The Reluctant Duke (Love's Pride Book 1) (6 page)

Isabel smiled and said, “That is what Gwen said you would say, but my thanks all the same. And if I might, may I delay you a moment longer.”

“Of course.”

Isabel lifted her head and straightened her back and marched into the Headmaster’s office, leaving the door wide open for all to see. The man continued to stand behind the desk unable to grasp what had just happened. His eye lit up when he saw his former employee enter and watched her walk across the room to stand directly in front of him.

He looked down into her eyes and she looked up into his. Then she reached back and slapped him across the face with a fully open hand. The smack resonated off the walls and into the hall.

Young Miss Morgan turned on her heel and walked out of the office, a large smile on her face.

Gwen was amazed at the difference between schools and school leaders. Elizabeth Marshall’s school was light and colorful, and the headmistress, Mrs. Givens, a middle-aged woman of average height and slightly larger than average girth, with frizzy brown hair and spectacles. Her quick smile and twinkly eyes made her appear as if she had a hard time restraining her bubbly nature. Gwen would have loved to go to such a school.

Mrs. Givens asked them to be seated and informed them that Elizabeth was on her way. Isabel and Gwen both sat while the Duke remained standing, one hand resting on his stick, the other behind his back.

“She is so excited to be leaving. Although the faculty and her fellow students will miss her a great deal,” Mrs. Given said as the office door burst open and an exuberant seventeen year old young woman rushed into the room.

She was tall with long red hair the color of an Arabian sunset. She has the Duke’s brow and chin, Gwen thought as she watched the two look at each other across the room. The girl hesitated, trapped between the desire to show how mature she was and the need to hug her brother.

The Duke stood there in shock, his eyes as wide as saucers. This beautiful young woman was his little sister. She had obviously grown so much since he last saw her. The Duke had told her on the ride earlier that she’d been a rambunctious harridan when he’d last seen her three years ago.

Here she was all grown up, looking like she could step into any drawing room in the ton. His chest puffed up with pride as he held out his two arms. It was all the encouragement she needed to throw herself at him, almost knocking him over with her hug.

He stepped back steadying himself with a hand to the desk before he could wrap his arms around her and return the hug.

A mist clouded Gwen’s eyes as she watched the two siblings. She felt a deep sense of loss and a desire for her own family. She caught Isabel smiling and smiled back. It was such a wonderful picture.

“Uh-hu,” the Duke said, clearing his throat. “Elizabeth, let me introduce you to Miss Isabel Morgan and Miss Gwen Harding,” he said stepping to the side to make the introductions. They curtsied to each other and then she raised her eyebrows in questions, waiting patiently for an answer.

“I will explain everything in the carriage, we have a long trip and must get started at once if we are to make Brookshire by evening,” he said. Turning to the headmistress. “Mrs. Gavin, please accept my sincere thanks for the outstanding job you have done with my sister. I would hardly know the young woman before me.”

Looking down and tucking one foot behind the other, Elizabeth blushed and smiled at her brother’s compliment.

“Of course Your Grace, it has been our pleasure, Elizabeth has always been one of our best students,” Mrs. Gavin said as she stepped from behind her desk to escort everyone out. “Her things have been loaded, she has been packed for days, haven’t you my dear,” she said with a soft smile.

.o0o.

The Duke handed each woman up into the carriage and then thanked Mrs. Gavin again for everything she had done.

Stepping up into the carriage, he saw right away that there was going to be a problem. The two younger girls had taken the back facing seat in the front of the vehicle, leaving the spot next to Miss Harding as the only available seat.

The Duke hesitated for a moment as if trying to decide whether to make someone move or not. Finally shrugging his shoulders he sat next to Miss Harding, being careful not to touch her and stretched out his leg as best as possible.

The heat coming off her body was intense; he could feel it through his jacket. He glanced over; she sat there stiffly, her hands folded in her lap, and a slight blush creeping up her neck. He ran a hand through his hair and tried to settle down for a long trip, a trip that was going to put him through hell.

Elizabeth was looking at him, and then at the two other women, waiting for an explanation.

The Duke sat up straight and started to explain. “Elizabeth, I would like to introduce again, Miss Isabel Morgan, my cook’s daughter, and your companion,” he said. There that hadn’t been too hard.

Elizabeth looked back and forth between a shy Isabel and her brother.

“A companion, why do I need a companion?” She asked “No offense Miss Morgan, but I really can’t think of why I need a companion.”

“Because Elizabeth, Brookshire is rather large, and there are no other people your age. And because you are now the sister of a Duke, you cannot be running around alone all over the countryside.”

“I don’t run around the countryside,” she exclaimed, almost stomping her foot.

“I realize that now, you are obviously not the same girl I last saw hanging from an apple tree. However, the fact remains, as my sister, you will need a companion, and Miss Isabel needs a position. She has recently been teaching at a young woman’s school. I thought you would have a lot in common. And it is much better than having Aunt Celeste come stay with us.”

The color drained from her face at the mention of their aunt. She took a deep breath and turned to Isabel, who had sat there quietly, obviously distressed to be the center of someone else’s conversation.

“Of course, I am sure we will get along famously,” Elizabeth said. A large smile lightened up her face as she reached out to hold the other woman’s hand, reassuring the young Miss Morgan that everything would work out just fine.

Elizabeth looked at Miss Harding and then pointedly at her brother.

“Miss Harding is our housekeeper.”

Elizabeth’s eyes flew open in shock. The thought of the beautiful young woman being a housekeeper was obviously preposterous, what would everyone say. She looked at her brother to see if he was joking. “But…”

“The matter is settled Elizabeth; Miss Harding has kept Brookshire running through some very difficult times. She is the only person I can rely upon to keep it running smoothly,” he said in a stern, big brother type of voice.

Elizabeth glanced at Miss Harding for a moment, mulled it over for a second. It was obviously a lot to take in after such a short time seeing her brother again. She probably felt all a twirl, her entire world was being turned upside down. Seeming to come to some kind of conclusion she smiled she dipped her head and said, “It is very nice to meet you, Miss Harding. I am sure Brookshire would be lost without you.”

Miss Harding’s shoulders relaxed as she smiled and nodded back. “Thank you, My Lady, if there is anything I can do to help you run the Duke’s Residence, please let me know.”

The Duke watched the two women, waiting to see what would happen; he breathed a small sigh of relief.

“My lady? Run Brookshire! What do you mean?” Elizabeth exclaimed, “Thomas, what does she mean.”

The Duke smiled and looked at his sister. “Lizzy, as the sister of a Duke, you are a Lady, in name as well as fact. And technically, the mistress of Brookshire, until I get married that is. You will stay a lady, but obviously my wife will become Brookshire’s mistress.” He said, wondering how they had gotten onto the topic of marriage, see this is what happens when you travel with a bunch of women.

Elizabeth took the news well and seemed to enjoy the fact that her friends were going to be so jealous.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. He sat there quietly trying to make sure he didn’t touch Miss Harding. Several times the coach hit a bump throwing them into each other. Each time he felt an electric shock travel between them. His heart would raced and everything became tense, he was sure the other women must notice.

Elizabeth and Isabel soon found many things they both liked and spent the afternoon with their heads together. Talking together, like long lost friends about books and fashion. Elizabeth controlled most of the conversation, but Isabel held her own.

He was proud of Lizzy; he’d been worried that she might be too high and mighty for a cook’s daughter. However, she seemed to be perfectly accepting of the situation. Again he wondered how a cook had been able to afford to send her daughter to a finishing school. What had she hoped would happen? He thought it was something he would have to explore. It was the unknown facts that could cause the most problems.

So many mysteries, Isabel, Miss Harding, and her unknown past. And now his Lizzy, what was he going to do with her. Brookshire would be a dull, boring place for her. Would he have to take her to London with him? Was she old enough for a season, and if so, how would he ever do that. He had no idea what to do.

They finally turned into Brookshire just before the last light of the day. Young Jack Rife ran up to hold the horse’s heads. Thomas sighed to himself it was nice to be home. The thought surprised him; he hadn’t really had a home for so many years. It was nice to know that he belonged somewhere.

Lizzy gasped when she stepped down from the carriage. She had never seen the ducal mansion. Her eyes tried to take in everything at once. She turned to Miss Harding.

“Miss Harding, my admiration has grown immensely; please assure me you will tell me what to do.”

“Of course my lady,” Gwen said with a smile.

“Don’t worry Lizzy, you don’t have to do anything until you feel comfortable,” Thomas said with a soft smile.

He followed everyone into the front hall and caught Miss Harding’s eye. A brief glimpse of sadness passed behind her eyes. No one would have ever seen it if he hadn’t been looking directly at her. He was positive she enjoyed Brookshire, and it should have felt good to be back home. Why was she so sad he wondered?

.o0o.

The next three weeks were rather uneventful. Elizabeth had decided to throw an informal dinner party, a chance to get to know some of the other people in the district. Rev. Moore had been invited, the Sergeant Major had returned from his travels and would also be attending. Baron Jensen, his wife and daughter Mary from the other side of the village would round out the guest list.

He knew that Lizzy was very worried about everything, but Miss Harding had things well in hand. She had subtly guided the young woman through all the decisions needed to make a successful evening.

Thomas was appreciative and made sure that Miss Harding knew it. He’d tracked her down in the pantry and made sure to thank her. She’d blushed at the compliment and then saw the other maids looking at her with a smirk.

She backed away and then said “Thank you Your Grace, but I have a lot to do.” Then turned and quickly departed the small room. Her actions left him confused and irritated.

The dinner party went very well, and Lizzy couldn’t stop smiling. Isabel had been placed between The Baron and Mr. Moore. Thomas could have sworn that the seating arrangement had Moore on the other side between Lady Jensen and her daughter Mary. Lizzy had made a last minute change, putting Isabel next to Moore for some reason.

Thomas looked over his guests and then down the table to Lizzy at the other end. She looked very grown up and beamed when Lady Jensen complimented the meal. It was a nice enjoyable evening, but something was missing.

It was a few minutes before he realized that he wished Miss Harding was at the table. He missed her. Even though he knew she was in the other room. He wished she were sitting here next to him. He wondered what her impressions would be, did she know about the seating change and why.

Because it was a small informal affair, Thomas recommended the gentlemen forgo their cigars and brandy and escort the women to the parlor. The women heartedly agreed and the entire group made their way from the dining room. Thomas noticed that Mr. Moore was being especially solicitous to Isabel and that Lizzy noticed it also.

Smiling to herself like the cat with the canary, Lizzy watched her new friend. So that explains the seating change, Lizzy was acting as matchmaker. He didn’t know what he thought about that, but as long as she didn’t start with him he’d let it rest for now.

The evening was a huge success, an excellent meal followed by parlor games and gentle conversation. Baron Jensen proved to be a jovial companion and his wife an intelligent, interesting woman.

Their daughter Mary was betrothed to a young man currently serving in France. She had peppered him with questions about the Army and life in France. She was obviously well enamored of her young man, and he was more than happy to answer her questions. The fact that she was off the marriage market made the entire evening go so much easier.

After their guests had departed Thomas pulled Lizzy aside and gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the top of her head.

“It was a wonderful evening, you did a very good job,” he said.

She smiled up at him and then said, “I couldn’t have done it without Miss Harding, she knows everything, what should be on the menu, who should be seated next to whom. What we should talk about, everything.”

“Yet you felt comfortable enough changing the seating arrangements at the last minute,” He said with a knowing smile.

Lizzy blushed and looked down, embarrassed at being caught.

“It worked out well, don’t you think,” she said with a knowing smile that reminded him of his mother. His heart ached for a moment; she was much more a woman than a little girl.