A Duke for Lady Ellen

Chapter 18

Immediately she ripped the red wax seal off the letter from the Earl and unfolded the paper. It read,

Dear Lady Ellen-

It was my intention to come to town by now, but with the passing of my cousin, the state of affairs I discover myself in has prevented my arrival. The College of Arms has been called to authenticate some papers of succession, and as the details of Sangster's last will and testament come to light, I must remain in Scotland to oversee their execution. Please know that I will return as soon as it is possible.

I remain yours,

Hambidge

P.S. Please give your sister and Fredrick my felicitations on their marriage.

His letter was a disappointment, but the situation could not be helped. She hoped that, for the Earl's sake, his business would conclude favorably-and for her sake, that it would end soon. The longer they were apart, the more Ellen catastrophized about their reunion. What if this time apart had altered his feelings toward her? Would he still want her, love her? What if he never came back from Scotland?

With a sigh, she picked up the second letter, its small hand unfamiliar to her. When she opened it, she found an invitation to visit Countess Rathburn's house any time she could get away today. If not for the wedding, the letter said, the Countess would have her come tomorrow during calling hours, but their meeting was critical and could not wait. What could she want with Ellen? Hopefully the Earl was alright? Surely he would have explained if his situation were dire? She folded up the letter and put both of them in the secret drawer. She would go now while her mother and sister were still at the modiste's. If she waited, the Marchioness would find fifty other tasks for her to complete before Sophie's wedding.

She donned her spencer and bonnet and then went downstairs to tell Peterson that she was going to visit a friend in Berkeley Square, in case her mother should ask where she was. Ellen did not bother asking Leah to join her, as the walk was less than half a mile from Brightly House. And she did not think she needed a chaperone for such a short walk.

When she arrived at Rathburn Place, she knocked at the red door and was let in by an older man, a little stoop-shouldered, with the clearest blue eyes she'd ever seen, like aquamarines. She stated her business, and the butler brought her to a small salon where she settled into a chair of soft lavender chintz and waited for the Countess to join her. She did not have long to wait.

The Countess breezed in, looking imposing in a dark burgundy dress, completely inappropriate for daywear, Ellen noted off-handedly. Her hair was pulled back in a severe bun, with only a few tendrils teased out to soften the look. Ellen stood and curtseyed but the Countess waved her back into her seat.

"I've called for tea," said the Countess, easing down into the seat opposite Ellen's. She spread her skirts around her artfully. Her back was perfectly straight in the manner that Ellen could never quite accomplish, from years of hunching over her poems when she was writing.

Ellen nodded, trying to straighten her own posture.

"Thank you for coming over today. I'm sure you're busy with your sister's wedding plans." Her tone suggested she didn't care if Ellen were busy or not.

Ellen nodded again. "It's alright. I needed a break anyway."

"Of course you're wondering why I invited you over, Lady Ellen. The fact is, I wish to speak about your relationship with the Duke of Danbury, as well as your relationship with my father before my father returns to town and makes a fool over himself for you." She fixed Ellen in a glare that made Ellen feel like she was an insect on a pin.