“My heart is gone,” Aaron stated. “There’s no getting it back.”
“That’s overdramatic, even for you,” Arthur said. “Why not give Lady Julia a chance? A real one.”
“I suppose it couldn’t hurt.”
“Not to mention, if your step-mother is appeased, then perhaps you can out maneuver her. Do you think she’ll give up the heirloom diamond necklace willingly, or are you going to pry it out of her cold hands?”
Aaron laughed at the thought. “She’ll never be appeased to the point of retiring. She’ll have something new to want, as soon as the wedding is over. Mark my words.”
“So you are considering marrying Lady Julia?” Arthur asked.
“I’d be a fool not to.”
“Her lady’s maid is an interesting character, is she not?”
“Why? What did she say to you?” To Aaron’s surprise, he felt upset, that his friend had gotten to speak with her, and he hadn’t. It took him by surprise, and he hid it by taking a sip of his drink.
“Nothing. She’s just very interesting to talk to.” Arthur studied Aaron curiously. “Are you well? You’ve gone a bit pale.”
“Quite.”
Aaron couldn’t help thinking about Lady Julia’s maid. He banished her from his thoughts, for what felt like the hundredth time that day. He thought about marrying Lady Julia—what that would be like. Naturally, she would bring her lady’s maid with her. Eleanor, with her elfish looks, and her talk of love. He found himself in a strange position. Perhaps he was overthinking it.
I shouldn’t be thinking about her at all.
Yet, his mind went to her plump lips, and the way she bit her bottom lip when she was nervous.
Chapter 5
It was a brilliantly sunny day. The sky overhead was bright blue, and there was barely a cloud in sight. The lawns of Myrtlegrove Manor were vibrant green. Across them, there were strewn white tables and chairs. On them, there were set out refreshments for all.
There was a group of croquet players, all of them seeming to have a wonderful time. Eleanor sat off to the side. She was wearing a simple blue dress, and on her head, she wore a bonnet. For the day, she was allowed to blend in a little. Lady Julia had practically ordered it. She was to be there, on the off chance that Lady Julia and His Grace wanted to take a turn about the gardens. She wished that she could have been allowed her book.
As it was, she was able to content herself with drinking in the sights of Myrtlegrove Manor—the gardens were full of flowers in bloom. From where she sat, she could see several sleek thoroughbred horses, grazing in one of the pastures.
“How are you finding your way about Myrtlegrove Manor?” She looked up to find the Duke, standing there. He was smiling at her kindly. He looked very handsome, in his snow-white shirt and cravat, with cream-colored breeches. His light-brown hair was pulled back in a pony tail, though a strand of it had fallen out.
“I have not yet gotten lost since you were kind enough to show me the way,” she replied, standing up and curtsying. She had to crane her head back a bit in order to look him in the eyes. He was much taller than she was.
“Good to hear,” he said, his blue eyes sparkling. “I wouldn’t want to have you wandering about lost.”
“That is most kind of you, Your Grace.” She didn’t know why he was paying her such attention. She guessed that it was only politeness.
“Is there…anything that you need?” he asked, and as he said it, he glanced away from her.
“No, Your Grace,” she replied with a smile. “I am quite content.”
“Not a thing?”
She shrugged. “I need very few things, Your Grace.”
He was staring at her very intensely. She felt as though he could read the very thoughts that were passing through her head. A strand of his hair had fallen out of his ponytail, and was curling at the corner of his lip.
“I wish you would ask me for something,” he murmured. “For I would give it to you.”
Eleanor swallowed nervously. Would that I could ask you for what I want. But I don’t even know what that is. “I have no need of anything, Your Grace.”
The Duke was frowning. “Are you…happy, Eleanor?”
“Yes, Your Grace,” she replied. “I am very happy.”
Eleanor watched as his eyes gravitated toward her lips. She felt her face grow incrementally warmer and warmer as his gaze lingered.
“What’s your secret?” he wondered aloud.
She laughed, shaking her head. “I have no secrets, My Lord.”
He opened his mouth to say something, when the Dowager Duchess called for him. Eleanor felt disappointed…and relieved.
“Aaron!” the Dowager Duchess called, waving at him to come over.
They both shared a look. His brow furrowed, though his eyes were soft.
“Excuse me,” His Grace murmured, bobbing his head. She curtsied, then returned to her corner. She watched as he crossed the lawn. The Dowager Duchess was dressed in a very expensive-looking flowing white gown, with an ostrich feather, in a plume over her head. Diamonds and pearls dripped from her neck. Eleanor had never seen a lady so fine before. She was wholly intimidating.
Eleanor noted the disdainful look that the Dowager Duchess gave her. She raised her chin, almost looking down at Eleanor. She felt odd, and found herself toying with her locket. She half-wished that she could melt into the wall at her back.
It took everything that Aaron had to turn away from Eleanor. He was so drawn to her. He wished that she would ask him for something. He would give it gladly. He had thought that it might assuage the heat-filled feelings that he had for her.
When Aaron had crossed the lawn, his step-mother was watching him closely. He sat down in the chair beside her. She took a sip of her black-currant cordial. As long as he could recall, she had drank the beverage. It stained her lips a berry color.
“Yes, step-mother?” he asked her.
“You shouldn’t be talking to the help,” she stated flatly, setting down her glass.
“I was making sure that she was comfortable,” he pointed out. “Since she’s staying under my roof, it’s my concern.” He felt a flash of guilt, however. That his step-mother had caught him, talking to the woman he somehow preferred to the lady he should be getting to know. He pushed it all away.
No. I don’t believe in any of that.
“A Duke should not be seen talking to a maid at a garden party. Think of your reputation.”
“I doubt that very much,” Aaron stated wryly. “I’m among friends and family, for the most part.”
The both of them glanced over to where Lady Julia and her mother sat, sipping from glasses of lemonade, and talking with Arthur. It had been a wise move on Aaron’s part, to send for his oldest friend. He needed someone whose judgment he trusted the most. He was glad that Arthur had been willing to drop what he was doing and come out to Durnsott County.
“I can’t believe he showed up in the middle of dinner!” Louisa hissed. “Of all the times to arrive!”
“Arthur meant to arrive earlier,” Aaron replied, defending his friend. “It couldn’t be helped.”
“I hear that you find Lady Julia to your liking,” Louisa said, smugly.
He shot her a look. “Jack told you?” he demanded.
“Jack tells me everything,” she said, snapping her fan open and wafting it at her face. “No matter what promises he makes.”
Aaron looked over at his brother, who was playing croquet with their closest neighbors, Lord and Lady Pike and their three small children. His brother threw his head back as he laughed uproariously. He wondered what else his brother had told Louisa.
He turned back to his step-mother. She was watching him closely, a slow smile spreading across her face. “One day, you’ll thank me,” she told him.
Aaron looked away, so that she couldn’t read his face.
That’ll be the day.
His eyes travelled around all those gathered on the lawns. Eleanor st
ill remained where he had left her. Her face was turned away from the gathering. Her bonnet hid her face. He wondered what she was thinking, and hoped that it was of him.
Finally, Lady Julia and the Duke wanted to go for a walk around the gardens, thus requiring her services as chaperone. Eleanor followed after them. She trailed behind them, basking in the warmth of the sunshine, and the heavenly scents of the flowers.
She wasn’t paying much mind to what they were discussing. She presumed that they wanted some privacy, though she did keep an eye on how close they were standing—Lady Whitecier had instructed Eleanor thoroughly on chaperoning. She had been very clear on several points.
“What is your favorite part of Myrtlegrove?” Lady Julia asked His Grace. “I’d love to see that.”
“Can I show you the stables?” he asked.
Eleanor knew that Lady Julia was terrified of horses, after an unfortunate happenstance when she was a small child.
Lady Julia glanced back toward Eleanor. “My lady’s maid loves horses!” she said. “Let’s go.”
“You do?” he asked Eleanor.
“Very much so.” She was blushing a little, surprised at the sudden attention. She was worried for Lady Julia.
It isn’t worth facing one’s fear to impress a gentleman. Even if he is a Duke.
“You’re in for a treat,” he told both of them. “We just had several of our mares give birth.”
“Wonderful, Your Grace,” Lady Julia said. Though, when she glanced at Eleanor, she did look a bit peaked.
His Grace led them to the stables, which was a large green and white building. In it, there were two rows of stalls, lining the central hall. He walked slowly, pointing out his favorite horses.
Eleanor herself loved horses. She’d been taught to ride when she was younger, since Lord and Lady Whitecier had been grooming her to be Lady Julia’s lady’s maid. So, she’d had all the proper training to do so.
The Duke led them to the end, then out the back door, where there was a small corral, in which there were several mares, surrounded by their brand-new foals.
“They’re so sweet,” Lady Julia said, though she clung to the Duke’s arm like a life preserver.
Eleanor felt at peace there. Walking up to the corral fence, she held out a hand, which one of the foals snuffled at, looking for a treat. He nuzzled her palm with a tiny, velvet soft nose. Finding that she had nothing to offer, he ran away.
She chuckled softly to herself.
Aaron had asked Lady Julia to accompany him on his morning walk around the grounds. He had been excited to show her the stables. They were his absolute favorite part of the grounds at Myrtlegrove. She was hanging back, however. Clearly uncomfortable, while Eleanor went up to the fence.
“Is something the matter, My Lady?” he asked Lady Julia.
“I had a riding accident when I was younger,” she explained. “Ever since then, I must admit, I’ve been a little frightened of them.”
“Ah,” he said. “Then perhaps, we should move on. There’s so much else that I can show you.” He offered her his arm, smiling widely so as not to show his disappointment.
“Thank you, My Lord,” she murmured.
They began to walk, and Eleanor followed along behind them.
“Are horses the only thing that the estate produces?” Lady Julia asked.
“We do have a mill,” he said, “Where we make beer out of the barley that we grow. And there’s an orchard, where we grow apples.”
“How interesting,” she replied. They were walking along the little brook. It was a meandering sort of waterway, which had a peaceful, slow flow. There were ducks, their large families of soft, fuzzy ducklings in neat rows behind them.
It seemed that in the animal world, each was able to choose as they pleased. However, like his horses, the people of the ton could not choose, and were put together for proper breed lines.
It wasn’t quite fair to anyone. But he supposed that Lady Julia’s only detractor was her dislike of horses. Even that, he couldn’t hold against her. He found himself wondering again, what Eleanor thought. When he glanced back at her, she smiled at him kindly, then looked away, across the fields.
He led them to the orchard, which was redolent with the scent of the quickly-ripening apples.
“Go on,” he told Lady Julia. “Go and pick one. They’re delicious.”
“I believe I will, Your Grace.” Lady Julia gave him a sultry glance. He smiled at her. When she stepped forward to do so, he turned back toward Eleanor.
“Did you like the stables?” he asked. Immediately, his mind was filled with the thought of running into her in the stables, where he might get her alone.
“I did,” she replied, blushing and looking away, almost as if she could read his mind.
Eleanor kept her eyes on her mistress, who was reaching up for one of the jewel-bright red apples. Bees hummed in the orchard, pleasantly moving from tree to tree.
“If you’d like, you can go to the stables anytime,” he offered in a low voice. Her heart raced. She had heard things, that the other female servants talked about. About amorous gentlemen who would try to get them on their own, in the dark corners of Clayriver Manor.
The thought of the Duke, attempting to do so made her nervous. It would be a betrayal, on Eleanor’s part. Lady Julia turned back toward them, an apple in her hand. Her smile faltered when she saw that the Duke was standing beside Eleanor.
“Mr. Stanley said that we were to stay in the servants’ quarters when we aren’t needed,” Eleanor said, knowing that she would be questioned if caught where she wasn’t allowed. She stepped away from him.
“That’s my step-mother’s rule, not mine,” His Grace replied. “Feel free to ignore it. Use the staircases, if you wish.”
“Do you mean that?” she asked. When their eyes met, it felt like they were speaking on a different level. She saw open yearning in his gaze. She recalled that he had wanted her to ask him for something. She looked away from him, at the grass-covered ground.
He folded his hands behind his back, sighing. “Of course. I imagine that you’ll have some time to yourself. You might as well go where you’ll be happy.”
“A little,” she admitted. Their eyes met, and she knew that they shared a love of horses. There was nowhere that Eleanor felt as comfortable and at peace as she did in the stables.
He grinned. “Good. Then I’ll let the head groom know that you’re allowed to roam. He’ll be glad to give you a tour.” When he looked at her, his eyes went to her lips, and she bit her bottom lip.
“That’s very kind of you, Your Grace.”
He smiled, bobbed his head, while she curtsied. She watched as he walked over to Lady Julia, who was eating an apple with absolute relish. Eleanor watched the look that Lady Julia gave him, and she knew that her mistress very much wanted to marry him.
Eleanor supposed that for His Grace, it was a small thing, allowing her to walk about the stables. But for her, it was a very big thing. It was freedom. Its tantalizing breath was cool on the back of her neck.
There was another thought that occurred to her—of His Grace, running his fingers gently along her cheek. It made her go both hot and cold at the same time.
“Come, Eleanor!” Lady Julia called out. Eleanor shook it off.
Chapter 6
There was a luncheon in the dining room after he had shown Lady Julia the grounds of the estate. Afterwards, the company retired to the parlor, where they sat. There was a cool breeze, coming through the half-opened windows.
Aaron felt distracted, though nothing was going on. It felt like they were all trapped in amber. His mother and Lady Whitecier were discussing ladies of the ton that they knew in common.
Arthur leaned toward him. “Are you well?”
“Quite well.” He realized that he was drumming his fingers on the arms of the chair in agitation.
“You haven’t said a word,” Arthur mused in concern.
Aaron tugged at his cravat,
which felt like it was slowly tightening. “I could use a bit of air.”
“Care for a ride?” Arthur asked. “You wanted to show me those Arabian horses that you’ve purchased.”
Aaron grinned. It was the biggest love that the two gentlemen had in common—their passion for horses.
“Then you must come for a ride with me,” Aaron said, as they both stood up. He addressed the ladies. “Lord Mallen and I are going out for a ride. If you’d all excuse us.”
Undressed to Impress the Duke : A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 4
