Regency Romance: Winning The Indecisive Duke (The Fairbanks Series - Love & Hearts) (Historical Romance Fiction)

by Jessie Bennett

  When the party finished, Elizabeth retired to her room, where Stella was waiting to help her to disrobe.

  Stella drew the brush through Elizabeth’s hair, resting half of it on one hand as she ran the brush through the ends repeatedly. “You looked lovely tonight, Miss. I’m sure you held everyone's eye.”

  Elizabeth gave her a smile. “You overestimate my powers of attraction, my dear.”

  Stella chuckled. “I suppose everyone's eye does not matter. Only someone's? A duke someone?”

  Elizabeth blushed. “You have too much knowledge of my ways.”

  “Well?” Stella insisted. “Did you draw the duke's eye?”

  “I think so, yes.” Elizabeth frowned and bit her lip. “It’s hard for me to tell. He is very kind and attentive. But no more so than custom demands; I am the daughter of the host.” She sighed. “He says things that make me believe he thinks of me as a child. But he also whispers to me and tells me funny jokes and stories. I know he is quite different with Alexandra. I’ve seen him with her, and it isn’t the same. He is more reserved with her.”

  “Much more reserved.” Stella nodded. “But I pay no mind. It’s not my business.”

  “You always say that, but you always have an opinion. You know what’s going on in this house. You know all of our personalities. Don’t deny it.”

  “I will not deny it, Miss.”

  “You know you can speak freely in front of me. There is no one else here. Tell me if you think Alexandra has a better chance with the duke than I do.”

  Stella looked at Elizabeth’s reflection in the mirror. “Miss, anything is possible.”

  Elizabeth frowned softly and shook her head. “You know that is not what I mean, Stella. You did not answer my question. Do you think I have a chance?”

  “We all have chances. I think if you try, you will definitely have a chance.”

  Elizabeth gave a sigh. “You are right. But I am so unsure how to act in front of him.”

  “You are wisest to be as you naturally are. If you make yourself act, you will be awkward. You are a beautiful and intelligent girl.”

  “You just called me a girl,” Elizabeth pointed out. “That’s what concerns me most. I want to be a woman.”

  “You are a young woman. You are many years younger than I am, so I think of you as a girl. He does not.”

  Elizabeth thought about that, in light of his comment that she was mature for her age. It did not seem to her as if Stella could be right.

  “I have no idea how to find out what he really thinks of me.”

  “You could try asking him.”

  Both women laughed. “I will never do that, Stella. Never.”

  “I know, my lady. It is not like you to break with protocol.”

  Elizabeth bit her lip. “Did you have a chance to observe him while he was here this evening?”

  “I did, Miss.”

  “What did you think of him?”

  “He’s a very handsome man. And I must say, from the way he looks at you and the way he looks at your sister, I… it is my opinion that he is assessing both of you.”

  “You make us sound like cattle, Stella.” Elizabeth wasn’t offended. She smiled at her maid, who smiled back.

  “You know you are not cattle, my dear.” She squeezed Elizabeth's shoulder affectionately. “You know you have a chance with the duke. You will just have to be patient.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t have time to be patient, Stella. I’ll have to leave for that awful journey soon.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to go anywhere right now. I want to stay here and talk to the duke.” She knew she sounded pettish and sighed. “I am sorry, Stella. I know I am being silly. But I do mean it.”

  “I know you do. You had little desire to go before. Now you have twice the reason to stay. I know, my dear.” She twisted the girl’s hair around her hands and skillfully pulled it up into a tight bun. She took a step back. “Will you retire now?”

  “I am not very tired yet. Will you stay and talk to me until I get tired?”

  “Of course, my dear.”

  Elizabeth crawled in between the quilt and the sheet on her bed, pulling it up to her chin the way she had done when she was a child. She felt the need for reassurance.

  Stella laughed. “You seem tired, after all.”

  “No, Stella. Please stay with me. Just for a little while. Tell me a story like you did when I was little. You remember?”

  “I do remember.”

  “I know I yearn to be older, but I do wish sometimes that I was still a child,” she said wistfully. “Things were so simple then. Everyone is so... so hostile now. So complex and unfriendly. I feel as if no one cares about me in the world.”

  Stella smiled at her gently and pulled up the quilt, tucking her in as she had done long ago. Elizabeth felt a pang of bittersweet memory and squeezed the older woman's hand.

  “You are always loved, Beth. Even when it doesn’t seem like it.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I know, Stella. I’m just glad I have someone who will still tell me whenever I need it.”

  The two of them shared a smile, and Stella sat down at her bedside. They chatted easily. Stella told stories of her early childhood on the farm, before her parents had moved to the city and she had joined the service of Elizabeth's parents. She painted a picture of another world – one that was both inherently harder and more simple than any Elizabeth had ever imagined. Distracted from her own confusion by Stella's words, she soon fell asleep.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  PICNIC IN THE PARK

  PICNIC IN THE PARK

  Jonah spread the blanket out over the grass and set the basket down on one corner.

  “There’s no breeze today. That’s a good thing. A nice bright sunny day for us.”

  Elizabeth, settling down beside him on the blanket, was glad she had worn a simple cotton day-dress for their outing. She had been wearing her new muslin, but had changed, afraid of staining the skirts with mud.

  She and Jonah had planned the picnic two weeks previous to the duke’s arrival. Now, she had extra reasons to be glad they had arranged it. She wanted to talk to Jonah about Daniel, and she knew he wanted to talk to her about Julia. He always did. For months, Julia had been the only thing Jonah would talk about. She had some of his stories memorized and would say the ending with him. Sometimes they ended up laughing about it.

  “What did you think of the Duke of Athlone?” she asked at once. “You seemed to like him, when you met at the ball?”

  “Forsley? He’s a good fellow. I expect Father will be doing business with him for some time to come. Especially if he inherits the land he wants and begins to build there.”

  “What did he think of the building plans? Do you know?”

  “He liked them,” Jonah replied, reaching in the basket and pulling out a container filled with lemonade. He picked up a glass and poured some of the lemonade in it. When he felt confident the small mug wouldn’t tip over, he reached in the basket and pulled out another mug for her. He put the lemonade back in the basket and pulled out a container of tea, knowing she preferred it. “I have ham slices and a lot of fruit.”

  “Good, for I shall wish to talk a long while! We have much to talk about.”

  Jonah laughed. “We always talk about the same things. I tell you the same stories; you tell me the same stories. I guarantee you whatever we talk about today will be about the same topics. I know you will want to talk to me about the Duke of Athlone, while I am anxious to tell you about the last time I talked to Julia.” Elizabeth loved the way he said her name. He was truly in love with the violet-eyed beauty.

  “Have you talked to her since the last time you told me you talked to her?” She reached for her cup and took several sips of tea, enjoying the sweetness. It was still warm.

  “I have. And wait till I tell you what happened. But first…” He took a rectangular sectioned plate from the bottom of the basket and removed its cover. “Here is the food
. I brought water biscuits as well. They should be tasty with some ham and cheese.”

  “Thank you, Jonah. This was very considerate of you.”

  Jonah shrugged, settling on the blanket. He held up the glass of lemonade in both hands, propping his arms up on his knees. “You said last time we had a picnic that next time it was my turn. I listened to you.”

  “Thank you for that, as well.”

  “I always listen to you, Lizzie.”

  “That’s why everyone thinks we should be married.”

  They shared a smile.

  “So, tell me what you’re thinking about the Duke of Athlone,” he asked, sipping lemonade. “You know he is twenty-six and needs to be married in the next three months or so to inherit that land?”

  “Is that a condition of his inheritance?” She hadn’t known that. She wasn’t sure how to feel about it. If he was being forced to marry, he might choose out of desperation. How odd that they both faced the same predicament, but in such different manner.

  “Yes. By his twenty-seventh birthday.”

  “How odd.”

  “That’s what everyone is saying. But his uncle – the one who died – was said to be quite eccentric. He did something similar to all of the duke’s brothers and sisters, as well.”

  “How did you know this?”

  “My father was chatting with your father and the duke that night we were there for the dinner party.”

  “That was fun.”

  “Yes, I enjoyed myself very much, as well. I think it was one of the best nights I have had in a while.”

  “Do you think the duke’s arrival might sway your father’s decision about our contract?”

  Jonah was quiet for a moment. She could tell he was thinking about it. “I know what you are thinking, my dear,” he said finally. “But I’m not sure my father sees it the way we do. He saw the duke with your sister, too. Alexandra is obviously in love with his grace. Probably has been from the moment she laid eyes on him. She is no longer interested in my brother, that is for sure. She wouldn’t even speak to him that night. Did you notice?”

  “I did.”

  “She was quite demanding when they were courting. It isn’t the least surprising that he broke off the engagement. If the Duke of Athlone attempts to court her, he will find that out on his own.”

  “I don’t want him to court Alexandra.”

  Jonah snorted. “I don’t think anyone does.”

  They both tried to keep their chuckles to a minimum.

  “We can’t make his decisions though. If my father is unwilling to release me from the contract with you, he may have no other choice.”

  “The duke has plenty of choices. I would rather see him with any other woman on the ton than Alexandra. We are not the only eligible women in Fairbanks.”

  “Yes. That’s true.” Elizabeth watched a thought come across his mind. “As long as he doesn’t pursue Julia. We might have a problem if that should happen.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “It seems to me that he would not do such a thing if he knew the way you feel about her.”

  “Even if I told him, my father would have to let me out of our marriage contract for me to pursue her. Were I unable to marry her, I would want her to be happy. But seeing her with someone else would probably make me lose my wits.” He sighed.

  “If you were married to me, I would not let that happen,” she replied firmly.

  Jonah sighed. “It would be so much simpler if we were in love. Why can’t we be in love, Lizzie?”

  Elizabeth giggled. “I don’t know. It is too bad. It would be much more comfortable for everyone.”

  They sat quietly a while, then Jonah cleared his throat.

  “Instead we have to love other people and they aren’t allowed to love us back.” He sat beside her silently, gazing wistfully out over the rippling water before him.

  Elizabeth didn’t know how to respond to that. She kept her eyes on the water in front of her, taking small sips from her mug. She ate several crackers with ham and cheese before deciding to speak.

  “Do you think there is a chance we can convince them to dissolve the contract?”

  “Do you think your father will change his mind?”

  “I think there is a chance,” Elizabeth said hesitantly. “I’ve seen him with the Duke of Athlone My father is a wise man. Surely, he will feel that if I have a chance at happiness, I should be given the opportunity to take it.”

  Jonah pursed his lips and let out a slow breath. “I would hope that both of our fathers would come to understand that this is simply torturous. For us.”

  “Being friends has not helped our cause,” Elizabeth said a little sadly.

  To her surprise, Jonah leaned in and put an arm about her slender shoulders. “I love you, Lizzie. I can’t help it and can’t help being your friend. But I do not feel for you what I feel for Julia. I know that cannot change.”

  “I know. I’ve always known and accepted it. I never wanted anything more from you, Jonah. You are such a good friend to me. I love you, too. You know that.”

  Jonah gave her a smile. “We are too depressing. We should be having a good time. We should be…” He stopped. His eyes widened where he looked over her shoulder.

  Elizabeth turned her head to look where he was looking and saw that her sister was walking along the other side of the pond with the Duke of Athlone. She tried to swallow her jealousy but was unable to do so.

  “I wish I did not feel so envious.” She sighed. “It is terrible of me, is it not, Jonah?”

  He squeezed her hand. “No, it is not, my dear. You cannot help that you wish you could spend all your time with him as freely as you both deserve to. I know how you feel. I can do nothing with Lady Julia until such time as our marriage contract is dissolved.”

  “Oh, Jonah!” Elizabeth said, exasperated. “We must do something to stop this. We must! It is not fair to anyone, is it? And I hate to feel this way about her. She is my sister!”

  “I’m sure she does not make it easier for you not to.”

  “She does not; you are right.” She nodded and conceded the point.

  “I hope she has not been causing you grief.”

  “She does her best whenever she can.”

  Jonah shook his head. “I would try to reason with her but she does not speak to me.”

  “Thank you,” Elizabeth sighed, squeezing him in a quick embrace. She felt him stiffen and looked to where he gestured with a nod.

  “They are coming this way. The duke has spotted you.” Jonah’s smile betrayed his delight. “We must annoy Alexandra as much as possible.”

  “No, Jonah!” she said, shocked. “I do not want to be cruel – then I would be being just as she is.”

  “There are ways to poke fun and still be polite, Lizzie.”

  “No,” she said, still miserable.

  “We must do something! I want you to court and marry him.”

  “Thank you, dear.” Elizabeth and Jonah shared a smile.

  “Not at all. Now, think of something! They're close.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  A LESSON

  A LESSON

  “Good afternoon, my lord Jonah, my lady. What a splendid notion you have! It is a lovely day for a picnic.” Daniel’s smile was bright and warm. He directed it first to Elizabeth and then to Jonah. Both stood up to greet the duke.

  “And a lovely day for a walk in the park.” Jonah looked at Alexandra and nodded. “Alexa. You are looking fresh and lovely today.”

  “Thank you, Jonah. You are also looking well.”

  “Thank you.” He looked back at the duke. “It is good to see you today after the splendid cricket with me and my fellows yesterday, your grace. You are a grand cricketer, even if you do not think you are. I was impressed.”

  Daniel smiled and spread his hands, self-deprecatory. “You were all good sports to play with an old man like me.”

  “You are far from being an old man,” Elizabeth said quickly
, cutting in with the compliment before Alexandra could. She noticed when her sister’s face turned red and tried not to share a look with Jonah. “I would say you still have many more years before you can boast of that privilege.”

  Daniel nodded, making a mock serious expression. “Forgive me. I misspoke.”

  Elizabeth smiled at him.

  “So,” Alexandra began, brightly, facing Jonah. “Have the two of you been discussing wedding plans? I’m sure you will want everything to be perfect on the big day.”

  Elizabeth lowered her head, attempting to hide the sudden hurt. The words were like a blow. When your enemies were close, they knew intimately where you hurt the most.

  Jonah answered for them, much to Elizabeth’s delight, and she had to stifle her broad grin. “We have certainly been discussing the wedding, Alexandra. How to prevent it from happening.”

  Elizabeth could not help a giggle at Alexandra's response: At first, she stared at Jonah in stunned silence, her jaw dropped and her eyes wide. When Elizabeth laughed, she narrowed her eyes at Elizabeth viciously. “How can you say such a thing in front of your intended bride?” she asked, turning back to Jonah.

  Sudden confidence filled Elizabeth. “Oh, Alexa, don’t act as if you don’t know we do not wish for marriage. I’m sure the duke already heard of our dilemma, have you not, your grace?”

  “Yes, my lady. I have heard. It still surprises me that your family will not bend at all. Surely, they do not want to make you unhappy. I can see that the two of you are friends, however. Would it truly be so bad to be married?”

  “I do not love her.”

  “I do not love him.”

  Jonah and Elizabeth spoke at the same time. They looked at each other. “We do not love each other as a husband and wife should,” Jonah explained. “We are friends, more like brother and sister or cousins.” He sighed. “I cannot see myself in any other capacity.”