Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The duke wanted to show off the woman whom he was to marry. After they had been found at the fountain, the duke had to admit that this might not be a mere merging of two families.

The dilemma was not in being fond of one's betrothed. It lay in the misery of knowing for certain that she would not have given him the chance if he were not nobility. He had expected her to treat him as a distasteful creature. The duke had been well prepared for that outcome. Then as he had gotten to know her, he had seen such a lovely temperament in her that if it was an act, it would undo him.

Something within the duke drove him to remain testing her until he found a flaw. It would be easier if he ended it now than to allow the thought of true happiness to be his ruin.

The duke called to the servants responsible for the others. "I need the estate to be fully in order. We shall have more than fifty guests attending at least. Start preparations as I prepare the invitations and send the Chef and the Groundskeeper." The duke dismissed them. They both moved quickly to follow orders.

Now we will see if you can uphold your pretense for an entire evening. The dinner he was planning in her honor started to take form. This will not only test if she could host alongside me. I plan to invite the gossips and flirtatious sort to this celebration. Will she still be attentive if there are better choices on offer?

The duke wanted to know for certain, yet at the same time he enjoyed the delusion he was under.

It was something that would be seen as improper, if he did not celebrate his future wife. The duke felt underhanded with the games he was playing. Bethany seemed a respectable young woman who had given him no reason to have earned this much distrust.

It is just how the world is. No healthy woman would seek out a husband like me. A damaged man of average appearance with little talents. At the very least I can offer her wealth and a better title. Things so precious that a beautiful woman like her could stand being seen with me.

The duke let his mind torment him with thoughts of how things could have been. That he could have found love and started a family that would have been happy and stayed together.

It will have to remain a dream.

The duke almost laughed to himself as he settled in that night.

If only I could stay asleep then I could remain joyful.

Sleep claimed the duke and sent him to his dreams so hastily that he felt confused as the sunlight disturbed his rest. With the dinner for Bethany now in full planning, the duke started to have his misgivings.

Then again do you wish to live blindly? The duke's mind asked the question he feared to answer. Some small part of him wanted to simply say yes.

"Your Grace." A man servant called at the duke's room.

"Enter." The duke sat up.

The servant entered the room and handed the duke a parchment of paper. "Your Grace, it has all been arranged as requested."

"Thank you." The duke looked at the guest list.

They will do nicely for the purpose I have in mind, the duke thought as he read the names. If she can make it through an evening with all these people, then perhaps we stand the slightest chance.

It would take the entire day to get the estate ready in time for the evening's celebration. That meant that the duke would be engaged for most of the day. The food alone would take the entire day to prepare. The estate would have no less than a hundred servants putting one dinner together.

Outside tablecloths bleached in the hot sun as groundskeeper made sure that every blade of grass was in order. The estate was busier and happier than he could remember it being in years. He would have to find Bethany and tell her of his plans. It was already very short notice for their guests.

When he had made most of the arrangements he could, he went in search of Bethany. He felt a need to be near her as often as he could and had soothed his worries by convincing himself it was due to loneliness.

He found her sitting by the apple tree he planted to welcome her here. She was absorbed by what she was reading and had not noticed his arrival. When he came closer and she had still not seen him, he allowed himself to gaze upon her beauty.

She looked even more so when she busied herself with a task. He had noticed how her brows furrowed as she read or thought about something. He was already not quite sure what he would do each day, once she was no longer with him.

"Good afternoon, My Lady. I trust that you slept well." The duke finally approached her.

"Yes, Your Grace. I slept most well thank you. I trust you did too."

"Yes thank you, My Lady." The duke knew not what he should say to further the conversation.

Surely years of the best education had not in been in vain! Say something! The duke's mind screamed.

"The shade should improve in a year or so, My Lady, and be much more comfortable to enjoy your reading."

That is the best you could do? he thought with disbelief.

"I am sure you are correct, Your Grace. Mind you it is quite lovely here already."

"I will be hosting a dinner tonight in your honor," the duke said and waited for her to react.

"Your Grace, you indeed do me a great honor," she replied.

If you use the excuse that it is only what is proper again… The duke's own mind warned him.

"I felt it was time that you had the opportunity to meet some of my closest acquaintances. I would really like you to meet more of my friends.

"I hope to do you proud, Your Grace." Her reply seemed sincere.

"I have a feeling you will do well," the duke said, and believed it. "I bid you a good afternoon, My Lady. I look forward to introducing you." The duke left before he might say something worse.

As the sun starting to hang lower in the sky, the duke could not contain the excitement that had been simmering beneath the surface.

Would it be that poor a choice to enjoy having her as my future intended? Could I not just this one time give in to my own desires? The duke mused, as he picked out a handkerchief that would suit her dress. He had thought it a very emasculating tradition when his peers had done the same. Now as he wondered what her reaction would be to the sentiment, he understood.

If the mere thought of her smiling at just me makes me this delirious, how will it be when I see her?

The duke marveled at how soon he had taken to her and craved her company. How her happiness had become so firmly entwined in his.

He called the servants to dress him in his chosen garments. They were good people who did not question when the duke would reach things a man in an invalid chair should not be able to. He had hated having people wait on him yet had to accept it as a duke.

In turn, he had made their living quarters luxurious, and provided quality garments, food and education. He would never see them as less than or worse, or use the hardworking people on his estate as entertainment. The servant entered and narrowed his eyes at the garments neatly set out.

The duke smiled and knew that the man had caught him out.

"Your Grace has made a fine choice," the servant said, as he went about dressing him.

"I can stand for a few moments," the duke remarked unnecessarily as he stood to change trousers.

"Your Grace, I hope that one day you will find your legs again." The servant said it with such emotion that the duke felt terribly guilty. He inspected his reflection before going to meet the arriving guests.

"Thank you so much for having us, Your Grace," Cecil said the moment the duke came downstairs. The shoot that had been used in previous years to take laundry from every room to the laundry room in the basement, had been converted to allow the duke to go any place in his estate without having to be helped.

"It would not be a dinner without my dearest friends." The duke was genuinely happy to see them. He excused himself and greeted the last few guests as it came time for his intended to make her entrance. The duke made small talk as he awaited her entrance with as much anticipation as his guests.

"Ladies and gentlemen, The Lady Bethany Wentworth." A man servant announced. Gasps of admiration could be heard as she appeared on top of the staircase.

She wore the dress he had bought her. Nothing could have prepared him for how the emerald silk made her eyes look ethereal. She had matched them perfectly with delicate jewelry. He found his breath catching in his throat as she floated down the stairs toward him. Her radiant smiled was directed only at him and he felt like the richest man alive. He took her gloved hand in his when she reached him, and they turned toward the room.

The guests gave a polite applause before they could start enjoying the champagne and light meal before dinner.

"You look absolutely ravishing, My Lady. Be kind to the other ladies here tonight, I fear your immense beauty has put them in doubt of themselves." The duke smiled, unable to hide how proud he was.

"That is very kind, Your Grace. I should give you the same advice for you are by far, the most handsome gentleman here," she replied.

The duke felt the usual anger boil in his stomach, only to realize that she was being earnest.

How can she see me as human, let alone handsome? The duke tried to make sense of it and all he could manage was to hurt his head.

"It is so lovely to see you again," Lady Miller said. She had taken to Bethany and had hoped she could be her friend. As Cecil's wife she had many acquaintances yet few friends.

"Lady Miller I am so thrilled to see a familiar face. Have you had a chance to try the quail? They have prepared it the French way, oh you must try it." She looked to the duke for his approval.

"Of course, My Lady. This is your dinner, go spend time with the guests," the duke said to Bethany, and to himself.

You must let her meet as many if the guests here as possible. You must find out what her true feelings are. The duke thought as he watched her leave. How can I feel so lost without her so soon?

He spoke with Cecil and the other gentlemen as he waited to see how Bethany would fare tonight. He had caught a glimpse of her a few times. Every time she had been in conversation and was the ideal hostess.

Now when he looked for her, he only saw her when she was beside him.

"Are you having a good evening, My Lady?" The duke asked.

"Absolutely, Your Grace. Thank you so much for this. The people are lovely and the French menu is so thoughtful, Your Grace. She replied.

The duke did not want to examine why her contentment meant so much to him. Instead he decided he would apply one more test.

"Would you care to dance?" The duke asked.

"I would like that," came the reply.

The duke had expected her to decline. He should have known she would be different. They made their way to the dance floor and all eyes were on the couple. The music started playing. The duke watched as she accommodated the dance to enable the duke to enjoy dancing for the first time since his accident.

Some guests looked on with a tender smile while others openly displayed their disgust. The duke had forgotten they were even in the room as he watched her dance gracefully at his side. They barely touched yet there was a bond forming between them that grew stronger each day.

Then the blanket that had been on the duke's lap, slid onto the floor. The duke felt shame overcome him as he stopped moving. But Bethany smiled a reassuring smile as she walked to where it had fallen. She picked his blanket up with one movement and gave it a small shake to remove any dirt. Instead of being annoyed at how clumsy he had been, she placed the blanket back on his lap and tucked the sides in to secure it better.

She had not touched him at all yet he felt like her hands had seared into his flesh. He thanked her and wondered what it would be like to share a kiss. The very thought of sharing this intimate moment with someone in particular made it that much more exciting. It dawns on the duke that he had only kissed one lady and he had been a boy. He was woefully unprepared for what came next and felt too embarrassed to even mention it to Cecil.