“We never agreed to anything with him, he always demanded using the threat of calling in my debts if I refused,” Lord Kenneth revealed.
Each time she thought she had discovered the depths of her husband’s depravity; she discovered a new low.
“I am so sorry he used you so ill for so long after he cheated you,” Elizabeth averred.
“Your Grace, you are not the one who needs to apologise,” Colbath insisted. “You are as much a victim of his machinations as I was, and I was supposed to be an intelligent man and yet I still fell into his spider web.”
Just then they arrived at St. James Palace. If the ostentation Elizabeth saw outside was any indication, this was not her type of home.
She took a deep breath and when ready, nodded to the royal footman to open the door.
Chapter 13
Ladies Elaine and Anne were among the courtiers present at the Queen’s drawing room the day the new Duchess of Hertfordshire was to be presented. Like others of their friends, specifically, Lady Rose Rhys-Davies and Lady Sarah De Melville, who were standing with them, they wanted to see for themselves if the debauched man truly had married one as young as had been reported in the gossip rags.
Standing just behind their wives in their full court regalia, including their ceremonial swords hanging at their sides, were the Duke of Bedford, the Earls of Matlock and Jersey, and Mr. Darcy.
The men would have willingly missed the spectacle, but their wives had told them they would be attending with them.
Darcy grinned as he remembered William begging off as he had to meet with Richard and their friend Bingley—without the latter’s younger sister present—at White’s. He was not one for court intrigue but his inability to deny his wife what she asked of him ensured his attendance.
“We will not have long to wait,” Lady Elaine observed. “As a duchess, she will be one of, if not, the first to take her curtsy before Her Majesty.”
Just then, the doors to the waiting room were opened by two royal footman. The palace’s major domo who was standing off to the side of the doors spoke in a clear voice. “Her Grace,Lady Elizabeth Rose Chamberlain, Duchess of Hertfordshire and Marchioness of Hertford Heights presented by Lady Morag McIntire, Countess of Colbath.”
The new duchess entered the presentation chamber. She was petite and extremely beautiful. It was obvious that what had been written about her age was not an exaggeration to make the story more salacious. If it were possible, the Duke of Hertfordshire’s reputation sank even further in the eyes of theTon.
Those watching had never seen a finer pair of emerald-green eyes that seemed to shine with intelligence and strength. Her hair was raven coloured, wavy, and done up in a fancy coiffure as expected for the Queen’s drawing room. She wore the hooped dress mandated by her Majesty; it was not brightly coloured.
For jewellery, she wore an emerald studded tiara denoting her rank, a necklace, and a bracelet, all featuring large emeralds. On her one finger was a gold wedding ring and an engagement ring, also with an emerald. There were the feathers in her hair—placed behind the tiara—which were also prescribed—hers were from a peacock. She walked, her head held high, not looking at any of the courtiers gaping at her.
“Why do you think one with her obvious strength married that repugnant man?” Lady Anne asked after the new duchess had passed her and those standing with her. “She did not look at all intimidated by anything here.”
“That is a question to which we will more than likely never know the answer,” Lady Rose opined.
“My question,” Lord Matlock said to the three men standing with him, “is what leverage the bastard holds over Colbath as he is the only one who will be in Hertfordshire’s company.”
“Does the Duke ever attend the Lords?” Darcy enquired.
“He does not,” the Duke of Bedford responded. “Even though it is his right to attend, if he did, there would not be any sort of welcome, in fact, he would be cut.”
“Enough nattering,” Lady Elaine admonished playfully. “She is about to take her curtsy.”
Conversation ceased as all eyes trained on the young lady as she prepared to bend her knee to the Queen.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As she walked past those present—who were standing on either side of the red carpet she was on, Elizabeth had not missed the way she was being stared at and evaluated by the courtiers. She was sure the first question in their minds was how was it that she had married the revolting old man.
The whole time she walked, which seemed like hours, but was in reality only a minute or so, Elizabeth kept her eyes forward, her chin up. They could stare all they wanted. She would not be intimidated.
Just like Lady Morag had taught her, Elizabeth reached the spot before her Majesty and made her deep curtsey. When she rose, the Queen indicated she should approach.
It was as she had been informed; the Queen would have some words with her being she was now a duchess. Elizabeth was sure her Majesty would have some inanities to impart fulfilling the expectation she would speak to one of her rank.
“Lady Elizabeth, you look very young to us,” the Queen stated softly.
“I am but sixteen your Majesty,” Elizabeth owned.
