Page 36 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“Yes, Father,” the young lord replied, a hopeful look in his eyes. Leonard realized that the boy had been looking forward to spending time with his father. The Duke recalled how much he had enjoyed hunting trips with his own father.
I arranged for this visit to grow closer to Miss Elizabeth but perhaps it will work out to everyone’s advantage after all. The men will bond, Herbert and Miss Follett will grow closer to one another—I am practically a saint for the causes of love and family.
Leonard could not help but feel slightly proud of himself. Beatrice approached to clear his plate and he sat back, surveying the table with contented eyes. There was an easy rapport, a sense of comradery, which one did not easily find among strangers. Solidifying his sense of ease, Catherine spoke to the women with uncharacteristic pleasantness.
“Perhaps while the men are off conquering hapless animals in their barbaric manner, we ladies could do something more dignified,” she suggested. “Would you care to join me in town?”
Instantly, his good mood vanished. If Elizabeth agreed to join Catherine, his plan to feign illness would be for naught.
“Perhaps Miss Follett and Miss Elizabeth would rather stay closer to Brookside,” he answered hastily but even as he spoke, Frances was leaning forward eagerly and Leonard knew his objection was unheeded.
“Indeed! Perhaps I will find that headdress I have sought for so long, Liza!”
Leonard groaned to himself but as he looked at Elizabeth, a sly smile formed on her lips and he wondered if she had not foreseen his ploy.
“Liza?” Frances insisted when her younger sister did not immediately respond. “What say you?”
“Of course,” Elizabeth replied. “I would be honored to join you, Lady Catherine. Your Grace, will you also join us?”
Mary chuckled and shook her regal head.
“No, my dear. I have many matters to attend here.” Leonard knew his mother meant to remain close to his father’s memory as she always had. Leaving Brookside tormented her, as though she were betraying her husband, in some strange manner which Leonard did not comprehend.
“We will find you a lovely brooch, Mother,” Catherine told her, knowing why she refused.
“I look forward to your selection,” Mary replied, smiling. Leonard noticed the look of quiet thoughtfulness his mother administered upon Elizabeth and he did not need to consider it long to realize that she approved of the Viscount’s daughter. He had certainly never seen Mary look at Priscilla in such a way. Leonard had never been more certain of a decision in all his life; Elizabeth was the woman with whom he was destined to be.
“You are gawking.” Catherine’s words were spoken in a whisper meant only for him but he blushed nonetheless at being caught staring at Elizabeth so openly. He was unable to keep his eyes from raking over her face, memorizing every line of her porcelain complexion, the gleam of her dark hair.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he called boldly across the table. She turned her head to look at him curiously, a pink tinge touching her face. He was again struck with the idea that she was able to read his thoughts before he spoke them aloud.
“Your Grace?”
“Would you care to join me on an evening constitutional?”
Her mouth parted and Catherine tittered at his side.
“Perhaps you should not have asked her at such a public forum,” his sister snickered. “Now she is obliged to agree.”
Leonard instantly wished he had thought of that but the glint in Elizabeth’s eyes told him that she did not feel the least bit cornered and she nodded her head formally, her eyes darting to the side to seek her father’s approval. Leonard did not need to look at Percival—he knew precisely where the Viscount stood on the matter.
“It is not a public forum,” Leonard told Catherine firmly. “We are among friends here, are we not? I will not be offended in the least if Miss Elizabeth refuses.”
The question was for Elizabeth as he willed her to give him the answer he desired. Leonard could not be certain if he was speaking the truth about taking offense.
“If it pleases my father, I will join you, Your Grace.”
Leonard beamed and he knew then that Elizabeth was slowly beginning to see him the way he saw her–as a potential match.
“It pleases me if it pleases you, Liza,” Percival replied easily. The amused lilt in his voice was not lost on Leonard. The Duke was beginning to wonder if he was becoming a joke at everyone else’s expense.
“Then if you will excuse us,” he said, rising from the head of the table. “I believe we will do that now before Miss Elizabeth changes her mind.”
“With respect, Your Grace, it seems you are more apt to a shift of heart than my sister.” Stunned, Leonard whipped his head around to look at David, who stared back at him defiantly. He was instantly reminded of the boy who had openly confronted him at the wedding in Fife.
Is young David going to be a problem now?
“I assure you, Mr. Follett, I am anything but fickle when it comes to my heart,” Leonard told him easily although his eyes had narrowed into slits. “I cannot imagine where you would get such a perception of me.”
