? It seems to me that you, also, have been a common factor to these events. I, on the other hand, have been right here in London. And I can produce witnesses to prove it. I repeat—where are you from? My cousin is a wealthy lady; do you hope to win her over by scaring her witless? Is that your game?’
Matthew’s chest swelled with fury when he recognised the doubt that crept into Eleanor’s expression, her original misgivings about him clearly reignited by her cousin’s words. Now would be the ideal time to reveal his true identity, but he was damned if he would discuss his past and the reason he used a false name in front of this weasel.
Surely Eleanor can’t believe I am involved in some way?
He fought to keep his temper under control but, before he could utter a word, Lady Rothley leapt to his defence.
‘That is a preposterous slur, James. I am surprised at you.’
‘Any more preposterous than your accusations against me?’
‘I have no doubt Mr Thomas can prove he was nowhere near Ashby Manor at the time of the fire. And he drove away the man who attacked that poor girl.’
‘He was there? At the time? What does that tell you?’ James stared triumphantly at Eleanor. ‘Ellie, have some sense, I beg of you. You cannot, surely, believe me capable of such a thing? You’ve known me all your life.’
‘I don’t believe you did anything, James. How could I? I love you.’
‘This attack,’ James said slowly, his eyes narrowing as he turned his gaze on to Matthew. ‘How did you hear of it, Ellie, if you were in...Ashton, was it, you said?’
‘Mr Thomas told us of it,’ she replied. ‘He caught up with us on the road—’ her gaze flicked to Matthew and a delicate colour stained her cheeks ‘—and then he escorted us the rest of the way to London, as protection.’
‘So you take the word of a complete stranger that a girl was attacked as she slept in the bed you were to occupy?’ James said. ‘And you do not think it odd that he conveniently appeared after the carriage overturned, and then weaved this Canterbury tale about an attack. You just believed him? Have you heard of it from any other source?’
Matthew had heard enough. He had been scarred enough by false accusations in his time. ‘The attempted murder can be verified by the magistrate in Stockport,’ he said brusquely, ‘and, although I do not know precisely when the fire occurred, I have no doubt I can prove my whereabouts if you feel the need for such proof,’ he added, looking at Eleanor.
Eleanor avoided his gaze and Matthew’s heart sank. Her cousin’s insinuations were feeding her doubts. His behaviour when he had caught up with her at Leek could scarcely have reassured her as to his motives. She had been in shock; he had seized the opportunity and kissed her. It was little comfort that he had been so very frantic, thinking she might be lying injured somewhere. The sight of her safe and