Unexpected Earl (Hearts and Ever Afters)

by Joyce Alec

  Eleanor laughed, “You have only just met me, and I have barely said anything. Your acquaintances must be quite dull.” Eleanor stopped, as she remembered that she was speaking to a duke. “Your Grace, I must apologize. Please forgive my speech. I should hold my tongue.”

  The duke said, “Lady Eleanor, your openness is quite the welcome change. And, you are correct. Many of my acquaintances are dull.”

  Eleanor smiled, “Your Grace, may I ask why are you not attending the hunt with the other men?”

  “I enjoy riding, but I have never been one for hunting. I am attending the party because my family has always attended. It’s tradition.”

  “Tradition seems to be very important. Does no one ever strike out on their own or do anything that’s against tradition and custom?”

  “Not if they can help it,” he answered with a smirk.

  Eleanor knew that she shouldn’t be alone with the duke, and he knew that as well. The guests and Eleanor’s family were all busy, so they continued their conversation.

  They spoke about books they enjoyed and the differences between their childhoods. Eleanor had grown up in the middle class, while the duke’s family was part of the ton. With Eleanor’s father’s inheritance, her lifestyle had changed dramatically. The duke shared some tips to help Eleanor get accustomed to her new way of life. They both forgot that in a library, they were supposed to be reading and instead shared a conversation that neither would soon forget.

  As the hours passed, Nathaniel said, “Now, I must be off. I will leave you to read, which is why you came here in the first place, right? We don’t want anyone to catch us in here alone, as we don’t want to break any of those rules your mother deems so important.”

  Nathaniel kissed Eleanor’s hand and left her speechless.

  When Eleanor’s father formally introduced her to the duke, they pretended not to know each other. Eleanor did not get another chance to be alone with the duke as he was only there for one night. He said he had business he needed to attend to at home.

  Eleanor found herself wishing to see him again, but she tried to quickly put those thoughts out of her head. She couldn’t let her heart break again. Still, thoughts of the duke continued to fill her mind.

  Chapter 6

  December 6, 1814

  Saint Nicholas Day had at last arrived, and with it, the Christmas season. Each year, Eleanor delighted in this time of year, and this Christmas promised to be especially merry, as it was the Chathams’ first Christmas in Hempsted Park. On the evening of Saint Nicholas Day, the family enjoyed an intimate dinner of all their old favorite dishes.

  Eleanor’s family enjoyed having an evening free of guests or social obligations. They laughed and joked with each other, as in old times. After dinner, they assembled in the music room. Emma and Katherine, both very accomplished pianists and singers, entertained the family with festive songs and hymns.

  The gifts they exchanged were simple and reminiscent of their previous life. Eleanor received a leather-bound edition of Chaucer, and her mother received a box of silk embroidery thread. Their younger brother received an atlas, and Katherine received new music books. Emma received a set of silver hair combs, and Eleanor’s father received a silver letter opener. It had been a wonderful evening.

  Now that the Christmas season had officially begun, Emma and Eleanor were looking forward to the Christmas balls and parties. Their mother, the countess, had dresses made for both girls for the parties they were attending. The fine material and beautiful embroidery on each dress were like magnificent artworks in Eleanor’s eyes. She couldn’t wait to wear them.

  ***

  The following morning at breakfast, the family received an invitation to spend a weekend at Trunbridge Castle at the Duke of Fenton’s request. Eleanor had seen the duke at social events, and while they danced, they shared inside jokes and gossip as the music hid their unseemly conversations. However, they were never able to spend time alone as they had in the library on the day that they met.

  This invitation was surely a tradition, thought Eleanor. She refused to let her imagination see it as anything other than a social obligation of the season. Still, she thought it would be exciting to see where he lived and to spend the night in a real castle.

  ***

  December 15, 1814

  As the carriage approached Trunbridge Castle, Eleanor and Emma exchanged excited glances. Eleanor loved history, especially medieval history. The castle was said to be seven centuries old and had been under siege twice. She hoped that they would get a tour and the history of the castle would be shared. Secretly, she wished the duke would give a private tour, so he could fill her in on the history that would surely be omitted for ladies’ ears.

  In truth, Eleanor was even more thrilled to see the duke again, and didn’t care as much about the castle as she led on. She thought about the duke every day, although she tried hard not to. His sandy blonde hair, sparkling green eyes, and his sense of humor consumed her thoughts more than she dared to admit. She could feel herself falling in love with him, but she knew what had happened with Charles and just how heartbreaking falling in love could be. She tried to keep her emotions in control and just enjoy the duke’s company as a friend. Lately, that was proving to be very difficult.

  Eleanor, her sister Emma, and her parents arrived at Trunbridge Castle and were greeted by the duke, his mother, and his sister. Eleanor tried to be on her best behavior and remember every rule and social custom. The duke had invited several prominent families to visit for the weekend. Eleanor soon realized that nearly every other family outranked her own. She had never been in the presence of such high-ranking nobility.

  A footman showed Eleanor and her family to their rooms. Eleanor’s room was in a tower and she loved it immediately. It felt as if she had gone back in time. Looking to at the bedside table, she noticed a gift with her name on it. Eleanor sat down on the edge of the bed and unwrapped the paper and string from the square object. The gift was a book, with yellowing pages that signified its age. As she opened the book, a note fell onto her lap.

  Lady Eleanor,

  I hope you enjoy this volume of the history of Trunbridge Castle. I know you love history. Please consider this book, and a few nights spent in the tower room, to be my belated present to you for Saint Nicholas Day.

  Sincerely,

  Nathaniel

  Eleanor hugged the book to her chest as she felt her heart warm. How was she not supposed to fall in love with a man as thoughtful as the duke? She also noted that he signed the note with his familiar name. She knew that she was losing the fight with herself not to love him. Eleanor nestled onto a chaise and flipped through the pages of the aged tome. A fire blazed in the fireplace, and from the window, she could see snow had started to fall.

  Rebecca came up to help Eleanor dress for dinner. Eleanor chose a dark crimson gown with black beading. She looked in the mirror and was pleased with the hairstyle Rebecca had chosen for the evening. The black combs stood out dramatically against Eleanor’s fair hair.

  Eleanor had hoped that the duke found her to be beautiful, as she could not stop thinking about him. She looked at the book on the bedside table and the room he had chosen just for her and found that she could not wait to see him, to thank him personally for her Christmas present. Besides her father, a man had never given Eleanor a gift before. Was he trying to win her affection? Eleanor didn’t know.

  Eleanor went to her sister’s room so that they could walk downstairs together.

  “Eleanor, how old is this castle?”

  “It’s nearly twice as old as Hempsted Park.”

  “Is it really? My room has a lot of character. I would love to know who else has slept in this very room. Do you think that royalty has ever stayed here?”

  “Well, that I do not know, Emma, but I might be able to find out!”

  Eleanor shared the secret of the gift that the duke had left. To explain the gift, Eleanor had to tell her sister all the details of thei
r first encounter in the library.

  Emma was astonished, “Do you think we received the invitation to visit because the duke is falling in love you with you?”

  Eleanor laughed, “Of course not, Emma. Papa knew the duke’s father as a child. I am sure they invited us to visit because our families have been friends for a very long time.”

  Emma accepted Eleanor’s explanation for the invitation, but still thought that the gift meant something more.

  Emma and Eleanor entered the most luxurious drawing room they had ever seen. An enormous fireplace dominated the room. The furniture was made from dark walnut, and intricately detailed tapestries hung from the walls.

  The duke greeted them as they walked in. He looked even more dashing tonight in his formal attire. He was the most handsome man in attendance. Eleanor’s heart fluttered with every word he spoke. The duke introduced Emma to a close friend of his, the Marquess of Satterfield. The duke then said he wished to introduce Eleanor to another acquaintance and left Emma and Lord Satterfield in conversation.

  “Who are we meeting?” asked Eleanor.

  “Nobody. I just wanted an excuse to get you alone, if only for a brief moment.”

  “I want to thank you for my gift, Your Grace,” said Eleanor. “It was so thoughtful, and I have already begun reading it. The history of your palace is quite interesting. So much as happened here.”

  “You are very welcome, Lady Eleanor. Because you have such a keen interest in my residence, will you allow me the honor of giving you a personal tour after breakfast in the morning?”

  “But, Your Grace, you are the host. Won’t you be missed?”

  “I suspect I will, but I believe I am the duke, and this is my house, so I may be able to bend the rules just a bit.”

  “Be careful, Your Grace, you may be breaking with tradition. People may think you are a rebel.”

  “Good.”

  The duke walked Eleanor back to her sister, who was still speaking with Lord Satterfield. The four remained in conversation until they were called for dinner.

  The duke was at the head of the table, so Eleanor was not able to speak to him throughout dinner. Instead, she was seated next to two of the duke’s cousins. Eleanor entertained them with conversation, but she found them dull. Emma was seated next to Lord Satterfield and was having a grand time.

  That night, Eleanor curled up in the blankets and fell asleep dreaming about her time with the duke the following morning.

  Chapter 7

  December 16, 1814

  After breakfast the following morning, the duke kept his promise. He escorted Eleanor on a personal tour of Trunbridge Castle. The history was rich and fascinating. It had been attacked numerous times, but had never fallen. It had played a role in the War of the Roses and the English Civil War. The duke told Eleanor stories of his ancestors and their heroic deeds, while some stories had tragic endings.

  It had snowed all night, and the grounds of the castle were covered in a blanket of white. Eleanor remarked how beautiful it looked from her window that morning.

  “I was not expecting snow this early in the season, but I have a marvelous idea.”

  “Oh, I can’t wait to hear it. Please, do tell!”

  “I will make an announcement after luncheon; you will just have to wait until then.”

  “Your Grace, you cannot make such a secretive suggestion and then refuse to let me in on your plan.”

  “Sometimes you have to be patient to get what you want.” The duke winked, and he concluded his tour.

  “I must rejoin the other ladies, Your Grace. Thank you again for the tour. Your home is extraordinary. You have the privilege of living with history of this magnitude every day. It must be simply wonderful.”

  “It really is. The stories I have told you never stray far from my thoughts, and I am glad you can appreciate that.”

  The duke walked Eleanor back to the drawing room, where her mother and sister were engaged in conversation with the duke’s mother, The Dowager Duchess of Fenton. The duke bid his farewell to Eleanor, as he joined the men.

  Eleanor tried to guess what surprise the duke had in mind for the afternoon but failed to arrive a satisfactory answer. She barely ate lunch because she was consumed with curiosity. That man could be so infuriating, but in a good way she thought to herself. During lunch, she tried desperately to catch his eye, but he stubbornly refused to look her way. Finally, lunch was finished, and the duke cleared his throat to speak.

  “The snow has fallen through the evening and left the fields and roads under several inches. This afternoon appears to be clear and cold, but beautiful. I have arranged for a sleigh ride for anyone that would like to go.”

  Several young ladies expressed their delight and nodded their heads. The duke looked at Eleanor and raised an eyebrow and smiled. Eleanor nodded her head and returned his smile with one of her own.

  That afternoon Eleanor dressed in her warmest bonnet, her coat, and her muff. She rushed downstairs and was glad to see that Emma and Lord Satterfield had already paired up. She looked for the duke and hoped that he intended to pair up with her. As she scanned the crowd, the duke came into view.

  “Lady Eleanor, I was hoping that you would accompany me in my sleigh. It was you that inspired this idea, and I would love for you to join me.”

  “Are you telling me that you wanted to go on a sleigh ride with me, and that is why you planned a sleigh ride party for the guests, Your Grace?”

  “Yes, I want to spend time with you, and this seemed like a great way to have fun. You have shared your fondness for Christmas, so this seemed fitting.”

  “Oh, Your Grace. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Please, Eleanor, call me Nathaniel.”

  Eleanor could hardly believe what she was hearing. He was trying to find ways to spend time with her, and he wished her to use his familiar name. She knew that she was in danger of losing her fight with herself. She wanted so badly to love this man, but she was just not sure she could ever trust herself after what had happened with Charles. But as today was a beautiful winter’s day, and it was Christmas time, she decided not to let what happened in the past affect her day with the handsome duke.

  Nathaniel held his arm out, and Eleanor placed her gloved hand on his arm as he escorted her through the double doors of the great hall and to the courtyard. Eleanor and Nathaniel shared a sleigh with Emma and Lord Satterfield. At Nathaniel’s signal, the driver gave a tug to the reins, and the horses pulled the sleighs from the courtyard and down the road. The landscape was covered in snow, and the castle looked romantic and dramatic against the white of winter.

  A warm blanket covered Eleanor and Nathaniel’s legs, and her heart raced as she sat side-by-side with the duke. It was quite cold, so she snuggled against him for warmth. He put his arm around her and held her close. She had never been this close to a man before, and for it to be the man that she was falling in love with made this sleigh ride even more special.

  Suddenly embarrassed, she remembered Emma and Lord Satterfield were sitting across from them. When she looked over at her sister, she saw her wrapped up in a riveting conversation with Lord Satterfield, which meant nobody was paying any attention to Eleanor and Nathaniel. Lord Satterfield and Emma seemed quite cozy as they were snuggled together, whispering and laughing. Eleanor smiled at the thought of her sister finding happiness. Her thoughts returned to the state of bliss she was also currently experiencing.

  “Are you warm enough?” Nathaniel asked as he held Eleanor close.

  “Yes, I am, this is so wonderful. I don’t think that I have ever had a better Christmas.”

  “I want you to be happy,” he replied softly as he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  Eleanor longed to tell Nathaniel that she was scared. She was worried that he would break her heart.

  “Nathaniel,” she said and then she stopped, falling just short of what she wanted to say. He had kissed her on the cheek, and perhaps that meant something. Su
rely, it meant that they were more than friends. She wanted to tell him what she honestly felt, but found she was unable to risk saying the words.

  “Yes? Eleanor, did you want to say something?” he said as he leaned close to her.

  “Yes, I want to tell you how much everything you have done means to me,” said Eleanor, hiding what she truly wanted to say. “Thank you, Nathaniel.”

  Nathaniel squeezed her hand, “I hope you are pleased. I would do anything you asked me to do. I would grant you any request.”

  “Do you mean that?” asked Eleanor.

  “I mean that sincerely, with all my heart.”

  Nathaniel held Eleanor close the entire sleigh ride. They rode across the lanes and the roads of his estate. Everyone was laughing and having a delightful time. The beautiful scenery, with snow-covered evergreens and fields of glistening white, made Eleanor feel as if she were in a fairytale.

  As the sun began to set, the drivers steered the sleighs into the courtyard of the castle. The guests climbed out from their sleighs and made their way to the great hall where they were greeted with mugs of hot cider and mulled wine. The sleigh ride had been a huge success, and Nathaniel decided that from now on, sleigh rides would be a tradition at Trunbridge Castle.

  He brought over a mug of steaming hot mulled wine to Eleanor. She sipped the cinnamon-flavored drink and stood by the fireplace, enjoying the warm beverage and company. She smiled at Nathaniel and decided that maybe she could let herself fall in love with him after all.

  ***

  Rebecca helped dress Eleanor in a beautiful, emerald gown, and fixed her hair in an elegant up-do styled with intricate braids. As Eleanor was about to head downstairs to the drawing room, there was a knock at the door.

  “May I come in?” asked the gentle voice, which Eleanor immediately recognized as the duchess.

  “Of course, Your Grace,” said Eleanor, perplexed as to why the duchess had come to see her in her bedroom.

  “Thank you, dear,” said the duchess. “Shall we take a seat by the fireplace?”