Her mother snapped her fingers at a maid, who rose to join them.
Elizabeth and her parents walked to the parlour, trailed by Duke Howard. The furniture in the parlour was elegant but uncomfortable, designed for perching delicately.
She smoothed her skirts under her as she sat down, praying that her parents would stay in the room so she didn’t have to be alone with the duke.
Her prayers went unanswered.
Her mother placed a gentle hand on her father’s arm and gestured toward the door. The maid smiled and curtseyed, making it clear that she would stay in the room as a chaperone.
Elizabeth suppressed her dismay, and schooled her features into a demure smile.
Duke Howard sat heavily next to her. His face was ruddy, with a bulbous nose and heavy lines around his watery blue eyes. Thin strands of hair draped over the top of his head as if it could hide the fact that he was almost entirely bald. He smiled at her, but it looked more like a leer. “Lady Elizabeth, I’m pleased that we seem well matched to one another. Is there anything you would have of me as a husband?”
Elizabeth considered for a moment. “I would like to visit home several times a year. My friends and my family are very important to me.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw her mother’s smile as her parents turned the corner. The servants left too, leaving them alone safe for the maid sitting on the opposite couch.
As soon as her parents were out of sight, the duke’s face grew unyielding. “I will not be taken for a fool. You will not be permitted to go where I cannot see you for large parts of the year, gallivanting off with your friends and speaking with men.”
He glanced about the room and then at her, his gaze shrewd and calculating. Apparently, he had noticed her lack of enthusiasm about the match and her concern about his age. Perhaps he was not as naive as she thought.
“And hear me when I say that if you bear another man’s son to my fortune and family name, I will make you regret the day you were born.”
A cold lump of dread coiled in her gut.
“Of course, your Grace, I was not suggesting such a thing,” she murmured, fixing a smile to her lips, and ignoring the shudder that ran down her spine.
“You will not embarrass me. I am a patient man, but that is one thing I will not stand for. You will be my wife, quiet, beautiful, and always by my side—where I can see you. You will remain at the estate, forbidden to leave without my supervision until you bear my first child.”
He pulled her to her feet. He stood nearly a head shorter than her, making her feel like Lady Lorine and Lady Patricia would collapse into fits of giggles at the sight of them.
The air felt suffocating, like it was closing in around her. The collar of her dress felt tighter, and she struggled to keep her breathing even.
“Now that we understand one another, I'm sure we will have many happy times together,” he said. “And you there,” he barked at the wide-eyed maid. “You will not breathe a word of what you heard here, or I will make you unhireable in any house of reputable name.”
To Elizabeth’s shock, the maid of her father’s house was petrified, nodding with fervor before averting her gaze to the floor, subservient to the duke.
Duke Howard kissed her on the cheek, his lips thin and vile.
“Farewell, Lady Elizabeth. I will see you soon.” The duke sneered at her, and her temples began aching, as if her body was revolting against being forced to stand there and say nothing.
She weathered Duke Howard’s farewell with a tight smile and fled to her chambers. She called her maid and nearly tore off her corset, chest heaving.
“I brought you some soothing tea, Lady Elizabeth,” her maid said, giving her a worried look.
She took a deep breath. “Thank you. Sorry. It is just another headache.”
The maid gave her a concerned look, which was quickly replaced with a smile.
Elizabeth focused on her breathing, chastising herself for getting so worked up. This was twice this week she had allowed herself to get a headache. She sat, staring at nothing, focusing on taking deep breaths until her headache decided to diminish.
Later that night, she sat on her terrace and gazed out at the stars. Her thoughts kept wandering to the handsome demon. She wondered if he was the sort of demon who made deals with mortals.
Her thoughts drifted back to Duke Howard, and she closed her eyes with a shudder.
Chapter 4
The Weight Of Nobility
