Page 40 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“She is mad,” Catherine sighed. “I am sickened you had to observe such a display. Leonard will hear about this. Her father will be ashamed although it is his fault she is such a brat.”
Elizabeth barely heard Catherine’s exasperated but light assurances, the Duke’s sister apparently untroubled by what had happened.
I am troubled,Elizabeth thought, rushing ahead to catch up with Frances, who ran, terrified. There was something sinister in Priscilla’s words, something undeniably wicked. Elizabeth realized she believed the woman’s threat with every fiber of being.
Chapter 13
The hunt had gone much better than Leonard had expected. The Viscount proved to be good company with witty conversation. Leonard had expected father and son to pair off in the woods but to his surprise, Percival has asked to partner with the Duke when the four men had gotten into the thick. Young David had been displeased by the arrangement, citing his unfamiliarity with Herbert.
“It is an opportunity for you to know one another better,” Percival insisted. “You do not mind a bit, do you, Mr. Barlough?”
Leonard could see that the barrister was equally off-put by the arrangement but he did not contradict the Viscount.
“It would be my pleasure to hunt with Mr. Follett,” Herbert mumbled without an iota of conviction.
“It is settled, then,” Percival announced. “You should venture to the east. The Duke and I will go to the west. May the best men win.”
Leonard learned that the Viscount had not been merely boasting about his hunting abilities. The man had a keen nose for prey and soon, they had bagged themselves two foxes, five pheasants, and three hares, mostly taken down by Percival’s gun.
“You will keep my taxidermist occupied for half the season,” Leonard jested. “I daresay, he will not have the time for anyone else in the duchy!”
“You flatter me, Duke,” Percival replied slyly but Leonard could see his compliments were held in high esteem.
“Shall we head back to Brookside soon?” Leonard asked innocently but the Viscount saw directly through his companion’s transparent question with razor’s-edge acuteness.
“Do you long for her so much that you cannot bear an afternoon away?”
Leonard was becoming accustomed to Percival’s blunt manner of speaking but even so, he found himself slightly abashed by the query.
“I have been away from Miss Elizabeth for a number of afternoons,” he reminded the man.
Too many afternoons for my liking,Leonard added silently.
“Indeed,” Percival conceded. “I do not fault you. I am simply posing the question. I cannot say that I have ever seen a man become so smitten in such a short time. That is saying a great deal, Duke. I have met many men.”
“I have met many women,” Leonard answered. “And I have never before felt so drawn to one in all of my travels.”
Percival eyed him from horseback, the men riding silently side-by-side for a moment.
“I stand corrected about you, Duke,” Percival told him. “Forgive my doubts.”
“Your doubts? Whatever would those be, Lord Gordon?”
“I did not believe you would capture Elizabeth but it seems whatever you feel for her is mutual. She was aglow when you returned last evening.”
Leonard had not realized that Percival had been awake to see them. He and Elizabeth had stolen into the darkened manor well after the house was abed. He made no comment on the matter.
“I did hope she felt the same connection,” Leonard said instead. “But I daresay it is difficult to be one-sided on such an issue when the feeling is so strong.”
“I, for one, am elated to hear it. While I would never force the matter with Elizabeth, I had hoped she would soon find a match in a good house.”
“Well, Lord Gordon, I have not proposed marriage yet but it is good to know that I have your blessing for when the time comes.”
“For when the time comes?” Percival sounded stunned. “You have contemplated marriage after one day?”
Leonard chuckled but he did realize he had spoken without much thought. He could not speak of marriage so quickly after breaking off his engagement to Priscilla yet Leonard knew that Elizabeth was the lady he desired. There was no doubt in his mind.
“There is little I do not contemplate, Lord Gordon, as I consider myself a thorough man. You must not accept that as hastiness on my part. I realize that your daughter is a lady who will not be pressed into anything and that we have only begun to know one another. When the time is right, I will present the idea of a union to you and to her. There is no rush, after all. We are both young enough and her childbearing years are many.”
