The Duke and the Wallflower

by Clever, Jessie

  “It’s vexing, I should say, but it’s the only word that’s appropriate at the moment.”

  Dax turned to study his friend. “Appropriate?”

  Sebastian did not look at him as he replied and not for the first time Dax thought his friend to be addressing his own past more than the current question.

  “Sometimes one must view a situation as hopeless to have any hope of acquiring the motivation to get out of it.”

  Dax sat down without refilling his glass.

  “You’re saying I must think the situation hopeless.”

  “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. How are you to win her back if you think a weak apology will do the trick?”

  Dax thought of the locked door he found every night, even now when nearly a week had passed.

  “I don’t think an apology is what she seeks.”

  “Of course, it’s not. She believes you willingly kissed Lady Isley. An apology will not convince her otherwise. An apology is nothing more than words, and she’s already learned not to trust words.”

  “Then what can be done?” Desperation flared inside of him so unexpectedly, he had to grip the arm of the chair to keep from slipping to the floor.

  Sebastian uncrossed his legs and sat forward, elbows to knees.

  “The first thing I must ask you is this. Did you kiss Lady Isley or did she kiss you?”

  Dax straightened at the question. “I hardly think that’s relevant.”

  Sebastian helped up his hands and sat back. “If you are not interested in winning back your lady love—”

  “Bethany kissed me,” Dax said quickly, pursing his lips in a frown.

  “Did you return the kiss?”

  “Y—” He had automatically turned to the affirmative, but now that the question was asked, he couldn’t really remember. He had been so overcome by the nostalgia of it that by the time he realized it was something he no longer wanted it had been too late. He shook his head. “No, I didn’t, but it took me too long to realize I didn’t want her kiss.”

  “Too long because Eliza discovered you?”

  “And it may have given Bethany the wrong impression.”

  Bethany hadn’t returned to Ashbourne Manor since that day, but he still couldn’t quite recall what he’d said to her as he’d ushered her out to go in search of Eliza.

  Sebastian’s expression darkened. “Do you think Bethany may return?”

  “No, she wouldn’t.” Dax was quick to shake his head, but even he didn’t believe his words.

  He didn’t know what Bethany could be capable of, but he knew with sudden clarity that he would keep her away from Eliza no matter what it took.

  He sat forward in his seat.

  “You must tell me what I can do to win Eliza back.”

  A very dark part of him worried it was too late. He’d already shattered her trust in him once, and now he’d done it again. Only this time, it was the ultimate betrayal. He’d not only betrayed her trust, he’d broken their wedding vows.

  The words shouldn’t have mattered, and any number of gentlemen broke them every day. But Dax was a man of honor, and he had sworn he would keep those vows no matter what it took. Except he hadn’t anticipated Bethany returning to his life.

  “You must show Eliza that you mean it.”

  Dax stared at his friend, worried the man may have drunken too much.

  “Show her what?”

  Sebastian sat forward again, his urgency palpable.

  “You must show her that you mean your apology. You must show her you are contrite, that you are sincere in wishing forgiveness, that you will do anything to win her back, and then do it.”

  Dax had never before heard his friend speak with such feeling, and once again, he wasn’t so sure about the role society had cast him in. His friend may have experienced something that had driven him to be so crass, but underneath it all, Sebastian was still the boy who fought the bullies alongside Dax at Eton.

  “But what is it I can do?”

  Sebastian sat back, crossing an ankle over the opposite knee. “That is something you will need to figure out.”

  Dax’s shoulders sank as if he’d just been deflated by Sebastian’s words.

  “You make it sound so simple, Sebastian.”

  His friend shrugged and steepled his fingers. “Love never is easy. I don’t know who thought it was, but he needs to stop spreading lies about it.”

  Dax sank back into his chair, his empty whiskey glass resting on his knee.

  It was several minutes later when Sebastian spoke again. “You know I wasn’t the only one summoned here.”

  Dax slid him a glance. “What do you mean?”

  “Upon my arrival I was greeted by two rather spritely young women, one of whom came bearing a sharp tongue.”

  Dax raised an eyebrow. “I can only assume they are sisters to my wife, and the sharp tongued one was likely to be Johanna.” He could readily recall her parting words of warning after the wedding.

  Sebastian’s brow furrowed. “No, I do believe this one was called Louisa.”

  Dax struggled to recall the quiet, nearly cherubic sister as she had been nothing but sunshine and flowers at the wedding, spouting happiness like a fairy trailing twinkling lights.

  “Louisa? Are you sure?”

  Sebastian shifted uncomfortably. “Quite sure.”

  Dax could only shake his head. “If she’s asked her sisters to come, it doesn’t bode well for me.”

  “How is that?”

  Dax remembered what Eliza had said of her family. That no matter what happened she always had her sisters and her brother. For the first time, Dax understood and may have even envied her that.

  He considered Sebastian and knew that at least he was not all alone in this. “Do you think I shouldn’t still apologize?”

  Sebastian moved only his eyes as if what Dax had said was preposterous.

  “Oh, you will most certainly still need to apologize, but it will not be enough. Haven’t you already apologized for the matter of calling your marriage a farce?”

  Dax cringed. “I was thinking the same thing. Why should she believe me again when I continue to betray her trust?”

  “Because this time you will show her you mean it with a gesture that says as much.” Sebastian grew quiet as if collecting his thoughts. “You do mean it, don’t you?” he finally asked.

  Dax studied his friend as the rain continued to pound the roof above them. There in the quiet of the hunting cottage he knew he was safe to admit any truth, and Sebastian would take it no further. So Dax admitted the thing that could hurt him most.

  “I do mean it. I love her, and I must find a way to prove it to her.”

  This seemed to satisfy Sebastian as the tension melted from the man’s shoulders.

  “Then you’d best come up with something astounding because your wife will have reinforcements in the way of her sisters.”

  Dax recalled the formidable Darby sisters, and he couldn’t help a smile.

  “I shall do well to remember that.”

  Sebastian stood. “Now then, did you actually bring me here to hunt or are we going to sit here talking about our feelings?”

  It was at that moment the sky unleashed another torrent, and rain pelted the cottage, the windows shuttering with the beating.

  “I believe there are some playing cards to be found around here,” Dax said, standing.

  “Those should be just fine,” Sebastian replied and went in search of more whiskey.

  Chapter 15

  She hadn’t expected how much joy she would find in sharing the seashore with her sisters.

  It only hurt a little to walk along this stretch of beach without Dax beside her, but she resolutely shut the thought away. Her sisters were here, and Henry galloped along the water’s edge, snapping playfully at the retreating waves. The warm sun and gentle breeze were all she needed to make the day utterly perfect.

  She wasn’t at all surprised at how taken her sis
ters were with Ashbourne Manor. It had been three days since their arrival, and they’d slipped into the rhythm of the manor as if they belonged.

  They’d started planning the Ashbourne ball. Louisa had taken over flowers and Johanna had started on decorations. Mrs. Donnelly had provided Eliza with the guest list from previous years, and she was going through it now. Cook was preparing a menu for them to review, and they thought they might make a visit to Mrs. Fletcher’s shop to see if it were possible for Louisa and Johanna to get new gowns as well in time for the ball.

  Planning the ball was a welcomed distraction even if she couldn’t help but feel like the farce Dax had called their marriage. It had been easy to avoid him the past few days as he and Sebastian left the house in the early morning only to return once they’d retired for the evening.

  Only the past two nights he hadn’t come to her door.

  She didn’t want to feel anxious at the thought or wonder why he hadn’t tried her door. It wasn’t that she wished for him to visit her. Not anymore. She just couldn’t stop thinking about what Viv had said.

  A man doesn’t care about a woman he doesn’t chase.

  So why had Dax stopped coming to her door?

  She knew eventually he would give up. Why wouldn’t he? There was nothing to keep him drawn to her now that Bethany had returned. Still, there was that pitiful part of her that continued to hope.

  Henry splashed Louisa as he bounded out of the water, and she screamed with delight, much like a small child, and it shook Eliza from her thoughts. She watched her sister pick up her skirts and chase after the dog through the retreating waves. Henry loved every minute of it and chased her back.

  “Do you think she will ever grow up?” Johanna asked beside her.

  “Oh, I certainly hope not.” Eliza shielded her eyes from the sun and watched as Louisa followed Henry in his crusade down the beach.

  They were some distance away when Eliza spotted another figure approaching from the opposite end of the cove. Her heart gave a flutter at the thought it could Dax, but the figure was slight and even from this distance, Eliza could tell it was a woman.

  Fear gripped her, and Johanna must have sensed it because without hesitation, her sister stepped in front of her.

  Eliza held up a hand, stopping her sister.

  “It’s all right,” she said, even though she felt anything but. “If she’s come to speak to me, let her. She is no concern of mine.”

  Johanna eyed her warily, and while she didn’t continue to shield her sister, she didn’t retreat either. Absently, Eliza realized Henry had stopped barking, and she caught sight of Louisa holding the dog at bay farther down the beach. Both watched with marked anticipation.

  Bethany Danvers, the Marchioness of Isley, cut a stunning figure even as she attempted to make her way through the clinging sand. She was not at all dressed for such an outing, but she presented a dashing figure in dark purple with black highlights. Even her bonnet was gorgeous with an array of purple feathers and a small bird perched at the brim.

  The marchioness’s smile was cold when she reached Eliza.

  “I think we have no need to bother with introductions,” she said.

  “No, I should think not. You’re trespassing.” The words came out before Eliza could stop them, and she knew she’d surprised the marchioness when the woman’s eyes widened.

  “Is that so? I’m sure Dax would think differently.”

  “Ashbourne can think whatever he likes. Right now, I am occupying the beach, and you are not welcome here. The standard rules of trespass apply.”

  Eliza wasn’t sure if it were her disregard of Dax’s feelings on the subject that surprised Lady Isley or her utter lack of response to the woman’s obviously threatening demeanor. It didn’t matter. Eliza really had not a fig left to give this woman.

  “Well, then I shall be quick in getting to the reason for my visit.”

  Johanna scoffed. “It’s hardly a visit. Invasion is more like.”

  Lady Isley tossed Johanna a glare but wisely did not respond. She returned her focus to Eliza.

  “Ashbourne is mine. I think it would be best if we were to have an understanding between us about the matter. I shan’t get in your way if you shan’t get in mine.”

  Eliza tilted her head. “And what exactly is your way?”

  Lady Isley stuttered at the question. “What?” she asked awkwardly.

  Eliza crossed her arms. “What exactly is it you want with my husband? You seem to have certain designs in mind, but as Ashbourne has only spoken ill of you, I can’t imagine what you think they might be.”

  The barb had struck home as Lady Isley’s mouth opened without sound emerging. She snapped it shut and rolled back her shoulders.

  “Dax loves me, and you must stay out of the way. We can all get along if we mind our own business.”

  “And what business is that of yours?” Johanna asked.

  Lady Isley slid her glance to Johanna, color rising up her cheeks. “Who are you?”

  “She’s my sister,” Eliza answered promptly. “Answer the question.”

  Lady Isley snorted. “I should ask you the same question. You had no right marrying Dax.”

  “I had no right marrying Ashbourne?” Eliza eyed Johanna. “Did you hear that? This harlot says I had no right in marrying my husband.”

  At the word harlot, Lady Isley let out a muttered curse and stepped closer, poking Eliza in the chest. Henry’s growl could be heard down the beach, and Eliza could only hope Louisa’s grip on his collar was strong.

  “You listen, you ugly wart. I should have been the one to marry Dax, not you. I should be the one sitting in luxury in Ashbourne Manor.” She paused here and with stunning speed, reached out and yanked loose the sleeve of Eliza’s gown. It tore with a sickening rip and collapsed limp at her wrist.

  Eliza didn’t move. Lady Isley’s chest heaved now, her anger flaring.

  “I should be the one with new gowns and pretty hats. I should be the one with servants to dote on me. I should be the Duchess of Ashbourne.” She finished her speech with a flourish of spittle raining from her mouth. Sensing her gaff, she swiped a hand roughly over her mouth before leaning ever closer. “Stay out of this, spinster. Or you’ll regret it.”

  Eliza studied the woman, despair and curiosity warring with the irate figure the woman presented. There was no way to refute the woman’s ardent claim, so Eliza settled for the only thing to be said.

  “The hem of your cuff has gone off. You’ll need someone to fix that.”

  Lady Isley’s whispered curse was more of a guttural moan this time, and without another word, the marchioness turned and marched off. Only it was more of a stumble and hobble as the woman was not at all dressed for sand.

  Louisa appeared between them in seconds, Henry collapsing against his mistress’s side. Eliza bent to scratch his head reassuringly.

  “It’s all right, boy. She’s just a bully. No real threat.”

  “Whatever did she mean telling you to stay away from your husband? What an odd woman.” Louisa straightened her bonnet.

  “Did you hear what she said?” Johanna asked, still studying the place where Lady Isley had disappeared up the cliff.

  Eliza straightened, following her gaze.

  “That she was the one to deserve new gowns and baubles?” Eliza asked, moving her gaze to study the damage Lady Isley had done to her own gown.

  Louisa looked between them. “Why would she say that? Isn’t she wed to the Marquess of Isley? Surely he can buy her new gowns.”

  Johanna and Eliza shared a look.

  “Perhaps he cannot,” Johanna said quietly. “Did you see how her cuff had come undone?”

  Eliza nodded. “It looks as though it had been folded under to hide the wear, but it had not been properly pinned.”

  Louisa sucked in a breath. “Oh. How unfortunate.”

  Eliza felt both of their gazes on her.

  “What are you going to do?” Johanna hardly whi
spered the question.

  Eliza straightened her shoulders and pushed her spectacles up her nose.

  “I’m going to do the practical thing, of course.”

  “Fling mud at her?” Johanna offered with raised eyebrows and a wide smile.

  “Spread vicious rumors that she smells of pig dung?” Louisa asked.

  Eliza couldn’t help the smile her sisters always brought to her face.

  “No, of course, not. I’m going to write Andrew.”

  Johanna’s smile melted into a frown. “How is that the practical thing to do?”

  Eliza crossed her arms, unknowingly protecting the babe that grew in her stomach.

  “Why would a woman I’ve never met make the effort to climb down that cliff and threaten me to stay away from my own husband? What an odd thing to do.”

  “She’s crazed with love,” Louisa breathed, her eyes wide as if imaging the entire sordid affair.

  “She’s loony off her block,” Johanna suggested.

  “Love or madness would not drive one to do something such as that,” Eliza said gesturing to the cliff.

  Louisa frowned, and even that expression was endearing on her fresh face. “Then what is?”

  Eliza shook her head. “Only money would make someone that irrational. I intend to write Andrew to find out the state of the Marquess of Isley’s affairs.”

  * * *

  Once while at Eton he had been dared to walk the parapet of the rector’s home in a slicing rainstorm. In the nude, of course.

  And even then, Dax was less scared than he was now, and all he must do was knock on his wife’s door.

  The night was quiet, the house having gone to bed hours before, but the light beneath the connecting door gave him hope his wife was still awake. He’d only seen her and her sisters in passing over the past several days as they went in and out of the manor house, Henry in tow. They’d usually been bubbly with chatter, but his wife had always appeared somewhat removed, as if their chatter hadn’t reached her quite yet.

  It pained him to see it. While he knew he was the cause of it, it hurt even more to see her so distanced from her sisters’ company. He didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of telling her to extend an invitation to her sisters earlier in the summer. They were close after all and until their nuptials, Eliza had always lived under the same roof as them. It must have been quite an adjustment to leave them.