Page 45 of Unbound Duchess

“Ah! Thank you for seeing that I am not!” she exclaimed, helping Ellen to her feet. “In fact, I have a new goal. To show you that all of these bad experiences can be replaced with good ones.”

Though the room still spun a little, Ellen felt more sober than before, and far more sure-footed as she stood up.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Parties, shopping, friendship,” Madalene explained. “We are going to do it all, and I am going to show you what fun is supposed to be.”

Ellen wrinkled her nose as she reached for the platter of nearby biscuits. She bit into one as she shook her head.

“I do not know, Madalene,” she answered around her chewing. “I detested those things before Judith came into my life.”

Madalene shrugged as she also helped herself to a biscuit.

“That is simply because you did not have the proper guide! Trust me, sister. I will show just how fun all those things are supposed to be. You are a duchess now. And my sister! And we are going to celebrate that in fashion!”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“What in the world?” Laurence murmured.

He looked up from the book he was failing to distract himself with to the door that separated his quarters from Ellen’s. Candle and firelight danced across the walls and illuminated the threshold between them as if inviting him in. He turned his ear toward it to listen for the sound he’d sworn he had heard, and when he heard nothing, he lowered his gaze back to the book.

He had no idea what it was about. Ever since Ellen had moved into the adjoining room, the words always blurred together as he attempted to read, as if his thoughts could not be torn away from the woman on the other side of the wall long enough to concentrate on a single sentence. Still, he tried. Night after night, in an attempt to keep himself from opening that door and going to her.

The silence broke again as unmistakable feminine laughter erupted from the other side of the wall. Not just from one person, but two. Laurence snapped his book shut, finally abandoning it, and strolled to the door that would lead to Ellen’s room. He pressed his ear against it, and his heart fluttered as he heard Ellen and Madalene talking in excited whispers.

His heart warmed at the thought of them getting along so well. Madalene had lost one sister, but it seemed that she had gained another in Ellen.

“If you are not going to ask him, I will!” he heard Madalene state with authority.

“Madalene, no!” Ellen whispered, “I do not wish to bother him! Please do not⁠—”

Ellen’s muffled voice became clear as the door Laurence was leaning on suddenly gave way and surged forward. He barely caught the doorway’s edges and righted himself before Madalene was standing toe to toe with him, with her chin held high and her eyes full of challenge.

“Oh, look, Ellen,” Madalene called over her shoulder as she put her hands on her hips. “He isn’t avoiding you. He is eavesdropping!”

Heat crept up Laurence’s neck and to his ears as he frowned at his little sister.

“I was doing no such thing,” he stated firmly.

Madalene raised a single brow, and behind her, Ellen let out a soft giggle.

Laurence rolled his eyes.

“Not on purpose,” he confessed. “I was reading, and I heard a noise. I was concerned, so I came to investigate.”

“Ever the protective guardian,” Madalene said dryly, looking as if she still did not believe him.

Laurence moved to close the door before any more could be said, but then Madalene snatched his hand and pulled him with surprising force into Ellen’s quarters, shutting the door firmly behind them.

“I am glad you are here, brother,” Madalene sighed as she all but dragged him over to the settee where Ellen still sat. “We were just talking about you.”

“Oh, Madalene, stop. Please…” Ellen begged, an apology already written in her eyes as she looked at Laurence.

“Nonsense,” Madalene countered, fluttering her hand through the air in a dismissive gesture. “You might be afraid to speak to my brother, but I am not.”

Something flinched within Laurence.

Afraid? Was Ellen afraid of him?