Page 50 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“Your heart is full of love for many,” he commented and Elizabeth thought she saw a glimmer of wistfulness in the depth of his eyes.
“What else did you wish to tell me of Catherine?” Elizabeth asked quickly, sensing that he was moving off the topic. She was eager to hear what else he had been keeping hidden in the depth of his own heart.
“Since you have come to Brookside, she is beginning to show signs of her former self. I believe you and your sister have reminded her what it is like to be loved.”
“She knows you love her, Leonard,” Elizabeth said softly.
“Perhaps,” he sighed. “But you have shown her the love I should have.”
He paused and studied her face closely.
“You fear what happens when you leave here,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I do, too. I fear that my sister will crawl back into her hard shell and I might never see her again.”
Melancholy touched Elizabeth and suddenly she realized just how close they were to leaving. In one week, she would be saying her goodbyes not only to Leonard but to Catherine, also.
“I have dampened the spirit of the party now,” he muttered, a flustered look crossing his face. Elizabeth could see he regretted speaking so personally about his family.
“I will ensure your sister knows how much she is loved by all of us,” Elizabeth promised him. “You have my word.”
He nodded and glanced at her furtively before darting his eyes back toward the mound of papers on his desk.
“Forgive me, Elizabeth, but I have much work to do before my travels tomorrow.”
“Of course.”
She rose quickly and excused herself from the room, knowing he had not dismissed her with such haste to complete paperwork. He did not want her to see the welling of tears in his eyes.
Elizabeth stopped in the corridor and fell against the wall, her heart beating wildly. She could not seem to catch her breath. The thought of leaving Brookside was overwhelming her.
“Liza, what is it?” Percival demanded, rushing toward her. “Are you ill?”
She shook her head, unable to speak the words on her mind.
“Speak, daughter! What is the issue?”
Elizabeth blinked several times, her heart heavy as she stared at her father.
“It is nothing, Father,” she whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I had not realized that I had grown so attached to Brookside in such a short time.
“It is not Brookside you are attached to,” her father replied dryly. “Come along, child. You cannot melt into a puddle of histrionics outside of the Duke’s study.”
She permitted him to lead her away toward the servant’s stairs but her mind was anywhere but on the walk back to her quarters. The journey to Pembroke was filled with so many revelations. She had not expected to find love in Leonard nor had she known she would gain a sister in the process. Yet she had and leaving them was the hardest thing she had ever been faced with in her life.
“Good night, Liza,” Percival said when they approached her door. “Sleep well and do behave well at the gala tomorrow. Keep your wits about you, yes?”
“Of course, Father. Good night.”
She pushed her way into her bedchambers and gasped when she realized she was not alone.
“Forgive me, Miss Elizabeth,” Cora said, hurrying away from where she had turned down the bed. “I will be on my way if you do not require anything else from me.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to answer but horrifyingly, a strangled sob escaped her lips and suddenly, she began to wail.
“Oh, Miss Elizabeth!” Cora breathed, rushing to her side. “Are you unwell?”
Elizabeth could only manage to shake her head, her heart still too full of sadness to manage a word. Somehow, Cora understood and put her arms around Elizabeth. Under normal circumstances, Elizabeth would have been alarmed at the idea of an abigail touching her but in Brookside, everything she had ever known had been questioned. Her perceptions on life, and love had been put to the test, and the feel of Cora’s plump arms about her was a comfort, not an offense.
“Everything will work out the way God intended, Miss Elizabeth,” Cora told her soothingly. “You must have faith in Him.”
