Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she headed downstairs.
At the door to the terrace she paused. All you have to do is say hello.
She stepped out on the porch, her eyes attached to the back of her sister and the Duke of Athlone’s heads. Even from this distance, he was a stunning man. His hair tousled in the wind, glossy brown in the sunshine, his back straight, he was exactly as she thought a man ought to be. She shook her head. She should not think that way! But she could not help that she did. She braced herself, heart pounding, and then stepped over to the table.
CHAPTER TWENTY
THE BEAUTIFUL SISTERS
THE BEAUTIFUL SISTERS
As if he sensed her approaching, Daniel turned and looked over his shoulder at her. She smiled at him. It was amusing to see his eyes widen as he stood to greet her.
“My lady. I did not expect to see you here.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “I live here, my lord. Where else would I be?”
Daniel tried to compose himself. He couldn't quite believe he had said something so inane. He deeply did not want to look a fool in front of either of the ladies. “I… I thought you might be otherwise occupied,” he explained quickly, hoping that would excuse him. “I hope my presence has not disturbed you. I can see you are preparing to go for a ride.”
“I am, yes, my lord. And you are here to see Father?”
“I am, indeed. Would you like to sit, my lady?” Daniel held out his hand to indicate the chair he had been sitting in was empty. She smiled and shook her head. She did not even glance at her sister. When the duke was in front of her, he was all she could see. All she could think about. She wanted to stay and chat with him but she did not want to do so in the presence of her sister. The conversation would not be a pleasant one for long, and she refused to spar with her sister in front of his grace.
“She is getting ready to take her afternoon ride, my lord,” Alexandra answered at once. “She does not have time to sit and talk. Father will be taking an early tea shortly. Then you will be able to speak with him about your business.”
Both Daniel and Elizabeth heard the tone she used when Alexandra said “business.” She expected the business might not be about actual work, but about things more personal instead. Elizabeth’s heart ached a little, wondering whether the duke would speak to her father about her or about Alexandra. She hoped it was about her. But neither her father nor Lord Macefield had changed their minds in the last week, and she was still betrothed to Jonah with only five weeks left before she would depart on her journey. Then all would be lost for her.
“Surely you have a few minutes to spare, my lady?” Daniel sounded hopeful, but Elizabeth doubted her own ears, sure that she was only hearing what she wanted to hear.
“Thank you, your grace. I can, of course, stay and talk for a few minutes. But you must consult with my father, and I do not wish to keep you from your business.”
“Nor do I want to keep you from your ride,” he answered. “But you are most welcome to join us until your father emerges from the study.” He indicated the chair.
Elizabeth sat in the open chair, much to her sister’s chagrin. The last few minutes of the conversation would be with Elizabeth, not with her. Her ire showed plainly on her face. Daniel moved to stand in front of both the women, looking down at them. He clasped his hands behind his back and thought desperately, searching for something to say. His mind, to his embarrassment, was a blank. Before he could open his mouth to venture anything, Alexandra raised a topic that made her intentions quite clear.
“The weather has been perfect for walking in the park. Don’t you agree, your grace?”
Daniel raised his eyebrows. “It has been storming and raining ferociously for the entire week. Today is the first dry day.”
“I meant today,” Alexandra said hurriedly. “Today is the start of good weather. I’m certain of it.”
“The weather is often unpredictable,” Elizabeth said quietly.
“It rains so terribly in London!” the duke chuckled. “That is one thing I can always be certain of. I am so glad to be here, where it seems milder, and I am always grateful for a sunny day.”
“I have a feeling it will be nice this week. We must get in plenty of walks, my lord, like we did on Sunday last.”
Daniel knew what Alexandra was doing and felt helpless to stop it. He had gone for a walk with the girl and he had danced with her several times. In her mind, they were already married.
He wished he had not given the impression that he was decided on her. Now that he had, it would be awful to back out or change his mind. The thought distressed him, and he felt himself choke.
“Are you all right, my lord?” Elizabeth and Alexandra both looked concerned, as he coughed, hand in front of his mouth.
He nodded, clearing his throat once again and giving an extra cough to make sure he would be able to speak. “Just choked a little. I am sure I will be well.” His eyes watered. He looked from one sister to the other, feeling embarrassed. “I… I suppose I will head inside to see if your father is available.”
“I will walk you in.” Alexandra stood gracefully, smiling up at him.
His face reddened slightly, and he gave Elizabeth a bow as she stood up.
“Do enjoy your ride, my lady. I hope to see you again soon.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Thank you, your grace.”
She watched as he and Alexandra walked toward the front door of the house. Alexandra was staring up at Daniel with a look of utter admiration. Daniel looked a bit uncomfortable, Elizabeth thought. She turned to walk to the stables, trying not to feel the aching and the longing as she got farther and farther away from him.
Alexandra walked briskly with Daniel into the house. “It is so lovely that you came to visit us on this fine day. I do hope that when your affairs are concluded, you will consider going for a walk with me around the grounds? I can show you some areas that Father most likely neglected when he walked with you last week. We have a lot of land and much of it is almost untouched. For instance, did you know we have several caves on this land that need exploring? Do you like such things?”
“Cave exploring.” Daniel had never even considered such a thing. “I have not thought of it before. It sounds interesting, if not a bit dangerous. Is that something that interests you?”
“It is quite risky, but what is living if you never take risks?” She looked up at him, laughing recklessly.
Daniel had to agree with that. Engaged and breathless, she was a picture of beauty and he shook his head to clear it, feeling his whole body tingle. He could not deny he desired her. But would he choose to spend his life with her? He could not decide.
He opened the front door and allowed Alexandra to pass in front of him. They reached her father’s study on the first floor only moments later. She opened the door and entered before him.
“Father, are you still busy?”
“What is it, Alexandra?” Hamilton looked up and smiled wearily. He sounded tired. He was sitting at his desk, leaning over a small pile of papers that he appeared to be sorting through. He looked up and saw the duke there. “Oh! Hello, your grace. How nice to see you. What can I do for you?”
“I would like to speak with you in private, if I can, my lord.”
“Of course, your grace. Of course. Alexa…” Her father lifted one hand toward the door to let Alexandra know she was expected to leave. Alexandra gave the men a brilliant smile, making her face light up with natural beauty. Daniel immediately admired it and had to smile back. When he turned back to the older earl, Hamilton only looked confused.
Alexandra backed out and closed the door behind her softly.
Hamilton looked up at Daniel. “I hope the day finds you well, your grace.”
“Yes, my lord, thank you.”
“Have you spent some time with Alexandra this morning?” Hamilton asked. It seemed to Daniel as if he was seeking to explain the sudden rapture on Alexandra's usually still feature
s.
He smiled. “Yes, I did. We had a most pleasant talk on the terrace. I came to see you, and she mentioned that you were working on matters of business until two o’clock and did not like to be disturbed.”
“I apologize, your grace. If I had known you were here, I would have prioritized your visit.”
“There is no need to apologize.” Daniel shook his head and moved to sit with the earl on a long couch set by the window. “I enjoyed speaking with your daughters. Again, I must admit they are fine women, both beautiful and intelligent. I would like to speak to you about that very subject, in fact, before we settle down to other matters of business. As you know, I must get married in a few months. I am anxious to find a bride who comes with a good family. I would like to join your family, to be honest. I find your brood to be compelling, intelligent, and humorous. All qualities I would like to see in my own children, when I have them.”
“You are interested in my daughter?” Hamilton was amazed that Daniel had not hesitated when he discovered Alexandra's jealous tendencies. Surely, he had seen the way the young woman treated her sister? He fought back the urge to warn the duke by telling him about how Alexandra had treated young Jonathan Boothe. It would be deplorable for him to betray his daughter in such a way, if she’d actually found a decent man to marry.
He liked Daniel. He didn’t want to see the man end up with a marriage partner who would not bring him joy. At the same time, he wanted the duke to join his family. And who was he to conjecture that the duke and Alexandra would not be happy? Their future was theirs and could hold anything.
“I am, yes.” Daniel blinked, almost angry that he could only see Elizabeth in his mind. He decided to speak his mind and jumped in somewhat haphazardly. “Though I understand that Lady Elizabeth is betrothed, I long to court her when she returns to our shores... if she has been let out of the current contract she has with the Boothe family?” He decided he had to ask the question.
Relief flooded Hamilton and was followed up quickly by anxiety. That would mean speaking to Michael about letting Jonah out of the contract. It seemed more and more likely that the contract would be broken. It would mean a possible blight on the family reputation, if the Boothes did not agree to the dissolution.
“You are interested in Elizabeth?” he murmured, tapping a finger to his lips thoughtfully. “I did not know of that.”
“Yes, my lord,” the duke said hesitantly. “I am terribly sorry I did not clarify that to begin with.”
“It is perfectly understandable.” Hamilton glanced at Daniel. “I fear my Alexandra will not be able to marry. Her personality is… shall we say, difficult?”
Daniel didn’t dare say anything lest he hurt the man’s feelings. He just pressed his lips together in a regretful grimace.
“My lord, may I ask you a question?” Hamilton said when the silence had stretched a long moment.
Daniel nodded. “Of course.”
“I do not want my Elizabeth to be taken in marriage to satisfy an inheritance deal. If you plan to court and marry her, I would need assurance that it is because you are truly fond of her, that you feel you will be able to fall in love with her.”
“My lord, you have no worries in that regard. I am already very fond of her and have no doubt that I would fall in love with her. She is an amazing young woman.”
“She will need to be released from the contract by Lord Macefield, as well. He will have to agree to this.” He sighed wearily. “I don’t know how he will feel about it. If he chooses to, he can sully the Huntington reputation in society.”
“He will not do that, I am certain.”
“I would I could share your certainty. Why do you seem so assured?”
“You know as well as I do that Jonah does not want to marry Elizabeth, as close as they are,” the duke explained. “They are friends and will never be anything more than that. I have spoken with Jonah and so I know whereof I speak. His heart is taken by another. He has been asking his father to be released from the contract for some time now. If everyone involved believes the dissolution of the contract is best, surely he will see the logic in it.”
“If he is willing to agree to this, everyone will be well-content. Yes?”
Daniel grinned. “Yes, my lord.”
“Do you believe that Elizabeth would agree to be courted by you?”
“I do.”
“Has she given you any hint this is true?”
Daniel raised his eyebrows. “No, my lord. She is not the sort to do so when she knows she is betrothed to someone else. It is Jonah to whom I have spoken, and he is certain Elizabeth would be interested.”
Lord Westering paused, looking up at him thoughtfully. “Yes, I can believe that. The youth knows her heart as well as anyone, and so I trust his judgment on this matter. Besides,” he continued, “I have seen and heard Elizabeth and her sister arguing over you. Elizabeth always seems to be the one in tears. That must show some depth of inclination.”
The thought of that made Daniel’s heart ache for the young woman. He vowed that Elizabeth would never have cause to cry again. He was sorry for any part of her distress he had unwittingly caused.
“Besides the matter of her arranged marriage,” he began cautiously, “you have no other grounds to object to my courtship? I hope you do not feel I am too old for Elizabeth.”
Hamilton laughed. “Not at all, your grace.”
“And I hope you think well of me as an addition to the family.”
“Of course, of course! All that I have spoken to you about, you have the same opinion. You come from a fine family and one that I would be happy to join with through your marriage to my daughter. Now, the only task that is daunting is telling Alexandra that you have not chosen her. I suspect she will be unhappy about it.”
“To say the least, my lord. To say the least. I hope you do not mind if I am not present for that undertaking.”
Both men laughed. “Her mother and I will tell her,” Hamilton suggested. “I think it would be kinder to tell her here, in her own home. What say you?”
Daniel closed his eyes. “Thank you, my lord. That would be an invaluable service.”
He did not want to cause anyone pain and now it seemed he would avoid that horrible prospect.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
A LIE
A LIE
When the door closed behind Alexandra, she walked quickly to the front door and hurried down to the stables to see if she could catch Elizabeth before she left for her ride. She was going to be the Duchess of Athlone. She was going to have status and wealth beyond what she could possibly have had with Jonathan Boothe. It would be the ultimate triumph over a sister who had always made her feel so hopelessly lacking.
When she went in the stables, she immediately spotted Elizabeth in the stall where she was waiting for Sutton, the groom, to make her horse ready. She was almost ready to leave.
Elizabeth heard the door open and looked up to see Alexandra just outside the stall. She frowned. “What are you doing here, Alexa?”
“I have come to see you off.” Her smile did not look welcoming.
“You look very pleased with yourself,” she said guardedly.
“I am. The Duke of Athlone is in the study with father right now. Guess what they discussed?”
“I think I have an idea.” Elizabeth made sure the saddle was strapped on as tightly as it was supposed to be and took the reins in one hand to lead her horse out of the stable. “But I do not know why you would seek me out, unless you have come to gloat.”
“Is it so wrong to want your sister to be happy for you? I will be Duchess of Athlone!”
Elizabeth closed her eyes. She was beginning to feel that life would never be fair. She would never be happy. All she wanted in the world was to be free to find a man who swept her off her feet.
The duke’s face flashed through her mind, his smile beaming at her, his eyes twinkling. It hurt her heart to think she wasn’t wanted by the first man to take her h
eart away. He had been so kind and gentle with her. Now, she was left to interpret that only as the care and duty he would feel toward a little sister. The thought made her feel a little faint. She composed herself quickly.
“You cannot be certain that he is here to talk to Father about courting you, Alexa.”
Alexandra sneered. “Why did I expect you would be happy for me? I shouldn’t have expected it. But you are the one who will end up miserable. The Duke of Athlone has expressed his love for me.”
Elizabeth felt her heart contract with sudden pain. “He said that to you?” She didn’t believe it. How could he say such a thing and still look at her the way he did?
“He did.” Alexandra’s confident tone did not suggest she lied. “He said it as we walked to the house.”
Elizabeth pulled the reins a little hard as she led the horse out of the stable. She regretted it and patted the horse’s neck comfortingly. “I’m sorry, boy. I didn’t mean to do that. Come, take me away from here,” she murmured softly in his ear. She wondered if he knew that she was apologizing to him. He lifted his massive head and snorted reassuringly. She felt love for the animal course through her and it made her regret her own bitterness. “I am happy for you, Alexandra,” she said, choking back her tears. “I really am.”
Alexandra laughed. “I don’t think you are, Lizzie. You do not look happy to my eye. When you come back from your ride, perhaps we will be having a celebratory dinner in honor of my upcoming marriage. I hope you will attend and try to look happier for me?”
Elizabeth not bring herself to respond. She only wanted to escape, to put as much distance between the house and herself as fast as she could. She would hide somewhere, mourning her broken heart. She pulled herself up on the horse, anxious to leave her sister’s presence.
Winning The Indecisive Duke: The Fairbank Series Page 14