Page 34 of Wedded to the Loveless Duke
Eleanor turned to Annie. “Did His Grace inform you who the guests are and how many, Annie?”
“He told me two at least, Your Grace.” Annie looked perplexed. “Is it of great importance? I have cooked enough to feed a few more mouths if necessary.”
“I am certain you have. No, it is not important for any particular reason. I merely wished to know.” Eleanor drew in a steadying breath and closed her eyes to regain her composure. “Annie, I will be in my bedchamber if you need me. Pray, excuse me. I need to speak with my husband before he goes to greet my father.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Eleanor left the kitchen and rushed through the house towards her husband’s study, knowing he’d be working on accounts and would not abandon them in the midst of entries to speak with a guest unless it was of the utmost importance. It was likely one of the things her father had liked so well about him. The two men were much the same in that regard. Avoiding the smoking room’s doorway, she went up the steps and stomped down the hallway.
Phillip was just heading out of his study when she caught him. He frowned in confusion when he saw her. “Eleanor? Is your father not waiting in the smoking room? Why are you not with him?”
She scowled. “You should have told me you invited him to dinner!”
“I didn’t invite him. Not precisely.” He held his hands up to fend off any further accusations. “He asked if he could come visit, and I told him he was welcome. He wanted to come before dinner, so I told him that if he wished to, he could stay for the meal. He was good friends with Bedford’s father and knows the Bedfords well.He agreed to take me up on my offer if time would permit, but I was not certain he would stay, so I only gave you a vague notion of who the guests would be.”
“I do not want him under this roof, Phillip. Tell him to leave.”
Phillip frowned, his confusion replaced with annoyance now. “No. This is my home, and we are not going to throw your father out.”
“It is my home too, is it not?” Eleanor argued.
“Indeed it is, but since I am the master of the house,Idecide who is a guest and who is not.”
“So, my wishes mean nothing to you?” She crossed her arms. “What happened to involving me in the decision-making process? Or was that all a ruse to gain a little peace in our home?”
Phillip took her by the elbows and pulled her close. “Eleanor Lewis, do not attempt to use my words against me. You know full well that I meant every word I said, and I understand that you do not wish to have him here. This is a decision I am making. I know it upsets you, and I am sorry for it, but there are things at play here that you do not know of which make this necessary.”
Eleanor clung to him, tears filling her eyes as hurt warred with confusion. “I want to understand, Phillip. Why? Why do youkeep insisting he is good? That he did all he did for me? What is it that I do not understand?”
“It is not my secret to tell, my love.” He brushed her tears away and kissed her gently. “I know it is painful not to understand, but you will soon, and I am certain you will forgive him once you do.”
She pulled away and wrapped her arms around her torso. “Very well.”
“Thank you.” His voice was gentler now. “Shall we go together, then?”
“No.” That was one step too far, even if she would respect his wishes to have her father under their roof. “I will not see him. If he stays for dinner, I shall play the gracious hostess, Phillip, but do not ask this of me. Do not ask me to face him after everything he has done.”
“You will have to face him eventually, Eleanor.”
“But not today.” Her voice was oddly pleading rather than assertive as if she were begging him to say yes to her unspoken request instead of informing him of her intentions.
Phillip sighed and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head. “Very well. Not today.”
Eleanor buried her face in his chest and breathed in the familiar musk and amber scent her husband usually bore. It brought some sense of calm back along with the soothing tone of his voice and his loving, gentle arms. She didn’t know why she hadn’t simply informed him of her intentions, but now she was glad that she had given him the chance to show this small grace. It helped to soothe the hurt caused by his earlier refusal to heed her wishes on a matter she considered of grave importance.
Finally, Phillip pulled away, his expression sad. “I will tell him you were complaining of a headache and needed to lie down in hopes of defeating it before dinner.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He cupped her cheek in his palm and kissed her forehead. “I will see you at dinner.”
Phillip stepped into the smoking room where his father-in-law sat. When the older man moved to stand in greeting, Phillip waved him back into his seat. “You shouldn’t exert yourself too much. Not on my account.”
“Where is my daughter?” William asked.
“Indisposed. She was complaining of a headache, and as we are to have guests with us for dinner, she begged me to allow her to rest until then, so I agreed.”
“Refusing to see me, then,” William remarked wryly.
