Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

A Plan Is Formed

L eah did not feel hungry when she returned to the house—not for food. She bade goodbye to the Duke when she entered the large house and went straight to her chambers.

Her face was not flush, and she had her breathing under control, but she had a deep worry that everyone would be able to tell that she had kissed the Duke. That sort of behavior was expected from him but not from her.

Leah closed the door and flopped down onto her bed. She looked up at the ceiling above, tracing the grain of the dark maple wood. Her chest rose and fell as she studied the wood.

All she could think about was the kiss. The tingle of the Duke's lips still sat on hers. She refrained from touching them or licking them for fear the feeling would be removed. She knew the Duke had a nefarious reason for being so nice and charming her, but she would do it again in a heartbeat.

I cannot let myself be taken in by him like that again. It will be fine when we are married, but I can't act like someone else because he wants to kiss me. I must remain firm.

A knock came at the door, and Leah immediately sat up, pushing her back against the wooden headboard.

Her heart beat faster. The Duke had come for her and wanted to be alone again.

"Come in," Leah managed.

When the door opened, Leah's first response was one of disappointment and then one of relief. It was not the Duke but Bridget.

"Are you feeling well?" Bridget asked. "Mother asked me to check on you."

"Yes, I am fine. I am only tired and thought I might lay down for a while."

"Oh, then I shall leave you to your rest." Bridget turned to exit.

"No, stay," Leah suggested. "I could do with some company."

Bridget smiled and pushed the door over a little, leaving a slight gap. She turned to look around the room as she made her way toward her sister.

The bed was much larger than Leah was used to at home, and the room was larger than any she had been in. Rich mahogany furniture (two chairs, a chest, a set of drawers, and a large trunk) was scattered around the room. The darkness of the furniture was offset by the bright tapestries on the walls and the pale blue curtains hanging to the sides of the generous window.

"The rooms are beautiful, aren't they?" Bridget asked.

"Yes, they are wonderful," Leah replied.

"And you will live here, won't you?"

Leah patted the bed beside her. There was something in her sister's tone of voice that displayed a great underlying sadness.

"Yes, of course, I will," Leah replied. "Why did you ask that?"

"No, it is nothing," Bridget said. "It was only that there was already talk about your walk earlier today."

Leah's heart jumped into her mouth. She had to swallow hard to stop from choking on it and stifled a cough. "What talk?"

"It is nothing, really," Bridget said. "I think Mother was worried about it, and that is why she asked me to check on you."

"She asked you to check on me because of the walk I went on. What did His Grace say happened?" Leah asked.

Bridget took her sister's hand and held it on her lap. "No, he didn't say anything, and Mother didn't say anything, but I could tell from the tone."

"The tone?" Leah asked. "Whose tone? His Grace's?"

"No, Mother's," Bridget replied. "His Grace has not said anything. Mother asked me to check on you, and she didn't say why, but I could tell she was worried that something had happened on your walk with the Duke."

"Nothing happened on my walk with the Duke." Leah swallowed again. "Nothing happened."

Her lips began to tingle.

"No, of course, and I know that. I know you would not let him take advantage of you; it is just that he has a certain reputation, and there was some talk amongst the help that your chaperone got lost, and you and His Grace were alone for a while."

"Well, the staff should not be talking about such things," Leah commented. "Yes, His Grace and I found ourselves alone for a few minutes, but nothing happened. Who do you think I am?"

"I am not accusing you of anything, but if he forced himself on you or tried to make you do something, then?—"

"He didn't make me do anything," Leah snapped.

Bridget fell silent and let go of her sister's hand.

Leah would have been angry if the Duke had made her do something, but he hadn't. She was angry because she had chosen to do what she did. And not only that, but she had been thinking about when it might happen again.

"I apologize," Leah said. "I should not have snapped at you. It is only… nothing happened."

"I believe you," Bridget replied.

Leah could hear it in her voice: Bridget believed what Leah said—she had no reason not to.

"I… also see the way you are with him at times," Bridget added.

Leah looked toward the window. "With His Grace?"

"Yes," Bridget confirmed. "I saw you go straight to your room when you returned to the house, and I know it has only been a day since we arrived, but you don't see eye to eye with him, do you?"

"That is not your concern," Leah told her younger sister. "Mother and Father did not see eye to eye before they wed, but they have managed just fine. I don't know His Grace well yet, and that will take some time. You don't have to worry about it."

"It is not only that but Lady Christianna, too."

"The Duke's sister? What has she said?" Leah asked.

Leah got up from the bed and began pacing the room. "She has not said anything, but it is more about what she has not said, or the way she says things, or maybe I am imagining the entire thing. I spent the afternoon with her, and she was very excited about debuting, but when the conversation turned to the wedding, she lost that excitement. I don't think she likes us, Leah."

"Well, that has nothing to do with anything, either," Leah claimed.

Bridget paced around the room quicker, her feet scuffing the wooden floor. Leah had to rise from the bed so as not to feel so agitated by her sister's flurry of movement.

"Yes, but I know why you are doing this, and you don't have to. There is still time. My Frederick loves me, and I love him, and we are meant to be together, and nothing shall keep us apart. If I speak to him, I know he will wait for me. We will have a longer courtship; that is all. When you love someone, you are prepared to wait for eternity for them."

"You shan't wait for eternity, Bridget," Leah claimed.

"It will be fine," Bridget said. She stoped pacing and turned to face Leah with a wide grin on her face, the grin of someone who is truly in love and needs nothing else in her life.

If only I felt half of what she feels!

"You do not like His Grace, and it is completely understandable. I might not know much about him, but I don't believe he likes anyone. Father has forced you into this marriage of convenience because he will not allow me to wed until you are married, and that is not fair on you. And if Lady Christianna does not like us, then what does that mean for the rest of His Grace's family? Our two families will never truly be united. No, I must inform Frederick that it is not the right time for us."

"No!" Leah gasped. "I can't let you do that."

"It is my choice," Bridget replied.

"I am your older sister, and you will listen to me, Bridget. Do you love Frederick?"

"Love can?—"

"Do you love him?" Leah stated.

"Yes, of course, I love him." Bridget placed her hands on her heart. "He is the most wonderful man in the world, and that is why I know?—"

"Uh-uh!" Leah warned, waging her finger in the air. "A love like yours does not come along very often. I will not allow you to delay it. The world is a better place when love is shared. And you will have a wonderful family and bring joy to many people. I will not stand in the way of that joy."

"And what about your joy?" Bridget asked.

"I have joy." Leah's voice cracked as she spoke. "I have joy," she repeated more firmly. "I am only nervous. I met my betrothed only a day ago, and I don't believe anyone could be prepared for that. You had time to get to know Frederick, and you did not truly discover how much you loved him until you got to know him some, didn't you?"

"No, I guess not." Bridget rubbed her cheeks with both hands.

"So, how can I be fully in love with the Duke after meeting him yesterday? Everything has been a great rush, and it has taken some getting used to. The same goes for the Duke's sister. She does not know any of us, and now, we have descended on her home. She is sure to be a little shaken. Yet, she is excited to debut. She will only do so after her brother is wed, so she must be excited for the wedding, and she would not be so excited in your presence if she did not like you."

Bridget scratched her head. "No, I suppose not."

"So, there you go," Leah stated. "Our visit to the estate has been a whirlwind, but when the dust settles, you will see how excited I am about the wedding."

"You truly mean that, don't you?" Bridget asked.

"Of course." Leah walked over to her sister and embraced her. "My wedding will go ahead no matter what happens, and then you will be married soon after. We will both start families, and they will grow together. You have absolutely nothing to worry about."

When they came apart, Bridget had tears in her eyes. "I am sorry I laid this all on you."

"Don't be foolish," Leah replied. "You care about me, and I am glad you do. I am so glad you are here to go through this with me. I need you here, Bridget. I need to be reminded of your love so I can find the same."

"I will be with you all the way," Bridget said.

"Good." Leah placed a hand on her sister's cheek and wiped away some tears with her thumb. "Now, go and enjoy yourself. I really would like some rest. I shall come downstairs soon."

"I will go and write another letter to Frederick," Bridget said. She skipped to the door, stopped to face Leah one more time, and then left happily.

Leah went to the door afterward and pushed it to close it fully. She went back to the bed and fell down into the soft mattress. The tears came, but not ones of joy. The sadness flowed from Leah. It had been hard to keep it together before her younger sister and to lie to her so much, but it had to be done. She had to protect what Bridget had.

Leah might want to kiss the Duke again, but she was not sure she wanted to marry him. Yet, she would. The plan was formed in her mind. She would go ahead with the wedding so Bridget could be with the man she loved and who loved her—she would find happiness in her sister's life.

Until then, she would prove to Bridget that she wanted to marry the Duke. She would disregard her happiness so Bridget would have hers.