A Cinderella for the Duke

by Abby Ayles

  * * *

  Miss Mary sat for a moment with her mouth agape with shock. Finally, she closed it, and excitement glowed from her face.

  * * *

  “It is just as Jasper and I hoped,” Miss Mary finally said.

  * * *

  “What?” Lady Louisa countered confused.

  * * *

  “We were sure that you and the Duke were perfect for each other. That is why he insisted on your presence even when you and the Duke were on less than happy terms. I just know you two are the perfect match. We must tell him right away!”

  * * *

  “No! We must not say anything,” Lady Louisa countered. “The Duke would be appalled if he realized it was me.”

  * * *

  “How could you think such a thing?” Miss Mary said with a sense of sadness in her eyes. “I know you two had some rocky conversations in the start, but I believe at the dinner party you got along so well. Not to mention the fact that you quite stole his heart at the ball.”

  * * *

  “I didn’t steal it, the idea of a mysterious woman did,” Lady Louisa countered.

  * * *

  “I don’t think that is true. I am certain that it was your personality that he fell in love with.”

  * * *

  “It doesn’t matter either way,” Lady Louisa waved off. “You know of our families’ difference. If I were to announce to the Duke my identity and he was for some ridiculous reason ask me to marry him, it would only cause more strife between our families.”

  * * *

  “It wouldn’t create strife between you and I. I would be more than happy with it. Oh, it would be so wonderful,” she added as the thoughts came flooding into her mind. “We would both live at Bassen Park. What great fun we could have together. Just think that glorious medicinal garden would be yours to tend and I could help you with it,” Miss Mary continued in excitement.

  * * *

  “Mary, you are jumping far too ahead of yourself,” Lady Louisa cautioned.

  * * *

  “But you do care for him now don’t you? I can tell already by the way you speak of him.”

  * * *

  Lady Louisa hesitated. She still was tormented with her own feelings on the man and what ramifications it would have for those around her. She couldn’t bear the thought of causing rifts in her family.

  * * *

  “Don’t think of Mother or Elisabeth,” Miss Mary said sensing Lady Louisa’s hesitation. “I want you to look inside yourself only. How do you personally feel about the Duke? Has your heart been turned to him?”

  * * *

  Lady Louisa took a moment to think of all the times she had encountered him, from their first meeting in the woods to the last conversations at the hearths side a week ago. If she was being truly honest with herself, she did have feelings for the Duke.

  * * *

  Who wouldn’t though? He was a most handsome gentleman with his broad shoulders, square masculine features, enchanting green eyes, and a heart-stopping smile. More than that, he was a warm-hearted gentleman who looked to help those in need, cared greatly for his friends and family, and had even greatly influenced her own character in a positive way.

  * * *

  Had it not been for his offer and help to improve her study of medicinal practices she wouldn’t have become the independent woman she was now. In truth, she had grown quite fond of the Duke over the past few months since meeting him. Even more than that, that night at the ball she too had shared the same unexplainable feelings alone in that room with the Duke.

  * * *

  Lady Louisa gave a long sigh. It was enough for Miss Mary to confirm what she believed to be true.

  * * *

  “It matters little how I feel, the truth of the lady in green must stay hidden. Promise me that you will do so for me?” Lady Louisa asked.

  * * *

  Miss Mary didn’t want to agree to such terms, but she had already assured Lady Louisa she would keep any secret that was asked of her. She couldn’t go back on her word now.

  * * *

  “If it is what you wish, of course, I will do so.”

  * * *

  Rowland brushed his jacket as he prepared for the evening meal. Five ladies and two months later he was no closer to finding his lady in green. Earlier this afternoon he had finally arrived at his last destination. If this was not the lady, he hoped for he wasn’t sure what he was going to do.

  * * *

  “Are you ready?” Jasper asked from behind him as he entered the room in his own dinner jacket.

  * * *

  Rowland gave a deep sigh and put his own jacket on and tugged at his neck tie. The last two months had been nothing but disappointments for him and false hope for the ladies he visited. He was beginning to feel that he was making an enemy with each house he left without proposing to the young lady of it.

  * * *

  He turned to his friend. He could scarcely call Jasper just his friend any longer. He had waited patiently threw all the months while they traveled from house to house never complaining. Rowland knew it was made even harder by the fact that Miss Mary had been forbidden to write him.

  * * *

  Luckily Lady Louisa had been kind enough to carry correspondence between the two. Certainly, it wasn’t the same as sharing information between his betrothed, but at least it was better than nothing.

  * * *

  Jasper had shared every letter he received from Lady Louisa. Rowland found himself feeling more and more admiration for the lady with each passing note. For the most part, she spoke of things that she and Miss Mary did to pass away the summer months.

  * * *

  She would also share news she gleaned from Mrs. Vance on Bassen Park. Rowland expected that the ladies visited Mrs. Vance and his uncle often. It made him happy to know that his uncle, who had chosen to stay behind at Bassen, was well looked after.

  * * *

  He took one long deep breath before determining that he was ready and turned to exit his room with Jasper at his heals. They walked down the stairs and into the drawing room while they waited for the rest of the party to appear.

  * * *

  First Lord and Lady Filton entered the room. He spoke light conversation with Lord Filton while he waited for his youngest daughter to appear. Finally, she did, and Rowland caught his breath in anticipation.

  * * *

  She was tall and thin in shape with a narrow face and intricately placed blond ringlets so light they almost looked white. In an instant, Rowland was sure this wasn’t the lady he was searching for. He gave out an air of defeat.

  * * *

  What was he to do now? Of course, he would have to spend the remainder of the meal pretending not to feel beaten down by his last hope being taken from him. Worse than that he would again have to spend the week visiting with the Filton though he knew she was not the one he searched for.

  * * *

  Rowland couldn’t help but sigh relief as he saw Bassen Park come into view in the carriage a week later. Jasper who had been asleep for most of the return home was now awake in anticipation. Though he had no excuse to call on Miss Mary this day, he was happy just to be back in the same county.

  * * *

  “What am I to do now,” Rowland said more to himself than anything else.

  * * *

  Jasper looked over to his friend and felt pity on him. Jasper had experienced the same enlightenment when he had found Miss Mary. The drastic difference was that something had grown from it. He couldn’t imagine to have experienced such love and not even know the name of the lady.

  * * *

  “Perhaps it is time to look forward,” Colonel Jasper said.

  * * *

  “How so,” Rowland said fairly frustrated with the whole situation. “I have run out of options in finding her.”

  * * *

  “Well, what I mean by forward is past this lady. Clearly, she doesn’t want to be found despit
e all your efforts. Perhaps it is time to let her go.”

  * * *

  Rowland thought over these words as the carriage came to a stop before his home. Could he just let her memory go? He knew he could never move backwards to the man he was before. Over this season he had matured and grown into the man he hoped that his father had wanted him to be. He would not just turn and run after failing.

  * * *

  He could only see one move forward. He would keep his ground here at Bassen Park and hope to someday find his Lady in Green or at least someone who might erase her memory from his heart.

  Chapter 29

  “Mother, you will never guess what Lady Julianna just found out,” Miss Elisabeth said upon returning home.

  * * *

  “What is it dear,” Lady Hendrickson said with a heavy sigh.

  * * *

  Lady Hendrickson had been overly irritable these last few months. Lady Louisa suspected it was due to the absence of the Duke, but also because summer didn’t want to give into fall.

  * * *

  For Lady Louisa, this was a wonderful thing. She was about able to collect two full harvests this season from the glorious extension of the season. For Lady Hendrickson who was still cloaked in black to mourn her husband properly aside for the night of the ball, she found it rather uncomfortable.

  * * *

  Before Miss Elisabeth spoke she handed over a cool glass of water to her mother. Lady Hendrickson took it with little thanks and continued to fan herself in the coolest part of the drawing room.

  * * *

  “I spoke to Lady Julianna at the market today. She was also acquiring a dress in green. Did you know that the shop has been quite unable to keep the color since the ball with the Duke? It quite ridiculous if you ask me,” Miss Elisabeth waved off.

  * * *

  Lady Louisa, who was seated next to the window as she worked on an embroidery pillow, rather thought to remind Miss Elisabeth that she had worn her green pastel dress when the Duke last came for dinner. Instead, she kept her focus on her work.

  * * *

  “What do I care of Lady Julianna’s knowledge of the color options at the seamstress,” Lady Hendrickson snapped.

  * * *

  “That is not the news, Mother,” Miss Elisabeth said ignoring her mother’s irritated tone.

  * * *

  “I have heard from Lady Julianna this day that the Duke of Rowland has finally returned. Even better he has returned with no lady on his arm, or promise made. Apparently, he was quite upset to that fact.”

  * * *

  Lady Louisa felt a pang of guilt whereas her aunt immediately perked herself up to the prospect of the unattached Duke’s return.

  * * *

  “Did I not say his hunt would be for naught. He has wasted all that time and I assure you in the course has only realized no fantasy girl can keep up with your accomplishments,” Lady Hendrickson said completely beside herself with excitement to her eldest daughter.

  * * *

  “Did Lady Julianna say anything about Colonel Jasper returning with him?” Miss Mary couldn’t help but ask.

  * * *

  “Even if she had,” Lady Hendrickson interjected, “it is of no consequence to you. I have told you before he is not a suitable candidate for one of my daughters. Uh, this infernal heat,” Lady Hendrickson added as her excitement had lead to perspiration.

  * * *

  “Mr. Henderson told me that in America when summers are extended into the fall, it is called an Indian Summer,” Lady Louisa said by way of distracting her aunt from focusing on Miss Mary and Colonel Jasper. “He says that the trees turn the most beautiful shades of orange and reds to match the natives' skin tones.” “I don’t care a wit for what those disloyal ruffians call it; it’s inhumane,” Lady Hendrickson snapped back. “There are pressing matters we must discuss, and I can find no way to do so when this heat distracts me from every thought I have.” Lady Hendrickson said as she waved her fan furiously.

  * * *

  Just as Lady Hendrickson was finally beginning to settle herself, while Miss Elisabeth waited on the edge of her seat for their next move, a ring came to the door. After a few moments, a note was delivered to Lady Hendrickson.

  * * *

  “Just as I suspected,” she said after reading it over and before using it too to fan herself with. “The Duke has invited us to Bassen Park for an afternoon picnic and strawberry picking. He says his fields have become overrun with his absence and especially good harvest.”

  * * *

  “What a wonderfully fun idea,” Miss Mary said secretly happy to have a chance to see Colonel Jasper again.

  * * *

  Lady Hendrickson looked at her youngest daughter very severely.

  * * *

  “You will not attend, my dear,” she stated simply.

  * * *

  “What? Mother why ever not? Please let me go,” Miss Mary said in desperation.

  * * *

  “The emotion in your voice is the very reason you shan’t go. I will not have you speaking to that Colonel and putting false hopes into his head that you two are still attached. I have stated you are not and that is the end of that!”

  * * *

  Miss Mary struggled to keep her tears back. Lady Louisa rather wanted to lash back out at her aunt. She knew that would be to no avail. Instead, she let her heart calm on her cousin's behalf before speaking. She did her best to sound indifferent to the matter.

  * * *

  “It might be offensive to the Duke if Miss Mary was not to attend.”

  * * *

  “Why would you think such a ridiculous thing?” Lady Hendrickson countered.

  * * *

  “Well, surely he must have at least some knowledge of the attached feelings of Colonel Jasper and Miss Mary. I feel the Duke might feel insulted that you would not approve his friend a match for Miss Mary and still consider Miss Elisabeth for himself.”

  * * *

  Miss Elisabeth looked at her mother imploringly on this matter. No doubt it had crossed her mind as well at her mother’s original outburst.

  * * *

  “Are you so set on the Colonel?” Lady Hendrickson finally asked considering it now that she saw there would be some use to the match.

  * * *

  “I care for him deeply, Mother. He is a great man. Not only this he has prepared to sell his commission and will be staying on at Bassen Park overseeing the property. Surely you know that he will provide enough security for me.”

  * * *

  “Yes, yes,” her mother waved off. Lady Louisa wondered if her aunt ever truly cared about her daughter's security or just securing a titled to show up to Lady Louisa’s mother. “I don’t care much about all of that. Does he have a great enough influence with the Duke that you can recommend your sister to him?”

  * * *

  It was an uncomfortable feeling for Miss Elisabeth to realize the fate of her happiness might very well rest in the hands of her younger sister.

  * * *

  “I know that they are very good friends, practically consider one another brothers,” was all Miss Mary could say in honesty.

  * * *

  She knew that Colonel Jasper would be no more willing to recommend her sister anymore than the Duke would be willing to take such recommendation.

  * * *

  “If your Colonel is willing to support our cause, I will consent to the marriage,” Lady Hendrickson said with a narrowed eye on her youngest daughter. “What shall I do?” Miss Mary asked later while she walked with Lady Louisa to Mr. Johnson’s cottage.

  * * *

  His wife was pregnant with their third child, and Lady Louisa and Miss Mary had gone each day to help Mrs. Johnson tend to the other children and see to the needs of the house at her advanced term.

  * * *

  “My mother could not have set terms more impossible than these.”

  * * *

  “Never fear, Mary.
We only have to convince your mother that the Colonel is recommending your sister until your marriage.”