Page 33 of The Duke's Reluctant Muse
“Angry?” With a shake of his head, Jonathan offered her a small smile. “I was angry with Lady Ludlow, I am afraid, and it is that which almost stole my sense quite away. Had you not appeared, then I am sure I would have let an angry tirade out of my mouth and that would not have done me well, I know.” Frustrated with himself, he shook his head and let out a small sigh. “She made herself out to be a lady wronged, someone whohad come to offer forgiveness to me rather than being truthful about who she really is and what she did.”
“Just as you suspected she might.”
“Indeed.” Jonathan offered her a small, wry smile. “I half hoped that she would stay back from me, that she would put as much distance between us both as I was doing but it appears that I was quite mistaken. Though now, mayhap, she will understand that my intentions are to ignore her.”
“Mayhap.” She stepped back from him, taking her place on the dance floor. “She does appear quite determined. I am sorry for that.”
Jonathan bowed just as the music began. “You are nothing but kind, Elizabeth. And without your arrival, without your interruption, I would, no doubt, have said something I would now be regretting.” Stepping forward to take her in his arms, Jonathan smiled down into her eyes, his whole being now light rather than heavy, his heart lifted instead of weighted. “Thank you, Elizabeth. I am truly grateful.”
Chapter Seventeen
Elizabeth looked up as her brother marched into the room, a little surprised at the frown pulling his expression down. “Dennington? Are you quite all right?”
“Yes.” He made to sit down, only to seem to think better of it and began to then instead march about the drawing room, his brow still heavy and his head bowed forward a little as though deep in thought. Elizabeth set her embroidery to one side, watching him and finding herself a little concerned. Was he about to tell her that his headaches had begun to return? These last few weeks, he had seemed to be in better health than she had seen him in some time but was that now all about to come to an end?
“Elizabeth.” Dennington turned his head to look at her, coming to a stop. “My dear sister, there is something that I must tell you.”
She blinked at him but said nothing.
“I have made a decision.”
Relief leached out of her, her shoulders slumping as she nodded. “Yes?” Clearly it was not that he was unwell again and for that, she was very glad indeed.
“This decision will affect you,” her brother continued, beginning to pace again, rubbing one hand over his forehead. “I do not want to upset you in any way, nor surprise you for, in fact, I desire your considerations and your thoughts.”
Becoming a little exasperated now, Elizabeth folded her hands in her lap and arched an eyebrow. “Dennington, rather than speaking in riddles, might you instead simply tell me what it is that troubles you so?”
Her brother let out another sigh, glancing back at her before continuing his march up and down the room. Despite hercoaxing, he still did not speak openly and it was only when she let out a sigh of exasperation that he finally sank down into a seat. Putting his elbows on his knees, he sank his chin down into his hands and let out what sounded like a rather mournful sigh.
Concern wriggled in Elizabeth’s stomach but she silenced it quickly, looking back at her brother and waiting for him to speak. Her patience grew thin but recognizing that there was something weighty on his mind, she waited still, pressing her own hands tight together to push out her frustration.
Then, he lifted his gaze and looked at her. “Elizabeth, I think I am in love with Lady Annette.”
Astonishment poured into Elizabeth’s heart. “Love?”
He nodded, appearing to be quite miserable at the thought, no joy expressed in his face. “It is quite dreadful.”
“Dreadful?” Elizabeth frowned. “I do not understand.”
A groan broke from him as he dropped his head back into his hands. “It is not at all as I thought it would be, Elizabeth! I did not think that I would ever feel such a strong affection for anyone but now that I do… well, it has quite overpowered me!”
Rising from her chair, Elizabeth walked across to her brother, bent down and looked up into his face. “That does not sound so dreadful, brother.”
“Oh, but it is! I cannot sleep! I can barely eat and I have lost interest in all else. All I think about is Lady Annette, all Idreamabout is of Lady Annette! She does have her faults and failings, as do I, but I do not give them even a moment’s thought! How can I continue on in this way, Elizabeth? How am I meant to think of my duties and my responsibilities when my heart is so very full?”
Understanding what it was he meant, Elizabeth could not help but laugh. Her brother’s eyes rounded and he pulled back, seemingly a little affronted, but Elizabeth grasped his hand and pressed it quickly.
“Dennington, mydearbrother, you must not despair! That is quite the opposite of what you ought to do, I am sure.”
He frowned. “I do not understand. I am tormented, Elizabeth,tormented!”
“And so you shall be until you tell her of your feelings,” Elizabeth told him, all too aware that the very same thought was in her own mind, for her thoughts had been centered solely on the Duke of Nottingham for some time now and she well recognized the agony her brother spoke of. “I think you must speak to Annette and tell her the very same things you have told me.”
This made him frown all the harder, as though that thought brought him pain or distress rather than relief. Elizabeth waited, seeing the changing of his expression and wondering what it was he was thinking.
Eventually, he sighed and shook his head. “And if she tells me that her feelings do not match my own, then what trouble shall I face?” he asked, a little hoarse now. “I fear that I shall become all the more sorrowful!”
Elizabeth pressed his hand again and then rose to her feet. “My dear brother, are you truly foolish enough to think that Lady Annette has no interest in you whatsoever?” She lifted one eyebrow as he looked up at her, hope flickering in his eyes. “Come now, you lack a little boldness, that is all.”
