Page 31 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“It is so much easier for you to take that position,” Herbert sighed but there was no grumble to his tone, only a deep sadness. “You are a duke, well-loved and respected. You are charming and—”
“I am the talk of the town, or have you forgotten?” Leonard interrupted him. “But does that stop me from pursuing what I want? Do I permit their gossip to cast doubts in my mind? If you truly care for Miss Follett, Herbert, you will not allow yourself to mind the flapping gums of everyone else and you will follow your heart. If you want to ensure your future with Miss Follett, you will do well to mute the outside voices. I assure you, the fastest way to end a decent relationship is by listening to the unsolicited advice of other people.”
Herbert stared at him with beady but bright eyes and understood what the Duke was saying. Leonard felt slightly guilty as he knew he was more apt to be forgiven over time with his status and charisma but he stood by the message he had delivered to his confidant.
Leonard also reasoned that Herbert had a simpler time of achieving the love he desire than Leonard because Miss Frances Follett did return his affections already, child-like as they might be. Elizabeth might prove to be more of a challenge. The truth was, Leonard had not a clue if she did feel for him in the least but he was intent on discovering the answer.
Jacob returned to the study, a tray in hand but his steps were hurried.
“Your Grace, Mr. Barlough, Lord Gordon has arrived.”
Both men nearly leapt from their chairs and scurried to the window like small children. Peering through the heavy, velvet drapes of the study, Leonard could see that Jacob spoke the truth—the House of Gordon had arrived in two coaches.
“Have the household meet them at once,” Leonard instructed but as he spoke, he saw the servants spill from the entranceway to greet the newly-stopped coaches. Leonard stepped back from the window and exchanged a look with Herbert. They shared the same nervousness yet encouraged the other simultaneously.
“Here,” Leonard said, reaching for the drinks which Jacob had put on the desk. “Take this before we go.”
Herbert reached for it with a trembling hand and the men silently toasted before downing the liquid in one gulp. Leonard felt the heat touch his gut and slowly rise upward to warm his body in a wave of comfort. It was precisely the edge he needed in that moment. He could see a look of ease cross over his companion’s face, also.
“Shall we?” Leonard asked and Herbert visibly swallowed before nodding. The Duke wondered if he had lost his voice.
Silently, they made their way through the hall and toward the front door, which was open and littered with household staff. Leonard took the lead and sauntered across the threshold, pausing to behold the sight of Elizabeth disembarking from the carriage, a dainty gloved hand poised to accept that of the coachman.
Leonard’s heart ceased to beat for just a moment as he took in the vision before him. She looked exactly as he recalled, as he revisited her in his mind’s eye. Her lovely dark hair was swept up at the crown in a double twist, the rest cascading along the swell of her creamy bosom. A golden pendant fell over between her breasts, catching the sun’s glint as she moved. Even from the distance between them, he could see the glow of her golden eyes, hot coals of wit and beauty for him to lose himself.
Frances had already exited the carriage and David followed behind Elizabeth as Lord Gordon ambled about, giving direction to the servants. He stopped scanning the area abruptly when his eyes rested on the Duke.
“Lord Gordon, Mr. Follett,” Leonard called jovially as he stepped forward. “Miss Follett and Miss Elizabeth. Welcome to Brookside.”
While he addressed the entire family and moved toward the Viscount, he could not take his eyes away from Percival’s younger daughter. It did not help matters that Elizabeth had fixed her own gaze upon him, her mouth parted slightly, ready to speak whatever it was in her intelligent mind. Oh, how Leonard longed to hear it, just to listen to the lilt of her voice.
“I daresay, Duke, I did not realize just how close were our duchies. In my mind’s eye, I recall it being quite a longer way,” Percival announced and Leonard beamed.
“I am relieved to hear that your travels were smooth,” he said, extending his hand to take the Viscount’s and the men shook heartily. With the lord addressed, Leonard could not turn fast enough toward the younger Folletts although again, his eyes were firmly locked on Elizabeth. She looked away, curtseying as she did. He was forced to look away, distracted by David’s not-so-subtle clearing of the throat.
“Thank you for having us, Your Grace,” the boy lord muttered and Leonard offered him a small but warm smile.
“Thank you for graciously accepting my invitation. I do hope you will find Brookside to be more than satisfactory while you are here for the month.”
“A month!” Elizabeth choked and Leonard turned to look at her in surprise before casting her father a slightly disapproving look. Apparently the Viscount had not disclosed the length of the stay even though it had been Percival’s idea to remain in Pembroke for such a length of time.
“I fear it will slip by before you even notice,” Leonard told her but in his mind, he had a much different thought, one he dared not speak aloud. There would be time for that thought later, when they were alone—or so he hoped. The expression on Elizabeth’s face told him that she was disgruntled by the journey, as though she had been tricked into the arrival. Leonard’s eyes inadvertently shifted about, realizing that he had lost sight of two bodies in the bustle of the introduction but when he turned, he immediately saw Herbert and Frances Follett standing just out of earshot. Leonard would have been unable to stifle the smile which fell upon his lips if he had wished to, the scene before him warming his is gut sweetly.
The barrister stood unspeaking, his eyes searching Frances’ face but the eldest Follett daughter was far too involved in her endless chatter to notice his awe-like expression. They both appeared so content in their own way and it filled Leonard with both a fierce sense of longing and determination.
Soon, all will be looking at Elizabeth and I with envy, wishing they shared love as pure as ours will be. But first I must convince her that I am worthy of said love.
With a hopeful beam on his face, he turned back toward the Viscount’s daughter, intent on showing her about the manor but she had already disappeared inside with one of the servants. Only her father remained in the yard, the bemused smirk on his lips vaguely familiar to Leonard.
“Duke, I—” Percival began to say but Leonard cut him off, already aware of what he intended to say.
“Yes, yes,” Leonard sighed, his smile fading into nothingness. “You did forewarn me. It will not be easy to win her heart.”
And for the first time, Leonard began to worry that perhaps the Viscount was right.
Chapter 10
Brookside was more beautiful than Elizabeth could have imagined, although she was not sure why she was surprised. The manor was cradled between a vast set of woods on both the east and west sides while the south side boasted a wide, bubbling bed of water which her personal abigail explained was Cedar Creek. To Elizabeth, it was much more a river swelling over the browning banks than a peaceful creek but she assumed the maid knew better than she.
