Page 3 of Wedded to the Loveless Duke
“Eleanor, my dear, do come in.” William’s voice made her halt.
She turned back and entered with a smile. “How do you always know that I am at the door?”
“That is my secret.” His blue eyes twinkled with amusement. “And I shall take it to my grave. Tell me, though, how was the ball?”
Eleanor settled into the leather armchair across from her father with a groan. “As boring and dull as expected. Sarah abandoned me to dance with some foppish-looking gentleman, and I begged off shortly after.”
He shook his head with a long-suffering sigh. “You believe that all the men your age are foppish, my dear. Truly, I despair of ever finding you a husband.”
A laugh escaped Eleanor, though she knew it wasn’t entirely appropriate to let such a sound slip out over such a serious subject. “I think I shall be content if I never marry. At least then, I shall be free.”
William’s smile collapsed, and he shuffled the papers with a pained grimace. Eleanor stopped laughing and smiling too, eyeing him warily now. Usually, he only had that look when he was about to deliver news she wouldn’t like.
“Did you dance with anyone?”
“I rarely do. Tonight was no different.” That wasn’t entirely true. The Duke of Richmond had been quite different, but she had no intention of mentioning that lest it convinces her father she could be matched off with some older man since the younger ones were not to her fancy. If she had her way, she would never marry.
A heavy silence fell, and he still wouldn’t meet her gaze.
She cleared her throat. “Is something the matter, Father?”
“Nothing is the matter,” William replied, suddenly regaining his usual stolid expression and looking up at her. “It is only that we must discuss a few things. There are some things that will need to change around here.”
Eleanor’s stomach twisted. “Change?”
“You will need to marry soon, Eleanor. Surely you realize you cannot remain unwed forever?”
“I realize no such thing.” She crossed her arms. “I do not need a husband.”
“You do. Every young woman must grow up and wed eventually, and it is time you do the same. You will need someone to care for you and protect you when I am gone someday, Eleanor.”
“You still have many good years in you! I see no need to rush.”
“I am tired, Eleanor. I wish to have grandchildren and to know that my daughter is not one of the people I must worry about when my final days do come, as they must for all of us. Do not argue with me on this.” William straightened, his gaze sharpening.
Eleanor ignored his warning with a scowl. “I see no purpose to rush. Give me a reason why you are suddenly so keen to be rid of me. Is it that I am a burden? Do you no longer want me?”
“Of course not!” He groaned. “This has nothing to do with not wanting you here by my side, Eleanor. Do not put words into my mouth!”
“Then, why?” She leaned forward, her cheeks heating with frustration and anger. “I don’t need a husband when I have a father to protect me, and I certainly do not want one either. I will be content if you never find a way to leg-shackle me, regardless of who the man might be!”
William shoved away from the desk sharply and turned his back on her. “Cease your objections! I will find a match for you if you cannot be trusted to do it yourself. One way or another, you will be wed as soon as I find you a suitable match.”
Eleanor pushed herself to her feet with a harsh bark of laughter. “What could have driven you to this? I have been a good daughter, have I not? Why do you wish to punish me?”
Her father spun to face her and slammed a heavy hand on the desk’s glass surface. “I am your father!” His voice rose to a shout.“You will obey me without question! It is high time you learned to submit to authority without needing a reason for everything, Eleanor. Let it be now, since you show no signs of learning it yourself.”
A shiver worked down her spine, and she stepped back, the words hitting her like a physical blow. She lowered her head as tears welled up in her eyes. “That is how it is to be, then?”
“Eleanor…” William’s voice softened as though he was trying to cajole her into cooperation.
However, Eleanor would not be cajoled or coddled into cooperation after he’d shouted at her and treated her so cruelly. Where had her kind, loving father gone? She didn’t know, but it didn’t matter. This harsh, unyielding man had taken his place, and it was clear there would be no reasoning with him. She would rather retreat and lick her wounds in private than sacrifice her pride by allowing him to see her cry or give in.
“Goodnight, Your Grace,” she uttered stiffly.
“Do not use my title as a weapon, Eleanor,” he warned.
She dropped into a low curtsy. “I would like to retire, Your Grace, Father. If I may?”
