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CHAPTER 16

Eleanor slammed the drawer shut causing the perfume bottles to rattle.

“Everything all right, My Lady?”

“Hm, what?” She saw the tipped over bottles laying on her dresser.

“Oh, yes, sorry, Mary. I’m fine, thank you.”

The maid didn’t look convinced. “Is there anything I can get you this morning?”

A shot of bourbon.

The thought gave her pause.When did I start taking shots of bourbon? Ugh. That man has infiltrated my very being!

Eleanor shook the wayward thought from her mind. “No, Mary. I am fine. Will you please tell my mother I’ll be down shortly for tea?”

Mary dipped her head, “Of course, My Lady.”

After Mary left, Eleanor sat looking at her reflection and sighed. Once again, she needed to reevaluate her approach to her season and the Duke. She thought she could reason with him, but when she was close to him, her mind, led by her body, had different plans.

Eleanor groaned. “Stupid girl. It meant nothing. He is just a rake playing with your emotions like it’s some sport to him.”

She sat up and gave herself one more look over to make sure her hair was behaving. After tucking a loose blonde curl back in place, she made her way down to the parlor. She could hear her mother and Sarah speaking.

“He is a lovely boy, Mama; I know you would just love him!”

“Oh, that is so exciting to hear, Sarah!” Charlotte’s voice rang out. “And His Grace agreed to let him and his family visit? Do you think this could turn into something?”

Eleanor walked over to the settee and took the offered tea from her maid, Mary.

Sarah sighed into the back of her chair. “Oh, I hope so.” She didn’t seem as excited as Eleanor expected. Sarah had been talking nonstop about what her seasons would be like and the fated night when she would be lost in a dance with a suitor who would ultimately steal her heart. Forever a romantic, their Sarah was.

“You don’t seem excited about the prospect, Sarah.” Charlotte dipped her head in concern.

Sarah pouted before she sat back up. “I’m very excited about Bryon coming over with his family, especially after I was basically ripped away from him at Lady Merrington’s garden party. It’s just…” She sighed again.

Eleanor tampered down the instinct to roll her eyes at her sister’s dramatics. “What is it, Sarah?”

She looked at the doorway. “It’s the Duke.”

Eleanor sat up straighter. Her sister had seemed very understanding of the Duke’s ways, especially when it came to how he handled Eleanor.

“What of the Duke?”

Sarah chewed on her bottom lip before answering. “He doesn’t seem happy with Byron as a potential match. I mean, he hasn’t said anything, and this visit is nothing official, but I get the feeling he won’t approve.”

Eleanor reached out to her sister. She may not be a romantic like Sarah, but she knew how frustrating it was to deal with the Duke, especially when he did not approve of her choices.

“Why do you think that?” Eleanor probed.

“I don’t know, a feeling?” Sarah shrugged.

Charlotte laughed. “Oh child, pay no attention to feelings.”

Both girls looked at their mother.

Charlotte waved her hand in front of her face. “I mean, don’t go looking for trouble. You are not privy to the Duke’s thoughts. It could be, he just does not know the boy and his family. If he’s everything you say he is, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be the perfect match for you.”