"Then the correspondence should put my mind at ease."
She left without answering. Julian remained beside the table until the candles had burned low.
Upstairs, Eleanor was packing. She had dismissed her maid after explaining that she required only two traveling trunks and would not ask a servant to assist in concealing her departure. There was nothing secret about leaving, but she preferred to spare the household a spectacle.
Her wedding gown remained at the back of the wardrobe. She touched its sleeve, remembering Julian standing beside her in the little chapel—solemn and handsome, promising to honor her. He had not promised affection; neither had she. Their marriage had been an arrangement between two people who thought companionship might grow where passion had never been expected. Eleanor had once considered that a sensible beginning. Now she folded a plain brown dress into her trunk and wondered when she had begun measuring every sentence before speaking to her husband.
A knock interrupted her. "Come in."
Julian stood in the doorway. His evening coat was unbuttoned, and he carried no documents. "You are leaving tonight?"
"Tomorrow morning. The roads are poor after dark."
His gaze moved to the open trunk. "You could remain until we have discussed matters properly."
Eleanor straightened. "We discussed them at breakfast. You put your wishes into writing by supper."
He accepted the rebuke without answering. After a moment, he said, "Mother has been corresponding with Grant."
"I assumed she had."
"There may be complications concerning the land."
Eleanor closed the trunk lid. "The land is part of my property, Julian. I know what belongs to me."
"Apparently, there is a road."
She looked at him. "There is. Why did you never mention it? You never asked what you were trying to sell."
He lowered his eyes. For once, he had no immediate reply.
Eleanor picked up a smaller case and placed it beside the door. "The road was retained with the workshop when my father divided his property. It is the only direct route from the old quarry to the market highway."
Julian frowned. "Grant intends to develop the quarry land."
"Then I imagine he finds the road extremely convenient."
"You knew about his plans?"
"I knew he purchased the quarry last winter. He wrote asking whether I would grant him passage for heavy wagons."
Julian stepped closer. "And what did you say?"