“His Grace has summoned Her Grace,” Wickham relayed.
Elizabeth had heard the lackey. “Inform my husband I am changing. Once I have completed what I need to do, I will be there.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Duke was not amused. It was over a half hour before his duchess joined him. “Tell me all!” he instructed.
“I am not sure what you would like to know and from when?” Elizabeth replied impertinently. “Do you mean for the whole of my life or a specific period?”
When motivated by anger as he was now, His Grace was able to stand from his chair with alacrity. He rounded on his wife and pulled his arm back.
She did not flinch and just stood there looking at him with extreme dislike. At the same time, Wickham cleared his throat and Hertfordshire remembered his need to wait until after an heir was born.
The corpulent man stepped back. “Get out of my sight,” he hissed. “I will think of an appropriate punishment for your disrespect!”
‘With the greatest of pleasure,’ Elizabeth thought. She turned and made her way back towards the grand staircase and her chambers.
It was only when she reached her chambers that Elizabeth allowed the fear she had felt when he had been prepared to strike her to course through her body. She fell onto her bed, her body wracked by sobs.
Her maid sat on the bed saying not a word and rubbed Her Grace’s back.
Chapter 14
Jane was in the sitting room at her aunt’s and uncle’s house working on some embroidery while her aunt sat and relaxed when the post was delivered. She was greatly excited to see one from Lizzy as it had been some weeks—before her presentation—since a letter had been received from her sister.
“Aunt Maddie, do you mind if I read my letter right away?” Jane requested.
“Why would I object Janey dear, go right ahead,” Madeline allowed.
She broke the seal of the Dukes of Hertfordshire and opened up the pages of the thick missive. Unsurprisingly there was an enclosed letter addressed to Charlotte. Jane began to read as soon as the pages were smoothed out.
11 June 1806
Hertfordshire House
My dearest Janey,
You have my heartfelt apologies if I caused you any consternation by not having written to you since right before my presentation last month. As punishment for being disrespectful tohim, that man refused to allow me to send or receive letters until today.
What a petty and vindictive man I am shackled to! I was prepared for the fact he is old, repugnant, and a brute, but I never imagined his small mindedness as well.
He did not react well when after I had changed out of the hooped monstrosity I was forced to wear, I made sport of him. Would you believe the old man made as if he was about to strike me? Calm yourself, Janey, he did not, and to date has not harmed me physically.
Jane was distressed by what she had read. Thank goodness Lizzy had told her she was unharmed—at least her person was not hurt. Even though he had not hit her, the fact he threatened it, could not but make Jane even more worried for her younger sister. She continued to read.
As much as I disliked what I had to wear, there was a positive in being presented. I met and will greatly miss the company of Lady Morag McIntire, the Countess of Colbath who prepared and sponsored me. Without her visits, I am alone in my prison once more. At least when she was here for the practices, I had another lady to speak to—even though we had to be circumspect thanks tohimhaving one of his lapdogs always near.
I was able to speak to her and her husband on the way to and back from the presentation at St. James Palace. One of the men employed by the old man rode behind the coach on a horse so he was unable to overhear us.
As much as I should have been surprised, I was not when they told me they had been forced to do my husband’s bidding for some years now as he held the fate of their estate in Scotland over their heads. It was a debt of honour; onehestole by cheating! Knowing how much my husband wanted me presented and that there were no others who would oblige him,the Earl demanded his debt markers returned to him. Unlike me, they are free of the man and never have to see him again.
This being the first communication from me since I took my curtsey, I must tell you all!
St. James Palace is decorated as ostentatiously as you would imagine. Given my rank (one I would much prefer not to have) I was the first lady presented. The Queen spoke to me, and I do not mean some perfunctory inanities.
Lady Morag informed me Her Majesty would have a few words for me, but I was wholly unprepared for the reality.
Janey, she asked me if I wanted my marriage annulled by her vicar (the Archbishop of Canterbury)! Also, she let me know if I ever needed her assistance, it would be granted. As much as I wanted to accept her offer to end my marriage tohim, I cannot, so I did not.
