Page 11 of The Duke's Reluctant Muse
“There is a good deal that you are not telling me,” her brother remarked, chuckling when Elizabeth threw him a sharp look. “Very well, very well. I shall not ask you anymore. Rather, I shall respond to these two invitations and state that I shall not be attending but that you, however, would be delighted to come.”
Elizabeth’s head spun around, her breath catching in her chest. “I cannot! I have no chaperone.”
“Ah, but that has all been arranged.” Her brother smiled gently, coming to put one reassuring hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder. “My dear sister, you did not think that I would not make any sort of arrangement for you, did you? Recognising that I cannot attend every occasion, I have made sure that there is another who will chaperone you.”
Elizabeth blinked in surprise. “Who is it?”
“Why,” her brother remarked, with a small smile, “it is the very Duke himself!” His hand lifted. “I am sure you did not quite finish reading the letter, did you? That will confirm it.”
With shock rifling through her, Elizabeth forced her gaze back to the letter and read the final few lines that the Duke had written.
“‘As to the matter of your sister’s chaperoning, though I do not feel at all adequate, I would be glad to do so if it is required.’” Elizabeth stared at the final few words, her breath hitching in her chest, hardly daring to believe that her brother had done such a thing. At some juncture during the gathering, her brotherhad perhaps broached such a matter with the Duke, without her noticing. Surely there had to be someone else that he could consider for such a thing! Surely there was some distant relation that might be prevailed upon to come to London to chaperone her? Opening her mouth to protest, to tell her brother that she did not think this at all suitable, Elizabeth turned her head to speak to him – but Lord Dennington had already quit the room.
***
“It is very good of you to do this, Your Grace.” Feeling her stomach twisting sharply as she spoke, Elizabeth dared a glance up at the Duke who only gave her a nod whilst, at the very same time, seeming to refuse to look at her. It had taken her some discussion with her brother to convince Elizabeth to do as had been arranged, for the thought of being present with the Duke and having him as her chaperone had been a deeply uncomfortable one, though Elizabeth had not been quite able to understand why. Her brother had insisted that the Duke would do just as was required, having done so already with his sister some years ago but it was not his ability which concerned her. She was not known to him and nor he to her, and yet somehow she had to stand beside him, walk with him, having him as her almost constant companion as she made her way through society?
“I have not yet been at a soiree this Season,” she continued, feeling the urge to speak even though there was very little for her to speak given that they were simply waiting to greet the host for the evening. “I am sure that you have been to a good many.”
“There is very little need for you to converse with me, Miss Jeffries, if you do not wish to.”
Elizabeth swallowed tightly, seeing the Duke’s eyes flicker with something unspoken. Could he see in her eyes that there was concern in her heart? Did he see that she was worriedabout being present with him and felt the absence of her brother keenly? Or was it that he simply did not want her to speak?
“The evening will go very well, I am sure,” the Duke continued, his blue eyes catching her gaze for only a moment before pulling away again. “You will speak to many a gentleman and lady, make new acquaintances, eat and drink and then it will be time to enjoy whatever entertainment is offered. That is all that it will be though I am sure you will think it an excellent evening regardless of what takes place.”
Elizabeth swallowed hard, giving him a small nod before pulling her gaze away again. She felt herself a little berated by him, wondering if he thought her foolish in some way. Standing in silence as they walked slowly together towards their host – Lord Templeton – Elizabeth pressed her lips flat together, silently wondering if the Duke had received and read her letter to him, though he still believed that it was her brother who had written it. Within the letter, she had assured him that there was no insult taken but that there was, also, no need for any sort of concern when it came to Elizabeth and gossip. She had stated quite clearly that there was no thought of gossip, that it was not something that either of them tolerated and that he could trust her without hesitation. Whether the Duke would accept that or not, Elizabeth could not tell.
He does seem to be rather staid,she thought to herself, slowly approaching their host for a greeting.He has not greeted me warmly, has not made any attempt at conversation and has, in fact, attempted to keep me silent so I do not have to speak to him either!Her brow furrowed.Mayhap I shall write to him as my brother and express how he ought to behave in order to be amiable!
“Good evening.” Lord Templeton beamed at her, though his gaze quickly went to the Duke. “Ah, Your Grace! How delightful it is to see you this evening.”
“Thank you for your invitation.” The Duke bowed, then threw a glance to Elizabeth. “I am chaperoning Miss Elizabeth Jeffries for this evening, for her brother, Lord Dennington, is a little unwell.”
“Miss Jeffries, of course.” Again, Lord Templeton inclined his head, recognition in his expression now. “I do hope your brother will recover quite soon.”
“He is only resting,” Elizabeth answered, with a smile. “Thank you, Lord Templeton.”
With another nod, their host gestured to the door of the drawing room and the Duke strode towards it, leaving Elizabeth to follow behind. Elizabeth took in a deep breath, setting her shoulders and lifting her chin as she walked into the room, a little nervous about what she might find there.
To her surprise, though many glanced towards her and then looked to the Duke, none came directly to speak with him. It was surprising for she had seen him speaking with many a gentleman at the ball when they had first been introduced but now, it seemed, no-one was eager to come to greet him. Had he truly such a dark reputation?
“I am not certain that… ” The Duke began to say something, lines drawing across his forehead as he looked at her, only to shake his head and then turn away with a sigh. Elizabeth stayed where she was, seeing many an eye turning towards her, perhaps wondering why she was here aloneorif she was truly being chaperoned by the Duke – the Duke that no-one appeared to desire to speak with! Forcing a smile to her lips, Elizabeth made her steps meander after the Duke, though he had now gone to fetch something to drink and had not seemed to think thatshemight like something also. Had he quite forgotten her? Or was it that he thought that, in bringing her to the soiree, his work was quite done? The nervousness in her stomach grew all the more as she saw one lady whispering behind her hand to another,her eyes lingering on Elizabeth, though they darted away the moment Elizabeth lifted an eyebrow in question.
I will not be overcome.
Swallowing her fear, Elizabeth turned her head to look at the painting on the wall, pretending to feign an interest in the landscape painted there whilst, at the very same time, praying that the Duke would do or say something that might ease her trouble. All he had to do was introduce her to another gentleman or lady to set her at ease but as yet, all the interest he had shown her was in the glass of whiskey in his hand.
“Do you think it a fine painting?”
A gentle voice behind her made Elizabeth turn quickly, a young lady coming to stand beside her.
“I only ask because you look quite as terrified as I feel and I must hope that this painting is bringing you some comfort!” the young lady continued, smiling at Elizabeth, though there was a slight tremble there. “I know we have not been introduced and it is not the done thing to speak so boldly but Imustpray that you will not be overly concerned with such things.”
Relief swam through Elizabeth’s tumultuous emotions, calming them. “Not in the least,” she breathed, turning to face the young lady. “I am Miss Elizabeth Jeffries and I should beveryglad to make your acquaintance.”
The young lady’s hazel eyes warmed, a breath of relief escaping her. “Lady Annette. My brother is the Earl of Westridge, though he appears to have forgotten that I am in need of his company this evening to introduce me to others!”
Elizabeth smiled in understanding. “My brother is Viscount Dennington, though he is absent this evening. He is recovering from a lingering malady so often finds himself fatigued, though he has been improving of late.”
