Page 23 of The Duke's Reluctant Muse
“I shall be no good a husband if all I do is lie down in darkness every few days!” He threw up his hands. “I think that...”
“You are being ridiculous.” Rising to her feet, Elizabeth made her way towards him and caught his hands, stopping him in his pacing. “Dennington, you were not always lying abed with these pains in your head. Yes, they were quite dreadful for you and indeed, there was nothing about them that brought you any joy but they certainly did not occur at the rate you are suggesting! I did not always have to care for you, as you have said, but spent many a day doing other things! And given that you have improved significantly since we have been in London, does that not tell you something about how you were living back at the estate?”
Her brother blinked. “I do not know what you mean.”
“You were given too much to your duties!” she exclaimed, squeezing his hands. “Brother, I understand that you have a great weight of responsibility upon your shoulders but that does not mean in theleastthat you ought to be giving all of your time to them.” She released his hands but smiled gently. “Dennington, our father would be very proud of all that you have done. Our mother also. But if you give all of yourself to your estate and to your business affairs and barely any time even to the simplest of things such as eating dinner with your sister, then is it any wonder that you have found yourself so troubled?”
Taking in a breath so that his shoulders lifted, Lord Dennington rubbed one hand over his eyes. “I suppose it is no coincidence that my health has improved since I have come to London and done very little as regards my responsibilities to the title.”
A quiet laugh pulled from her throat. “No, it is no coincidence at all.”
“Then you think that if I am a good deal more careful about such things, then I might have a chance of being free from any sort of pain?” His eyes searched hers, a desperation flickering there.
Elizabeth smiled. “Of course I do. You are a gentleman of great kindness and goodness, one who wishes to give all of himself to whatever he is asked to do. I understand that and I do value it but you must not let that desire push aside your own heartandyour own health. Give some time to enjoyment, to being in the company of others and to laughter. That, I am sure, will bring you great healing, no matter whether you are here in London or at home.”
Slowly, Lord Dennington began to nod, the frustration and upset seeming to seep out of him. Elizabeth watched him steadily, both relieved that he had spoken but sorrowful of the heavy thoughts which had kept him at home these last few days.
“It is hard to reconcile what I know of myself – and what I fear I will return to – to the thought of being wed,” he told her, offering a small, sad smile. “I fear that even if I were to pursue a young lady and offer her my hand, what she might soon find me to be by way of a husband would be a good deal less than she had hoped.”
Elizabeth considered this, then shrugged lightly. “I think that if you are able to be honest and truthful with any young lady that you consider, then she will know of your thoughts and concerns and you of hers. That way, if shedoesaccept you, itwill be in the full knowledge of what you fear might happen. That should bring you some relief, even though I am sure your megrims will not return once you make your way back home.”
Lord Dennington smiled and then reached to embrace her. “You are quite remarkable, my dear sister,” he said in her ear, as Elizabeth hugged him back tightly. “You have more wisdom than I give you credit for.” Leaning back, he squeezed her hands. “It is little wonder that the Duke no longer requires my advice, not when he has you to speak to directly!”
Flushing, Elizabeth looked away. “I am sure that is not so. Besides which, I am the one who has been writing to him and even with that, he does not require me.”
“We shall see about that.” With a grin and appearing to be a good deal back to his usual, jovial self, Lord Dennington walked across the room to ring the bell. “I think that the Duke will turn to you in person all the more, Elizabeth. Mark my words, he will come to speak with you directly, seeing – as I do – the wisdom within you.”
A rush of pleasure captured Elizabeth’s heart, though she shook her head at her brother, refusing to accept what he had said. The Duke had made it quite clear as to his motivations and she was not about to believe that it was because he knew he could speak to her directly, if he so wished it.
“Tea?” Her brother gestured to the maid who had responded to the bell. “To help you finish your letter, mayhap?”
Elizabeth nodded, going to sit back down at the writing desk. “I should like that very much, I thank you.”
“Capital.” With a nod to the maid, Lord Dennington settled himself back in a chair, waiting until the maid had quit the room before he spoke again. “Might I read the letter when you are finished?”
“There is not much to say,” Elizabeth answered, not catching the look of surprise which etched itself across her brother’s face.“All it says is that he does not need advice at present, given that he has decided not to pursue any young ladies for a time. Instead, he seeks to improve himself upon society.”
“I see.”
Elizabeth threw him a quick smile, then pulled out a piece of parchment. “I am going to write to say that I quite understand – and that I… that is, you… will be back in London society very soon.” Saying nothing more, Elizabeth picked up her quill and began to write, ignoring the slight nagging in her mind that spoke of discontent that soon, the Duke would not write another letter to her, not for a very long time indeed.
Chapter Twelve
Jonathan smiled. “Thank you for the dance, Miss Glendale. It was most pleasant.”
“Indeed it was.” The blue eyed, fair haired young lady dropped into a perfect curtsy, her lips in a small smile as she rose. “You dance very well, Your Grace.”
A seed of pride wiggled into Jonathan’s heart but he did not permit it to blossom. “As do you, Miss Glendale. I shall certainly be seeking you out again, I can assure you.” Offering her his arm, he led her from the center of the ballroom back towards her mother who, much to his relief, was beaming with evident delight that Jonathan had taken her daughter to dance. How marked a change this was from how things had been for him at the start of the Season! In these last few weeks, he had found himself struggling but then, thanks to the advice of Lord Dennington and the encouragement from Miss Jeffries, he had found the situation beginning to improve. This was the first time since his arrival in society that he had danced almost every dance in one evening – and most of the young ladies had appeared evidently delighted that he had stepped out with them!
“Thank you again, Your Grace.” Miss Glendale bobbed another curtsy. “You must excuse me now, for I can see that Lord Dalton has come to claim me for the quadrille!”
“Dalton?” Jonathan turned his head, grinning broadly as his friend slapped him on the shoulder. “Good evening, my friend. I did not know you were present this evening.”
Lord Dalton chuckled. “And yet, here I am! Ready to steal Miss Glendale away from you and take her to the next dance.” His eyes turned to the lady and Jonathan’s heart lifted at the warmth which spread across the lady’s expression. After all that Lord Dalton had told him, Jonathan had silently hoped that hisfriend might, one day, find a young lady worthy of him. Clearly, Miss Glendale was glad of the gentleman’s company. Might it be that this would bring Lord Dalton some encouragement?
“Do come and find me later this evening,” Jonathan told his friend, before nodding to Miss Glendale and her mother. “I have some things I should like to ask you.” With a smile, he turned away and then made his way back through the crowd. That had been his last dance of the evening, for he had no young lady on his arm for the quadrille nor for the waltz which would be the supper dance. It was a little unfortunate that he had no partner for that, for it was very often a chance to speak at length with a young lady and know her a little better but it was not to be. Most of the young ladies would have already gained a partner by now, which meant that Jonathan had no opportunity to find a young lady not already engaged, not unless he sought out a wallflower… but even then, he would require an introduction!
“Ah, Nottingham! Good evening to you.”
