A Duke for Lady Ellen

Chapter 16

Despite the late hour when they returned from Lord Stacey's ball, Ellen did not sleep in the next morning, though she was still abed when Leah came in bearing a tray with toast and tea and some mail. She saw that Ellen had thrown her ball gown carelessly over a chair with petticoats piled on the floor, and she tutted at her mistress. She hung the dress up in the wardrobe, picked up the petticoats, and departed without saying a word. Usually Ellen was more careful with her clothing, as well as more considerate of Leah's efforts to maintain her wardrobe, but not last night. With a stretch, Ellen tossed the covers aside and sat at her desk to drink some tea, when she noticed a letter of deeply-looping script.

Dear Lady Ellen-

It was my intention to cut off all interaction with you until you wrote me of your final decision, but I find I miss your company more and more by the day. If it matters to you at all, my daughter thinks I'm an "addlepated dunderhead" for cocking things up between us. She is not one to mince words.

In other news, it is difficult watching my cousin's health deteriorate. Sangster barely drinks water, and is not eating, despite our and the doctor's best efforts to encourage him. About the only thing that brings him pleasure at all is poems from your collection, so I find myself reading your words over and over to him. He is especially fond of "The Dover Cliffs" and "To a New-born Faun." Each day he says, "Read me the one where the baby deer opens her eyes and sees the world for the first time." Every time I read it, he tells me, he sees life anew. He does not have long. I thought you would like to know how much your words mean to him, and how grateful I am that I can give my cousin something he enjoys in his last days.

I remain yours,

Hambidge

She pressed the letter to her heart, pleased to know that her poems had resonated with the Earl's cousin, and even more pleased to know that Ethan missed her. Perhaps everything was not lost on that front after all. If he missed her, that meant he was thinking about her, and maybe that meant he would reconsider his cockamamie idea to have her deliver herself to the Duke. She pulled a piece of stationery from the desk and penned him another letter in response, but like the rest, secreted it in the hidden drawer of her desk, along with the letter that Ethan had sent.

She thumbed through the rest of the mail, happy to see a letter from her Aunt Lottie, but deciding to leave it for later. The next letter came from Gardner Massey, telling her they were pleased she had accepted their terms for publication (her father must have contacted them after reviewing the contract with his solicitor), and that her book would be on the shelves in time for Christmas sales. She jumped up and down a moment, then calmed herself. The last letter caught her attention because she did not recognize the handwriting. Inside a simple message asked her to meet the Duke at the Round Pond in front of Kensington Palace at half one, and promising tea and cakes afterward.

She rang for Leah, and soon her maid re-entered the bed chamber. Listing her plans, including her visit with the Duke, Ellen sat while Leah styled her hair and chose a simple lemon day gown with a large velvet gold bow at the back for her to wear, as well as a dark gold spencer in case it was chilly, as it had been many days this summer. One she was dressed, she went downstairs and sought out her father, who was reading the newspaper and eating breakfast in the dining room.

"Papa! My book will be out at Christmas!" She kissed him on the cheek and he set down The Times to embrace her.

"My dear, this is wonderful news!"

"I can't believe it!" She hugged him back, then went to the buffet for some bacon, mushrooms, and eggs. "Thank you so much for contacting the publisher and everything you did to help out."