by Leah Conolly
James smiled over at her during dinner, thinking to himself that Elizabeth was just the mother that Oscar needed.
Before James left that night, he was able to speak to Elizabeth privately for a few brief moments.
“I must thank you for the way that you handled Victoria’s comment about Oscar earlier. It is a difficult subject for me. I have worried many times that the lack of a mother will affect him.”
“I know. I remember you speaking of it the first night that I met you. But the countess is wrong, James. You are a wonderful parent to Oscar, and soon I will be by your side to help you whenever you need it.”
James clasped her hand briefly and pressed it. “You are already helping me, Elizabeth, in more ways than you know.”
Elizabeth returned the gentle pressure on his hand. “Thank you for our visit to your estate,” she said. “I had a wonderful time.”
“So did I, and both Oscar and Mother wished that you could stay longer. I do not think they cared very much about me.”
They both laughed, and James said his goodbyes. He realized that he couldn’t wait for the day that he never had to leave her.
Chapter 19
One week later, Elizabeth was wishing that the wedding could be brought forward, simply so that they would not have to do any more planning. She was tired of guest lists, flower arrangements, cakes, and everything else. She didn’t understand why it all had to be so meticulous or why everyone had to be so involved.
“What about the Boyles, James?” Victoria asked, as they all sat in Isabelle’s library. The countess had taken it upon herself to write down any guests they had forgotten in previous planning, because she claimed she had nearly perfect penmanship.
Isabelle gasped. “Victoria, you are right! It is a wonder we have forgotten them!”
James sighed. “I barely know them. They are acquaintances only.”
Elizabeth felt for James being constantly harassed in such a manner, but her own opinion on who should be included as guests was seldom sought, because she wasn’t familiar with London society. James had responded in the same way repeatedly, but still Isabelle and the countess seemed to come up with ever more names for him to include.
“Were they at your previous wedding? Weren’t they particular friends of Braith?” Victoria asked.
Isabelle nodded. “Yes, I believe they were!”
Elizabeth watched a cloud of sorrow pass over James’ countenance. She glared at the countess, but she didn’t catch the look. After their conversation in the garden that afternoon, the countess had seemed determined to bring up Braith as often as possible, and it always put James in a dismal mood.
“Write them down,” Elizabeth said, “and we can always change our minds later.”
James gave Elizabeth a thankful look, but she could see the hurt in his eyes. She crossed the room to sit next to him on the sofa. “We can always take a reprieve,” she said quietly.
“Yes,” James sighed, the weariness in his voice almost tangible. “I think that would be best. Let us put this off for a little while longer.” He smiled. “How about a game of chess, Elizabeth?”
The countess audibly sighed. “How you can continue playing that game time and time again, I don’t know. It was a favorite of Charles’, too. I never understood the appeal.” She frowned as if thinking. “Come to think of it, George played the game as well. I could never stand it for more than a few minutes.”
Elizabeth noted, not for the first time, that she spoke of her two late husbands so flippantly. The exception had been during dinner at James’ house, when she had seemed to purposefully act sorrowfully when speaking of them. Other than that, she made them sound like no more than acquaintances.
“Elizabeth?” James pressed.
“Oh—yes!” She blinked and met James’ eyes with a smile. “I would like a game of chess very much.”
“I will make it easy for you this time,” he teased, a gleam in his eyes.
“Good,” said Elizabeth. “This will be the time when I finally win.” But despite her words, she knew she would not be able to focus on the game. Her thoughts were too preoccupied with what the countess had said.
After James had once again won their chess game, the wedding planning continued until night fell. James and Victoria said their goodbyes, leaving only Elizabeth and Lady Kinsley for dinner.
Ever since the countess had spoken of her husbands, Elizabeth hadn’t stopped wondering about them. As they sat in companionable silence at dinner, Elizabeth brought up the subject.
“Lady Kinsley, I have heard the countess speak of her late husbands, and I found myself curious about how they died.”
Lady Kinsley continued eating, as unaffected by the subject as Victoria had been. “I believe they both died of heart failure.” She sighed. “It is sad—such a common thing now.”
Elizabeth had almost hoped that her godmother’s answer would quell her suspicions, but instead she found them stoked. Both of them died of the same thing?
* * *
The next day, Elizabeth went to Felicia’s house. Her excuse to Lady Kinsley was that she needed a break from wedding planning, but in reality, she wanted to investigate the Countess’ character, and she knew Felicia would help her.
Felicia was overjoyed to see her friend. “Elizabeth! Oh, I have so much to tell you!”
Elizabeth suddenly realized that she hadn’t seen Felicia since she had come to visit her when she had been ill, and that had been only briefly. Elizabeth had been too tired for conversation.
“I am so glad you are feeling better,” Felicia continued. “But tell me, how was your visit to Deuney Keep?”
“James enjoyed the country as much as I do, and my father gave us his blessing without hesitation.”
Felicia beamed. “That is wonderful news! And how is the wedding planning?”
Elizabeth sighed and fell dramatically into a chair across from Felicia. “It is exhausting! I don’t want to speak of it anymore. What did you want to tell me?”
Felicia fidgeted, her cheeks turning a bright pink. “I danced with the Earl of Presport at the ball.”
Elizabeth sat up. “The Earl of Presport? Why did you not tell me this sooner?”
“I knew you were too weary to speak when you were ill, and I did not want to bother you while you were busy planning your wedding!” Felicia pressed her lips together apologetically.
Elizabeth huffed. “Felicia, I would not have been in the slightest bit bothered! I can tell that you like him.”
A smile formed unbidden on Felicia’s lips. She laughed a little nervously. “Like him? Elizabeth, I wish you could have met him. He was so…so kind. We spoke of philosophy and art, and he was so knowledgeable. Any book that I referenced, he could quote from it from memory.”
Elizabeth smiled, overjoyed for her friend. “He sounds like a perfect match for you, indeed!”
Felicia sighed, and her lips twitched, as though she was trying to control her smile. “It was only one dance and one night of conversation, but I have heard he will be at the dinner at Wellington Castle. Has James been invited?”
Elizabeth recalled James mentioning it to her. “Yes, I believe he has.”
“Wonderful! You will be able to meet him!”
“I look forward to it.” Elizabeth leaned forward to take her friend’s hand. “I am very happy for you, Felicia. Please tell me if anything else comes of this, even if it is on my wedding day. I want to know!”
Felicia giggled. “I doubt you would hear me on your wedding day. You would only have eyes for your dear duke!”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I have told you before. We are friends only.”
“And yet, I see the way you look when you talk about him.” Felicia paused, looking into Elizabeth’s eyes. “I have no doubt he looks the same way when he speaks of you. But I will determine it for certain at the dinner!”
Elizabeth sighed but let it pass, almost fearing that Felicia was right. What would it mean if she reall
y were in love with James, and he with her?
To distract herself, Elizabeth unveiled her real reason for coming. She told Felicia of the countess’ behavior when she spoke of her deceased husbands.
“I want to know more about the Countess of Chester,” she told her. “I believe there is more to her than it seems.”
“Elizabeth,” Felicia chided with a frown. “Gossip cannot tell you about someone’s character.”
“No, but I believe I already know her character. I simply want it to be confirmed.”
Though still reluctant, Felicia admitted that she had wanted to take a walk through the city anyway. They went out into the London streets into the rather mild and cloudy day. Elizabeth missed the sunshine, but the overcast sky seemed rather fitting for their errand.
They walked to a fashionable dress shop, where Felicia was happy to look at the fabrics and point out her favorites to Elizabeth. Elizabeth tried to pay attention to her friend but remained in her own world. She wanted to know more about the countess, but she wasn’t quite sure how to go about it. Surely someone of her status was talked about often, especially if there was something scandalous about her reputation.
“Dear Felicia, is that you?”
Elizabeth and Felicia both turned at the sound of the overly excited voice. Two girls with wavy brown hair and colorful dresses stood behind them, smiling.
Felicia grinned. “Oh, how wonderful! Elizabeth, may I introduce you to Hannah and Clarice Nott. We became acquainted at the ball.”
“Felicia has told us about you, Lady Elizabeth” Hannah said. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Is it true you are to marry the Duke of Darrington?” Clarice asked, buzzing with excitement. Hannah gave her a reproachful look.
“I am to marry the Duke,” Elizabeth replied, with a chuckle, finding their enthusiasm amusing. “It is no secret.”
Felicia laughed. “It is said that Hannah and Clarice know everyone in London.”
“We simply listen,” said Hannah modestly.
Everyone in London, thought Elizabeth. “Tell me, do you know anything about the Countess of Chester?”
Clarice’s eyes grew wide. “We know many things about her!”
“There is lots of gossip about the countess,” Hannah interjected, “and not all of it is true. However, we do know a few stories.”
“Tell me.” Elizabeth was so eager that she raised her voice, then quickly realized her error and spoke in a softer tone. “If you wish.”
“It happened at a dinner at Windsor Castle,” Clarice began. “There were many important people invited, including the Earl and Countess of Chester. It is said,” she continued, lowering her voice, “that the countess was escorted from the dinner after she made inappropriate advances to a duke.”
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. Though it sounded rather outrageous, she could easily picture the countess being guilty of such a thing.
“Surely it is just gossip,” said Felicia placidly.
Elizabeth doubted it but didn’t contradict her friend. Felicia tried to see the good in everyone, even though in some people, like the countess, it seemed there was no goodness at all.
Elizabeth considered the countess’s nature. Jealous, obsessive, prideful. Dangerous? Perhaps.
Chapter 20
“Have you ever seen Wellington Castle?” James asked. In the twilight, he could barely see Elizabeth’s expression beside him.
“I do not think I’ve ever been to a castle,” said Elizabeth, with a small laugh. “Not one that people live in, anyway.” The carriage jolted, and Elizabeth jumped, her hand landing on top of his. She met his eyes and shied away, but James took her hand and smiled. This had been happening more of late, accidental, innocent touches that seemed to make them both a little less sure and a little more desperate.
James thought he could just make out the silhouette of the castle in the distance. “Be prepared for something truly wonderful. It is a magnificent sight.”
Elizabeth followed his gaze, squinting. “I think I can just see it.”
“We are not far now.” He raised his eyebrows and squeezed her hand. “Are you nervous?”
“Should I be nervous?” she countered, in a lighthearted tone.
James smiled. “No, of course not. You are destined to charm anyone you meet.”
Elizabeth laughed. “You know that is not true.”
“If they refuse to see who you are, then the fault is their own. Unless, of course, you eat with the wrong fork at dinner.”
The peals of Elizabeth’s laughter rang out, making James unable to do anything but join in.
“I am past that, I think,” Elizabeth said as she regained her breath. Looking at her, James couldn’t tell if she was embarrassed by her past offense or proud of it. “I would not damage your reputation in that way.”
James wondered if that was the sole reason that she had been so much tamer since they had been engaged. “Do you feel restricted, being engaged to a duke?”
Slowly, Elizabeth shook her head. “No. In the past, I have acted rashly to show people that I have no intention of being someone I am not. But you already know that; therefore, I have no need.”
“Yes,” James chuckled. “I know that you will be honest and true, no matter what company you are in.” And it was that rare quality, James thought, that endeared her to him the most.
Their carriage arrived at the castle among several others. As they stepped out, Elizabeth smoothed her dress and patted her hair. “How do I look?”
She wore an emerald green gown, with her hair done up intricately. Her silk gloves were sleek and elegant, though Elizabeth kept tugging at them as if expecting them to fall off.
“Beautiful,” James said honestly. Elizabeth looked down, as a blush tinged her cheeks.
James kept an eye on Elizabeth, as they filed in with the rest of the guests. She seemed perfectly at ease, but he still remembered how she had been so overwhelmed at that first ball. He briefly grasped her fingers and pressed them before letting go. Elizabeth offered him a soft smile.
Once they were inside, several people came up to James to talk. He introduced Elizabeth to several dukes, earls, and other notable members of society. While Elizabeth maintained proper decorum, she was still honest with her speech. James could tell that many of the people he introduced her to found it amusing and refreshing.
“Felicia!” Elizabeth rushed away from James when she saw her friend, who had two others with her. She chatted excitedly with them for a moment, before walking back to him with a wide grin. “Felicia introduced me to Hannah and Clarice Nott only a few days ago,” she explained. “I am surprised to find there are such nice people here. I normally do not care for people.”
James shook his head but smiled. “I have met Miss Hannah Nott before, but not her sister. They are quite merry companions, are they not?”
Elizabeth replied in the affirmative and began to tell him something about her friend Felicia, but suddenly James found himself entirely captivated by the eager look in her eyes and the permanent smile upon her lips. He noticed a stray lock of hair that had fallen out of place in her animated movements, and before he could stop himself, he gently brushed his fingers along her cheek to guide the hair back into place.
Elizabeth stopped talking mid-sentence. She met his eyes with a look of awareness. At that moment, James knew that she felt the same way about him that he did about her.
He became aware of people watching them, and dropped his hand. He thought with a hint of amusement that now he was the one breaking the rules of etiquette. He smiled at Elizabeth, and she smiled back at him.
“Forgive me, Elizabeth. You were telling me something about Lady Darwin?”
“Yes…, yes,” she stuttered, blinking rapidly. She lowered her voice. “Felicia told me that she danced with the Earl of Presport at the last ball. Do you know him?”
James nodded, beginning to scan the crowd for the familiar face. “Yes, he is an old friend of mine.
”
“Felicia was quite taken with him, and I wanted to meet him to discern his character. Although if you say he is a friend of yours, I cannot see that he would be anything but kind and honorable.”
“Do you really trust me so much?”
Elizabeth took his arm. “I do.”
A comforting warmth spread through James at her words. He knew then that he wanted to be worthy of her trust no matter what.
“Ah!” He spotted the familiar reddish-brown hair of Daniel, the Earl of Presport. “I have spotted him. I shall introduce you.”
“May we bring Felicia with us?” Elizabeth asked. “I know she is nervous, and I do not know if she will speak to the earl on her own.”