“I don’t think the girls need this information just yet. But, I do. So after dinner we will start.” He released her arm and held out his arm to escort her into the dining room.
“After dinner…tonight?”
“Yes. You noticed all the invitations. I need to start getting out into Society.”
“I agree,” she said in a hesitant tone.
“But…?”
“I should have mentioned this before. As you know, the girls should not go to balls until they make their bow. Their first ball should be hosted by you…and held here.”
Will stopped and looked down at her. “Here?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“Very well,” he answered with a sigh. “Do what needs to be done.”
Now that Abigail had deserted him, Will wasn’t sure about his future. As much as he despised England, the country and his title could certainly benefit the children. But the idea of staying left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Perhaps returning to America was still the best option. There was nothing stopping him from heading out west into the territories. Yet, even as he had that thought, his gaze went back to Elizabeth.
Chapter 9
Elizabeth attempted to swallow another bite of ham but the meat was completely tasteless. She was supposed to teach him about their family history. But the lessons she would teach him would have nothing to do with her background. Only his.
She could do this. The key would be remaining detached. It was just a lesson in his family’s history, nothing more. Elizabeth slid a glance over at him as he took a bite of his meal and her heart pounded. Remaining detached would be impossible.
She attempted another bite of food, then pushed her plate away. Food just wasn’t about to taste right tonight. Instead, she sipped her wine.
Why would he want to start tonight? After what happened today, she thought he would ignore her for a few days. They would have to work alone with each other in his study!
“Are you all right, Elizabeth?” Ellie asked before taking a bite of her potatoes.
“I don’t seem to have much appetite tonight,” she replied with a shrug.
William’s gaze burned her cheeks. “Would you like to postpone our lesson this evening?”
“No, I am really not hungry. There is nothing else.” She’d be damned if she let him see her discomfiture. There was no reason she couldn’t teach him about his family. He seemed completely unaffected by their kiss. This was obviously her problem.
He tilted his head and slowly his lips moved upwards. “Very well, then.”
Dinner progressed at an excruciating pace. It had only taken the children a week to learn their proper manners at the dinner table. Now, instead of rushing through dinner, they took their time and made conversation.
Not that she usually understood any of it. Michael tended to steer the conversation back to something that happened when they lived in York. Elizabeth always noticed the way William’s eyes lit up when speaking of either Canada or America. She wondered what he planned to do now that Abigail had refused him for good.
With Abigail no longer a concern, there was the one option Elizabeth had always rejected—seduction. Perhaps if Elizabeth seduced him, he would decide to stay.
What an absurd thought. She was not the type of woman to seduce a man. She glanced up the table at him briefly. After that kiss today, she could easily imagine him removing her gown, untying her stays, sliding her shift over her shoulders until it dropped to the floor. He would remove her garters and stockings slowly as she savored the feel of his rough fingers on her soft thighs.
She sighed.
“Are you certain you are all right, Elizabeth?” William’s voice interrupted her erotic thoughts.
Elizabeth blinked and noticed every one of the children looking at her. Heat blistered her cheeks.
“You look quite flushed,” Lucy added.
“I am well.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “If you will excuse me, I need to finish something before we begin our lessons.”
She left the room and strode to her bedchamber. Once there, she paced and paced until she was certain she had worn the old carpet to threads. One kiss and she was fantasizing about him. Utter madness. The kiss meant nothing to him and it should mean nothing to her, too. She was a fool to think otherwise.
But the truth was she’d been fantasizing about Will since she met him. That sizzling kiss only increased her fascination with him.
A light knock on the door sounded. “Elizabeth, may I come in?”
“Yes, Ellie.”
Ellie entered and smiled at her. “I hope you don’t mind if I disturb you.”
“Of course not. Is something wrong?”
Ellie walked to the window and glanced outside into the square. “It’s just that I saw that look on your face during dinner, and thought you might want to talk to someone.”
She knew! “What do you mean?” Elizabeth squeaked.
“When Alicia and David first met, she was the same way. The daydreaming, followed by the flushed cheeks. You were thinking about a man, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes. As much as she would love to confide in someone, she just did not think his sister was the person. “You must be mistaken.”
Ellie giggled. “I’m sure I am not. Alicia later told what had caused her to look so embarrassed. So I really do understand. Is it Will?”
“What?” Elizabeth clutched the bedpost for support. “What would make you think that?”
“I saw the look you gave him before you started woolgathering. It was almost indecent.”
Elizabeth covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, my God! Do you think he noticed?”
“He’s a man. They are oblivious to most things. He can’t even see that Abigail is playing games with him.” Ellie sat on the end of the bed.
“But Abigail wrote him a letter stating her father wanted her to marry some other man, and that she agreed with him.” Elizabeth finally plopped down next to Ellie.
“Indeed? That’s odd,” Ellie considered. “Lucy and I have always thought she was up to no-good with Will. It was as if she was making him believe she would eventually marry him when we all knew she would never do such a thing.”
“Well, I don’t think you have to worry about her any longer.”
“Does that mean you have set your cap on Will?” Ellie asked quietly.
She could never fall in love with a man until she knew the truth about herself. “No, Ellie.”
Ellie shrugged. “That is a shame. Of all the women interested in him, I like you the best.”
Elizabeth had no idea how to reply. She couldn’t tell Ellie that William was the only man she’d ever really desired. That would only encourage her. “Thank you, but I am not interested in your brother.”
“Very well, I must get the children ready for bed.” Ellie stood and walked toward the door. She stopped and then looked back at Elizabeth. “If you do change your mind, I shall support you in any way I can.”
“No, Ellie.” Elizabeth shook her head as Ellie walked out the door.
She hoped she’d convinced his sister. Now she just had to convince herself.
Will watched Elizabeth enter the study. She looked calmer and more relaxed than at dinner. “Good evening, Elizabeth.”
“Good evening to you, William.”
Will just chuckled. “Do you think you could call me Will? The only time I was called William was when I was in trouble.”
She nodded as she took her seat across the large expanse of his cherry desk. “As you wish, Will.”
“I know we had talked about reviewing our family history, but I would rather try to make some headway on these invitations.”
“Very well,” Elizabeth said, looking relieved. She reached for the stack of invitations she had reviewed earlier. “The dowager Countess of Cantwell is a must. However, the ball is in three days so only you would be attending.”
“You are not going?” he asked.
“I had originally declined because of the upheaval in the house. Now that everything is settling down, I suppose I could attend.”
He had a strange suspicion that there was another reason she had declined. “I insist you go with me.”
“As you wish.” She glanced down at the next invitation before adding, “If you think you are ready to face them.”
“Them?” he asked.
“Society. They can be a vicious bunch.”
Will was certain her lack of enthusiasm had something to do with this. “Is that the voice of experience speaking?”
“Yes. Two of my dearest friends have had to deal with the gossipmongers of the ton. Avis made one small mistake and they cut her—”
“What exactly did she do?”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together but the movement of her shoulders proved she was trying to suppress a laugh. She covered her mouth with her hand and coughed delicately. “She had a bit of bad timing.”
“Oh?” He had a feeling he knew exactly what had happened.
“She chose the wrong time to announce that she and her now husband, Banning, had gone away together to his summer cottage.”
“She said this in front of others?”
“She was attempting to save Banning from being compromised by a foolish woman. Avis thought it was just the three of them on the terrace.” Elizabeth did let a small giggle out.
“And I take it there were a few more people out on the terrace?”
Elizabeth nodded. “About twenty people, including Banning’s mother and sister.”
“Are they happily married now?” Now that he and Abigail were finished, he wondered if he would ever feel like marrying another woman again. His father loved both his wives deeply. Will wanted that same type of love from a wife.
“Yes. She is with child, and should give birth in a few months.”
“And your other friend?” he asked, relaxing against the chair. This was one of the first true conversations they’d had without a lesson in protocol or rank being thrown in.
“Banning’s sister, Jennette. But honestly, it was her husband who had to deal with the whims of Society. He accidentally killed Jennette’s former betrothed. Society rejected him, even when he inherited his father’s title. No one wanted a poor earl with the reputation of a murderer for their daughter.”
“Yet, Jennette ended up married to him?”
“They fell in love when she was trying to help him find a wife,” she said with a sigh.
“Elizabeth,” he started softly, “why haven’t you married?”
She blinked and stared at him. “What?”
“You don’t seem like the type of woman who would want to remain a spinster. You’re beautiful—”
“No, I am not.”
“You are, and don’t interrupt me when I’m complimenting you. You appear to be everything a man would want in a wife—beauty, family, money.”
Her face paled.
Damn. He must have hit a sore spot. Perhaps she had been betrothed and something happened. “I’m sorry. That is rather personal.”
Elizabeth looked away. “I just never found the right man. When I first came out, the men courted me because of my family connection and my inheritance.”
Will frowned. He’d been through the books and her inheritance was a pittance. He had even considered raising her allowance to compensate for her lack of funds.
“As I became older, I realized that I wanted more than just a man who wanted me for the duke’s money,” she added.
The duke’s money. Not her father’s money.
That was not the first time she’d referred to her father as the duke. He must have been a very difficult man if that was how she considered him. Will’s father had told him a few things about the family and none of it was good.
Perhaps it was time to get them back to the subject. He forced out a laugh. “Well, I believe the original question was whether or not I’d be able to handle Society yet. And the answer is yes. So we both should accept Lady Cantwell’s invitation.”
“Very well, we shall put this in a pile of acceptances,” Elizabeth said, handing the note to him.
They quickly sorted through the rest. Some invitations were accepted and some rejected. Before long, they had completed his correspondence.
“Shall we start on the family history?” he asked.
“I shall do my best. The family bible has most of the genealogy of the family, and that is at the estate in Kendal.”
Will listened as she told him about the first Duke of Kendal being granted his lands and titles for service to King Edward III. While Will listened, he watched her face intently. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds as she talked about their shared ancestry. She was a fascinating woman and seemed to love her family history.
Still, he had to focus his attentions on his life. Returning to America was the only thing that made sense to him. Perhaps when he arrived, he would discover Abigail hadn’t married and wanted him again. Maybe he could convince her to move away from her father’s overbearing influence. But the more he thought about her lately, the less he wanted her.
“Should we stop for the night?” Elizabeth’s gentle voice asked.
He glanced over at the clock and noticed it was only ten. “Did you wish to retire?”
She smiled at him. “I thought since you had your eyes closed, I was putting you to sleep with my stories.”
“Sorry, I was thinking of something else for a moment. I was not bored by your stories, but fascinated. Tell me exactly how we are related.”
“As I told you, this family has not been blessed with very many male heirs. Most of the men were lucky if they had two sons who survived. The fifth duke seems to be the exception, and he had three sons who survived to adulthood. Robert, and the twins, William and Henry, were all born within five years of the duke’s marriage, with Robert being the eldest. William and Henry were given a small fortune, and each went different paths.”
“How does our dear cousin Richard fit into all this?” Will asked.
“He is a descendant of Henry, the third born, while you are descended from William, whom I believe is your namesake. That is why you were the rightful heir to the dukedom.”
He wouldn’t disillusion her by telling her that his mother named him after his maternal grandfather.
“So I am the 10th Duke of Kendal, is that correct?” he asked.
“Yes. It is an important history.”
“I suppose it is,” he said, unconvinced that being a duke was particularly important.
“You don’t think so?” she asked with a frown.
“I’m sure a few hundred years ago, having a man who gave his fealty to the king and managed large areas of land for him was important. It kept the land civilized. But today? I can see no reason for it.”
Elizabeth stared at him, unable to say anything. After all she’d told him about the service to the king, the marriages brokered over lands, and how the tenants depended on the duke’s favor, how could he believe this was not important? Anger at his apathy rose high within her.
“I cannot believe you don’t care,” she shouted as she stood. “People, your relatives, died for this country and your lands. Tenants starved under other lords, but not under the duke. The Duke of Kendal always cared for the people working for him.”
“Elizabeth, sit down,” Will said sternly.
“No, I will not. The English system of government has stood strong for centuries. The Duke of Kendal has always played an important part of that structure, and you sit there ridiculing your own history!”
Elizabeth leaned over the desk and stared into his brown eyes. There was only one thing she was concerned about now. “Are you staying here now that Abigail is marrying another or not?”
His eyes narrowed on her. “I do not believe that is any of your business.”
“It is my business to ensure the families who have depended on the duke’s grace until now are still cared for by so
meone.”
“I am the duke, as you so like to remind me, Elizabeth. What I do or when I do it is none of your concern.”
“While I am living in this house, it is my duty to protect this family name.”
“Then perhaps it is time to leave the house.”
Elizabeth watched in shock as Will strode from the room. She could hear his heavy footsteps march all the way down the hall, and then the front door slammed behind him. She remained in the study, frozen in place.
She let her damned temper get the best of her again. To ask such a question the very day Abigail sent him that letter was dreadful. Of course, he would have a violent reaction. He asked her to leave all because of her anger.
Oh, God! What had she done?
Chapter 10
Will walked the dark London streets, wondering how to get out of the mess that was his life. He didn’t want Elizabeth to leave the house. She had a stabilizing effect on all of them that he needed now more than ever. Which meant he would have to swallow his pride and apologize for getting angry.
He understood her reasons for becoming mad at him. She only wanted to protect her family’s history. Her name. But she just didn’t realize that it meant nothing to him. Having grown up in America and Canada, it didn’t matter who he was; he could become anyone he wanted. And he wanted that for his siblings, as well.
Even if he decided to stay here, highly unlikely that it was, his stepbrothers would have to make their own way. While being the stepbrother of a duke might assist them, Will wasn’t certain that was a good thing. He only wanted the best for them.
Would having too much money and position be a hindrance to them? He doubted it.
“So what brings you out tonight?”
Will blinked and looked over at Lord Somerton, who was leaning against a building. If Somerton hadn’t spoken, Will would never have seen him lurking in the shadows.
“Don’t tell me you’ve already decided to become a member?”
“A member? Of what?” Will asked, feeling terribly confused by the viscount’s question.
“White’s? You are directly in front of the building.” Somerton casually walked closer to him.
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