Page 22 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
Music had always been her escape from the world around her. It was safer than immersing herself in books of fantasy as her mind was not occupied with unreal images and insubstantial hopes.
The notes felt warm and were inviting, a distinct opposite from the coldness she felt around her. She was halfway through the Spring concerto of Vivaldi’sIl cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventionewhen she was told she had a visitor.
Curious about who it was, Eleanor left the room and entered the foyer only to feel her blood go cold. It was the same lady that had been with Oberton at Vauxhall. This close she could see the light streak of gold in the lady’s brown hair and the fair complexion she had.
“Lady Brisdane,” the woman said cheerily. “Good day.”
“Good day to you,” Eleanor said while fighting to keep an icy chill from her tone, “I’m sorry, who are you?”
The lady shot a look over the butler in surprise. “I am Lady Darcy Sutherland…you didn’t get my card? I am so sorry—this is not appropriate. I will leave.”
“No, no,” Eleanor said. “It’s alright. Mr. Ambrose, please send some lemonade to the sitting room.”
“My Lady,” Ambrose said. “Miss Malcolm is out, are you sure?”
“Tis nothing Ambrose,” Eleanor said. “Lady Darcy and I will just have a nice conversation. There is nothing to be worried about.”
They moved to the sitting room and Eleanor smoothed her skirts under her as she sat. Lady Darcy did the same with her sky-blue dress.
“I am sorry for this unforeseen interruption,” Lady Darcy said. “But I had to come and clear up a misconception I think you have about me and Duke Oberton.”
Eleanor did not feel comforted, “That is not necessary, Lady Darcy.”
“Yes, it is,” she said.
Lady Darcy paused delicately as a maid came in and deposited the tray of lemonade and sweet buns on the table and scurried out. Eleanor was glad for the distraction as she had time to form her reply.
“I do not think there is any misunderstanding,” Eleanor replied. “Whom the Duke chooses to court is none of my business.”
But why did those words sour her stomach?
“See,” Lady Darcy said, “that is where you have it wrong. Aar…sorry, the Duke is not courting me. I am engaged to his best friend, Constable Wilcox. He was only accompanying me to the gardens the other day.”
Eleanor was stunned but she did not show it outwardly. “Engaged to his best friend, you say.”
“Yes,” Lady Darcy replied, “and since I know how important you are to Duke Oberton, I decided to come and clear up the matter.”
Pouring out a glass of cool refreshing lemonade for her guest and herself, Eleanor swallowed down the ‘how important you are to Duke Oberton.’ Was that right? How could she be important to a man who rubbed her sensibilities raw every time they met and whom she aggravated to fury?
She cleared her throat, “I hardly think I am of any significance to Oberton, but even if I was, why would you need to clear up the matter?”
“Because,dash it all,you fancy him, don’t you?” Lady Darcy said with wide innocent eyes. “He surely fancies you.”
Eleanor felt as a burgeoning apoplexy was in her chest and her eyes grew wide, “That’s—”insane of the face of it,“is not—”probable, possible or even real,“how he feels about me. In case he has not told you, he insulted me to my face years ago.”
Lady Darcy delicately replaced her glass, “I know but Lady Eleanor— may I call you that?”
Eleanor nodded.
“Men are simple beings. A good percentage of them do not think before they speak. The Duke was possibly taken aback when he first met you.”
“I know that,” Eleanor said. “But there is nothing between us.”
“Are you sure?” Lady Darcy asked.
“Very.”
“Very well then,” Lady Darcy said and a strange mournful smile tightened her lips. “I won't push but believe me when I say I know these things. Unrequited love is hard to bear when it’s not admitted.”
