“Yes, my lady.” Will took her outstretched hand and bowed over it.
Using her cane, she heaved herself out of the chair. With her petite stature, she craned her neck to look up at him. “I hear you spent time in the colonies.”
Elizabeth cringed.
“I spent ten years in America when my father was there on a diplomatic mission, and then in Canada once the war started.”
“Very good,” she replied. “I would like to know more about the old colonies, so you will call on me in a week.”
“As you wish, my lady,” Will said with a quick bow.
“Now, Elizabeth, dear child.” Lady Cantwell turned her attention. “I do hope you won’t lose this one.”
Elizabeth frowned. “I beg your pardon?”
“This one,” Lady Cantwell said, tilting her head toward Will. “I expect to hear of an announcement soon.”
Elizabeth’s mouth gaped. “Lady Cantwell, His Grace is my cousin. There is nothing more than that.”
Lady Cantwell laughed again. Taking Elizabeth’s arm, she walked her away from the crowd. “My dear child, we all know that the duke is not your cousin.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
The woman’s bony hand tightened on Elizabeth’s arm. “You know exactly what I mean. A father does not leave his youngest unmarried daughter with nothing.”
“I have a dowry,” she said defensively. Not much of a dowry, but it was something.
“When you want to speak truthfully about this, please call on me.” Lady Cantwell left Elizabeth standing by a potted palm.
Elizabeth glanced up to see Will walking toward her. Oh, God, not now. She couldn’t speak to him with her emotions in a knot. The last time she had tried, she ended up on a sofa in the music room with him.
She turned and stepped onto the dance floor in an attempt to lose herself in the crowd. Hopefully, she would find someone she knew to talk with before Will found her. If only Avis and Jennette had attended. Or better yet, Sophie.
Elizabeth could really use Sophie’s advice. Not paying attention, she walked into the man in front of her.
“I am dreadfully sorry,” she started as the man stopped and turned.
“I most certainly am not,” Lord Somerton said. “And since you are so dreadfully sorry, I believe you must repay me with a dance.”
“A dance?” she squeaked.
The crowd on the dance floor parted as the dancers took their position. She wanted to refuse his request. But glancing behind her she noticed Will coming upon them quickly.
Somerton held out his arm as his hazel eyes stared at her. “You don’t seem like the type of woman who would refuse me due to my past transgressions. Are you?”
She had no time to make this decision. “Of course not, my lord. I would love to dance with you.”
They moved together on the dance floor. Elizabeth felt as if everyone was staring at them, mostly her. Perhaps she should make conversation with him.
“I have not seen you at many balls, my lord.”
“I normally detest them. But I am finding this one quite entertaining.”
“Perhaps you are ready to turn over a new leaf. Put away your rakish ways.”
Somerton smiled down at her in such a way, Elizabeth felt as if she were about to be devoured.
“I don’t think so,” he replied.
Chapter 13
Will halted his stride as he watched Elizabeth take Somerton’s arm and start a waltz. He clenched his fists as Somerton held her close and looked down at her as if she were a treat. Will would have to kill him. Jealousy raged in him as the couple danced.
A man near him chuckled softly. “Good God, Somerton, what are you up to now?”
Will turned to the man. “You know Lord Somerton?”
“Indeed I do.”
“How well?”
“Only as well as Somerton will let anyone know him.” The man finally turned to face him. “Do I know you?”
“William Atherton.”
The man’s blue eyes shone with surprise. “Your Grace,” he said with a quick bow. “Banning Talbot, the Earl of Selby.”
Did everyone have to bow down to him like he was a god? “Selby, then. What can you tell me about Somerton?”
“He is devious, a little mischievous, and quite a rake.”
“Illegal activities?” Will asked as his gaze went back to the dancing couple.
“Rumored but highly unlikely. Although, he is a man who gets what he wants.” Selby paused and smiled. “I am curious why he is dancing with Lady Elizabeth. I’m actually more curious why she is dancing with him.”
“You know Lady Elizabeth?” Will asked.
“I married one of her dearest friends,” Selby replied with a smile.
That was right. Will remembered Elizabeth speaking of her spinster friends. “One of the spinsters, then?”
“Ah, yes. The Spinster Club. There are only three left now. Elizabeth, Sophie, and Victoria. I rather doubt any of those ladies will end up married.”
“Why is that?” Will couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“Sophie is the bastard daughter of an earl, or so everyone says. Yet, no one seems to know who the man is. Not exactly what most men prefer. Victoria is too busy running her home for the orphans.” Selby’s gaze then locked onto Elizabeth and Somerton again.
“And Elizabeth?”
“You are the new duke—don’t you know?” Selby asked softly without glancing away from the couple.
“Only a rumor, Selby.”
“And one that has gained momentum with your arrival. It has been noticed by many that none of your sisters have red hair, either.”
“I see,” Will muttered. He could never let Elizabeth know that the rumors were increasing. “Tell me, Selby. Should I be concerned about Somerton dancing with her?”
“If he were dancing with my wife or sister, I would be more than a little worried,” Selby said.
“Is your wife with you tonight?”
“No, Avis is with child and didn’t feel she could manage a ball.”
Finally, the dance ended and Somerton brought Elizabeth back to him.
“Thank you for the dance, Lady Elizabeth,” Somerton said with a wink to Elizabeth. “Selby, good to see you.”
“And you, Somerton.”
“Lord Selby, did Avis decide to accompany you?” Elizabeth asked in a hopeful tone.
“No, she and Jennette stayed home but I needed to speak with someone here tonight.” Selby looked over at Will and then back to Elizabeth. “Did Nicholas arrive home yet?”
“No. You know how he is about coming to town when his father is here,” Elizabeth replied.
Will’s eyebrows furrowed. Who the hell was Nicholas? The name sounded vaguely familiar but he couldn’t remember why. “Nicholas?”
“My cousin. The Marquess of Ancroft.”
Of course. He had to get his jealousy under control.
“Selby, now that you are here, you may have the honor of introducing the duke to all the acceptable people,” Somerton said. “We all know that is not my forte.”
Selby and Elizabeth both laughed.
“No, we all know your specialty,” Selby commented. “I’m surprised Lady Cantwell allowed you in. Then again, she does love to stir the pot.”
Will felt as if they were speaking another language. What was Somerton’s specialty? Will had never felt so out of place as much as he did here. He knew no one. And yet, everyone else seemed to know each other.
“Come along, Kendal,” Selby said, inclining his head toward the refreshments. “It is time for you to be part of the ton.”
Selby moved them through the crowd with a nod to several people along the way. They passed the refreshment table but Will managed to grab a glass of wine from a footman before they entered the next room. Several tables had been set up for cards and other games.
As they walked in, most men stopped talking and leveled curious stares at them. Selby made the intr
oduction to some of the most powerful men in England. It suddenly dawned on Will that many would consider him a powerful man in this country.
“I haven’t seen you at Parliament yet,” the Earl of Wexford commented. “I do hope you make it soon. We have many issues that could use a new voice.”
Parliament? He could attend? He’d become so used to America where only the elected officials had anything to do with government.
“I am settled in now so I shall be taking my place in Parliament soon,” Will said to the earl.
“Excellent,” Wexford replied before continuing with his game of cards.
Selby led him back out to the ballroom. “You don’t have any idea what is involved in being a duke, do you?”
“No,” Will admitted.
Selby reached into his jacket pocket and then handed him a card. “Call on me tomorrow and I will help you out.”
“Thank you, Selby.”
Selby nodded. “Unfortunately, we are now onto the moment you shall hate.”
“Oh?”
“It is time to meet the women.”
“And I will hate this?” Will asked.
“Trust me. You will despise them. They all have one thing on their mind: marriage.”
“I see.”
As Selby introduced him to several of the ladies, Will slyly scanned the room for Elizabeth. He finally found her on the dance floor again. Only this time, it was with a tall dark-haired man Will didn’t know. Elizabeth’s face lit with excitement as they danced across the floor.
Who the hell was she dancing with now?
Selby continued to walk with him and introduce him to more ladies. Will made a few requests for dances but his concentration remained on Elizabeth. When the dance finished, she and her partner headed for the terrace doors.
His heart sank to his stomach. But anger quickly swept over him. After making his excuses, he strode toward the terrace. The cool night air did nothing to diminish his fury.
Elizabeth stood near a rosebush whose buds were about to burst open. The man remained next to her, standing too close, and they appeared far too intimate.
With jealousy eating at him, he walked up to Elizabeth and said, “I believe this is our dance.”
He clasped her arm and tugged her toward him.
“Elizabeth?” the man questioned.
“It is all right,” she replied with a shake of her red hair.
As they advanced on the ballroom, she withdrew from his grip. “How dare you?”
“Excuse me?” Will grabbed her arm and led her onto the floor. “I find you out on a darkly lit terrace with a man and you are asking me how I dare?”
“The man happens to be my cousin Nicholas. He decided to surprise me by attending. I was telling him about you.” She yanked her arm out of his hold and headed for the terrace again.
“Elizabeth, wait,” he called out to her but she had disappeared. Several people openly stared at him.
Will blew out a strangled breath and walked to the door. When he opened the door, Nicholas stood there waiting for him.
“Who the bloody hell are you to make a fool out of my cousin?” Nicholas demanded.
“Also, her cousin,” Will replied. Although, if Elizabeth was correct, only Nicholas was truly her cousin.
“The prodigal duke has returned,” he sneered.
“Yes, I have. And now I must apologize to Elizabeth. I had no idea you were her cousin.”
“She is walking along the path,” Nicholas said.
“Thank you.”
Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “Do not hurt her again.”
Will accepted the warning without another word and walked away. The gravel crunched under his feet, alerting anyone who might be outside to his presence. The path twisted and turned but Elizabeth seemed to have disappeared. He stopped to listen.
A small sniffle sounded from around the next bend. The noise from his shoes warned her of his approach.
“Go away, Nicholas. I don’t want to talk.”
He turned the corner and halted. The dappled moonlight highlighted her position on a bench. He’d never seen anyone look so forlorn and yet so absolutely beautiful in all his life. The violet silk dress shimmered in the soft light.
“It’s not Nicholas.”
Elizabeth turned her head at the sound of Will’s raspy voice. She wiped away a tear.
“Do you honestly think I want to talk to you?”
He stepped closer. “I would think not.”
“Exactly. So please leave me alone.”
“I cannot,” he whispered so softly she was not certain she heard him.
“Will, you embarrassed me in front of Nicholas and half the ton. Why?”
“I have no idea,” he admitted, taking another step closer. “I was furious watching you go outside alone with him.”
“He is my cousin. I love him dearly, but he is like a brother to me.” Elizabeth stared down at the violets embroidered on her dress.
“I am sorry.”
Elizabeth looked up to find him directly in front of her. His masculine presence made her feel dainty and insignificant. And she didn’t want to be that any more. She stood and faced him. She was tired of not knowing where he stood on a certain issue. While confronting him could cause even more problems for her, she knew she had no choice.
“If you knew I wasn’t carrying your child and Abigail arrived in England, would you marry her?”
Will’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of question is that?”
“A fair one, I think,” she retorted, placing her hands on her hips. “And one that deserves an answer.”
“This has nothing to do with Abigail.”
“Oh? We would never have made love if Abigail hadn’t sent you that note,” she whispered harshly.
“How can you be so certain?” He pulled her against him as if to prove a point.
“Because you are not a rake. And you would never hurt the woman you love.” Elizabeth blinked to keep her tears from overflowing. She wished he had given her an immediate rejection of the idea that Abigail’s presence would make a difference. But he hadn’t.
She wondered at the pain hammering her heart. Was it just self-pity?
“Elizabeth,” he whispered.
Don’t look in his eyes, she told herself. Instead, she kept her vision strictly on his snowy cravat. “You know it’s true, Will. What we did was a…a…”
“Don’t say mistake. Because it was not that.” He tipped up her chin, forcing her to meet his soulful brown eyes.
“It was an accident. Neither of us was ready for the passion.”
“I think you’re wrong,” he whispered.
Elizabeth frowned as her stomach pitched. “I cannot do this, Will. You still love her and I have my answer. You would go with her.”
She pushed away from him and started to walk the path to the house.
“You might be wrong, Elizabeth.”
She paused in her stride but refused to look back at him. “But I might be right.”
Will sat on the bench and stared down at the small stones. Why didn’t he just give her the answer she wanted to hear? He picked up a rock and pitched it toward the stone fence. If Abigail showed up tomorrow, what would he do?
He laughed at the idea of little Abigail doing such a thing. But seriously, would he marry her? If Elizabeth wasn’t with child, could he still marry Abigail?
“No,” he whispered.
He’d had enough of Abigail’s games and manipulations. She had toyed with him for years. First telling him she had to wait until she was eighteen, then the war was the problem. After the war, she had told him that her father would never agree. But as far as Will knew, she never broached the subject with her father. And she’d never let Will talk to him about it, either.
Why did he let this go on for so long? He had wasted five years of his life waiting for something that would never happen.
Now he had the chance to turn his life around. He could be a member of Parli
ament and maybe make a difference in this country. That was something he might have only dreamed about in America. Here he was an important man. While maybe his importance was due to circumstantial reasons, he could still use the opportunity as a means to make a difference for people who didn’t have a voice.
Slowly, he stood and made his way back to the ballroom. As he stood on the edge of the dance floor, he once again searched for Elizabeth. This time, he found her speaking with Lady Cantwell.
Elizabeth looked flustered by the older woman’s conversation. He decided she definitely needed saving.
“Elizabeth, have you forgotten about our dance?” he asked as he reached their position.
“Yes, Your Grace.” Elizabeth turned to him with a look of gratitude in her green eyes. “I must apologize again for stranding you on the dance floor earlier. I felt faint.”
The other ladies surrounding them all murmured about the stale air.
When Elizabeth put her gloved hand in his, a familiar yearning crept up his arm to his chest. It felt exciting and comforting at the same time. They reached the dance floor just before the next waltz started.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I would never hurt you.”
“I know that.” She looked away from him. “Have you danced with any other women?”
He shook his head.
“You must do that immediately after our dance. Otherwise people will talk.”
“What if I don’t care if they do talk?” He tightened his grip on her hand. “What if I want to dance with you all night?” he whispered near her ear. He felt her tremble slightly and smiled.
“I will not allow it,” she said and pulled away.
“I wasn’t asking for permission.”
She blinked and visibly swallowed. He knew she felt the attraction between them.
“You will not ruin my reputation or that of any other women at this party,” she replied stiffly.
“But I only want to ruin you…again,” he whispered.
“I already told you that would never happen again, so please stop referring to the day in the music room.”
“If only I could.”
Her eyes flashed a warning at him. “You had best not even think of it.”
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