Winning The Indecisive Duke: The Fairbank Series

by Bennett, Jessie

  Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head.

  “She has a point, Lizzie darling,” Anne said quietly. “You should be thinking about how you can please Jonah. He will be your husband in about a year.”

  Elizabeth felt as if she had been kicked. The combination of her sister's unfairness and the topic of her marriage was too upsetting to bear. “I am not hungry,” she said in a small voice. “I think I will go upstairs.”

  “Lizzie…”

  She ignored her mother’s pleading voice and left the room almost in tears.

  CHAPTER SIX

  SUNSHINE AND RIPPLING WATER DON’T MAKE IT BETTER

  SUNSHINE AND RIPPLING WATER DON’T MAKE IT BETTER

  Elizabeth dressed for the outdoors. She felt a strong urge to go to the spot in the woods where she and Jonah had played as children: even alone, the pond would give her comfort.

  As she went down the stairs, she was met by Camilla and her brothers, who were also dressed to play outside.

  “It’s a beautiful day, Lizzie,” Camilla said. “Would you like to go for a picnic with me? I can have Esther make us a basket and prepare some lemonade for us.”

  Elizabeth smiled at her. “That would be lovely, Camilla, but I was planning on spending some time alone.”

  Camilla shook her head, looking distressed. “You should not spend so much time alone, Lizzie. You need company. Whatever is worrying you will heal much faster if you choose to share it.”

  “You are a very wise young lady,” Elizabeth said, stroking her silky hair affectionately.

  Camilla shrugged. “I just speak my mind.”

  “And an intelligent mind you have, so the better for all of us.”

  The young girl smiled shyly, evidently pleased by her sister's praise. “If you wish to spend some time with me and talk, you know where I will be.”

  “Where will you be?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Where I always am. At the swing at the big oak tree. I have a book to read and sunshine to enjoy.” She smiled.

  At that moment, David and Frankie arrived and took in the scene.

  “Why do you invite her and not us for a picnic?” Frankie asked, sticking out his lower lip as though he was disappointed.

  David grinned. “They'll talk about girly stuff. We're better off away.”

  Camilla stuck the tip of her tongue out at him. “Who would want to spend time with two little hooligans, when they can enjoy silence, or the sound of a soft breeze and frogs talking to each other?”

  “Will there be frogs where you are?” Frankie’s eyes lit up.

  “Don’t you dare come and disturb me, Frankie,” Camilla warned, though her voice was teasing. “I go there to read my book and enjoy the quiet. I don’t want to hear you two chasing frogs and rabbits all over the place.”

  “There’s rabbits, too?” David joined the excitement.

  Camilla took a step back. “I said you aren’t to come and bother me! You can find your frogs and rabbits somewhere else.”

  “Well, now that you’ve told us, we have to explore it!” Frankie grabbed his brother’s arm, and they made a mad dash toward the front door.

  “No! Frankie! David, don’t you dare! That’s my place.” Camilla chased after them, forgetting to say goodbye to her sister.

  Elizabeth watched them, chuckling. For all her natural quietness, Camilla was still young enough to enjoy a romp with her brothers. She followed behind them at a more sedate pace, seeking time alone with her thoughts. I can't stop thinking about what Alexandra said. She shook her head at herself, dismissing the thought. She didn’t want to spend the entire day thinking about Alexandra, even though she knew she likely would. She could not stop thinking of the handsome duke, and with her thoughts and recollections inevitably came the memory that he had danced with Alexandra constantly.

  She thought for a moment about going to Boothe Manor and seeing Jonah, but that would just encourage everyone to press her into the marriage. She had an entire year before that happened, but it seemed it loomed closer every day.

  Despite her misgivings about the topic, she still felt an urge to see Jonah. She wondered if he might be at their spot by the hidden pond. She smiled. It wasn’t exactly hidden. But in her own defense, she had never seen anyone else there in all the years she had been alive. She hadn’t gone there for picnics with her family or friends. Only Jonah.

  As she walked, she could see Frankie and David running after each other, playing an energetic game of tag. She saw Frankie catch David, tackling him and knocking him to the ground. They wrestled for several minutes before getting up, laughing, and beginning the game over again. She chuckled, shaking her head. They were the best of friends. Her brothers would always have each other. It was a thought that gave her a brief stab of pain. Their friendship would be allowed to blossom throughout their lives. Hers had to be corrupted and curtailed by some arrangement made in her infancy. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, feeling a chill despite the warmth of the day, and quickened her pace.

  She was surprisingly tired by the time she reached the pond. It was quiet. Jonah wasn’t there. She watched a family of squirrels scamper off through the trees. She stood next to the water’s edge, watching the ripples for a few minutes before she decided she did not want to be there anymore. It wasn’t the same without Jonah. She had no one to talk to but God, and she could talk to Him anywhere she was.

  She turned around and headed back to the mansion. Leaving the tree line, she scanned the field, but her brothers were no longer outside. She passed the huge oak with the rope swing hanging from it. Her sister had also left. The swing was empty, swaying back and forth in the breeze. She frowned. Why would they have gone back inside so quickly?

  She hurried up the slight hill to where she would be able to see the mansion, feeling a sense of panic. She spotted a carriage outside. It was a large one, one of the new Clarence coaches. There was no coat of arms painted on it, so far as she could see from this distance, but the carriage gave an impression of wealth. Perhaps it belongs to the Duke of Athlone. Despite herself, she felt a chill of anticipation course through her. She hugged herself again and jogged up to the front doors.

  It might not be him. It might be someone else. People get new carriages. You only think it is him because you wish it to be. And why would you? He isn’t interested in you. He’s interested in Alexandra. He’s almost ten years older than you are. He probably thinks of you as a child.

  She upset herself with her thoughts and stopped at the front doors to regain her composure. Her heart was thumping, and the last thing she wanted was to meet him looking anxious or affected in any way. He did not need to know how she felt.

  Why hurry? If he just arrived here, he’ll be here for a while.

  She decided then to go up to her room and make sure she was dressed for the part of an elegant older lady. She wanted him to think of her as an adult, not an infatuated little girl. She breathed slowly, calming her heart, hoping no one would see her when she went in.

  Grateful that her slippers were quiet on the hard floors, she dashed up the stairs, holding her skirts as she went so she wouldn’t trip on them. She rushed into her room to see Stella putting clean, dry sheets on her bed. The older woman looked up at her in surprise.

  “Are you all right, milady? You look very flushed.”

  “Stella! Who is visiting?” she asked breathlessly

  Stella grinned slightly, a knowing look on her face. “Why, it happens to be the Duke of Athlone, I believe. He has come to pay a visit.”

  “Is he here to see Alexandra?”

  Stella shook her head. “I do not know that he is visiting her in particular. He did not specifically ask for her, or so I overheard when he arrived. I suspect your father invited him. But I don’t know anything for certain. It is not my place.” She said it primly, though her eyes sparkled.

  Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, giving her maid a small grin. “And yet you always seem to know anyway. You know more about this famil
y and what goes on in our lives than even we do. Admit it.”

  Stella chuckled. “Mayhap. I do try to mind my own business, though.”

  “You’re funny, Stella. I love you so.” She embraced her impulsively. Her nervousness was lessened with the presence of her friend.

  “And I love you, too, and all of your quirky ways, milady,” the maid said, scrubbing at her cheeks to wipe away her tears. “Now let’s get your hair into a pretty French braid and dust your face with some fresh powder.”

  “There’s no way he could be interested in me, is there, Stella?” Elizabeth asked, as she sat down and let Stella arrange her hair. She sounded wistful, though in truth she was feeling much more encouraged than she was only a few moments before.

  Stella, behind her, set aside the brush and gripped her shoulder, leaning down to say, “There’s always a chance, Miss. Always. You are in the prime of your life and so is he. If it is meant to be, it will happen.”

  “Thank you. But I just don’t know, Stella.” She moved her eyes up in the mirror to gaze affectionately at Stella’s reflection. She sighed.

  Stella squeezed her shoulders. “Don’t you mope so. You are beautiful and wise and funny. Those are all qualities men love. He will see it, too. He’s not a stupid man.”

  “Do you know him?” Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, teasing the woman.

  Stella laughed. “I admit I do not know him. But I’m quite sure he is not a stupid man. If he was, I'd probably know of him. Wise men have their business in order and no one ever hears a thing about them.”

  Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. “You are so wise, Stella.”

  “Thank you, lovely. Now don’t move your head much so that we can make this braid perfect. You will surely impress him.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “Perhaps, Stella. But he barely notices me! He danced with Alexa several times. He started the ball dancing with her and ended it dancing with her. He even poured her lemonade!” Elizabeth said with indignation, then laughed. “I am silly, am I not?”

  “I see you talking yourself out of this, milady,” Stella said, shaking her head. “Now you stop it. You have so much to offer.”

  Elizabeth stared in the mirror at her reflection. She ran her tongue over her teeth, checking they were clean. She studied her face, feeling miserable. Her eyes were too far apart. Her lips were too wide. Her cheeks were too broad. He would never think she was as lovely as Alexandra!

  “Elizabeth Huntington!” Stella said. “I see your thoughts!”

  Elizabeth looked up at her. “You can't know them,” she said, giggling. “That's silly.”

  Stella grinned. “I can see by the look on your face that you are berating yourself. I said you should be cheerful! Have you forgotten how?” She shook her shoulders gently.

  Elizabeth giggled. “Yes, Stella. I remember how to be cheerful. How did you know I was berating myself?”

  “Happy thoughts produce smiles,” Stella said firmly. “Not frowns. You were not smiling at yourself. You are beautiful. You remember that, do you hear?”

  “All right, all right,” she protested, giggling. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don't be, milady.” Stella said as she reached across for a pearl-headed pin. “Don't be.”

  Elizabeth was quiet while Stella finished her hair. She listened to the woman’s quiet humming of a hymn and tried to calm her nerves. Afterward, when Stella had quietly finished and left, she looked at her reflection. Not too bad. She grinned. Her pale hair was swept up elegantly, and her skin glowed. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her violet eyes sparkled. She would try and listen to Stella and have faith.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  OPTIONS

  OPTIONS

  The moment Elizabeth stepped into the drawing room, she felt her previous composure dissolve. It was indeed the Duke of Athlone. He sat directly next to Alexandra, who was looking up at him with adoring eyes. Her mother and father were across from them. Camilla and the boys were at the table, playing a game of draughts. It was a game they frequently played, and one in which the two boys were heavily competitive, as usual. It was Frankie’s turn and, even from this distance, Elizabeth could see he seemed to be more successful than his brother, indicated by the look on David’s face.

  “I can do just as well as you, Frankie. Mark my words. You aren’t better at this game than me.”

  “I think you don’t want to place any bets on that, Davey.”

  “Don’t call me Davey. You know I hate that.”

  Frankie just laughed. Elizabeth turned her attention back to her parents and the duke. Her father was saying something about taking a tour of the grounds when she approached them. The duke turned his attention from the conversation to her.

  Daniel had glanced over to the door the moment Elizabeth entered. Realizing he was distracted, he turned to the earl to ask him to repeat himself, wondering if Alexandra had noticed his distraction. She was staring at him like she had never seen a man in her entire life.

  The duke could not deny that he felt uncommonly pleased with himself, having two such beautiful ladies hanging on to his every word. He could tell Elizabeth was interested in him. She was beautiful, he had to admit. But Alexandra was a beautiful woman, too. She had a bright, wide smile and amazingly deep brown eyes. It made Daniel feel like he could see into her soul. Her skin was smooth and her features fit together so well they might have been sculpted from marble.

  Daniel felt a sudden urge to ask Lord Westering how he could possibly have produced two such amazing beauties, but he didn’t dare say something so out of turn.

  “Forgive me, my lord? Could you repeat that?” he said instead.

  “I was simply saying we should take a turn outdoors. It is a fine day, is it not?”

  “Definitely.” He gave Elizabeth a big smile. “Good morning, my lady. I hope the day is finding you well.”

  “I am well, thank you, your grace.”

  Her parents both turned to look at her. She didn’t want to take her eyes off the duke but did so anyway. She smiled at them and at Alexandra.

  “Here you are, Elizabeth!” Her mother smiled warmly. “Camilla and the boys said you were going for a walk. Then they could not find you. I’m glad you decided to come back home.”

  Elizabeth blinked. Why would it be important that Elizabeth was there with the Duke of Athlone? Surely, her mother must know the discomfort it caused her to be in the company of her sister and this man?

  As if sensing her thoughts, her mother reached out to grasp her arm in her small fingers.

  “The duke was asking your whereabouts when he was announced. Isn’t that nice of him?”

  Seeing the way her mother's eyes twinkled, it dawned on Elizabeth that her mother might actually understand how she was feeling. A spark of hope lifted in Elizabeth’s heart.

  “Was there something in particular you wished to say, my lord?” she asked the duke archly.

  She thoroughly enjoyed the way his eyes sparkled and his smile widened when she asked the question.

  “I shall do my best to think of some impressive topic, though in truth there was nothing particular I wished to say.”

  She laughed.

  Daniel was delighted. For the first time in his life, he felt that entering into a relationship was a possibility. He had to marry in any case, but how much better would it be if that marriage happened out of love instead of convenience! Both the sisters were engaging and beautiful. He had his pick of the two.

  He looked from Elizabeth to Alexandra, trying to compare their beauty without success. It was like looking from day to night. Other than the fact that Elizabeth was nearly eighteen and Alexandra was just a month over twenty-one, he knew nothing about either of them. He had not inquired about them to anyone after the dance.

  “I must say,” he decided to mention it after all, “I have been traveling for the last four years to places all over the world and this is the first time I was met with such beautiful faces.” He looked at Anne and Hamilton.
“Parents included. You have a very beautiful family, my lord.”

  “Thank you, your grace.” Hamilton sounded very pleased. “That is appreciated.”

  “I have a splendid idea,” Elizabeth said, feeling a surge of energy.

  All eyes turned to her but she was only interested in one pair of eyes – deep blue eyes set into an extremely handsome face.

  Daniel smiled at her. “Please, share it. My lady, we are all ears.”

  “How about a game of croquet, after we have dined? The weather is so beautiful and it would be a shame to spend the day indoors. What do you think?”

  Daniel nodded, noting the distasteful look on Alexandra’s face and immediately guessing what had happened. The girls were already competing for him. He felt a spark of mischief and decided the best thing he could do would be not to obstruct them. “I like that idea, my lady. A spot of croquet would suit me well.”

  Hamilton was also nodding, giving his daughter a pleased look. Elizabeth avoided looking at her sister, knowing she would not have the same pleasant look on her face that their father did.

  “I want to play, Papa!” Frankie jumped up from the floor and took the few steps toward them quickly. “I want to play!”

  “You can play, too,” he said, laughing and holding up his hands to ward off the enthusiasm. “And, Camilla, you should join us as well.”

  Camilla looked up from her book, shaking her head. “I do not wish to play, Papa. If I were to play, it would make it an odd number and I would prefer to watch and read my book.”

  “It wouldn’t be an odd number, Camilla,” David said, coming up beside his brother. “When it’s just us, it is uneven. But when we have a guest, it evens it up. You could be the Duke of Athlone’s partner.”

  Camilla’s face flushed a bright red as she looked up at the handsome duke.

  Daniel smiled down at her. “I would be delighted to have you as a partner, young miss.”