Elizabeth lifted her brows in surprise. “Then I take it something interesting happened.” Harold did not respond to that. He blinked slowly. Elizabeth understood what that meant. “Very well, thank you for your time nonetheless. I’ll ask His Grace about it myself.”
Although I doubt he will tell me anything.
“That will be the better route to take, My Lady. Now, if you have no further business with me, I will take my leave.”
“Wait,” she blurted out. “I also have one last request if you do not mind.”
For the first time since she’d met him, Harold’s neutral expression cracked with a slight frown. “I do not think I am in a position to mind anything you ask of me, My Lady. You are His Grace’s guest, after all.”
“Ah, yes, but—” Elizabeth cut off, shaking her head. She wouldn’t bother to explain that she’d grown to be overly kind and polite to everyone she came in contact with, servant or no. “Anyhow, I would like a copy of The Times if it is still available. Or, any other morning newspaper should do.”
Harold’s cool expression fell back into place as he nodded. “Yes, My Lady,” he said, and then took his leave.
Elizabeth sighed upon his exit, continuing to gaze out the window. She had far too many questions for William, many more than she had before she’d met him again. Now, she didn’t only want to know why he’d left. She wanted to know what had happened after he’d left, why his father had returned to London, what had occurred in this manor that had caused the butler to keep quiet. She could figure out easily enough that the deceased Duke had married into the Dukedom. She’d even seen a portrait of a somber looking woman with brown hair and sad eyes in one of the hallways, who Minnie had pointed out as the Duchess of Brandon. But that knowledge only opened up more questions.
A few minutes went by with Elizabeth simply mulling over those questions when Minnie returned bearing her tea. The maid sat with her while Elizabeth drank and though she offered a cup to Minnie, the maid had rigidly told her that she could not possibly do so, her cheeks going red. Elizabeth hadn’t bothered to press her. She knew very well the line between servant and lady that maids didn’t dare to cross, but most of the time, Elizabeth didn’t care about it.
Then after a while, silence fell over them and Elizabeth was lost in her thoughts again, all centered around William—willing him to return soon. She hoped she would be able to contain herself when she saw him again, rather than letting all her questions out loose.
Just how many secrets do you have, William?
Elizabeth couldn’t wait to find out.
Chapter 9
By the time Elizabeth had asked for the newspaper, it had gone out of circulation. However, the next morning, as she prepared for the day, Harold came to her bedchamber with the day’s copy of The Times in his hand.
“Please, My Lady,” he said with a deep bow that made him nearly parallel to the floor, “forgive the lateness in providing this. I have no excuse.”
Elizabeth, alarmed, glanced at Minnie as if the maid would be able to help her out of this suddenly awkward situation. She looked back at Harold, shaking her head as she said, “It is quite all right, Harold. I was in no rush at all. Please, raise your head.”
Harold straightened and his gaze settled on Elizabeth’s shoulder once again. “Thank you, My Lady. Is there anything else I might assist you with?”
“Yes, there is one thing. I would like to have my breakfast in my bedchamber.” Seeing that William was not here, the last thing Elizabeth wanted to do was to eat alone in a large dining room. Even when she’d been back home, she’d always had Patience’s company.
“As you wish, My Lady.” Harold bowed once more before he took his leave. Elizabeth watched him go, feeling both perplexed and comforted by the prudent man William had as his butler. The level of dedication Harold had to his position was something to be admired.
Elizabeth turned to face the mirror at her vanity table once more and Minnie resumed doing her hair. She’d asked Minnie to put her hair in a rather simple style, considering she’d woken with a headache and loathed the thought of having her hair twisted up under pins. Silence fell over the room once more as Minnie continued her task and Elizabeth’s thoughts drifted away to other things.
She thought of her father, and Patience. The latter did know where she was right now, but at least understood why she’d left. The former was sure to be completely clueless—and undoubtedly distressed—about Elizabeth’s disappearance. Patience, Elizabeth knew, would not say a single word about what happened. She would take Elizabeth’s secret to the grave if she had to.
Which means Father must be suffering quite a lot right now. Is he looking for me? Has he told Lord Horenwall of my disappearance?
Considering her wedding was slated to be held soon, Elizabeth couldn’t imagine that Lord Horenwall could be kept in the dark for much longer, if he had not learned of her disappearance as yet. It was why she wanted the newspaper. She wanted to see if there was any mention of her, if there was a reward declared for anyone who might know of her whereabouts.
Elizabeth picked up the newspaper and began to scan its contents, searching for a picture of her face or her name. She found nothing. Elizabeth folded the newspaper, set it down on her table, and sighed.
“My Lady?” came Minnie’s voice, pulling Elizabeth from her thoughts. She glanced up in the mirror, catching Minnie’s curious and worried eyes. “Is something the matter? Are you not pleased with the style I have given you?”
Elizabeth noticed suddenly that Minnie’s hands were no longer in her hair. Her silver-blonde strands hung down to her shoulders, a few tufts tucked around the side of her head and pinned to the back. It was not the most fashionable style, but considering Elizabeth would not be leaving the manor for anyone to see her, she enjoyed it.
“No, not at all!” she said quickly, smiling. “It is quite lovely! It has been so long since I’ve worn my hair down like this, so thank you. You’ve even managed to make my face appear much softer than it truly is.”
Minnie blushed so furiously that Elizabeth realized she might have overdone it on the compliments, even though she meant every word. “T-thank you, My Lady. I’m happy it pleases you so.”
“It truly does.” Elizabeth rose and went to stand in the center of the room as Minnie fetched another one of William’s stepmother’s old gowns. Once more, she wondered how long ago the Duchess had passed away, considering these gowns were not too out of fashion. A summer breeze wafted through the open balcony doors, fluttering Elizabeth’s chemise around her body. “Will you sit with me while I have my breakfast, Minnie?” Elizabeth asked.
Minnie looked at Elizabeth in alarm. Elizabeth gave her a gentle smile, hoping that would alleviate whatever wariness she might have.
“I do not like to eat alone,” she explained. “I have a lady’s maid—her name is Patience—who would always sit by my side whenever I had my meals. And it would be nice, don’t you think, to get to know each other a little better? I’m sure you are filled with questions.”
“I-I wouldn’t dare to ask them, My Lady.”
Elizabeth laughed as the grass-green morning gown settled around her shoulders. “But you do not deny my statement. Does that mean you are as curious as I think you are?”
Minnie said nothing but her deep blush was all the answer Elizabeth needed. She was in a particularly good mood today, happy that in the evening she would see William again. She wanted to distract herself from thoughts of him.
Now dressed, Elizabeth began to make her way out onto the balcony. “Come and sit with me, Minnie,” she cajoled softly and was pleased to see the lady’s maid join her side. A small round table and two chairs stood near the balcony doors and Elizabeth chose the one that faced the expanse of land stretched out before her.
“There is no need to be so tense, Minnie,” Elizabeth told her after a while.
Minnie nodded her head, licking her lips in a nervous manner. “I cannot help myself, My Lady. In
my years of being a lady’s maid, I have never been treated with such kindness.”
“Truly?” Elizabeth asked, blinking in surprise. “I did not think I was doing anything particularly odd.”
“I suppose that is just an attestation of your character,” Minnie murmured.
Elizabeth smiled. “That is quite nice of you to say. Though, I do not think it is entirely true. For one, it appears His Grace is not very fond of me.”
“He is not?”
Elizabeth’s smile widened at the intrigue in Minnie’s voice. It was clear the maid was growing more comfortable. “Let me ask you something, Minnie, and perhaps you’ll be able to help me.
“Of course, My Lady!” Minnie sat up a bit straighter, anticipating.
Elizabeth licked her lips, feeling a little nervous all of a sudden. She felt at ease in Minnie’s company, already seeing a possible friend in her. But talking about her feelings for William to a relative stranger felt odd, considering those feelings were constantly being rejected by him.
“I would like to grow a bit closer to His Grace,” Elizabeth said after a while. “But it feels as if no matter what I do, he only wishes to push me away. Now, I am out of options.”
“Well…” Minnie looked a bit hesitant to say her next words. “Perhaps that is precisely why you find your efforts failing. Men are usually the ones who like to court ladies, so if that role is taken from them, they might feel a bit put out.”
Was that so? Elizabeth hadn’t considered that thought. Ever since she arrived, she’d been so bold with her feelings, forcing her intentions upon him and not accepting his denials. A part of her relished her determination, but perhaps that was the reason for all these rejections? Because she’d been far too persistent and it was only tiring him?
Elizabeth leaned closer, filled with interest. “Then what do you propose that I do?”
“Had I been in your position, My Lady, I would simply withdraw my efforts a bit. I would not want to become tiresome.”
“Tiresome?” Elizabeth gasped and Minnie’s cheeks colored.
“Forgive me, My Lady! I did not mean to say that!”
“No, it is quite fine,” Elizabeth said hurriedly. “I am not upset with you, only taken aback. I did not think I was being tiresome but…perhaps you are right.”
It would only make sense, now that I think about it. After all, I have appeared suddenly declaring that not only have I been searching for him for the past seven years, but that I have no intentions of leaving, even though he wants me to. Anyone would find me tiresome!
Shame washed over Elizabeth like a roaring wave and she fell silent. She could feel Minnie’s furtive glances, and knew very well that the girl was anxious about Elizabeth’s quietness.
How could I have been so foolish? Of course he will not want to see me if I hound him every second. Had it been the other way around, I would have felt the same way.
That last thought echoed with a twinge of doubt. Elizabeth wouldn’t have felt the same way. If William had appeared suddenly after being gone for seven years, Elizabeth would have welcomed him with open arms. She would have been brought back to the day he’d first told her that he loved her, under the sycamore tree at her family’s country estate. She’d been ten-and-six at the time, preparing to have her debut within a few years. Elizabeth remembered how little all that had mattered to her when she’d finally heard those three perfect words, when she’d finally felt pieces of her heart meld with his to become one.
If William had done what she did, Elizabeth would not have pushed him away but would have loved him as if no time had passed at all. She couldn’t blame him if he could not do the same.
At that moment, there came a knock on the door and Minnie hurried to open it. Maids filtered into the room, bearing trays of Elizabeth’s breakfast, and laid them out on the table, resting the remaining plate on a dumbwaiter brought in by one of the maids. Elizabeth took care to thank them all.
Once they were gone, Elizabeth tried to lift her spirits a bit more, not wanting Minnie to be uncomfortable. She offered to share her meal with the lady’s maid and was wholly unsurprised when she declined. So, for the remainder of the meal, they engaged in light conversation, talking mainly about Minnie and her family, which was spurred on by Elizabeth’s questions.
She wanted to distract herself from the lingering embarrassment she felt regarding her conduct towards William, but that emotion merely lingered in the back of her mind and ate away at her. When next she saw him, Elizabeth made a vow that she would not let herself become the clingy lady he’d been so misfortunate to meet again.
Chapter 10
“You are simply out of your mind; do you know that?”
Elizabeth gasped and twirled at William’s voice, her hand flying to the base of her throat. Though there were a few feet of distance between them, William saw the way her cheeks colored, her parted lips drawing his attention. For a moment, he was distracted from what he was going to say, feeling a stab of longing at the lovely lips he so badly wanted to capture with his own.
“William!” Elizabeth exclaimed. Her shock faded as a wide and excited smile stretched across her face. In that moment, she almost seemed like a child again, like she would take to jumping up at down in her exuberance. “You’ve returned earlier than you said you would!”
“Clearly,” William drawled. He crossed his arms and planted his feet, trying to resist the urge to bridge the distance between them. They were standing in the last place he’d expected to find her—the stables. “Why are you here again, Beth? Do you enjoy fainting at the sight of horses?”
Her smile didn’t diminish. If anything, it stretched even wider. Elizabeth’s grin was fast making his knees grow weak, bringing back tender emotions that he’d long since tucked away. She shook her head as a wafting breeze lifted strands of her blond hair around her face. “It is quite the opposite, you see,” she said.
William couldn’t resist the urge any longer. He drew closer, his steps a slow swagger that belied his yearning. He’d returned earlier than he’d expected to from his trip and the moment he’d stepped into the manor, he’d inquired about Elizabeth’s whereabouts. He’d told himself that it was simply to understand where his guest was, for whatever purpose that might serve. But once he’d heard that she was once again in the stables, he’d made a beeline for her.
To fight the feelings rising in him, he focused his attention on the horse standing before Elizabeth. It was the same one she’d nearly fallen off of just a few days ago. Worry nipped him at the sight of the calm horse, but it didn’t overshadow the heat skittering across his skin at being so close to her. This overwhelming emotion—it scared him a little.
“I fail to understand,” he said, his tone natural despite the chaos happening in his mind and body. “You are here because you do not enjoy fainting at the sight of horses? It appears your actions are quite counterproductive to me.”
Elizabeth giggled behind her hand. The sound sent his heart racing. Unable to help himself, he glanced at her, wanting to tuck the wisps of hair tickling her cheek behind her ear. Wanting to pull her close to his body and nuzzle his lips against her swan-like neck, to taste the bare skin there and drink in her mesmerizing scent until he couldn’t forget it.
Control yourself, William, he told himself. The way you are acting now is simply because you have not laid with a woman in a long while. It is nothing more than carnal emotions that you cannot help.
He tried to tell himself that was the reason for missing Elizabeth during his trip, that his hot-blooded thoughts were the only reason he’d cut his business short to return home earlier than he’d planned to.
It didn’t help very much.
“It is simple, really,” Elizabeth said, drawing him from his thoughts. “I wish to overcome my fear of horses. It has gone on for far too long now.”
He slid his eyes towards her, frowning a little. “What has brought on this sudden change?”
“Do not worry,” she said, he
r tone both kind and dismissive. It shocked him. “It is not because of you. I merely did not like my embarrassing reaction when I rode this horse a few days ago, and I wish to change it, is all. And considering the fact that I cannot very well leave this manor, I believe it will be a decent use of my time.” She turned to him so suddenly that William blinked in surprise. Her eyes dazzled. “Will you help me?”
William had so many matters to take care of that simply standing here talking to her was wasting time. But, even though he knew that, he still nodded, still said, “Very well, then. I suppose it could help to have me around considering you might get yourself hurt otherwise.”
“If I did not know any better, I would think you are worried for me.”
“A lady being injured in my manor is not something I want to deal with,” he stated coldly but his words only seemed to have bounced off her.
What Desire Demands, My Duke: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 11