Page 101 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

William shook his head. That was in direct contrast of the warning his father gave him about not letting the man know of the arrangement. There would be another way about this.

“You said your father has no idea about the arrangement.”

“He doesn’t. He knows what I told him.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him that you and I have discovered that we are not meant for each other, that we don’t love each other. His answer was so cliché,” she replied.

“Cliché, how?”

“He said royal marriages aren’t about love. And regardless of that, the love will grow,” she said before squeezing her face in disgust and adding “Typical.”

William smiled at her bitter reaction. He had never seen Esther so disturbed; Esther was the epitome of calmness. It took a threat to her love life to get her ruffled.

“Why don’t we work with what he knows and use it to our advantage?” William said.

“I don’t understand,” she replied.

“I will go in now and let him know you and I had long come to the agreement that we are not a bond that can work. We didn’t say anything because we were looking for the right time to let him know.”

She nodded her head.

“I reckon that if I tell him that, he could not possibly force us to be together if it is a unanimous agreement. That probably brings an end to what we have here. What it doesn’t assure is him giving you permission to marry Andrew?” William said.

Esther placed the handkerchief at the front of her nose and blew softly into it. Then she folded it and dabbed at the sweat shining on the sides of her face.

“Let’s finish one part before worrying about the other,” she told him.

William held her hand and helped her up. He walked in front, leading the way to her house. He walked up the stairs and waited for Esther to get to his side, before pushing the door in. And there stood the Earl, in the middle of the room, as if waiting for William to come in.

“William, what a lovely surprise,” the Earl said.

William walked to him and bowed stiffly, before taking the hand he offered in a quick handshake. The Earl looked at ease, an eager smile illuminating his face but his palm betrayed his unease. They were moist.

“I wasn’t aware that you would be visiting today,” the Earl said.

“Sir, most of the time I come I just see Esther. I have been here a lot of times that you weren’t aware of,” William answered.

The Earl stole a glance behind William, at Esther before smiling again and facing William.

“That is good. It is good you visit often given you two are in a courtship.” He stressed the last three words, his eyes hardened on the last.

William cleared his throat and took a step back. He looked into the eyes of the Earl before speaking.

“It is on that aforementioned matter sir, that I have come to see you,” William said.

The Earl raised an eyebrow as a show of surprise. William was unperturbed by the games the Earl was determined to play.

“I and your lovely daughter, Esther, have decided that we end this courtship sir.”

“Hmmm,” the Earl said aloud.

“Yes sir,” William replied. “Your daughter is of the highest level of comportment and is well cultured but we discovered that one cannot dictate the affairs of the heart. After a while of trying to match up to each other, we decided to let things be and end it,” William said.

The Earl walked to the stool near the fire place and sat down, facing William from the end of the room. He twisted the stool from side to side by swiveling his waist.

“When did you come to this decision?” the Earl suddenly asked, stopping the turning motion.