Suddenly overwhelmed with emotions, Mirabell had no idea what to do or say. Tears of joy filled her eyes as she smiled at him.
“I love you too, Fredrick,” she said, “you know I do.”
“I beg you to not go through with this. Marry me instead,” Fredrick requested with a wide and handsome smile.
“Yes, yes, I will marry you, my hero,” she exclaimed. “You have saved me again, my hero.” She threw her arms around his neck and held him tightly with glee for moments.
Then Mirabell placed her hand in his and uttered, “Shall we?”
Fredrick chuckled and brought her hand up to his lips, kissing it tenderly. “We shall.” He smiled warmly at her.
Now, his life was complete.
And so was hers.
11
Three years later…
Lady Mirabell, who was now known as Lady Dunkirk, smiled as she looked at Fredrick in their carriage. They were coming home to their large, gray-bricked estate that stood three stories high and was safely inside of a large iron gate. The long driveway from the gate to the estate was lined with tall trees and small white flowers on the ground.
She was unable to see anything as they got closer, and he placed his hands over her eyes.
“Frederick, please tell me. You know how I cannot stand surprises,” she said smiling.
“We are almost there… just trust me for just a moment longer,” he responded excitedly.
“Fine,” she huffed jokingly, “but only a moment longer.” She was guided off the concrete and to the firm dirt ground before he finally uncovered her eyes only for her to look in complete awe as she saw a large peacock barely six feet in front of her. Teal, yellow, and brown colors were swirled in patterns on his tailfeathers.
“Oh, my love. You absolutely should not have!”
“I would find a way to give you the moon itself if that was what your heart desired, my love. Surely by now you know that,” he said wryly.
For the first few weeks after Mirabell’s engagement was broken with the duke, it was unbearable for her to leave her home much less go into town. Everyone had questions for her and gathered around her telling her how sorry they felt for her. Eventually, people began to move to the next bit of shocking news, especially when the honorable Lady Amelia ran off and eloped with the duke only five months after the disaster of his first wedding. People gossiped that perhaps the duke had meant to keep a relationship with Lady Amelia even if he had married Mirabell since he had been sending Lady Amelia so many expensive gifts.
Lady Dunkirk was pulled out of her thoughts as Lord Dunkirk kissed her ring finger and said, “I cannot believe it has been three years since our wedding, my love.” He looked down at her very pregnant belly in sheer delight and merriment.
“I felt as though it was yesterday, despite it being three whole years ago.”
Many things have happened in those three years,” Lord Dunkirk pointed out.
“Indeed,” Lady Dunkirk sighed, as she gazed at the peacock. “It will not chase me, will it?”
Fredrick chuckled, recalling the memory of their youth and said bravely, “It can attempt it, but it will never catch you.”
Mirabell laughed heartily and put her arms around Fredrick’s shoulders. “I love you.”
“And I love you, my dearest.”
“Momma!”
A tiny voice appeared from where the coach stood, and Fredrick and Mirabell turned towards it. Their two-year-old daughter waddled towards them, and Mirabell knelt on the grass before scooping her daughter up in her arms. She resembled Marjorie nearly exactly, and to Mirabell, there was no better gift than that. Other than her wonderful husband, and now they will be a family of four with a graceful peacock to roam the estate gardens.
“I cannot believe we now own a peacock,” Mirabell sighed.
“You say it as though it is a bad thing,” Fredrick chuckled.
“I know…. But honestly though, did we really need a peacock?” Miraberll asked.
“Need one? No, I do not suppose we did, but it is always nice to have one,” Fredrick answered and placed his arm lovingly around his wife and his daughter.
Mirabell laughed at Fredrick’s statement and continued to watch the peacock with admiration while she thought of fond memories.
THE END
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Infatuated with the Duke’s Daughter by Eliza Heaton
Contents
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Infatuated with the Duke’s Daughter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
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Infatuated with the Duke’s Daughter
1
The build-up of a noble lady’s first Season should be highly anticipated, and the novelty of it should be enjoyed in abundance as it is meant to be. Despite this well-known truth throughout London society, Lady Emmeline Hyatt’s first Season had finally arrived, and her excitement was very much underwhelming.
Emmeline’s petite hands trembled after she placed her hair comb on her dressing table, and she stared out in front of herself like a lifeless doll. She looked directly into her bedroom mirror, but did so without taking notice of the beautiful young woman who stared back at her. Her innocent mind was preoccupied with the conversation she had endured earlier in the day with her mother, Her Grace, the Duchess of Bedford. The conversation had been intermittently popping up for the previous five days. A tedious conversation, but in the duchess’ opinion, it was utterly necessary. It still seemed trivial to Lady Emmeline, but as she was raised to be a lady who obeyed her mother’s wishes, at most times at least, she had showed little defiance while submerged in the conversation.
Lady Emmeline’s gaze lowered to the pink, silk ballet slippers, which rested daintily on her dressing table, along with an opened acceptance letter to the most prestigious ballet academy in Paris. It was a tremendous honor to be accepted into such a fine institution, as the duchess had attended the Paris Opera Ballet School in her youth, and only the finest dancers were accepted into this advanced school. The duchess had been thrilled to learn of Lady Emmeline’s acceptance, but the good news had arrived mere weeks before Emmeline’s first Season. Of course, the duchess encouraged Em
meline to at least think it over before deciding, but Emmeline had refused to even consider it.
Despite being a wonderful and talented dancer, Emmeline’s heart desired different things than her parents had planned for her. Being a dancer was not something she aspired to. It had been her mother’s dream from the very start, not hers. Emmeline also did not feel comfortable leaving London and living in Paris, far away from her childhood home and her father’s estate, Stonehill Manor, as well as away from her parents. Lady Emmeline was a mere twenty years of age and still considered very young.
Of course, the duchess was shocked and taken aback by the decision Lady Emmeline had made, but she also insisted that Emmeline not make rash decisions. Perhaps the duchess thought that Emmeline would change her mind, but this was not the case, despite the guilt the duchess piled on her daughter on a regular basis.
The past fortnight had been nothing short of torturous, since the duchess made it perfectly clear that she disapproved of Lady Emmeline’s choice.
To Lady Emmeline, it did not matter. She considered herself of sound mind and age to make her own decisions regarding her life and her future, as taught by her father, for which she was eternally grateful.
A knock on the door of her bedchamber caused her gaze to rise, and she glanced into the mirror and saw the reflection of the door.
The Duke of Bedford, a stern yet kind man who worshipped the ground his only daughter treaded upon, entered her chambers and smiled proudly at his daughter. He was dressed in his formal wear, looking as dashing as the portraits of him that were painted twenty years ago. Her father did not seem to age, but unfortunately, the years had not been as kind to the duchess Emmeline thought at times, but she would certainly never say those thoughts aloud.
“My dear Emmeline. Are you not the most beautiful woman I have ever set my eyes upon,” the duke beamed, “apart from your mother, of course.”
Lady Emmeline smiled in return and stood from her dressing table. “Thank you, Father, but you are under all obligation to utter those words, as I am your daughter.”
“My dearest, not once has an untruth left this mouth, and nor shall one ever be spoken from it,” the duke answered gallantly. “Even if you were not my daughter, I would still think the same.”
The duke’s comment amused her, and a giggle escaped her mouth.
“I took the liberty of informing you that the coach is ready and waiting for our departure. Your dear mother would have told you, but I am certain you and she have had far too many words between one another,” the duke announced.
“She is still upset with me,” Lady Emmeline stated, staring down at her feet.
“Perhaps disappointed is a more accurate word,” the duke replied.
“That most certainly does not ease my conscience. In fact, that is much worse,” Lady Emmeline muttered. “I would much rather have her upset with me than disappointed. She has mastered the art of making me feel immense guilt over my decision, Father.”
“It is true. Your mother can be rather theatrical and stubborn, but she only wishes the best for you, Emmeline,” the duke explained.
“I am well aware of this, Father, and I am truly grateful for that, but I do wish she would cease with the theatrics, and allow me to make my own decisions, as well as respect them as being mine and mine alone,” Emmeline uttered with a sigh. “I am aware that it is a great honor to be accepted to attend the Paris Opera Ballet School, but I cannot commit to something if my heart is not made full by it.”
“I understand that, my dear,” the duke said, as he smiled and placed his hand lovingly on her shoulder. “You have grown into an intelligent and wonderful young woman, and whichever path you choose to take, I will always be filled with pride.”
“Thank you, Father. Your words are comforting to me,” Lady Emmeline replied gratefully. “Though I fear Mother will not share your feelings of pride.”
“She will accept it. In fact, she has no choice in the matter. She is well aware that I wish for you to make your own decisions regarding your life, and she must honor that, as I must honor my promise to her.”
“Which is?” Lady Emmeline asked with a frown.
“That, my dear, is between your mother and I,” the duke answered with a glimmer in his eyes.
Emmeline shuddered slightly as she turned away. The duke and the duchess were still very much in love with one another, and they chose to make it known to Lady Emmeline, even if it caused some shudders from their daughter. Their family was close-knit, and perhaps too much so, in Lady Emmeline’s opinion.
Regardless, she loved them dearly and could not imagine her life without them. This was one of the reasons why she did not wish to live in Paris. She would only long for her family and lose focus in regards to her dancing.
The duke smiled once more and stepped towards the door. “Are you ready my dear?”
Lady Emmeline nodded and followed her father out of her bedchambers.
As they rode in their family coach in silence, Emmeline’s excitement grew at a steady pace, and she decided not to allow anything, or anyone for that matter, to ruin her evening.
When they arrived at the lavish estate of the Count of Powell, Lady Emmeline was starting to enjoy the novelty of her first Season. Her innocent mind fluttered with all the possibilities that the night could bring, and she could only imagine what the year ahead would carry with it.
This evening, she was dressed in white muslin, befitting her station. The high-waisted gown was banded with a golden-brown ribbon, which showcased her lovely, bright brown eyes. The ribbon also accentuated her waist and her tight cap sleeves. The gown softly fell to the floor, brushing her dainty feet, which were encased in leather dancing slippers. Her golden hair was arranged in a chignon, with loose curls falling at her neck and around her forehead. Ribbons of the same hue adorned it. Lady Emmeline was a petite, delicate young woman who attracted the eye of many eligible male suitors, and she hoped one of those suitors would catch her eye as well.
“Emmeline, are you paying attention to what I am saying?” the duchess said beside her, and Lady Emmeline glanced at her mother, tearing her eyes away from the guests inside the lavish ballroom.
“Every single word, Mother,” Emmeline answered, despite not knowing what her mother had indeed said. It was most certainly the same mindless chatter accompanied by the scolding words which so often frequented her mother’s lips.
“Good. I have instructed you on how to be as successful as I was at your age. Do not forget even a single letter of the words I have spoken to you,” the duchess commanded before the severe noise of her heels could be heard clicking as she walked away to stand near some exquisitely dressed, married women.
Lady Emmeline did not even feel taken aback by her mother abandoning her; she felt utterly relieved, as she stood alone on the other side of the ballroom, briefly studying her mother as she engaged in mindless gossip with the other women of her social circle.
The Duchess of Bedford wore a similar style dress, although it was of a dark green hue. Her mousy brown hair was severely slicked back, giving her an even more intense, no-nonsense appearance. The duchess was there to find the perfect husband for her charming daughter, not to draw eyes away from the young beauty, despite her wishes for Emmeline to attend the Paris Opera Ballet School.
Lady Emmeline was a steadfast and stubborn young woman, much to the duchess’ dismay, and she could most certainly not be forced to do something that she did not wish to do.
Perhaps she can be persuaded, the duchess thought, as she briefly glanced at Lady Emmeline before returning her attention to her group of ladies around her.
The wood on the ballroom floor was polished to a sheen, yet not so much that it would impede dancing. The hostess dared not make it too slippery, lest her guests come to harm. Gauzy cloth festooned the room, giving it an ethereal feeling. Double doors were open, leading to another room. It held long tables filled with refreshments. Farther back, Lady Emmeline saw the gathering spot f
or which her father would soon be headed. It was the gentlemen’s smoking room. In there, business deals and wagers could be made in private.
Turning her attention back to the guests inside the ballroom, Lady Emmeline surveyed the group of young ladies who had arrived before her. She searched for a companion with whom she would care to share a conversation. Each one’s rank and class were obvious by the design, material, and maker of her gown. The more elaborate the dress, the higher status the wearer held, and the more sought after the designer proved to be. Emmeline’s mother would certainly prefer that she gravitated to those in white silk or muslin, with embroidery or ribbons, rather than those clothed in plain batiste, who may have designed and sewn the dresses themselves, due to impoverished circumstances beyond their control. However, Lady Emmeline preferred more lively conversation rather than being concerned with the speaker’s looks and aspirations.
Ignoring the duchess’ wishes, which would come as no surprise to anyone who knew Emmeline well, she made her way to a shy-looking young lady, almost hidden in the corner. She was a country girl, wearing a simple gown of pale pink batiste, which did not do her even paler complexion any favors. The young lady’s piercing blue eyes held surprise when Emmeline joined her and began speaking.
Regency Engagements Box Set Page 83
