Page 41 of The Duke's Reluctant Muse
“Thank you, Dennington.” Jonathan hesitated, pressing his lips together for a moment. “I am sorry if there has been any upset caused. I did not know what else to do.”
Lord Dennington let out a long sigh, shaking his head. “I do not blame you, my friend. This was Lady Ludlow’s doing, was it not? Trying to shame you, just as she has done before and, at the same time, pulling my sister into it also – no doubt because of her refusal to stay away from you.”
Greatly relieved that Lord Dennington was not about to turn on him and berate him for the choice he had made, Jonathan could not help the long sigh which broke through his lips.
“You care for my sister, do you not?” Lord Dennington’s eyes searched Jonathan as he slowly began to nod. “I can tell, my friend. You had every intention of speaking with me about her some days ago, but you were interrupted.”
“Yes.” Jonathan spread out his hands. “The truth is, Dennington, I have not known what to do with my feelings for they came upon me unexpectedly and since then, I have found them growing with a fierceness that has quite astonished me.”
His friend smiled. “It seems that you and I have found ourselves in similar situations, for I have felt the very same when it comes to Lady Annette.”
With a wry smile, Jonathan let his hands drop to his sides. “I did not think that I would ever feel so strongly for any person. Indeed, I was drawn to those other three ladies but the connection I have with Elizabeth is something that defies comprehension.” He let his shoulders drop. “I do hope that she was not too overwhelmed when the news came.”
Lord Dennington’s scowl returned. “She was a trifle, yes, but that is not solely because of you. She was told of the first rumour only a few minutes beforehand – Lady Annette came to speak to us – and I saw the fear on her face. In that moment, I believe she saw her future crumbling around her, saw what thetonmight do by their determination to cling to whatever whispers they had heard of her.” The scowl slowly began to fade. “And then some other ladies rushed towards her and began with their congratulations and, as they spoke, the fear she wore began to lessen. So indeed, she has been a little overwhelmed by it all but I think that she will see it as I do – that you have saved her from ruination.” The edge of his mouth lifted. “And that you will offer her a future happier than anything she might have ever imagined for herself.”
“I shall.” Putting one hand to his heart, Jonathan held his friend’s gaze steadily. “You know that I will care for her, Dennington. I am quite in love with her and want nothing more than to bring her happiness for every single day of her life.”
His friend grinned, the scowl gone completely now. “Then go and tell her,” he said, with a chuckle. “She is waiting for you. Come, let me take you to her.”
Without another word, Jonathan nodded and then followed after his friend, his heart beating furiously. He did not so much as glance at anyone else, fully aware of the darting glances and the exclamations which followed his progress through the ballroom. All of thetonpresent would be speaking of him now but there was only one person that he wanted to see – Elizabeth.
“Here.” Lord Dennington stepped to one side, gesturing to a door that was a little ajar. “Lady Annette is within also but I know she will step out once you arrive. And she and I shall wait here for a few minutes.”
Jonathan nodded, struggling to unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth. He felt himself tense, his hands curling into fists as he fought to find the right words to say to her. He did not know what her expression would be when she saw him, a little fearful that she would turn her head away from him, tears splashing onto her cheeks.
Courage,he told his heart, lifting his chin and, with another breath, stepping into the room.
“Elizabeth?” His voice was rasping as his gaze finally settled on her, seeing her sitting with her head bowed, her hands clasped lightly in her lap. “Might I speak with you?”
As Lady Annette slowly sidled out of the room, Jonathan made his way towards Elizabeth, seeing her head finally lifting though, much to his upset, she was not smiling.
“I am sorry.” It was not what he had intended to say, certainly, but the words came from his heart. Bending down in front of her, he looked up into her face, her eyes seemingly a little darker brown than usual. “I did not mean for it to happen this way.”
She closed her eyes, her breath sighing out of her. “I know you did not.” There was a tremor to her voice and Jonathan’s stomach twisted upon hearing it, afraid now that she was truly broken-hearted over what had happened.
“It was Lady Ludlow,” he said, daring to reach out and settle his hand over hers. “But all the same, Elizabeth, I would have come to ask you for your hand. It is what my heart truly desires.”
A single tear fell to her cheek, her gaze finally meeting his.
“It is quite true,” he continued, letting his fingers curl around hers. “I stayed away from you for too long, Elizabeth, andnow I regret my absence. Had I not done so, then this situation might never have occurred.”
She blinked quickly, though no more tears fell. “Then you forgive me?”
“Forgive you?” Pushing himself up to standing, Jonathan moved to sit next to the lady, though his hand never left hers. “What is there to forgive?”
“My deceit?” Her eyes began to flood again, her gaze darting down towards their joined hands. “I wrote to you pretending to be my brother and...”
“It was not deceit with the intention to harm,” Jonathan interrupted, as gently as he could. “You wanted to help me and you did. In so many ways.”
Elizabeth sniffed but let herself look back into his face again. “I did not mean to cause you any distress. I should have told you sooner than I did but I was afraid of what your reaction to this news might be.”
Jonathan winced. “And I did nothing to help that fear, given what I did in stepping away from you and, thereafter, hiding myself away.” He shook his head, dropping his chin down. “The truth is, Elizabeth, I was embarrassed by what I had written in those letters, mortified to know thatyouhad read my words. I revealed more of my thoughts, my considerations and the like in those letters than I had ever intended for you to know and it was that which kept me back from you.” He licked his lips. “I feared that you would think less of me.”
“But I thinkmoreof you!” Her exclamation had his head lifting, his eyes searching hers.
“In what way?”
Finally, a smile caught her lips. “From recognising that you had need of help! To reach out to my brother in the first place and seek assistance takes a great deal of honesty with oneself, does it not? Not every gentleman would do such a thing and yet,you were willing to do so. You made yourself vulnerable and in that, there is great strength. I cannot tell you how much I admire you.”
