“Oliver, young women use that to garner your attention.”
“I can assure you that is not the case with Lilli. She is headstrong, and opinionated.”
“But only with you.”
Oliver sat sipping his whiskey. “Damn, you’re right. That has been brought to my attention. I am the only one who observes her antics because she only engages in them when I am at hand.”
“She trusts you to keep her from going too far. From falling into the abyss. Trust, according to Mother, is the basis of all good relationships. I’d say, if you are not against having Lilli as yourwife, that you have found your woman. Especially if you believe she is a Little Darling.”
“My naughty, determined, headstrong, darling duchess. Yes, I believe that to be true. Now, will she accept me?”
“Oh, she will accept you. You must be firmly persuasive. You know how Darlings are. They want their own way and yet, when you give it to them, they are petulant for it wasn’t what they wanted at all. They long for their Daddy to be in control, no matter what they say. One must divine the truth of their conversation. That is the key to happiness. Gentle, indulgent, masterful.”
“And what, pray tell, allows you to speak on such authority?”
“My own experiences and I watch and learn, big brother. You may be the eldest, but you have missed some necessary training.”
Oliver laughed. “It is obviously true. How is it that you have acquired such training?”
“Ah, a story for another trip, Oliver.”
As the month grew to a close, Oliver was anxious to return home. He had some business in London before returning to the country, but he could use that time to firm up his thoughts and methods with his little Lilliana. She was to be his darling duchess, and he intended to make that declaration upon his return home however he intended that she agreed, so diplomacy and delicacy was in order.
In London, the work was not hard but took concentration. He met with a few of his friends and those he did business with, all the while thinking of Lilli. Everywhere he went for entertainment, he thought of what Lilli was doing. How she would love the opera, or the theatre. The shops were bursting with things he wanted to show her. She had mentioned she had only been to London once since moving into Heatherfield. That seemed a travesty he intended to remedy soon.
Then came the dream. It startled him awake and what he could remember of it raised his concerns. He came home to find Lilli gone. Her grandmother had died, and relatives had invaded her home, taking over fiendishly, leaving her with no salvation but to run. She left. Where?
In his dream, he had come home and evicted the intruders, related or not, and left the estate under his protection while he frantically sought her. He woke up in a cold sweat. With a certainty, he knew Lilli was gone. While he continued to tell himself it was a mere dream, something foreboding infiltrated his being. It was more than that. Hetried,but he could no longer sleep for fear of finding her hurt or in trouble of some kind that she cannot extricate herself from.
He quickly concluded his business, closed up the house in London, and returned home after three months gone. What he found was Lilli’s announcement of her grandmother’s passing delivered over a week ago. When he had the dream. She also told of her holiday to find her father.
I will return as quickly as I can,the missive said.Oh, and since you are now my guardian, I leave you to oversee the estate whilst I am away.
Did she not know he was out of the country? Bloody hell! Where was she? Had she returned home?
He sought his mother for what she knew.
Chapter Six
Her grandmother was gone. What was she to do? The mourning in her life seemed forever—half her lifetime, anyway. The only thing worse than mourning losses was having no one left in her life to mourn with. Her relatives were gone to other parts, having gained their inheritance from their father years ago. All that was left was this property and all that her grandmothers owned and that went to the first daughter of each generation in turn. Her father, having exited from her into some other region of the country or beyond, what was left of his family was uncertain. It was daunting at best, shattering at worst. Frightening in all situations.
After several weeks of complete devastation and sadness, Lilli gathered her spunk and her resolve returned. She must push on. This was her home, her legal property. No one was obligated nor loved the estate as she did. It was up to her to carry on.
She had hoped Oliver would come and offer his condolences so they could have a conversation about how things stood. He was, after all, now her legal guardian. She had thought he would be ripe to establish his authority, but no. Not a word. All his talk was just that—trumpery. Balderdash. Lies.
Therefore, Lilli shoved down her grief and disillusionment determined to find a suitable, respectable gentleman with which to attach herself. Not someone with wanting pockets or disgusting habits, nor one who did not stand by his word. As far as she had seen, those men of upright character were already sealed in matrimony or soon would be.Except Oliver.No! I must look elsewhere.She chided herself for her longing for his company.Once I find my father dead or alive, and deal with that issue, I will turn my attentions to an amiable marriage.
What I won’t do is allow the duke to come and demand things from me.Her grandmother, before she died, told her to embrace her future and not to count the young Weston out. She knew if Oliver wanted her, he would have her, but not without a fight. Acknowledging that reality was devastating but sometimes you picked your battles and used your wits to survive well. Grandmother had disagreed that marrying Oliver would be a defeat and had said as much in the days before she passed.
“He may be dictatorial and controlling but he only demanded you take care of yourself. Men who are observant, want that. He did not degrade you or make fun of you in any way. Nor did he snub you. I believe he was careful of that.”
“True, but he has no right to play lord over me. I am not his charge. Grandmother, he threatened to smack my… my… Well, it was very ungentlemanly and inappropriate of him. I will not submit to that kind of treatment.” She left off the words —not now and not ever. She didn’t want to upset her grandmother while she was so frail.
“It isn’t something to be taken lightly, I agree. But he was frustrated. You have found yourself in some dire straits, my dear. Smacks aren’t harmful on the sitting area. Besides, he was always a gentleman, albeit a commandingly opinionated one. He is a duke after all. Give him a chance, my darling. Promise me.”
“He was kind when he found I was nearly trampled by that uncouth behemoth at the picnic. When he takes over during those times, it does odd things to me. He makes me feel as though I just want to leave my responsibilities on him. Just for a while. That is dangerous and disturbing that the rest of the time I want to wage war with him.”
“Could it be because he takes your burdens so easily? It could be dangerous only if you feel threatened by the feelings he engenders in you. Don’t fear that camaraderie so much. I think he has broad shoulders and would not betray you if you could find a way to give into him on some things.”
