The Duke and the Wallflower

by Clever, Jessie

  Henry lunged but didn’t come after him. Instead the dog shifted, putting himself between Eliza and them.

  “Eliza.” He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know where to begin, how to explain what she’d seen.

  But his throat closed when he saw the look in her eyes.

  Gone was the mistress of the fields and the commander of the sea wind.

  The Eliza who stood before him was the wallflower from the Sudsbury ball, impervious to any hurt because society had taught her to expect it at every turn and she’d grown immune.

  “Eliza.” It was the only word he could say, but she never acknowledged he’d even spoken.

  Instead she said, “Come, Henry. This is no concern of ours.”

  The dog obediently backed up, but he kept his gaze on Dax as they returned to the corridor. The click of the dog’s nails against the marble the only sound as it faded away.

  He didn’t remember untangling himself from Bethany. He didn’t remember if he’d bid her good day or seen her to her carriage. He’d only gone after Eliza to find her sheltered in her rooms.

  But he couldn’t reach her because it was the first time he had found her door locked to him since arriving at Ashbourne Manor.

  Chapter 14

  She hadn’t cried.

  What would have been the point?

  He had agreed to get her with child, not to love her. He’d held up his end of the bargain. She knew that with certainty now and not just from the wisdom of a seasoned seamstress. Her monthly was very late, and she could only hope what that meant.

  Especially now as she sat all alone in the room she’d taken over for her watercolors.

  Rain marked the windows before her, and the sea wind was feisty as it played with the windowpanes, shaking and rattling them. She heard and saw none of it as she held her hands over her stomach, hoping for a flutter of movement to assure her of the life within.

  Her watercolors lay untouched behind her. She hadn’t painted a single one since that day she’d happened upon Dax and Bethany in the drawing room. She didn’t need an introduction to know who the beautiful woman was. The tension in Dax’s shoulders as he held her, the way he tilted his head to accept her kiss, it told Eliza enough to know the truth.

  Dax had never stopped loving Bethany, and it never mattered if Eliza were a wallflower or not. There was no room in his heart for another so long as he still held feelings for the woman who had betrayed him.

  The horrible truth was Eliza wanted Dax to love her. Of course, she did. She was being a rather irrational wallflower if she denied wanting to be loved. Didn’t everyone want the same thing?

  These last few weeks in Glenhaven had been like an awakening, and for the first time, she believed herself deserving of a man’s love.

  Fate had a funny way of reminding one of her place.

  Henry bumped her hand, and she started. He looked up at her with imploring eyes, bored from being banished inside because of the rain. She smiled, studying his deep eyes.

  “Perhaps we can do some work while we wait for the carriage to arrive.”

  Henry wagged his tail, and she liked to think he was responding to her words even though she knew it was only the sound of her voice he enjoyed.

  She’d only just broken up a bit of ham from the uneaten lunch Mrs. Donnelly had brought her on a tray when a sharp knock at the door proceeded Stephens.

  Eliza had no concern that it would be Dax coming to see her. He only came to the connecting door between their rooms at night, and every night she dismissed him. His side of the bargain was already done. He needn’t be bothered until the outcome of this pregnancy were known.

  She smiled and pressed her hands to her stomach. “Are they here?”

  Stephens gave a bow. “Yes, Your Grace. I offered to put them in the east drawing room, but they seemed rather enchanted with the vestibule.”

  She couldn’t stop a laugh. “It is rather imposing. I’ll go down just now and see to them. Thank you, Stephens.”

  He gave a bow and left.

  She turned to Henry who sat expectantly beside her.

  “Henry, are your aunties here? Should you go find them?”

  At the command to find, Henry was off with a bark. She usually provided him with a scent to seek out, but she was fairly confident in his interpretation of the word aunties.

  She was more sedate in her journey down to the main floor and across to the vestibule as she took a shortcut Henry didn’t have access to, and she was fairly certain she would arrive ahead of him. However, she was stalled when she came upon more voices than she’d expected.

  Namely a male voice interspersed with the female ones.

  She hesitated, trailing a hand along the wall as she bent her head to listen.

  Realization dawned, and she couldn’t help a smile as she pushed forward into the foyer to find Johanna sparring with the Duke of Waverly.

  “One would think when ladies were present a gentleman would give way to the ladies’ carriage in such conditions.”

  Sebastian looked carelessly out the windows that flanked the massive front door.

  “It’s only some rain. As Englishwomen, I would expect you’re used to such conditions, as you call it.”

  Louisa shook her head, her lips slightly parted as if astonished. “You are rather like my sister, Eliza. Did you know that?”

  Sebastian might have blanched, but the lighting was too muted for Eliza to be certain.

  “I have never had the circumstance to be compared to one’s sister.”

  Louisa openly stared, her head shaking thoughtfully. “How fascinating. Do you know they call you the Beastly Duke?”

  “Do you know it’s rude to point out the gossip of others in the presence of the one being gossiped about?”

  “That can hardly be true.” Louisa snorted her disbelief. “How am I to learn what you understand of what’s said about you if I cannot ask it of you yourself? You are the afflicted party here.”

  Sebastian crossed his arms. “I would hardly call myself an afflicted party.”

  Louisa opened her mouth to say something, but she stopped and seemed to changed her mind.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked instead of what she’d meant to say.

  Sebastian dropped his arms and peered around him as if looking for salvation.

  “Ashbourne invited me for some leisure by the sea. Why are you here?” He spoke the last question as if asking Louisa how she might have contracted a particularly nasty tropical disease.

  Louisa was not at all affected by it. She only smiled her unending smile, and her eyes grew ever wider in earnest.

  “Eliza, of course. She sent for us. We’ve never spent a summer at the shore even though our sister’s married to the Duke of Margate and his seat is directly on the ocean. The duke is a bit of a wanker as I’m sure you heard.”

  Sebastian did blanch now, and it was all Eliza could do to keep from laughing and give herself away.

  “I had heard something of the sort, but I would say it’s quite common for dukes of the peerage.”

  Louisa tilted her head in consideration. “But I don’t think it’s true of you, is it, Your Grace?”

  Eliza took pity on Sebastian as he searched the corners of the vestibule for someone to save him. She stepped in with a louder than necessary click of her heel just as Henry finally made his way down the main staircase at a barking run.

  Johanna jumped behind Louisa, never the fondest of Henry, but Louisa bent and put her hands to her knees to brace herself for Henry’s impending collision.

  Eliza took the opportunity to approach Sebastian quietly. “I must apologize for my sisters. They have the unfortunate circumstance of having been raised by a rather direct woman.”

  “Your mother?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

  “No. Me.” She flashed her teeth at him. “It’s rather good to see you, Your Grace, although I must admit I didn’t know you were expected.”

  A shadow passed ov
er Sebastian’s eyes, and not for the first time, she doubted the truth of the rumors about him. Sebastian was rather cold in his manner, but she thought there was a robust beating heart under that austere exterior.

  “I am not surprised to hear that.” His look was knowing, and she had to turn her gaze away.

  Either Dax had written to Sebastian of their situation or a summons from Dax was reason enough to believe trouble was afoot at the manor house. Either situation was not to her liking, and she cast her attention on her sisters whom Henry had finished greeting.

  Louisa had her arms wrapped around Henry. “Oh, I did miss this boy.” She looked to Eliza. “Are we to have lunch? We haven’t a thing since we left this morning.”

  “I’ll ring for a tray while you get settled. Come along, and I’ll show you the way. Ashbourne Manor is a particularly vexing labyrinth.”

  Her gaze traveled hesitantly to Sebastian, who still stood at the door, his hands behind his back as if he had all the time in the world to stand motionless in a vestibule. She thought perhaps she should invite him to take luncheon, but as he’d not been expected, she wasn’t sure there was anything arranged for a formal meal.

  Sebastian, ever the gentleman in disguise, saved her with a simple nod of his head. He’d wait for Dax to come fetch him then.

  “We shall see you for supper?” While the question was the one propriety demanded, she hoped with all her might that the guests may choose to dine separately this evening as she had not laid eyes on Dax since that fateful afternoon in the drawing room, and she had no wish to do so now.

  “That would be lovely, Your Grace, but I believe the duke had some sort of hunting expedition in mind when he sent for me.” Sebastian’s smile was comforting.

  She drew a deep breath and smiled. “How lovely. I shall see you upon your return then.”

  Sebastian gave a deep bow, and she couldn’t help but notice the way his gaze slid cautiously to Louisa before she herded her sisters up the main stairs in the direction of the guest quarters, Henry adoringly in tow.

  “What an interesting man,” Louisa said when they’d gained the upper floors and were alone in the vast corridors of the east wing. “I had thought the Beastly Duke would be something more of a disagreeable creature, but really I think it’s just that he’s in a foul mood.” She turned a thoughtful gaze on Eliza. “He does rather remind me of you. Not that you’re in a foul mood. Although I can’t imagine why you would wish to have your sisters underfoot during the summer of your first year of marriage.”

  Thankfully they had entered the guest suite just at the moment, and Eliza drew a deep breath. “I stumbled upon Ashbourne in the front drawing room. He was kissing Bethany Danvers, the Marchioness of Isley.”

  Johanna was the first to whirl about, her jaw slack, her eyes wide. Louisa—dear, sweet Louisa—let out nothing more than a soft, “Oh.”

  “Harlot,” Johanna seethed.

  Eliza tilted her head. “Actually, I’m not entirely sure it’s her fault. Ashbourne seemed to be the instigator in the affair.”

  She recalled all too clearly the way his strong hands had gripped the marchioness’s shoulders, the way he’d pulled her so close.

  Eliza swallowed and went to the windows to draw back the drapes.

  “Isn’t the view magnificent? Even through the rain you can tell just how spectacular it is.”

  She felt her sisters’ gazes on her, and she turned.

  “It’s not as if I expected a love match. What an entirely unnecessary notion.” She gestured around her. “Look at all that I’ve gained in the union. You should see the watercolors I’ve done since we arrived. And Henry is getting more exercise than ever, and—”

  She’d been about to say she’d learned how to swim, but the words stuck in her throat as her memory burned with the echo of Dax’s touch as he laid her back in the water, the feeling of his arms around her, so safe, so sure that nothing could ever hurt her.

  She raised her chin and plastered on a smile. “There’s a ball to be arranged as well. Apparently it’s a family tradition.” She stepped forward and took a hand from each of her sisters even though neither had spoken since her pronouncement. “And both of you are here to help me plan it.” She frowned. “Although I had wished Viv would come along too. Is it really true she went to Margate for the summer?”

  Louisa blinked several times but finally answered, “Yes. She wanted to spend the summer alone apparently, recuperating by the sea.”

  “But isn’t she concerned she’ll see…well, Margate?”

  Louisa shook her head. “He’s racing curricles in the Lake District this summer. Apparently he stands to win a great sum if he carries off the races he’s committed to.”

  Eliza could only nod at this, imagining what it must be like for her sister to be alone in her husband’s country seat. As she turned her gaze to the windows though, she began to understand what it might mean.

  Eliza knew she would never spend another summer away from the ocean. No matter what was to come. She’d always make sure to return to the manor on the cliffs. Her hand drifted to her stomach at the thought. Perhaps with her children in tow.

  She blinked as if to clear her thoughts and forced another smile before turning back to her sisters.

  “Now then, let’s get you unpacked and settled, and we’ll catch up.”

  Louisa and Johanna both simply stared at her, ready for her to sprout an extra limb at any moment.

  She smiled harder. “I’m fine. Really.”

  But she knew she was only trying to convince herself.

  * * *

  “I wished to inform you that you were right regarding the matter of beauty over charm.”

  Dax eyed his friend over his glass of whiskey, but Sebastian did not so much as smile in response. They’d fled to the hunting cottage his father had kept at the outskirts of the Ashbourne estate. There wasn’t much hunting to be done along the seashore, mostly grouse and pheasant, and Dax suspected the cottage was more a means of escape for his father than actual sport.

  Regardless, it suited Dax’s needs at the moment, and he relished the sound of the fire crackling before him and the rain striking the roof. The only thing that would make it better was if Eliza were with him, curled up on his lap while Henry snoozed by the fire.

  He took a bigger swallow of whiskey.

  “I can’t say that I derive any pleasure from being correct.” Sebastian toyed with the rim of his glass as it sat perched on the arm of his chair. “I can hardly see how this would warrant my immediate departure from London where I was quite enjoying the absence of, well, everyone as the city has emptied for the summer.”

  “Eliza caught me kissing Bethany.”

  Sebastian’s fingers stilled on the glass.

  “Bethany of the great betrayal?”

  “That would be the one.” Admitting it felt like chewing glass.

  Sebastian made a noise of acknowledgment, but it was tinged with sarcastic disappointment.

  “She said she needed to tell me the truth of what happened.” He didn’t know why he felt so compelled to defend himself.

  Likely it was the fact he’d doubted the truth of Bethany’s revelation from the moment he’d realized Eliza had seen the kiss. It had felt all too…contrived. He wouldn’t put it past Bethany to plan such an occurrence, but how was she to know Eliza was even in residence or where she would be?

  He gave himself a mental shake. No, it wasn’t possible for Bethany to have so much information to orchestrate such a plan.

  “And what, pray tell, did she say was the truth?” Sebastian’s disbelief was obvious in his tone, and it rankled.

  “That her father had accepted Isley’s offer for her hand without her knowledge.”

  Sebastian’s finger stilled on the rim of the glass. “And you believed her?”

  Dax thought back to that afternoon. Bethany had seemed so earnest. Her eyes told him nothing but truth, and the way she had clung to him…well, it had felt all t
oo real.

  But he had been fooled by her once before.

  “If it weren’t the truth, then what cause would she have to seek me out?”

  Sebastian set his glass on the table between them.

  “I struggle with the moniker Beastly Duke when I am clearly more astute at affairs of the heart than most others.” He broke his gaze away from the fire to stare at Dax. “Bethany hurt you once to great public humiliation. Would she not be so inclined to humiliate you privately and ruin any chance you had at a happy union with your bride?”

  “That would seem rather petty, and Bethany has never bothered with something she views as beneath her.”

  “But that was seven years ago when she had you in her clutches. Now something that was once beneath her may be her last hope.”

  Even considering that he may have been the pawn in Bethany’s malicious game had his teeth grinding, but he couldn’t help but see the sense in Sebastian’s words. After all, the man had been right about Eliza’s charm.

  Oh, God, Eliza.

  “Be that as it may, it still leaves me in a terrible situation with Eliza.”

  “And which situation would that be?” Sebastian asked. “The one in which you were caught in the act or the one in which you realize you have true feelings for your wife and have now put yourself in an irreparable state?”

  “Irreparable?” He tasted bile just speaking the word. “Surely the situation doesn’t call for such a hopeless word.”

  Sebastian’s gaze was direct. “Some situations are unfortunately hopeless, my friend. I pray you have not gotten yourself into one.”

  Dax swallowed and looked away, unable to hold his friend’s gaze.

  It was several seconds before he spoke.

  “The second one.” The words were soft, hardly a whisper, but he may as well have dropped an anvil directly between them.

  “So the Jilted Duke has fallen in love with his wife. What a terrible outcome.” Sebastian picked up his glass again. “You are in a rather hopeless situation then.”

  Dax pushed to his feet and went in search of more whiskey. “I’m beginning to dislike your use of that word.”