Page 1 of In Scandal with the Duke
CHAPTER1
May 1817
London
In the drawing room’s soft evening light, Miss Elizabeth Armstrong, Bette to her friends and family, stared in mute surprise at her mother, who sat gracefully perched on the sofa with all the grace of a queen holding court.
“Surely you knew my intentions,” her mother murmured, taking a few sips of her tea. “I cannot imagine why you wear such an expression of horrified shock, Bette. It is unflattering; do compose yourself, my dear.”
Elizabeth lowered the book she’d been reading, a thrilling tale of love and betrayal, onto the small walnut table. “Mother,” she began, trying to calm her wildly racing thoughts. “I thought we were merely visiting England for a few months. I never imagined you wanted us to move herepermanently.”
The very idea was simply outrageous.
Her mother arched an elegant brow. “Plans do change, my dear. Surely you know this.”
Elizabeth suspected this plan had always existed, but her mother kept her in the dark. “What about our lives in New York, Mama? Our friends and family there? What about Father? He could not mean to leave his business behind to live in England!”
“We shall hardly miss them,” her mother said dismissively. “And whenever we do, we can visit New York.”
“Mama, I was happy to make the journey with you because I missed my brother and hoped to beg him to return to New York with us. I cannot stay and I do intend to return home before Christmas. Have you informed Papa—”
“Do not speak of your father to me,” she snapped, her dark blue eyes flashing an emotion Elizabeth did not understand. “As much as I love your father and trusted that he wanted the best for you, he has no say in this decision.”
Trusted?
“Has … has something happened between you and Father?” she asked, feeling as if her entire world had been tossed into disorder.
“Other than his ridiculous decision to allow you toworkin his company against my expressed wish that it was unacceptable and detrimental to your future?” A grimace flashed on her mother’s face. “That has been our only quarrel.”
Relief filled her chest. “Mama, I went to Father’s officetwice, and the work I did for him in a private room was not observed by anyone. Papa appreciated the work I did and even said he would increase my responsibilities within the company.”
Her mother lowered the cup to the walnut table with a decisiveclink. “It is for that reason that I insisted you travel with me to London and make here your new home.”
A short laugh of disbelief escaped her. “You insisted I accompany you because I helped Papa transcribe a few letters and reviewed some ledgers?”
“Is that the life you wish to endure, Bette? Wearing a hat and a veil to your father’s company because you might face ridicule and a ruined reputation, hiding away in a room by yourself working, coming home to your parents’ house and not a husband and children and home of your own?”
A sharp pain pierced Elizabeth’s chest. “I never want toendurelife. I am determined to live it happily.”
“Good,” her mother said with soft intensity. “Hiding away in your father’s office a few times a month, working on ledgersisenduring life.”
“Mama, surely, you are overthinking the matter!”
“Am I?” Her mother narrowed her eyes. “You are three and twenty, and in a few months, you will be four and twenty. This is the time to think about securing yourfuture, Bette. You should not have these nonsensical notions that your father is encouraging, even though he knew it was to your detriment.”
“There was no harm—”
“Ladies do not work. You are an heiress, a young woman of grace, beauty, and talent. You should have been married three years ago!”
“Not this again, mama. I am not married. It is not a terrible thing.” Elizabeth had never been inclined to self-pity, and while her mother praised that quality, she also believed it made her daughter obstinate and without fear of living her life as a spinster.
“That your dreams were not realized does not mean you simply give up and start believing you could one day help your brother run your father’s company.”
“I did not envision it that far,” she said tightly, fisting her hands atop her lap. “I merely wanted to do something productive with my time, and Papa understood.”
“That your father said he understood is the very reason I am angry and hurt. What I understand is that you arenotliving, Bette. I saw that, and it broke my heart. You refused all marriage offers in New York, and what I hope for you is that you will find a gentleman here in England. We will not be returning to New York this year.” Her mother snapped her spine straight. “I have informed your father we will be in London for at least two years.”
The weight of her mother’s expectations pressed heavily in the silence between them. There was a part of her that understood her mother’s reasoning and another part that was afraid to reopen those old, fanciful dreams. Elizabeth had entered New York’s social scene when she was nineteen, yet four years later, she remained unwed. As the daughter of a man who owned a bank and several other businesses, she quickly learned that most suitors were more enamored with her wealth and connections than her character. Over the years, her heart had grown wary, and she had refused eight proposals, each suitor more transparent than the last.
