Chapter 8
Eight
ETTA
“I’m not speaking to you, Leland.” Etta packed another gown in her trunk. Her lady’s maid had been doing it earlier that morning, but needing something to toss around in all her fury she had taken over.
“Etta, be civil. Just for a moment.” Leland locked his arms over his chest and used his big brother voice, a voice that she really disdained at the moment.
So she stepped up to him—for probably the first time ever—face to face. “Like you were civil to Wilhem?”
“I was—”
“You threatened to blow his face off, Leland. I’ll never forgive you for that.” Tears threatened the backs of her eyes, but she bought them off.
“I’m looking out for you, Etta. Wilhem is a rogue. He lives life on his own terms. He’ll never settle down.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Her voice shook, and those dratted tears were banging hard on her eyes again. “I know him.”
“You hardly know him.”
“I know him,” she bit off, “very well.” She turned around to avoid his penetrating glare, but it was too late.
His menacing voice followed her. “You didn’t.” Leland knew the truth. Her dark secret hadn’t remained hidden for long.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Like hell it doesn’t!” Leland’s hand gripped her shoulder to whirl her around.
“Don’t touch me, Leland.” Easily, she pulled free of his grasp. She knew he had no intention of hurting her. It was the hardest part in standing up to him. She knew he tried to do what was best for her. “What’s gotten into you? You’ve been a wreck ever since spring.”
His eyes narrowed, flexing his jaw along with the movement. “Nothing,” he grit out through clenched teeth. “It’s nothing.” Deliberately, he rolled his shoulders back. “I’m the only one looking out for you, Etta. No one else has your best interest in mind.”
“You’re wrong, Leland.”
“What?” he scoffed. “You think Wilhem actually knows what’s best for you?”
“That’s the difference between you two. You think you know what’s best for me, but he just might actually want what’s best for me.”
The words, she saw, were like a soft blow to his chest. He took a half step back. “Etta—”
A knock on the door interrupted them.
“Lady Tilly is here to see you.”
“Me?” Leland’s voice rose half an octave too high while his chest puffed out slightly. Etta noted the odd reaction and stored it away for future mulling.
“Oh bother,” Etta grumbled, “she’s obviously here for me—Wait. Lady Tilly is here? As in, inside of our house? It’s not just a letter?”
“No, my lady. I mean, yes. She is here. In the parlor to be precise.”
In a flash, Etta grabbed her skirts and raced out of the room. Her best friend was here? What in the world was that about?
“Tilly!?” she shouted, bursting through the door.
“Etta.” Tilly flashed a shimmering smile.
It glowed, as it always did, like a million stars.
But upon a second glance, Etta saw a flicker in her best friend’s eyes that wasn’t usually there.
So foreign was it, in fact, that Etta couldn’t quite identify it.
If she had to label it, she might have called it sheepishness, but that was so contrary to Tilly’s confidence that Etta really had no idea what to make of it. So she ignored it instead.
The two embraced tightly and then withdrew, still gripping each other like long lost sisters rather than merely months-separated friends. “What are you doing here?” Etta inquired, searching her friend's face for any clues.
“I-I…” Tilly’s eyes darted around, taking in Leland entering slightly out of breath.
“Where’s Wilhem?” And the question should have been asked to Etta, since the two were still clutching each other.
And really, since Etta knew Tilly had been the one to send Wilhem.
But that question was actually directed to Leland.
Leland glowered at Tilly. “He’s not here. Nor should he be.”
Tilly stepped out of her grasp and marched toward Leland poking him in the chest. “Wilhem came here to save Etta from making the biggest mistake of her life. Now…“Where.” Poke. “Is.” Poke. “He?” The two were seemingly at a stand off. Odd, that.
Just then the man of the hour waltzed through the door.
“Well,” his eyes scanned the people in attendance, falling somewhat surprised on his sister.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Tilly.
” He walked over and gently encircled her wrist, thus removing his sister’s index finger from the place it was anchored to in Leland’s chest. Leland only continued his glaring at everyone.
Wilhem gave his sister a shoulder squeeze. “What are you doing here? What about your art program?”
She bit her lip before answering, “I’ll tell you later. For now,” she moved to Etta’s side, “we have more important matters to discuss.”
“Did you not come here to rescue Etta, whisk her away, and marry her?” Tilly challenged her brother.
Wilhem’s face, for the first time ever, blanched.
“Wait,” Etta said calmly despite the roiling waves of emotions thrashing in her chest. “It was your idea to come here.”
“Tilly told me—”
“Ha!” Tilly clapped. “You told me—”
“Alright, that’s enough,” he hushed his sister. “I can explain everything to Etta.”
When he approached, he lowered his voice. “Do you think Leland has calmed down enough since yesterday?”
“I can hear you,” Leland griped.
“I don’t think so. He looks ready to tear this house apart.” Etta replied, ignoring her brother. “Especially considering I told him of my plans to leave for France this morning.”
“France?” Wilhem raised a brow. “You’re going to France now, Etta? When were you going to tell me that? Why France?”
“F-for Tilly,” Etta stuttered, feeling a fraud even as she tried desperately to keep her wits about her in this close proximity to her dream man. With whom she was very angry for abandoning her to her brother.
“And perhaps for me as well?” Wilhem prodded, stepping closer. His hand suddenly on her waist.
“Wilhem, get your hand off—”
“A word less, Leland,” Tilly admonished the grumbly duke at her side. Quite loudly. “Can’t you see they’re in love?” she hissed. None too quietly.
Etta’s body shook at the thoughts ransacking her brain. It couldn’t be true. Could it? Her dreams of him and passion for him couldn’t actually be reciprocated, could they? She had to know. “You’re in love with me?” she decided to ask Leland.
He nodded while digging his fingers into her hips. “I have been for a long time, Etta. But I couldn’t settle down anywhere. I had an insatiable need to travel. To explore. Leland knew that, and he thought I’d be no good for you.”
“You are good for me.”
His soft chuckle of contentment warmed her cheeks.
“I think you’re the best for me, Etta.”
She could feel her eyebrows shoot up in shock. “The best?”
“Absolutely.” Now both of his hands were around her waist. “And, France included, you’re not going anywhere without me.