Page 29 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“You must go without me then, Father as you were the one who was invited,” Elizabeth insisted.
“Out of the question.”
Their gazes met and Elizabeth could see she would not win such an argument but she tried one last time.
“Why, Father? Why must I go?”
A coy smile broke out across the Viscount’s face and he laughed lightly.
“Because, my dear girl, the Duke of Pembroke has specifically requested your presence.”
Chapter 9
It had not been a restful fortnight in Pembroke but Leonard had expected as much upon returning from Fife. There had not been a moment of calm before he had been forced to have an audience with Christian, Baron of Argonshire regarding the disillusion of his engagement with Priscilla.
Leonard had grown dizzy watching the man mutter and sigh, gesticulating wildly and rudely as he tried to make sense of what had happened between the Duke and his daughter.
“I do not understand!” the Baron cried. “What could possibly have changed in a few short months? Plans have been made! Invitations are being drawn!”
Leonard did not know how to explain to the distraught man that he simply could no longer bear the thought of marrying his spoiled daughter. That Priscilla did not hold a candle to Elizabeth Follett in any way. He opted for a graceful out instead, no matter how much the truth burned to escape his mouth.
“You must not take this as a slight to your house, Lord Argonshire. Miss Priscilla and I are not a suitable match, after all. She is a fine article and you will have no trouble finding her a good husband forthwith. There will certainly be no ill spoken of her from Pembroke.”
“I had found her a good husband!” the Baron exploded, unable to keep his temper subdued. “Is there any truth to the rumors of another woman?”
Leonard studied him impassively but he was annoyed by the question.
“And if there were another that interested me more? What then?” he challenged. The Baron’s face turned red with fury, taking the queries as an admission of guilt.
“That would make you most dishonorable, Duke, with all due respect.”
Leonard understood Baron Argonshire’s angst but he could not let the man forget his place.
“I would say that statement lacks respect,” Leonard countered. “And I daresay that it shows a great deal of character to end an engagement rather than commit to a farce when my heart belongs to another.”
The Baron’s eyes widened in shock.
“Then you admit there is another!”
“I admit nothing and you would do well to remember that I said no such thing. It would be in extremely poor taste for a man of your stature to add to the silly rumors already flying about like pollen, gossip I suspect your own daughter has started. I am loathe to believe I nearly wed a woman who is capable of such pettiness.”
Christian’s mouth became a fine line of fury but no protest sprung forth as even the Baron knew his daughter was adept at doing far worse than fuelling the rumor mills. When he was certain he had Christian’s undivided attention, Leonard continued.
“I will ensure that your expenses for the union are recompensed plus additional for your troubles, sir.”
“There is not enough money to recoup the losses on my troubles,” Christian spat with disgust but Leonard was finished with the conversation. If he did not end the talks abruptly, he had no doubt that the Baron would keep him there all night, begging, cajoling, and threatening.
“Good day, Lord Argonshire.”
With that, Leonard gestured for his guards to escort the incensed Baron from Brookside but the Duke had the sense that the matter was far from over. The House of Argonshire was not known for their subtle nature. It was not surprising that Priscilla was the intense shrew that she was.
In that moment, however, Leonard did not know why he was thinking about Baron Argonshire. The last person who should be occupying his thoughts that afternoon, as he stared out the window of his study, anxiously anticipating the arrival of the House of Gordon to the manor. His mind had been on little else but Elizabeth’s impending arrival since he and Lord Gordon had made their arrangements. He idly considered that he worried what would happen if the House of Argonshire learned that Elizabeth and her family stayed at Brookside.
I imagine this will need to be another poorly kept secret,Leonard commented to himself ruefully, his thoughts returning to the family’s arrival. It troubled him little that the House of Argonshire might learn about Elizabeth’s arrival but Leonard suspected that the Viscount’s daughter would feel quite differently, knowing she was the subject of such animus.
“I would prefer to keep this holiday quiet from Elizabeth for the time,” Lord Gordon had explained. “I fear if she learns of our intended trip, she will find cause to talk her way out of it.”
It had surprised Leonard slightly, possibly stinging him. Had it occurred to him that Elizabeth might be forced to visit Pembroke, he wondered if he would have arranged for it in the first place.
