Page 5 of His Illegitimate Duchess

I t had taken the women of the Mayfair household months, but they were slowly coming out of their grief for the late Princess Charlotte. Together with the rest of the country, they had been draped in black since November, mourning the young woman and her stillborn son.

Tales of the Princess of Wales’s cruel father and absent mother were told and retold as if to heighten the heartbreak. Mary walked around with tell-tale tear streaks visible in the fine layer of cornstarch she applied daily in her attempts to conceal her blemished skin.

The daily crying, finding a dressmaker who still had access to black fabrics, the funeral processions – it was all too much for Elizabeth, whose life had already changed so profoundly, and around New Year’s, she fell ill with what she was told was typhus fever.

Now, sitting at the bay window of the morning room, some two months later, she felt frail and devoid of desire. At least I shall see Nicholas today, she thought.

After ten months in her new home, she had access to pin money and a generous bank account and a chest filled with gorgeous new dresses, courtesy of the fact that her former employer was now her dressmaker.

Her brother had even told her he was in the process of securing a tutor, an etiquette teacher, and a dance master for her.

Elizabeth didn’t feel vindicated or elevated by this change in circumstance; on the contrary, she felt confused .

She felt like some great mistake had been made, and that any day now there would be a knock on the door and someone would tell her to go back to the little house on Church Street.

She had Mister Ed drive by it whenever she could, almost compulsively, in order not to forget her true place.

When she’d received the note from her brother that he’d be calling on her in two days, Elizabeth hadn’t expected him to bring other people, but here he was, sitting in her parlour, accompanied by a young man and an older lady.

Elizabeth had been looking forward to spending some time alone with Nicholas, but she still smiled brightly as she greeted him.

“Lady Emilia Burnham, may I present to you my sister, Lady Elizabeth Hawkins,” he said cordially, and Elizabeth curtsied to the older woman, who narrowed her eyes almost imperceptibly and performed an infinitely more elegant curtsy in return.

“And this is our cousin Andrew Hawkins, our late uncle Phillip’s son.” He gestured at the man, who bowed with a smile.

Elizabeth was thrilled to meet another family member, and she told him so.

“I’m just as glad, cousin Elizabeth,” he replied.

Elizabeth urged them all to get comfortable, and she rang for tea, still uncertain about the nature of this visit.

“Cousin Andrew is currently at Oxford,” Nicholas explained, “and I’ve tasked him with being your tutor for the foreseeable future.”

When Elizabeth looked between the two men without saying anything, Nicholas continued, “Like I already told Andrew, I’m aware that you’ve received some instruction.

However, in order to blend effortlessly into the Ton , we need to be certain that your education is equal to that of other young ladies of your standing. ”

Elizabeth almost laughed but wisely restrained herself.

“That is very considerate of you,” she said instead.

Nicholas nodded before continuing, “Lady Burnham is Sophie’s cousin, and she’s kindly agreed to instruct you in matters of etiquette.”

The older woman smiled kindly, but Elizabeth’s cheeks were burning in discomfort. She hoped these unknown persons would not think her utterly savage.

“If Lady Burnham agrees, we can commence our lessons next week,” Andrew said, and Lady Burnham nodded.

“Before I forget,” Nicholas turned to Lady Burnham, “if you know of a dependable music teacher and dance master, please write to them on my behalf?”

Lady Burnham nodded. “I shall let you know.”

After they’d all had their tea and exchanged a few more pleasantries, her guests rose to leave, but not before repeating to her when their first lesson would take place. Elizabeth had no idea what to expect.

*

A week later, they all found themselves in the same parlour again, sans Nicholas this time.

“Cousin Elizabeth,” Andrew teased, “don’t look so worried.”

Elizabeth ran her tongue over her teeth.

“I must admit I am slightly worried.”

“What about?”

“What you both shall think of me when you discover what an unfit pupil I am.”

Andrew laughed, and Lady Burnham smiled.

“Worry not, I’m sure we’ve both seen worse,” he reassured her. “This first lesson is merely for us to determine what we need to work on, and to get to know each other. What can you tell me about the instruction you’ve received so far?”

“My mother taught me to read and write and to do my sums,” Elizabeth said in a wobbly voice. “She tried teaching me some music and some French, but I proved to be a very obstinate child.”

“Most children are,” Lady Burnham said with a smile.

“My older brothers locked their tutor in the study once.” Andrew grinned, and Elizabeth felt herself relax.

“I’ve taught the children in my old neighbourhood their letters, and I enjoyed it greatly,” she found herself admitting. “No one’s ever locked me in.”

They all laughed.

“What about mathematics?” her cousin asked.

“I think I’m fairly good. I dealt with our household ledgers after my father died.”

Her two guests exchanged a look she couldn’t decipher.

“Let’s have a look then, shall we?” Andrew said in a gentle voice.

For the next hour, he dictated passages from a book in order to assess her spelling and penmanship, gave her sums to do, and had her read out loud from a book Lady Burnham had brought with her, Debrett’s .

“Very well,” he told her when the hour was up. “Things aren’t as glum as you’d feared. French will probably be our biggest obstacle, but fear not, I’ve a lot of experience teaching even the most challenging students.”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth exhaled in relief.

“I shall leave you to your etiquette lesson now,” he said, standing up. “Good luck, ladies.”

He smiled at them both and, with a bow, left.

Elizabeth relaxed in her seat now that the young man was gone.

Lady Burnham raised her eyebrows at her and said, “A lady maintains an erect posture when standing and sitting. Unless you’re ill or an invalid, do not slouch.”

Lizzie straightened her back immediately.

“Let’s get to know each other a little more, shall we?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“First, let us order some tea so you can watch me pour.”

After Elizabeth had witnessed the most refined pouring and serving of her lifetime, Lady Burham told her a little bit about herself.

“As you already know, I am Her Grace’s relative. I’ve lived alone ever since the war took my husband and son,” she said, her features perfectly composed, despite the minuscule tremble in her voice.

“My condolences,” Elizabeth told her sincerely, as she understood loss very well.

“That is why I’ve accepted this endeavour,” Lady Burnham explained, “for companionship. I hope to pass many pleasant moments with you.”

“I hope that as well.”

“Now, tell me why you think you need my help; what are the things you feel most insecure about?”

Lizzie inhaled deeply.

“Honestly, almost everything related to my brother’s world.

You see, I’ve lived not far away from here my entire life, and yet I might as well have been abroad.

My mother tried to instil certain things in me when I was younger, but I’ve forgotten so many of them.

Why? Because I never had the opportunity to use them. ”

Elizabeth stood up and started pacing.

“Who was I supposed to curtsy to after my father died? Who was I pouring tea for when no one ever visited us, not to mention that we never drank much of it, seeing how expensive it is!”

Lady Burnham calmly waited for her monologue to be over.

“I can see that you are frustrated by your inability to make sense of the world these days, Lady Elizabeth,” she said as she gently motioned towards an armchair.

Elizabeth slumped against its padded back without any grace whatsoever.

“It is time for some difficult truths, I think. Lady Elizabeth, your mother’s actions have cast her out of polite society; you must already be aware of this.”

Elizabeth nodded soberly.

“But what you may not know is that polite society often says one thing, and does something entirely different. A great number of men, and women, belonging to the Ton engage in affairs such as your parents’.

A few aristocrats have fathered illegitimate children and given them their name, an inheritance, and even raised them alongside their legitimate heirs later on. ”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise.

Lady Burnham continued, “The first difference is that most of those men were unmarried at the time. The second one is that you are a young woman who wasn’t raised in her father’s household.

You weren’t educated or chaperoned appropriately, and you’ve even spent time in employment.

At least the late Duke gave you his name, so that’s something. ”

Elizabeth kept the truth to herself.

“If I had been raised alongside my siblings, it wouldn’t have mattered that I was conceived outside of wedlock?”

“I think it would have mattered less , especially with your late father’s protection.

But we should direct our attention to the things we can influence or change.

You will have to control yourself far more and far better.

Extreme displays of emotions are unacceptable and are considered ill-bred, and that includes even unmoderated laughter. ”

Elizabeth pressed her lips together. She knew Lady Burnham was right.

“I know that your parents’ actions have nothing to do with who you are, but not everyone will see it that way, and some may even be nasty to you.

Your demeanour has to be beyond reproach, and you cannot respond to provocations of any kind.

You must develop an armour made of ice, cold and impenetrable. ”

“What else?”