Page 46 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
Elizabeth’s face turned serious suddenly and she cocked her head.
“Does it trouble you that I am cautious?”
He sat up, his own smile fading. Quickly, he reached across for her gloved hand and pulled her into a sitting position.
“Elizabeth, I jest with you, it is true. But you must know I will wait for you. Do you still have doubts about us? About…” He did not wish to finish his thought as they had not spoken about Priscilla since that cursed day but if the notion still lingered in her mind, he needed to know.
“About Miss Priscilla?”
Her eyes widened and Leonard silently cursed himself for having brought the subject to surface.
“I have not thought about her,” she replied and Leonard could read the truth in her face. “I swear, she is the last matter on my mind.”
“What matters do haunt your mind?”
A slight look of sadness crossed her face and again, Leonard wished he had the foresight to think through his questions before asking.
“I am not certain you would like to know,” she sighed.
“You are mistaken. There is nothing about you which I do not long to know.”
A faint smile touched her lips but it was gone as quickly as it had come.
“What will become of us after I leave here in a fortnight?” she asked softly.
“We will write often and you will visit Pembroke,” Leonard replied, not a beat lost. He, too, had given a great deal of thought toward what would happen next.
Of course, in his mind’s eye, he had envisioned Elizabeth returning to Gordon with a promise of marriage on her lips but they were still some weeks away from that.
“I will travel to Gordon, of course.”
“Yes, I imagine that is what will occur,” Elizabeth sighed. “But that is not what I meant entirely.”
He stared at her quizzically.
“I am afraid I do not understand your worries, my dear. Tell me what is on your mind.”
She inhaled deeply and released a deep breath.
“What if we are to marry, Leonard?”
His pulse quickened.
“Is it something you have considered, barely a fortnight in?” he teased but his mind was racing.
“Our future is something I have considered, yes,” she answered quietly. “I do not see the point of continuing to court if we do not have a future together.”
“Indeed,” Leonard agreed. “But I still do not understand your conundrum, Elizabeth. Forgive me, I am witless in your presence.”
She laughed in spite of herself but again her face fell grave.
“I would move to Pembroke and leave my family behind,” she explained and suddenly Leonard understood her plight.
“I see.”
They stared at one another in silence for a long moment. Elizabeth tried to force a smile upon her face but the act was futile and she merely grimaced sadly.
“Forgive me,” she murmured. “I am being sentimental about matters which have not yet occurred—which may not occur.”
