Chapter 12 #2
She placed the brush on the dressing table and stared into the mirror.
Oh, how she wished the baby had been Jonathan’s!
Sometimes she believed that Dawson was like Jonathan in some ways, and she realized that deep down, she often pretended the child was his.
She stood and went to her window overlooking the small courtyard behind Trent House.
Perhaps Adam was right, she thought as she leaned her forehead against the cool glass and noticed how green everything was turning.
Dawson did deserve a father, but she couldn’t marry just anyone.
It had to be someone she loved. And she’d finally admitted to herself who that person was— that is, when he wasn’t making her angry.
So just maybe she should keep an open mind and something would work out for them. Miracles did happen every now and then.
Then she had a brilliant idea. She could make Jonathan love her again. It would take a lot of work on her part, but could she do it? She would never be able to undo the hurt she’d caused him, but maybe she could help him forget it.
She’d never been one to pass on a challenge, and Jonathan would be spending a good amount of time with her.
Elizabeth smiled to herself. She loved him. No amount of time or distance could change what her heart had always known.
She pulled away from the window. When Jonathan came tomorrow, he’d find a completely changed woman. One who would cooperate.... Well, for the most part she’d cooperate. She smiled again, anticipating the new challenge.
With higher spirits she went to help gather Dawson’s toys and have Mary prepare to take him home to Briercliff.
What a beautiful spring day! Elizabeth thought as she slid from bed. She could smell the flowers from her open window. The back of her head was still tender, and she ached when she first stood, but she knew she would feel better as the day progressed.
She selected an apple green silk dress. The bodice was fitted and the collar was plain. She picked up a bonnet of white gros de Naples with snatches of heather and red blossoms around the brim. She tied the bow full under her chin, then picked up her reticule and went downstairs.
Just as he promised, Jonathan was in her hallway at ten o’clock precisely. When she came down the stairs smiling, he took a step backward as if he weren’t sure what she intended.
If he only knew, she thought
“How are you feeling?” Jonathan asked.
“I’m much better, thank you.” She took the arm he offered.
As they strolled to the waiting carriage, Jonathan said, “I thought we’d start at Gafton House.”
“It’s your money,” Elizabeth said flippantly.
“Correction,” Jonathan said as he took the seat opposite her. “It’s your brother’s money.”
“In that case, I intend to buy quite a few things,” Elizabeth informed him. She glanced at Jonathan from beneath her lowered lashes.
As always, his clothes were immaculate and in excellent taste. He wore a royal blue waistcoat and jacket with fawn-colored breeches. His shirt was white, as were his stockings.
She noticed that his attention was focused on the scenery outside the carriage window as if he were trying to look at anything but her. His brows were drawn down in a heavy scowl, and she could tell he wouldn’t make good company today.
The carriage stopped in front of Gafton House—a linen-draper’s shop—and the place Elizabeth liked best. Before she went to America, she used to visit Gafton House several times a year. She had even invited the proprietor, Mrs. Hepplewhite, out to Briercliff to bring her dresses and fabric.
A tiny bell rang as they entered through dark green double doors. Two long counters stretched the length of the first room where the clerks waited on the patrons; today there wasn’t a single space in front of them. The shop was packed with customers.
Brightly colored bolts of cloth were stored behind the counter in bins along with other accessories.
“Evidently, everyone is doing their last-minute shopping for the Season. I would be happy to stay home and avoid this crunch,” she said with a smile.
“Nice try,” Jonathan shot back, “but it won’t work.”
At the back of the first room was an archway with two glass windows that stretched from top to bottom. It was from there that Mrs. Hepplewhite emerged as she headed to the front of the store.
“Lady Elizabeth,” said Mrs. Hepplewhite, who hurried over and took her hand.
“It is so good to see you again, my dear. You have been away much too long.” She turned to look at Jonathan with open curiosity.
“And is this the reason you’ve been away?
I’ll be crushed if you’ve gotten married and I didn’t make your gown. ”
Elizabeth blushed bright red. She could see the muscle in Jonathan’s jaw tighten. “This is Jonathan Hird, Earl of Longdale and a good family friend.”
“It is nice to meet you, Lord Longdale,” Mrs. Hepplewhite said, nodding. “I hope I’ll be making that wedding gown soon.”
“Yes, you will be making a wedding gown, but I assure you, I’ll not be the groom,” Jonathan said, his voice cold and hard. He turned to Elizabeth. “Can I trust you to select the appropriate gowns? If so, I shall come to collect you later.”
Elizabeth didn’t bother to answer.
“I’m going to take Elizabeth to the back room and assist her myself, so she shouldn’t be longer than a few hours at most,” Mrs. Hepplewhite said, breaking the icy silence.
“Elizabeth?” Jonathan waited, impatience plain on his face.
“I’m a grown woman, Jonathan. I think I can manage to select my own ball gowns,” Elizabeth informed him primly.
“Then I shall fetch you in three hours.”
Once he was outside, Jonathan breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t going to survive this task, he thought as he climbed into his carriage and gave his driver instructions to take him to White’s. His bloody head was already pounding. Dealing with pirates was easier than dealing with Elizabeth Trent.
His carriage had stopped. Jonathan looked out the window and found several carriages were backed up, waiting to pull up in front of White’s.
He tapped on the carriage, then opened the door and stepped out on the sidewalk. He looked up at the coachman. “I’ll walk from here. Come back in three hours.”
Jonathan strolled down the street. It felt good to stretch his legs as he walked the block and a half.
He passed the large bay window that White’s had built in the middle of the club.
Jonathan looked up as he passed the window and sure enough, Beau Brummell, dressed in his most elegant attire, sat with the Duke of Argyll and Sir Lumley Skeffington, watching the passersby.
It was a game to Brummell that they never acknowledged anyone who walked by the window.
But this time was different as all three men nodded at Jonathan.
As Jonathan climbed the steps of the gentlemen’s club, all he could think of were the endless balls he would be forced to attend, the first being next week.
He hated the bloody affairs. Now, he had to contact friends to let them know that he and Elizabeth were in town, so the invitations would start flooding in.
Maybe he’d be lucky and find Elizabeth a husband at the first party.
Then they wouldn’t have to go to any more.
However, his conscience told him, not bloody likely.
Inside the club, Jonathan looked around the oak-paneled room to see who he knew. He saw Lords Alvanley and Sefton, who were seated with George Ragget, the club’s owner.
Jonathan moved into the next room where the games were played and the betting book was found. He was just getting ready to join in a poker game when someone called his name.
“Is that the Earl of Longdale? Or am I too far into my cups?”
Jonathan stopped and turned around. “You’ve always drunk too much, ol’ boy,” he said to Ian Duffy, the Earl of Radnor.
“Come.” Ian waved from his table. “Join me.”
When Jonathan reached the table, he clasped Ian’s hand and slapped him on the shoulder. Then he sat down at the private table in the corner flanked by two blood red wingback chairs.
After Jonathan ordered bourbon, he gazed back at his longtime drinking buddy. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
“Damned if I can say the same of you, ol’ boy.
Look at you. You’re definitely wider in the shoulders than I can remember and much more muscular.
Where the hell have you been?” Ian didn’t give Jonathan a chance to answer.
“Have you been doing manual labor? You do know you left me in a bit of a lurch. I’ve had no one around who enjoys the sports like you do.
I even went to Foxmore to find you, only to be told that you’d gone. ”
“So you’ve missed me then?” Jonathan chuckled.
“Like a pain in the ass.” Ian laughed, too.
“I went to the colonies to visit Adam Trent, and then I did something I never thought I’d do. I went to sea for a couple of years.”
“Bloody hell. No wonder you look like a pirate.”
“You’re closer than you think,” Jonathan agreed, but he decided not to explain his year at sea. Better not let what he’d done in the colonies get around or he’d never find a husband for Elizabeth.
“How is your father?”
“I’m not sure. He’s bedridden. However, he can still raise hell when he chooses. I’m just wondering how bad he really is. I haven’t gotten a straight answer from Dr. Toogood.”
“I hope you’re home to stay,” Ian said as he paused to take another drink from the tray the waiter had offered. “By the way, you didn’t marry that pretty little Elizabeth when you went to see Adam?”
Ian could have asked just about anything but that! Jonathan thought. “Yes, I’m home to stay. As a matter of fact, I’ll need to go to Foxmore before long. But first, I have to fulfill a promise to Adam.”
Ian noticed that Jonathan hadn’t bothered to answer his question about Elizabeth. Maybe his friend’s feeling had changed. “The way you’re frowning, I’d say you’re not too happy about making this promise.”