Page 5

Stern was one word that people often used to describe him. Intimidating was another.

No one mentioned how handsome he was. It was not the first thing one noticed about him, even though it was very noticeable.

He was not a love interest for Eleanor, so she could better enjoy how he looked without any further thought.

And there were some splendid things for her to look at, like⁠—

“Ellie?” Nathaniel questioned. “This is a great compliment to our family, is it not?”

Eleanor quickly clapped her hands over her midriff, pushing her shoulders back a little, and looking at the duke’s torso with a slightly bowed head as if she hadn’t been looking him up and down.

“Yes, of course. Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Hmm,” the duke uttered, half-growling.

It was the first he’d spoken since introducing himself. The rumbling noise that came from him tickled her chest.

“Ellie, I know how much you value your independence,” her brother continued. “His Grace will be around to oversee, not to instruct—unless necessary—so you will not have your independence interfered with.”

“I hope I don’t need to interfere at all,” the duke said, as more of a warning than a comment.

“You shan’t need to interfere at all, Your Grace,” Eleanor said, feeling better about the situation.

“Then it is settled,” Nathaniel announced. A smile grew across his lips.

Eleanor had seen her brother smile in many ways, and she knew that this one was filled with relief. He had not been sure how the arrangement would play out, but Eleanor was in agreement, and the duke’s grunt suggested that he was—albeit reluctantly—too. Nathaniel looked practically giddy.

The three of them stood in the room together, none of them quite knowing how to end the interaction.

“…simply wonderful!” The shout came from outside and down the hallway.

Eleanor rolled her eyes, but quickly reminded herself that she needed to remain composed and show decorum. She was in the presence of the duke, and she was loyal to her family, of course.

Margaret Ashworth burst into the room without so much as a knock. Her long dress flowed behind her like a purple patch of water as she made her way around the room.

She first went to Nathaniel and placed her hands on his cheeks, staring into his eyes.

“More invitations have come!” she exclaimed.

“I am very pleased for you, Mother,” Nathaniel said in an even tone. “I have business with His Grace this evening.” His eyes flickered toward the duke.

“Ah, Your Grace!” Margaret explained, turning from her son and curtsying to Gabriel. “I hope to see you at the many events I will be attending this year. Two more invitations arrived this morning, and I already have a stack to go through in the parlor.”

The duke’s expression didn’t change, and he merely gave a slight nod.

“And you, too, of course, my dear!” Margaret said loudly as she turned to Eleanor. “You will be attending events this year, won’t you?”

Eleanor tried to mimic the duke’s stoicism and her brother’s composure. Her mother looked more excited by the invitations to events she had received than by the prospect of Eleanor making her debut.

“I will be accompanied by His Grace,” Eleanor said demurely.

“Oh, my!” Margaret placed a hand on her chest.

Margaret Ashworth was forty-seven years old and had recently come into her own, taking much more care with her appearance. Margaret had always been a beautiful woman, but her newfound freedom had given her a new outlook on life.

Margaret turned from her daughter and curtsied to the duke again.

“Your Grace, what an honor this is,” she gasped. “What a Season this will be! And such a handsome man.” She curtsied again as if asking for forgiveness for suggesting such a thing. “I would love to be chaperoned by someone so handsome.” She placed her hands on her heart again. “Society gentlemen will be afraid to get close to you, my dear.” Margaret turned and skipped over to her daughter. “Isn’t he handsome?”