Page 47 of Her Duke Next Door
You have my gratitude.
Sincerely, the Duke of Livingston.
Mary’s face was hot with anger as she read the Duke’s letter. Of course, he had disappeared, and shewasrelieved to not have to keep up their farce any longer but to leave his daughter so whimsically in Mary’s care! It was very presumptuous.
But is this not what you agreed to?She asked herself. She knew that the Duke longed for a mother for Katie, and now she was Katie’s stepmother. She had a natural duty of care.
Mary looked at the sullen girl over the breakfast table. Even if she did not, she could scarcely stand to see the poor thing so dismal.
“Eloise,” Mary said. “Why don’t you show Katie how to saddle up Benson the way Bernie is teaching you? I think she might like to visit your pony. Katie, do you know how to ride?”
Katie nodded. “I have been getting lessons.”
“Lovely,” Mary said, trying to sound cheery enough for them both. “Then you may ride on Benson if that is quite alright with Eloise.”
“Of course! Let us prepare, Katie!” Eloise cried, reaching for the other girl. The two of them rushed out of the dining room, and Mary breathed a sigh of relief.
Silence settled in around her and she found herself grateful. She had expected the Duke to leave, of course, and they could now drop their act, but she had hoped that he would stay around longer for Katie.
And now she had two mischievous troublemakers to keep an eye on.
* * *
Katie and Eloise hurried into the stables, where Eloise led Katie to a grey and white-haired pony in the stall nearest the door.
“This is Benson! My mama got me him for my last birthday. She says I am now old enough to start my lessons. She and my aunt Anne were both excellent riders when they were young, and I wish to be the same. Now that we are sisters, we can share them!”
The two of them giggled together.Sisters.
“Well, our plan did work!” Eloise chirped. “We wished to be sisters and now we are. And you have a mama, too! Mine shall be the best for you, Katie.”
There was a sad look in Katie’s eyes that Eloise did not understand. She had lived without a papa for many years. With a mama like hers, Katie did not need to be sad anymore!
“Our plan did not really work, though,” Katie sighed. She slumped against the wooden stall as Eloise smiled, petting Benson. “They are not in love and my papa has left again. Eloise, we must make a new plan. A grand one! Something that will bring both of our parents back together. A plan so he will not leave again and he will fall in love with your mama.”
“Ourmama,” Eloise giggled. “Do not forget she is yours now too!”
“Stay focused, Eloise,” Katie chided lightly. “Let us think.” Her lips lifted in a pout as she thought. Meanwhile, Benson was saddled up and brought out of the stall. “We could get into so much mischief that your mama has no choice but to call my papa back home!”
“Oh, that is wonderful!” Eloise cried. “What shall we do, though?”
“My papa always shouts at me. If I am mischievous enough then he will want to come home to do it again. I could break a toy.”
* * *
“Mama, come quickly!” Eloise cried, rushing down the hallway to her mama’s parlor, where she was embroidering by the window.
“What is it? What is wrong?” Mary jumped up, hastened by her daughter’s insistent tugging on her hand.
“It is Katie! She has done something terrible!”
Mary followed Eloise to the girls’ playroom in Livingston Castle. It was spacious and grand, and the gardens were far bigger than her own had been in Dower House. While she missed her own home across the fields, she could not ignore how splendid Livingston Castle was. Her only glimpses had been at Katie’s party and that had been brief.
Mary was expecting something awful but when she walked into the playroom, she found that Katie was angrily pointing at a smashed doll.
“Look!” Katie cried. “I broke it.” She stomped her foot.
“Oh, dear,” Mary said. “Is it one of your favorites?”
