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“So, why can’t you be one of those?”

The weight of the conversation was taking its toll on Eleanor. She lifted a weary shoulder. “I’m just not, and I’m fine with that. It’s as simple as that.”

Sarah dropped her eyes. “Life is never as simple as that.”

Sarah turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Eleanor stood, processing what Sarah just said. It was simple as that; it had to be. Her whole, no, her whole purpose in life was to be a society wife.

She sat down at her vanity and looked in the mirror. Could she be something more than just a wife? Eleanor turned her head side to side taking in her appearance.

The thought of being something more than just a wife was exhilarating and terrifying. There was a part of her that was relieved that Simon had proposed, and she could finally fulfill her destiny.

Although, she had to admit there was a growing part of her that resented Simon for offering her the life she was told she needed to live. Not that she could see herself being anything else, it was just something about the thought of being a society wife to Simon didn’t sit well with her.

She heard the Duke’s voice drift up from downstairs.

Eleanor followed the voices down the stairs as she continued to dissect Sarah’s words.

What would her life look like if she married for love? What would it look like if she married someone who didn’t care much for propriety or the rules of high society?

Eleanor’s steps lead her to the door of the Duke’s study which was cracked open. She peered inside and saw him sitting at his desk, a tumble of whisky by his one hand. He was looking over paperwork, the look of pure concentration on his face. His hair was mussed up, probably from him running his hands through it. He did that when he was frustrated.

Eleanor blushed at her personal knowledge of him. Yet, she didn’t move. She continued to watch as he thumbed through papers and scribbled on others, never realizing he was being watched.

What would it be like to be loved by someone like the Duke? Someone who, when he focused on something, it became his whole world. Who didn’t care what others thought of him? Someone who didn’t rely on others to do his work for him; someone who was his own man.

Eleanor’s hands became clammy, and her heart began to race. Eleanor took a step back. Thinking these thoughts were no good. With careful steps she tiptoed away from the door, hoping to not call attention to her actions.

She went back upstairs to her room.

Eleanor was right when she told Sarah she had agreed to Simon, so she was marrying him. There was nothing anyone could say or do that would change her mind.

She heard the Duke’s voice again echoing from downstairs.

Eleanor bit her bottom lip. What if the Duke said something to her?

CHAPTER 26

“Jeffries!” Derek’s own yell made his head pound more. “Where is the Rothrock report? William said he was going to pick it up.” Derek picked up a stack of files and threw them to the ground. He could have sworn the ledger was here a moment ago.

“Jeffries!” he bellowed again. He was going to talk to the maids about being in here, touching things.

Derek looked towards the door. Where was that blasted man? He stomped over to the door and threw it open. A startled William jumped back.

“Good God man, do you always welcome your guests like a wild beast?” William pushed the spectacles back up the bridge of his nose.

Derek pushed past him to look down the hallway. “Have you seen Jeffries?” he barked.

“No. But a dangerously frail old man named Madden let me in. I told him, he didn’t need to show me to your office. I figured I’d get here faster if I didn’t have him showing me in.”

Derek’s head snapped back to William. “Well, why did you do that? Where the hell is Jeffries?”

William’s eyes widened. “Have I come at a bad time?”

Derek ran a hand over his face. “No, no. Come in.” Derek stood to the side, so William could enter the study.

“I’m not sure I want to. You don’t seem fit for company this evening.” William stopped shortly after walking into the study. “And looking at the state of this study, I would say it isn’t fit for company as well.”