Page 4 of Wedded to the Loveless Duke
There was a stony silence following her words, but finally, he said, “Go then. Get out of my sight if that is your reply to my attempt to see you well-situated.”
Eleanor spun on her heel and fled from the study, heading straight towards her bedroom. When she reached her rooms, she slammed the door behind her and sank to the floor in a puddle of dark blue satin and silk, her tears spilling free.
The maid knocked on the door, likely to see if she wished help with changing out of her gown.
“I will take care of my toilette tonight,” Eleanor called through the door.
The maid’s footsteps retreated, and she was left alone in her misery. Pulling her knees to her chest, she rested her head against the heavy wooden door and let the tears fall. Never before had her father been so sharp with her. It was as if he felt as trapped as she did, but she could not imagine what would leave him feeling like that when he was not the one being forced to marry.
Eleanor couldn’t fathom the new reality facing her, and a deep-seated fear set in along with the sorrow. Who would her father barter her off to? What if the man he would choose for her clipped her wings and treated her like a toy or a treasured possession like so many rich men did with their wives? She would not be able to bear it.
Better to die than to endure such a fate. How could he ask it of me?
Rising, she struggled out of her dress and then slipped into bed in her shift, leaving her gown on the floor. Her weeping resumeduntil she ran out of energy and fell asleep, the stains of her tears still on her cheeks.
CHAPTER 2
Eleanor woke to the sunlight streaming through the lace curtains of her bedroom windows. She sat up with a groan, her head aching from last night’s excitement. Had everything really happened, or had it all been a dreadful dream? She prayed it was the latter, but until she went down for breakfast and saw her father, she wouldn’t be certain. A painful knot in her stomach told her the truth. She already knew deep down that it had happened. Still, she clung to the desperate hope that she was wrong.
Her maid entered the room with a bright smile. “My Lady, what shall I fetch from the wardrobe today?”
“The yellow silk dress with the white ribbons, if you please, Agatha.”
Agatha complied, and Eleanor climbed out of bed and let her maid dress her in silence. Usually, she and Agatha would discuss the latest news and gossip about theton, but she was in no mood to do so today, so she remained silent.
“Is everything well, My Lady?”
“Why would you ask that?” Eleanor snapped as Agatha pulled the laces of her corset tight.
“You seem rather subdued this morning, is all, My Lady.”
“I am well. Everything is well.”
Nothing is well.
Agatha wisely chose to fall silent then and helped Eleanor into her yellow and white silk dress without further comment. She laced it up at the back and fastened the hooks at the neck and waist. Then, she styled Eleanor’s hair into a simple bun, leaving a few wisps of curls at the nape of her neck before smiling and stepping back. “Is it to your liking, My Lady?”
“It will do. Thank you, Agatha.” Eleanor rose and headed out of her room towards the morning room, where she and her father usually broke fast in the mornings.
When she reached it, she knew with a sinking dread that she hadn’t imagined everything that transpired the previous night. It was reality, not a bad dream. Her father was absent. He was never absent. Each morning, William made a point of waiting for her to come in and break her fast with him. It was their morning ritual. And whenever they didn’t speak at all to one another before dinner, they made certain breakfast was the one time where they slowed down and spent time with one another.Eleanor had always taken breakfast with her father for granted, but now, as she sat down at the table and stared at his empty seat, she felt the loss of it keenly.
The butler approached with a maid carrying a tray of food. “Lady Eleanor, your breakfast.”
Eleanor smiled up at him, but it was forced. “Where is my father, Mr. Huntley?”
“Away on business in town, I am afraid, My Lady. His Grace told me to tell you that he believes he will return in time for dinner but that he had urgent meetings and that they regrettably called him away before breakfast.” The butler placed a steaming plate of eggs, toast and bacon in front of her. “He wished me to assure you that there was no cause to fret. Is the food to your liking?”
“Yes, thank you.” She waited until the butler and maid retreated to begin picking at her food. Usually, this was one of her favorites for breakfast. This morning, however, the smell of food turned her stomach. She stayed at the table and tried to make herself eat it anyway.
After a few bites, she rose and swept out of the room in search of the comforts of the library and a good book to take her mind off whatever her father might be doing in town. He had sworn to rectify her state as a single woman as quickly as possible. That meant he might be arranging a husband for her even now. Dread quickened her steps, and she hurried into the library to locate a book to distract herself from her worries. Let him arrange whatever he pleased. She wouldn’t let it ruin her day even if hewas being unusually cruel towards her. She would worry when something was certain.
William stepped into the smoky interior of the gentlemen’s club he and his brother Edward frequented. They would usually meet later in the morning for some whiskey and talk about their businesses, but today, he wished to escape the house sooner to avoid seeing his daughter. He doubted he could face her and hold strong on the matter of marriage when she was so against it.
Still, he was determined to see her wed as quickly as possible. Eleanor was already older than most unmarried daughters of his peers, and he would not see his only daughter become a spinster. Once he had spoken to Edward about the situation, there would be no going back. Someone would need to hold him accountable for it and help him in procuring a match, and Edward always came through for him.
William clasped his brother by the shoulders and gave him a broad smile. Edward was younger by a few years and had inherited the Marquisate of Winchester after a petition to the court at their uncle's passing. The two brothers had remained close despite the years between them. “Edward, how are you?”
“Well enough, William.” Edward eyed his brother appraisingly. “You look downright knackered, though.”
