Page 100 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

“Yes, who asks of me?”

“I am riding straight from Miss Esther Wembley at Norfolk. Sir, she requests that you come to see her immediately for a matter of urgency,” he said.

William turned to the stables, taking long and brisk steps.

Esther will only summon me if something grave is happening or is imminent. Our plan, is it about to be sabotaged?

He got to his stallion, meeting it unsaddled. William grabbed his saddle which hung on the rack and buckled it on the horse. He set the reins and bridles before mounting the horse.

William galloped at full pace out of his compound. The wind beat back on him, pushing him backwards as his horse raced, its hooves banging against the ground. He didn’t reduce pace and got to Norfolk in a far shorter time than normal. He calmed his horse as he sighted the fence of the Earl’s house. William got down from his horse before he got into the gate. He entered quietly and was leading his horse to the direction of their stables when a steward came out of their stable to collect the reins from him.

“William.”

William turned back to see Esther at the top of the staircase. She ran down, directing William to follow her to the garden. William followed her, he watched the gossamer fabric of her gown ripple with her every move. She walked to the stone seat beside the topiary but didn’t seat. She stood behind it. William stood in front of it. The urgency in her message and the solemn look on her face made him skip pleasantries.

“Is something wrong?” he asked her.

Esther nodded her head.

“Father found out.”

William put his right hand on his head and scratched the middle of his head though it didn’t itch. He captured his jaw between his left thumb and index finger, and then drew down slowly.

“How?” he asked her.

“Andrew heard about our courtship and accosted me here yesterday,” she answered.

She walked around the seat and sat down, facing William. William placed his left foot on his part of the seat and leaned on it, making her raise her gaze to look at him.

“I explained everything to him and I thought he had cooled down. He only demanded that he saw you and you reiterate exactly what I told him. Of course I agreed to that. Then to my surprise, early this morning, Andrew came here and asked my father for his permission to marry me. My father ordered for me instantly.”

William looked over her. His eyes were on level with those of the rabbit, it peered into him, seemingly reading his thoughts.

“So does your father know about our arrangement?” William asked.

“That is the silver lining in the entire affair but we have to play it right. Andrew didn’t mention it to father. He only asked that father give him permission and father threw his request out faster than a hand reeling from hot water. He was incensed even at me because he stormed out of the house and when I ran to meet him. He pushed me away,” she replied.

“Physically pushed you away?” William asked.

Her eyes shone, reflecting her emotions.

“He was hurt, William. He told me to leave him and when I didn’t he pushed me away. Then he mounted his horse and rode away,” Esther said.

William placed his palm on her shoulder and rubbed it, gently.

“He was hurt, Esther,” he said.

Esther nodded her head.

“Yes, I know. I am not angry at him, I am angry at myself for allowing this even come to this,” she said.

William waited a bit before speaking. He allowed her ruminate and saw her eyes water. The tears did not drop but any other probing and they would surely fall freely. He didn’t want that.

“So what is the new plan?” William asked her.

She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief William had not seen with her. It was pink, the same colour with the gown she wore.

“I was thinking if you could tell father about everything, I mean you should tell him the truth. You are a man and not his progeny; he will be more inclined to listen to you than to me. He didn’t even want to hear what I had to say. And you are even the son of royalty of a higher post, he will listen to you,” she answered.