by Fanny Finch
“Are you sure you are ready to leave your bed? Do you feel strong enough? I do not want your guest to cause you to weaken by pushing you beyond your limits.”
“No, no, do not worry about that. Lizzie is here to help me. She would not harm me.”
The Duke of Thornwall studied his sister, noting there were splotches of red in her cheeks, standing out from her otherwise extremely pale face. Lady Elizabeth was right about one thing. Lady Agatha needed some sunshine.
Chapter 17
The Duke of Thornwall said nothing, though Lady Elizabeth could tell he was not happy seeing Lady Agatha in the dining hall when they went in. Lady Agatha went to sit in her chair at the table to his right.
“I will return shortly, Aggie,” she said, helping Lady Agatha settle into the chair. The Duke of Thornwall, who had stood up, walked around to push the chair in.
Lady Elizabeth heard him as she was walking to the kitchen door say quietly, “Where is she going?”
“To get us a picnic…”
Lady Elizabeth had to put the last word on the sentence because she was descending the stairs into the kitchen.
Phoebe was seated at the table with Milla. It looked like they were having a spot of tea. They were seated on the same side of the table and both looked up when Lady Elizabeth stepped off onto the stone floor.
“Lady Elizabeth!” Phoebe gave her a guilty look and put her hands on the table to push herself to her feet.
“You do not need to stand, Phoebe. I need Milla to put together a morning picnic basket for me and Lady Agatha. We are going to walk in the garden and have breakfast by the fountain.”
“That sounds lovely, my lady,” Phoebe smiled, remaining in her seat. Milla was moving around the room putting items in a basket. She went around the table to the kitchen area. She opened a warming box and pulled out several biscuits. She looked around to see if anything else was missing from the basket.
Lady Elizabeth moved to sit on the edge of the bench next to Phoebe.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Phoebe?”
Again, Phoebe gave Lady Elizabeth a guilty look, her cheeks burning red. “Yes, my lady. I am sorry if I have not been a good companion.”
“You continue to apologize when there is no need.” Lady Elizabeth leaned forward and patted Phoebe on the knee. “I have spent my time with Lady Agatha, which is why I came here. You have done all I’ve asked of you. The only man of nobility here is the Duke of Thornwall and I do not need you to introduce me to him, do I?”
Phoebe smiled at her. “No, my lady. It is just that I feel I am taking your parents’ money and doing nothing to earn it.”
Lady Elizabeth shook her head, returning her companion’s smile. “They will never be told. You have no worries. Should I need you for anything, I will certainly call on you. Otherwise, continue to enjoy your stay here.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
“Do you wish to come on the picnic with us?”
Phoebe appeared to contemplate the offer. “It is a bit chilly out this morning. I would like to stay here and talk with Milla, if you allow.”
Lady Elizabeth nodded. “Do as you wish. I do want you to be happy while we are here.”
“You are enjoying yourself?”
“I am. It is so nice to see Lady Agatha recuperating from her accident. She grows stronger day by day.”
At that moment, Milla returned with a basket. Lady Elizabeth stood up and took it from her.
“Thank you, Milla. You two have a wonderful morning. We will return before lunch.”
Lady Elizabeth ascended the stairs, pushing the door open to go into the dining hall. The Duke of Thornwall and Lady Agatha turned to her.
The Duke of Thornwall stood, moving around the table to gently pull Lady Agatha’s chair back so she could stand. Lady Agatha waited for Lady Elizabeth to get to her before she stood. Lady Elizabeth offered her hand, which her friend took and used for leverage so she could stand with less pain.
“I do hate to see you ache so,” the Duke of Thornwall said.
Lady Elizabeth was taken aback by the emotion in the duke’s voice. She glanced at him. His brown eyes looked sorrowful. He put his hand on his sister’s shoulder and helped guide her to the door.
“Are you positive you are ready for a walk in the garden?” The Duke of Thornwall sounded anxious. “I do not think you are ready. The doctor told you…”
“I do not care what the doctor said, Malcolm, and you know that. I want to get my exercise and recover from these injuries.”
“You might make it worse. Why must you be so difficult?”
“I love you for your concern, my brother, but I will be fine. Do not worry yourself so!”
Lady Elizabeth caught the glance the Duke of Thornwall sent her way. A bit of resentment slid through her. He was inadvertently blaming her for Lady Agatha’s insistence on leaving her room. She was sure if she was bedridden for three weeks, she would want to be up on her feet as soon as possible.
She knew the Duke of Thornwall had little influence over what Lady Agatha wanted to do. He had a tremendous soft spot for her, which she knew fully. He was the duke but to her, he was just her brother. She valued his opinion but, in the end, she would do what she wanted.
Her independence was one of the traits that drew the two ladies together. They both had a sense of adventure that pushed them to overcome obstacles. When Lady Agatha left the social season to tend to Lady Elizabeth during her illness, the bond they created was immediate. They had many things in common.
She wondered if that trait was one of the things he would someday see in her. She wondered if it would draw the Duke of Thornwall to her or push him away?
She shook her head, walking across the foyer. She held Lady Agatha’s elbow in her hand, which did not give her much support, but Lady Agatha was getting stronger and needed less help.
Smithson had the door open for them by the time they got to it. Both ladies nodded at him and went out into the bright sunshine. A light breeze lifted the brim of Lady Elizabeth’s hat and she raised a hand to keep it on her head.
“We may not be able to wear these hats today, Aggie.”
“Oh, it will be fine,” Lady Agatha replied, waving her hand in the air. “I am glad to be out enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine.”
“I feel the same.” Lady Elizabeth wanted to ask if the Duke of Thornwall had said anything about her while she was in the kitchen. She tried several different ways of approaching the topic in her mind but could find no way to safely get to it without asking it outright.
“I must ask you something, Aggie,” she finally said, gathering her courage.
Lady Agatha raised her eyebrows, looking over at her friend. “What is it, my dear? Is it about my brother?”
Lady Elizabeth gave her a look. “How did you know? Are you reading my mind?”
“Oh no,” Lady Agatha laughed. “I can just tell from the look on your face. I have been watching you and my brother and there is something going on between the two of you. You must agree he has not been as pushy lately. He still reminds me I should be resting more but he has not said a cross word to you or about you.”
“Yes, I have noticed that,” Elizabeth had to admit. “I truly hoped the situation would not worsen from how it was. But I truly believe it has gotten better.”
“I agree.”
Lady Elizabeth stepped onto the stone walkway that would take them to the garden. The garden itself was surrounded by four walls, ten feet high. It was accessed through a large gate that had once been made of wood but was now made with iron bars.
There was no need to protect the food inside from scavengers because it was no longer used for that purpose. Now, when you entered through the gate, you found yourself in a maze of beautiful flowers, shrubbery trimmed to look like animals or angels, and the feature was the fountain in the middle.
It was a cherub holding a large teapot constantly pouring water from its midst.
“I am hoping you are right abou
t the Duke of Thornwall, Aggie,” Lady Elizabeth forced herself to say the words. She was still unsure about her feelings but she was leaning more toward cordiality and possible romance than she was opposition and defiance.
Lady Agatha smiled at her. “I thought so, Lizzie. And I am so glad to hear you say it.”
***
The two ladies walked side by side, admiring the beautiful colors they saw around them.
“Your gardener is quite good,” Lady Elizabeth remarked, leaning over to press a bright orange flower against her cheek. She pressed her nose in its midst and breathed in the light scent.
“So nice.”
“Yes. I come here often… well, I did, to relax and think. I reflected here quite often when I was but a young woman.”
“I am sure you did. I would, as well.” Elizabeth could see the fountain from where she was.
“When Malcolm and I were younger, before I left four years ago, we would come out here and play card games and put on plays for each other. One of our favorite hobbies was finding a new and interesting book to read. Malcolm loves to read.”
“I have noticed that. I have seen him in the library often. Surely he has read all the books he owns.”
“He is always purchasing new books. He knows several book dealers and they visit often. I am a bit surprised we have not seen one come in the past two weeks.”
They reached the pathway that would take them to the fountain and turned toward it. The fountain was only a few steps away. It was surrounded by a circle of stone benches that had been bleached white at some point but Lady Elizabeth suspected there was black stone underneath.
She could see specks of the dark stone in the cracks of the weather-beaten benches.
They both went toward the same one and sat down, placing the basket between them.
“I know you must be hungry, Aggie. Let me make you an egg on a biscuit. I saw Milla put hard boiled eggs in the basket, as well as some biscuits and jam.”
Lady Agatha smiled at her. “That would be lovely, thank you.”
They sat in near silence as they ate, enjoying the breeze and the warmth of the sun’s rays.
“It is a lovely day,” Lady Elizabeth sighed. “I am so blessed to be sitting here with you.”
“I feel the same way,” Lady Agatha remarked. “How lovely that we are friends. I do not want to predict the future but I am so hoping we will someday be sisters.”
Lady Elizabeth pictured the Duke of Thornwall in her mind. When she did, she was surprised by the warm feeling that filled her and the bubbly feeling in her stomach.
She put one hand on her stomach as if to cease the fluttering. She was unsure what the Duke of Thornwall thought of her now but her feelings for him were gradually changing. She was sure it was due in some way to the urging of Lady Agatha, who did not go a day without mentioning it.
It often grew into a discussion during which Lady Agatha would repeat how mild-mannered and gentle her brother was, how smart he was and there was no doubt he was a handsome man, regardless of the scar on his face.
Lady Elizabeth did not even see the scar now. It was a part of the Duke of Thornwall’s face and did not detract from his otherwise handsome features. She was especially attracted to his eyes, so deep and troubled. She saw his pain swimming in them. He had the eyes of an old soul.
“Oh, look.” Lady Agatha’s eyes moved past Lady Elizabeth’s shoulder, prompting her to turn and look behind her.
The butler, Smithson, was walking in their direction, taking the winding path that would lead to where they were sitting. He looked at them several times.
Lady Elizabeth stood up and waited for him to approach. When she sensed Lady Agatha was having some trouble standing, she turned back to look down at her friend and waved for her to stay seated.
“You stay seated, Aggie, or I will sit on your lap and make you stay down.”
“Oh dear, that sounds like it might be painful.”
Lady Elizabeth gave her friend a half-grin. “I would not do anything to harm you. I take back my words.”
“I am teasing you, Lizzie. I know you would never do such a thing.”
Both women turned their eyes toward Smithson, who was just turning onto the path to get to them. He was holding a folded piece of paper. When he was close, he held it out in front of him.
“Lady Elizabeth. A letter has come for you. I brought it out to you on the chance that it might be urgent.”
Lady Elizabeth stepped toward him and took the paper from his hands. It was a piece of parchment folded in three and held together with a stamp of wax. A red piece of thread was wrapped around the letter and tied in a bow, which was dropped in the wax while it was warm.
“Thank you, Smithson. I do appreciate it.”
Lady Elizabeth recognized her family seal in the wax. It was from her parents. She could not for the life of her think of why they would be sending her a letter. They had not objected to her coming to Thornwall Castle and would not have sent a letter unless there was a good reason.
In fact, a change of scenery, her father said, was just what she needed.
She hoped the letter was not a summons home. She had just come to the conclusion that she was ready to open her heart to the Duke of Thornwall, if he desired her to do so.
“You are most welcome, my lady,” Smithson bent forward at the waist, bowing elegantly and at the same time snapping his heels together. He turned on one foot and walked in the direction he had come.
Lady Elizabeth looked down at the letter in her hand, her heart pounding. She stepped back to the bench. She could see the curious look Lady Agatha was giving her but she was not very interested in opening the letter.
She would find out its contents later. For now, she wanted to enjoy her picnic breakfast. She sat down, opened the lid of the basket and slid the letter down in it.
“Who is the letter from?” Lady Agatha asked.
“It is from my parents.”
Lady Agatha nodded but did not pursue the topic. “Do you think you will be allowed to stay much longer?”
“I do not know. I do hope so.”
“Why do you not read it?”
“I do not wish to interrupt our time together this morning. I will read it when I get back to my room. It is likely asking me to return to London to meet someone they approve of. They do not know that you are playing match maker with me and the Duke of Thornwall.”
“Will you leave if the letter says such a thing?” Lady Agatha sounded as though she thought that was the worst idea she had ever heard in her life.
“I do not want to go,” Lady Elizabeth admitted. “I wish to stay to see you fully recovered, Aggie. You are such a dear friend. Besides, how can I resist the possibility of being your sister?”
Lady Agatha looked sad. “I do not want you to leave. Will they be insistent? Perhaps you can tell them you do not want to leave? Perhaps it does not say that. They may be simply asking how you are.”
Lady Elizabeth was cringing on the inside. Not only did she want to stay until her dear friend was feeling better, she wanted to stay to find out who the real Duke of Thornwall was. She had gone to the village with Aggie and Phoebe during her first week of stay for some necessary items. During that time, she had taken the opportunity to speak to some of the villagers.
She was a bit concerned about what she had heard. She did not want to mention it to Lady Agatha. She was afraid her dear friend would be hurt. It wasn’t that the townspeople didn’t like the Duke of Thornwall. They were disappointed by his bitter reaction to losing his betrothed. He had distanced himself and become harsh.
No one wanted to have any dealings with him.
The man they described was not the man she saw in the Duke of Thornwall. Had she spoken to the townsfolk when she first arrived, she would possibly have agreed. But she knew there was more to him than that now. She wanted to know what he was like buried beneath that bitterness and sorrow.
“Aggie, you must not fret. There is n
o need to worry. If I do have to leave, I promise I will not go for at least another week and I will make that clear to my parents.”
Lady Agatha lowered her eyes. Lady Elizabeth did not think a week was enough for her friend. It was not enough for her either; but if her parents were calling for her to come home, she would have little choice but to comply. It worried her but she did not say it aloud, as it would have distressed Lady Agatha further.
“I suppose I will take what I can get. I will have to push harder. My brother must come to understand that this wonderful chance is slipping through his fingers.”
