LITMIR.BIZ

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      Dalton felt as though he were dealing with a spoiled, willful child. “Elizabeth, please listen. I’m not going to repeat myself.”

      Elizabeth’s green eyes glittered with anger, but she remained silent.

      Beneath her outrage, he knew she felt hurt. How much of her pain was due to the hope of marrying his brother Drake, then losing him in the war? he wondered. “My dear Elizabeth, I’ve never led you on.” His voice was gentle but firm. “I’m not ready for marriage. To you or anyone. Now let’s not speak of this again.”

      She glared at him, her pale skin mottled with blotches of red.

      “I expect you to apologize to Lady Alicia in front of my sister and myself when we have tea, tomorrow afternoon in the garden.”

      Elizabeth’s lips thinned. “Why are you doing this, Dalton? What possible pleasure do you receive—”

      “I’ll expect you to be there.” Without another word, Dalton tipped his hat, and wheeled his horse back across the fields. He didn’t have to look back to know that Elizabeth was cursing his name to hell and back.

      “Her grace will see you now, my lady.” The maid opened the door to the dowager duchess’s bedroom as Elizabeth sailed past.

      Mildred, the dowager duchess of Wexton glanced up from the writing correspondence spilled across her desk, her blue gaze taking in Elizabeth’s riding habit. “My dear, what a pleasant surprise.” Glancing above her spectacles, she added, “Ah, you’ve been riding, I see. Did Dalton accompany you?”

      Elizabeth curtsied, then stood, her shoulders hunched. “Your grace, it’s because of Dalton that I’m here. I’m so upset. I don’t know what I am to do.”

      Mildred’s smile faded and her thin, black brows arched with concern. With regal bearing, she rose from the desk and took a seat in the blue velvet chaise in front of the broad expanse of windows. “Come, sit down and tell me what troubles you.” She patted the satin cushion beside her.

      Elizabeth took the seat, then shook her head helplessly. “I—I really don’t know how to tell you.”

      She could hear the older woman’s loud sigh. “Just tell me what my son has done this time.”

      Elizabeth willed tears to her eyes. “Dalton has behaved in the most hurtful manner. He’s embarrassed me in front of your daughter, all because of that frightful creature, Alicia Spencer.”

      Mildred’s head lifted and she sat up straighter. “Who did you say?”

      “Alicia Spencer.” Elizabeth met the dowager’s questioning gaze. “Certainly you remember the disgrace when she and Justin Sykes were found alone together at your London town house? It was the evening of the soiree that you held in my honor.”

      The older woman’s mouth clenched sharply. “You must be mistaken, child. There’s no way that woman could be here.”

      “Oh, but she is. She’s here as Dalton’s guest.”

      Mildred’s blue eyes narrowed.

      “I couldn’t believe it, myself,” Elizabeth said, “but there she was, riding with Lady Olivia, this morning. Obviously, she’s Dalton’s latest mistress, although he denied it, of course.”

      Mildred placed her hand at her throat. “Perhaps you only thought—”

      “If you don’t believe me, ask Lord Templestone.”

      The older woman stiffened. “Templestone knows of this?”

      Elizabeth sniffed, satisfied to see the reaction she wanted. “Yes, he and Lord Clitheridge.”

      Mildred rose unsteadily to her feet. “Go downstairs and wait for me in the drawing room, my dear. I need to be alone.”

      Elizabeth saw the dowager pale and a flicker of apprehension coursed through her. If Dalton’s mother became ill or died, then who would control Dalton? Without the dowager, Dalton would never marry her. “Your grace, shall I call your maid?”

      Mildred shook her head, then returned to her desk, lowering herself slowly into the chair. “I’m quite well, Elizabeth. I want a few minutes alone to think.” She closed her eyes and put her fingers to her temples. “I’ll be down shortly.”

      Reluctantly, Elizabeth turned to leave. Damn, this was not the reaction she had expected. She wanted to be included when the dowager made her plans. She left the room and quietly closed the door, then headed for the staircase.

      Ah, but she could wait. She had waited this long. A few more minutes was a small price to pay.

      For the next half hour, Elizabeth waited alone in the long, formal drawing room, trying not to feel dwarfed by the grandeur of the high-vaulted ceilings and magnificent artwork. Even as a child, when her mother had brought her to Havencrest to play with Olivia, Elizabeth had felt overwhelmed by the opulence of the room. Even then, she had hoped to marry Dalton and one day become the mistress of Havencrest. And she would. Dalton was a complicated man, but she knew how to bring him around. If only he would spend more time with her, she would use her feminine wiles to seduce him. Then he’d forget all about that worthless baggage, Alicia Spencer.

      Footsteps echoed along the marble hall. Elizabeth turned and curtsied when the duchess entered the room.

      “I’ve sent for Dalton.” Mildred’s chilly tone and rigid manner gave no hint to what she was feeling. “He’ll join us shortly, then we’ll get to the bottom of this matter, my dear.” She strode toward the overstuffed chairs grouped in front of the fireplace.

      Elizabeth smiled. “Thank you, your grace. I knew I could count on you.”

      The duchess sank into a chair. “Your mother was as dear to me as a sister.” Her blue eyes darkened as she held Elizabeth’s gaze. “I want you to always feel you can count on me.”

      “Thank you, your grace.” For the first time, Elizabeth felt greatly relieved.

      “Now, while we wait for Dalton, I have a little surprise for you.” She smiled, the color returning to her face.

      “I love surprises!” Elizabeth clapped her hands with glee. “Please, tell me before Dalton gets here.”

      Mildred nodded. “I want you to look especially beautiful for the ball this weekend.”

      Elizabeth’s curiosity rose. She had never seen the dowager as excited as she was now. Maybe she had planned to finally announce her engagement to Dalton.

      “Please, your grace, tell me what it is.”

      “I want you to wear my diamond-and-ruby necklace. It was once owned by Marie Antoinette.” She paused, as though waiting for Elizabeth’s reaction.

      Elizabeth forced a smile. “Thank you, your grace.” She fidgeted. “I remember that you wore the diamonds last year to King George’s Jubilee.” She could care less. After all, once she married Dalton, the diamonds and more would be hers.

      The dowager leaned back and studied her. “You can’t hide your disappointment from me, Elizabeth. Now, why wouldn’t you be delighted to wear one of the most famous necklaces in the world?”

      Tears flowed down Elizabeth’s cheeks, and she left them for effect. “I’d hoped that the ball would end with the announcement of my engagement to Dalton.”

      Mildred’s face tightened. “But my dear—”

      “Every day, more and more titled, wealthy men present offers for me to my father. I don’t know how long I can keep my father from marrying me off to a foreign prince or—”

      “Your father and I have an agreement, Elizabeth. You needn’t worry on that account.”

      “But there can’t be a wedding without a bridegroom.”

      The dowager eyed her with disapproval.

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