Page 18 of The Penitent Duke
Lady Eleanor instantly sucked in a breath, her eyes rounding, staring back at Rosalind with shock written into every line of her expression.
Rosalind said nothing.
“I have not said yes to his request,” Rosalind murmured, reaching out to press one of Lady Eleanor’s hands, coldness seeping into her fingers. “I have said only that I will consider it.”
“Consider it? Are you quite in your right mind?” Lady Eleanor suddenly came to life, gripping Rosalind’s hand tightly, with a fierceness that Rosalind had not expected. “You cannot think about marrying that gentleman! From the first moment we were introduced to the Duke of Strathmore, he was nothing but rude and impolite! The questions he asked you were more than improper and even when his friend interjected, he still continued. Why then would you eventhinkabout accepting him?”
Rosalind squeezed her friend’s hand. “Because I have no other choice.”
“Youdohave a choice!” Lady Eleanor exclaimed, only to close her eyes as Rosalind shushed her quietly. “You do have a choice,” she said again, albeit in a much softer voice than before. “You can choose not to wed him! And then you can find someone else, someone much more improved than him.”
“And who would that be?” Rosalind asked, lifting her hands and then letting them fall to her sides. “You know as well as I that I have very little hope of finding a successful match. If I refuse the Duke, then it mightwell be that my only choice is to marry a gentleman of disrepute – either that or become a spinster. My father will do his best for me, of course, but I can already see that his choices will be limited most severely.” She shook her head and sighed, pressing one hand to her temple for a moment. “Believe me when I say that I have already thought through all of my choices – including the choice to refuse him – and the consequences that will follow them all.” She lowered her gaze, afraid that tears would begin to flow if she continued to look into Lady Eleanor’s sympathetic gaze. “And I must think of Emilia.”
Lady Eleanor let out a long, slow breath. “You are always so considerate, my dear friend.”
“She is my sister,” Rosalind answered, looking back up now. “I know that you would do the same for Laura.”
“I am not sure I would!” came the reply, making Rosalind’s lips lift just a little. “As fond as I am of my sister, I am not certain I am fond enough of her to consider matrimony to such an oaf as the Duke of Strathmore!”
Rosalind laughed softly, relieved that her friend understood.
“All the same, I am still determined to advise you not to accept him.” A seriousness came into Lady Eleanor’s voice again and she took both of Rosalind’s hands in her own, gripping them a little more firmly than Rosalind had expected. A sharp gleam came into her eyes, looking at Rosalind with a sharpness that made her breath catch just a little.
“If you consent to marry him, then I believe that your future will hold nothing but sadness and disappointment,” Lady Eleanor stated, unequivocally. “I do not say this to upset you but rather to make it quite plain to you what I believe your future will hold. The Duke of Strathmore is known to be of a dark disposition, with a heaviness in his heart and mind that cannot be relieved, it seems, by anything. He clearly does not like company, does not want to be in conversation or the like and pushes those away who evenattemptto be genial to him!” She closed her eyes, her lips bunching together for just a moment. “Again, I do not say this to hurt you.”
“I know. You are concerned for me, just as I would be for you.”
Lady Eleanor nodded, a glimmer of tears in her eyes now. “I want nothing but happiness for you, as you want for me. I simply do not think that a gentleman who has shut himself away for so many years will be able to bring you an ounce of happiness for your entire life together!”
“Shut himself away?” Rosalind frowned as Lady Eleanor released her hands. “I know that he was not in society for some time but I did not know that he wasshut awayfrom it all, as you have just said. Why did he dosuch a thing? And what brings him back to London now?” Recalling something the Duke had said, she held up one hand. “Wait a moment, I recall now. He is here for the wedding of his cousin.”
“That is quite so.” Lady Eleanor tilted her head. “Are you certain you have not heard of the reasons for the Duke’s silence? For his absence from society?” When Rosalind shook her head no, Lady Eleanor grimaced. “Then I shall tell you, but not here. Come, let us go to Gunter’s for an ice.”
“Of course.” Stepping out, Rosalind glanced to her friend, worry in her throat. “Might I ask how you know of it all?”
Lady Eleanor’s cheeks colored just a little. “Lord Radcliffe has come to call three times this last week and yesterday, we walked together through the park. I was going to tell you at once, of course, but hearing this news from you has quite put it from my mind!”
Rosalind offered her a small smile. “I am very glad for you, if he is worthy of you.”
“I think that he is. He has told me a little more about the Duke of Strathmore, however, though he also seemed surprised I had not heard the story before now.” She shrugged. “It seems society has always been talking of him for the last few years, though I did say that we were not inclined towards listening to gossip and that might well be why we have not heard.”
“I certainly have heard nothing of him before now.” Walking into Gunter’s, Rosalind and Lady Eleanor each took a seat by a small table in the corner, their orders given to one of the waiting staff who soon returned with two ices in two glasses. Rosalind said nothing more about the Duke of Strathmore for some minutes as both she and Lady Eleanor enjoyed their ices – with Rosalind having requested chocolate and Lady Eleanor, lemon.
Eventually, Lady Eleanor set down her spoon, smiled and sighed contentedly. “That was quite lovely, I must say. And a good fortification for what I must now tell you!”
Rosalind, who was still eating, merely nodded, hoping that her friend would continue. Lowering her voice – for Gunter’s was one of the most fashionable places to be at present and was now full of members of society – Lady Eleanor obliged.
“Some years ago, the Duke of Strathmore was betrothed,” Lady Eleanor began, making Rosalind’s eyebrows lift high in surprise. “He was to be married to a lady by the name of Pearl and, it was said, he cared for her very much. She was beautiful, engaging and charming, by all accounts, but mayhap a little tenacious with it, though the Duke of Strathmore did not seem to think this a poor quality in her character.”
Rosalind scowled. “Would that he felt the same now!”
“He does not like that you are determined, that you are to decide on matters for yourself, I know,” Lady Eleanor continued, clicking her tongue in obvious disapproval, “but I believe there is reason for that. The reason being, his previous betrothal.”
“Oh?”
Lady Eleanor took in a breath, then leaned even closer across the table, her voice very quiet indeed. “Lady Pearl died, Rosalind.”
Rosalind’s heart turned over in her chest, her eyes wide.
