Page 68 of Duke of Silver
“It’s nothing,” Elizabeth said, her voice clipped, though it lacked the strength to fully dismiss Lydia’s concern. She turned slightly,catching her own reflection in the mirror. Her face was pale, her eyes darker with the frustration she tried to mask.
Lydia paused, her movements slowing as she continued to study her mistress, clearly unconvinced. “If it were nothing, Your Grace, I do not think you would be pacing the floor so.” There was no judgment in Lydia’s voice, only quiet concern.
Elizabeth sighed, relenting. “Lord Percy is back.”
Lydia’s hands froze for a moment, her surprise evident. “The Duke’s brother?”
“Yes.” Elizabeth exhaled sharply, the words slipping out before she could stop them. “He returned this evening—just in time to interrupt the only opportunity I had for dinner with my husband.”
Lydia’s eyes widened slightly, but she said nothing, simply continuing her task of helping Elizabeth out of her gown and into her nightdress. The silence was almost a relief—at least Lydia had the sense not to press further. But as the quiet settled around them, Elizabeth felt the weight of her words hang in the air, and the frustration she had tried to tamp down surged once more.
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but… does the Duke know how you feel?” Lydia asked, her voice soft as she smoothed the fabric of the nightdress over Elizabeth’s shoulders.
Elizabeth’s heart tightened at the question. Did Alexander know? Did hecare? She had no idea. They had shared so little time together since their marriage—every conversation overshadowed by obligation or propriety. She had thought tonight might change that, but now...
“I do not know, Lydia,” Elizabeth said quietly, her tone laced with resignation. “I truly do not know.”
The next day passed in a blur. Elizabeth didn’t see Alexander, nor Percy, and perhaps it was for the best. The space gave her the time she needed to steady herself, to focus on the evening ahead. They were to host her uncle and aunt, and the thought of her family arriving was a welcome distraction from the tumult that had clouded her mind.
She busied herself with the preparations, ensuring everything was in place for the dinner. It was a small mercy, she thought, to have something tangible to focus on. The hours slipped by quickly, and before long, her family arrived.
When Elizabeth greeted them at the entrance, a warm rush of affection swelled within her. Her uncle, the Earl of Dowshire, greeted her with his usual joviality, his round face beaming with warmth. Aunt Petunia was more reserved but smiled as she enveloped Elizabeth in a tight embrace. And Anna—dear Anna, with her sharp wit and ever-present charm—seemed as delighted as Elizabeth was for the evening ahead.
But despite the joy of her family’s arrival, a gnawing worry lingered. Where was Alexander? He had yet to make anappearance, and as the minutes ticked by, the knot in her stomach tightened.
Her uncle glanced around the room before turning back to her, his brow lifting. “And where is your husband, my dear? I had hoped to finally share a drink with him this evening.”
Elizabeth’s heart stuttered, and she forced a smile, trying to mask the unease creeping through her. “He is attending to some urgent business, Uncle,” she said, hoping her voice sounded steadier than she felt. “But I assure you, he will join us shortly.”
As the evening wore on, Elizabeth couldn’t shake the growing worry that Alexander might not show at all. She had been foolish to think this evening would go smoothly. Percy’s sudden reappearance had clearly thrown everything off course.
Her anxiety eased slightly when Colin arrived, his ever-pleasant demeanor bringing some lightness to the room. He greeted her with a warm smile before making his way over to her cousin Anna.
“Ah, Lady Anna,” Colin said with a playful grin as he bowed, lifting her hand to kiss her knuckles. “But where is your little thimble tonight?”
Anna’s expression darkened at the mention of her beloved pug, and her lips pressed into a thin line. “Thatthimble, my lord,” she replied tersely, her tone sharp, “has a name.”
Colin chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he looked between Anna and the rest of the room. “Of course, my lady. Do forgive me. Titan, if I recall correctly—of all the names to give such a tiny creature!” His laughter rang out, clearly finding his jest far more amusing than anyone else in the room.
Anna’s lips tightened, her gaze sharpening, but Elizabeth caught the subtle twitch of amusement in her cousin’s expression. Anna, ever proud of her beloved pug, couldn’t help but rise to the occasion.
“What he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in great spirits,” Anna declared, her chin lifting as if that settled the matter.
Colin leaned back, a broad grin spreading across his face. “Now, why does that sound oddly ominous?” he teased, his voice light and jovial, drawing laughter from the others. Even Uncle Sebastian chuckled, though Aunt Petunia’s expression remained as composed as ever.
Elizabeth joined in the laughter, but her smile felt tight, hollow. The levity in the room did little to ease the growing sense of unease twisting in her chest.Where is Alexander?She had expected him to join them well before now, but with each passing moment, her concern deepened.
Just as her worry reached its peak, the door creaked open, and she turned, her heart giving a small jolt.
Alexander entered the room, his tall, familiar figure a welcome sight—but only for a fleeting moment. For just behind him, stepping cautiously into the room, was Lord Percy Hunton.
The shift in the atmosphere was immediate and stark. The warmth and lightness that had filled the room moments before vanished, replaced by a palpable tension. Elizabeth felt it settle over the gathering like a cold mist. Her uncle’s smile faded, his expression tightening with quiet disapproval. Aunt Petunia’s mouth pressed into a thin line, and Anna’s sharp wit seemed to evaporate as she regarded Percy with silent disdain.
Even Elizabeth, who had mastered the art of maintaining a composed exterior, felt a flicker of resentment stir within her. Percy’s reappearance had already upset their lives once; now, his presence here, at what should have been a peaceful family evening, felt like another intrusion. But she did what was expected of her—smiled, controlled, and poised.
“My apologies for the delay,” Alexander began, his voice steady, though Elizabeth could detect the tension beneath his words. “I was detained by business and, of course, by my brother.” He gestured toward Percy, who stood awkwardly by the door, clearly aware of the discomfort his presence caused.
“I do not believe you’ve been formally introduced,” Alexander continued, his tone formal and distant, as though attempting to impose civility on the room. “This is my brother, Lord Percy Hunton.”
