A Deal with the Duke by G.L. Snodgrass

Author:G.L. Snodgrass [Snodgrass, G.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Elizabeth’s world slammed to a halt as everything dissolved into a blur. Her heart stopped beating, her breaths ceased. Nothing in her world moved. There was just Lady Sinclair and her furious glare.

Elizabeth had breached the most sacred of rules. She had lowered herself to that of a common harlot. If Lady Sinclair admitted her into her house, she would be guilty by association. Endorsing the downfall of society and all of its rules.

How? How had she been discovered?

“Well?” the woman demanded, her hand on her hip.

Looking up, she realized every person in the room was staring at her. They know. Every sordid detail. Her stomach dropped and her cheeks flushed full red.

She glanced up at the duke and saw the pain in his eyes. It made it even worse. Being tossed from society was bad. But disappointing this man felt even worse.

The painful look slowly changed as he frowned and shook his head, giving her the look to be quiet.

But how could she be quiet? She must explain, either that or walk out and never return to any such function again.

“It is very simple, My Lady,” the duke said with a small shrug. “I was looking for Lord Leicester.”

Lady Sinclair glared at him. “Why?”

“Why? Because, where else would I expect to find him.”

“No,” the older woman said with exasperation. “Why was Lady Elizabeth in such a place. She must have known that she would be ruined.”

Elizabeth noticed that both Simon and Duncan had looked at their brother with wide-open eyes, as if unable to wait for this explanation.

“Consorting with such people,” Lady Sinclair continued with a shake of her head. “Whoever heard of such a thing. You will be thought of as one. It is as if you actually endorse such women.”

Elizabeth swallowed about to explain when the duke gently held her arm, pulling her back. Slightly stepping in front of her, as if he was willing to take the full brunt of the coming storm.

“We were looking for Lord Leicester so that I could ask for his blessing. I, … we don’t wish a long engagement and I hoped I could move the process along.

What? Elizabeth almost gasped as she fought to hide her emotions. What was he talking about?

Simon nudged Duncan in the ribs and smirked as he held out his hand. Duncan rolled his eyes then reached into his inner jacket pocket and removed a five-pound note and placed it in his brother’s hand.

The satisfied grin on Simon’s face made it appear as if he had just won a million pounds.

“Engagement?” Lady Sinclair said. “You two. You hate each other.”

The duke smiled at the older woman. “Oh Lady Sinclair, surely you know every love story begins with the couple despising each other.”

Again, Elizabeth fought to understand. The man was talking as if they were engaged to be married. Her to him. Preposterous.

“But why must she accompany you into such an establishment?”

The duke laughed, “She refused to allow me in that place without her. Really, it was rather sweet.

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