Enchanting the Duke (The Seven Curses of London Book 11) Read online

  “Nothing at all.” He searched for a reason for having sought her out. “I wanted to make certain you weren’t becoming overtired.”

  Her cheeks flushed, bringing to mind all sorts of images from the afternoon when he’d witnessed that same flush along her entire body. While he thought he’d find pleasure in the marriage bed with Eleanor, he never expected to find the passion they shared. Her eagerness to explore it surprised him. Though now that he thought about it, it shouldn’t.

  Her passion for life was one of the qualities that had caught his interest before their marriage. She gave her full attention to whatever task or topic was before her with exuberance. He just hadn’t realized how it would feel to have that focus directed at him.

  “I am well, thank you.” Amusement curled her lips and lit her eyes. “And you?”

  “Fine.”

  “Good.” She glanced at Lady Beaumont with whom she’d been speaking. “We were discussing education opportunities for orphans and what a difference it could make in their lives.”

  “Education, even limited, can mean the difference between being able to find a job that will pay enough to live on or living on the streets.” Lady Beaumont’s intent expression suggested she felt strongly about the topic. “Anything that can help to provide that will make a significant impact.”

  “Not all orphans want to learn to read or do arithmetic.” Lady Elizabeth joined them to offer her opinion without being invited to do so. “Some have no interest in doing anything other than picking pockets or the like.”

  Eleanor’s lips pursed briefly as if she held back her first thought. “Only because they don’t think they have a choice. Education can show them other options.”

  “Education will only enable them to better add up the value of the items they steal.” Lady Elizabeth shook her head.

  “If you truly believe that, why are you here?” Douglas asked with a raised brow.

  “One is expected to give to charities, regardless of whether one’s own opinion aligns with the charity’s purpose.” She waved her hand in dismissal as if that was all that needed to be said on the topic.

  “Perhaps next time, it would be better for everyone if your father handed over the money without offering your involvement. Your opinions obviously don’t align with the mission of the charity or the other guests.” Douglas ignored the startled gasp of outrage from Lady Elizabeth. He refused to apologize for stating the truth. “Now then, if you will excuse us, my wife and I are going to join the next round of charades. Lady Beaumont, would you care to join us?”

  Lady Beaumont’s eyes were wide with shock and she seemed to be having difficulty hiding a smile. “I should like that very much.”

  The three of them left Lady Elizabeth standing with her mouth agape.

  “Douglas, I don’t know whether to applaud or reprimand you for your remark,” Eleanor murmured as she took his offered arm.

  “No need for either. I merely said what we were all thinking. Sometimes speaking one’s mind is necessary. She never seems to hesitate to do so herself.”

  Eleanor chuckled. “True.” Her gaze met his and they shared a smile. “Do you really wish to play charades?”

  He considered the question. “I thought it rather entertaining last time.”

  “Well then, by all means, let us join in.” Her eyes narrowed as she studied him while they waited for the next round to begin. Lady Beaumont moved to stand next to her husband.

  “What?” Douglas asked when Eleanor continued to study him.

  “The Dour Duke is not very dour this evening.”

  He smiled, realizing it was becoming easier to do so. “I hate to be too predictable.”

  She grinned in return. “As do I. Perhaps we can make an impression during charades by doing something out of character.”

  He nodded as warmth flowed over him. His duchess was unique and special. Her thoughts were complex, and her empathy for others was admirable. Her merriment didn’t mean she took nothing seriously. Instead, she approached life with an optimism unlike anything he’d ever encountered. He realized that he liked all the different facets of her.

  But he still intended to proceed with caution, especially once they returned home. He couldn’t allow anything, including his beautiful wife, to distract him from his goals regarding the duchy. Too many depended on his success.

  ~*~

  Eleanor woke the next morning, glanced at the empty pillow next to hers, and sighed with disappointment. She’d thought their relationship was improving and that perhaps their connection was deepening.

  Though she told herself not to read too much into his absence this morning, she couldn’t help it. They could’ve lingered in bed together. Thus far, she’d retired for the evening well before him, and she would’ve liked to hear his impressions of the other guests and know what his plans were for the day.

  Yet as she considered the events of yesterday, hope had her rising and ringing for her maid. In truth, Douglas had rescued her not once but twice. Surely that meant something.

  If only she could be satisfied with what they already had together. The past few days had given her greater insight into her husband. Perhaps this was all he was capable of. Was it any wonder that he was somber given his childhood? She couldn’t expect anything to change over the course of a few days.

  Oh, but she had.

  Still, she needed to proceed carefully. Reaching for more meant risking her heart. If she failed, the future would be bleak. She might lose everything she’d gained the past few days and more.

  Douglas didn’t seem to want anything else from their relationship. Did that mean she shouldn’t either? She needed to remember her responsibilities as she knew nothing would turn Douglas from his. Yet she wanted him to see they could have both. That they were better together and could accomplish more as a true couple privy to each other’s needs and wants.

  The more she considered it, the more she was certain this was her chance. She would continue to try to win his heart with whatever opportunity presented itself. Once they left here, her chance would be over, for Douglas would return to working constantly, and she’d rarely see him. This special time together might not happen again.

  But she also needed to prepare herself for failure. She couldn’t allow herself to be miserable if she didn’t win his love.

  That sounded impossible, she decided as she washed her face. She simply had to succeed. But first, she had to find Douglas.

  Babette arrived and helped her dress. Eleanor pinched her cheeks to bring some color to them, thanked the maid, then hurried downstairs.

  The hour was still early and only a few of the guests were in the dining room to break their fast. But not Douglas. Nor was Burbridge. Had the pair gone riding again this morning?

  She helped herself to the offerings on the sideboard and took a seat.

  “Good morning, Lady Rothbury.” Lady Beaumont smiled. “Might I join you?”

  “Please do.” Eleanor patted the place beside her. “Are you without your husband as well?”

  The lady nodded. “What makes the men decide to go riding so early at this time of year is beyond me. While I enjoy it in the summer months, I prefer to wait during the winter with the hope the temperature will rise.”

  Eleanor couldn’t help the pang of hurt that struck. Lady Beaumont obviously knew her husband’s plans. The knowledge made her more aware of the distance between her and Douglas.

  “Did Beaumont mention how long he thought they’d be?”

  “He said he wasn’t certain. Did Rothbury advise you differently?”

  “He didn’t mention a time.” Never mind that he hadn’t mentioned anything at all. How different it would be to have married because of love rather than a business agreement.

  Suddenly the day appeared long and empty before her, no different than the days at Rothbury House. She reminded herself that she had friends among the guests. With Douglas gone again, she had the chance to enjoy them while she could. It would
be several months before she and Douglas returned to London. Her social life would be very quiet until then.

  “Do you know if Lady Burbridge has plans for us today?” Eleanor asked.

  Lady Beaumont smiled. “She seems to have something in mind for us every day. She is a wonderful hostess, don’t you think?”

  Lillian soon arrived and advised the ladies they were invited to the drawing room to make paper flowers to decorate. Eleanor noted that Lillian directed Lady Elizabeth and her friend to the far end of the long table, taking a moment to say something to them. Based on the embarrassed look Lady Elizabeth wore, Eleanor wondered if it had been a warning.

  “I’ve never done anything like this,” Lady Beaumont advised as they settled at the table that held stacks of paper, scissors, and ribbons along with other items.

  “Nor have I,” Mrs. Sloane added.

  “It’s been a few years since I made flowers.” Eleanor smiled as memories filled her. “My mother and I used to make them every year when I was young.”

  “Oh good,” Lady Beaumont said. “You’re an expert at it then. I’ll watch you.”

  As they worked, cutting the stiff paper into petals, Eleanor felt the weight of Lady Elizabeth’s regard though the woman said nothing.

  Eleanor gently asked a few questions of Lady Beaumont, curious why many of the activities during the house party seemed new to her.

  Though hesitant at first, she soon shared how she and her mother had struggled after her father’s death with money impossibly tight. Celebrating Christmas was a challenge when one was worried daily about food and shelter.

  Her upbringing made Eleanor appreciate her own all the more. It took effort and courage to overcome challenges as well as to grow and change. Eleanor admired Lady Beaumont for wanting to do so. While she wanted to know more about Douglas’s childhood as she thought it would help her understand him, his reluctance to speak of it gave her pause. She’d been surprised he said as much as he had the previous day.

  The morning passed quickly and the ladies soon had a sizeable pile of paper flowers with wires attached so they could easily be added to the greenery that would be brought in on Christmas Eve.

  The men returned, including Douglas, and complimented them on their efforts. Eleanor’s heartbeat sped when Douglas moved to stand behind her. She glanced over her shoulder at him but could tell little from his expression. Out of the corner of her eye, she realized Lady Elizabeth was staring at them once again.

  Suddenly, a warm rush of air brushed along her ear.

  “I had no idea you were quite so artistic.” Douglas’s whisper sent a frisson of awareness along her body, and she couldn’t help but smile. “First the music and now flowers. What other secrets are you hiding?”

  “I have no secrets from you,” she said with a smile as she turned toward him. The memory of the little girl and the older woman he’d seen in London came to mind. He had at least one secret. She had a long way to go before she could claim to say she knew him well.

  As she watched him, she saw him glance at Lady Elizabeth. Had he only leaned close and spoken with her for Lady Elizabeth’s benefit? The thought pinched her heart. She wanted him to do it for no other reason than because he wanted to be part of her world, just as she wanted to be part of his.

  With a deep breath, she pushed away the worry. Was it important why he’d done it? His overture could still be the start of more. This entire house party had been a new beginning for them. The important thing was that she make the most of it.

  She reached a hand toward him, and to her delight, he took it, giving it a gentle squeeze. His smile warmed her to her toes.

  Keeping hold of his hand, she showed him the flowers they’d made, realizing it didn’t matter whether he was interested. She didn’t necessarily understand the reason certain crops were planted in certain fields, though she was reading a rather dry book in an attempt to learn more. Nor did she know which tenant needed what repair as she had yet to learn all their names. But she would still listen if he chose to tell her about those things.

  Wasn’t that what marriage was about? Taking the time to share and listen to each other, regardless of the topic. If something was important to him, then it was important to her. Making their relationship work for them both was all that mattered.

  Chapter Seven

  Douglas strolled alongside Eleanor in the village near Burbridge House the following day, surprised to realize he was enjoying himself. He had expected boredom to set in over the course of the house party, but instead, he felt...content. The sensation was both unfamiliar and peaceful.

  He couldn’t think of the last time he’d done little more than ride, play billiards, converse, and indulge in parlor games, if ever. Certainly not for five days in a row.

  His grandfather must be rolling over in his grave right now. The image brought no small measure of guilt along with it.

  “What is it?” Eleanor asked, her dark eyes holding steady on him.

  “Nothing.” He didn’t want to ruin the moment by speaking of his grandfather. Yet he saw in an instant that his reply had somehow hurt her when her lips tightened as she glanced away.

  “I was thinking about how disappointed my grandfather would be with me right now.” The admission slipped out before he thought twice. He truly was becoming soft if he wanted to speak of his feelings. The idea had him clenching his jaw. Suddenly, he felt off balance, as though he’d taken a misstep on the edge of a cliff, and all that was familiar was now just out of reach. The sensation nearly had him breaking into a cold sweat.

  “What makes you think that?” Eleanor’s quiet tone held no judgment, only curiosity. Somehow that gave him purchase on the steep slope of his thoughts.

  “I have done nothing productive for nearly a week.” He frowned as guilt resurged.

  “I don’t think that’s true at all.” She paused on the walkway to look up at him, the cold breeze tugging a strand of her hair loose. “You’ve toured Burbridge’s estate to see how he does things, and I have no doubt you found a few ideas you want to implement. You’ve shown support for a charity, showing leadership as well as empathy for those less fortunate. You’ve met others who either sit or will sit in the House of Lords and shared many conversations about what you see for the future of our country. That’s rather a lot in only a few days, don’t you think?”

  He stared at her, nonplussed. Having her defend him, even to himself, stunned him. He couldn’t remember a time when someone had come to his defense.

  “Sometimes stepping away from our routine gives us objectivity,” she continued. “We can better see what remains to be done and what our priorities should be. It’s not so much taking time off as it is taking time away.”

  Everything inside him shifted. It was as if his heart expanded and the other parts of him moved aside to make room. He stared into her brown eyes, finding an understanding and empathy he hadn’t realized he needed or even wanted.

  He’d never dreamed that having a wife would provide benefits beyond the marriage bed. But Eleanor was special. Her insights were something a business partner might offer but even better as they carried compassion and empathy. She cared about him and the people he was responsible for. How could he have not seen that before?

  “I mean no disrespect, but your grandfather sounds like a character from a Dickens’ novel,” she murmured with a frown.

  “I suppose he could be compared to Ebenezer Scrooge.” The thought amused him, much to his surprise. He’d always admired his grandfather’s single-minded focus. Now he realized there were disadvantages to it as well.

  Yet sharing his duties and responsibilities was a foreign concept. Something that required thought and deliberation. It was a change that would not come easily or smoothly but in fits and starts, with wrong turns and missteps, much like journeying to an unfamiliar place with no map.

  Still, he appreciated her words and the new thoughts taking hold of him. And he wanted her to know that. “You’ve given me in
sight that I wouldn’t have otherwise had. It’s a challenge to reconsider one’s beliefs. Thank you for helping to shift mine.”

  Her brows rose, suggesting she was surprised by his response. Then her eyes sparkled as if lit from within. Her lips joined in, and the sudden urge to kiss her nearly overwhelmed him. “You are welcome.”

  She tightened her hold on his arm, and they continued along the shop fronts.

  He waited for her to lecture him, to dwell on the topic overlong as so many people did as if one hadn’t understood their point the first time.

  “Oh, isn’t that pretty?” She stopped before a window and admired a colorfully woven blanket. Then she moved to the next window and admired a porcelain figurine. No coy glances were cast his way. No not-so-subtle hints that he should make a purchase for her. And certainly no lecture. Then her attention shifted to the village itself, admiring the greenery and other decorations that gave the shops a festive appearance.

  “Everyone is so friendly in the village, and the decorations are quite festive.” Then she commented on the weather, declaring it perfect for this time of year.

  Her ability to find something good in the smallest, simplest moment was refreshing. No wonder Lady Elizabeth and her negative remarks affected her so deeply. Eleanor took time to enjoy the present, something he rarely did. Her optimism was a good match against his tendency to focus on the tasks ahead along with what could go amiss.

  Not that she ignored the darker side of life. Three older men stood on a street corner at the far end of the village and appeared to be looking for handouts of one form or another. Their clothing was worse for the wear and their grizzled faces suggested it had been some time since they’d had use of a razor or water.

  “How terrible to have so little, let alone at this time of year,” she murmured at the sight of them.

  “I’ll mention their presence to Burbridge, although they might be professional beggars.” Douglas studied the trio. “We have some pass through our village every so often.”

  “Professional beggars?” Her brow furrowed at the term.