The Secret Seduction of Lady Eliza by Bethany Sefchick

Author:Bethany Sefchick [Sefchick, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Bethany M. Sefchick
Published: 2015-09-28T07:00:00+00:00

Nearly three hours later, Eliza was wondering why she had ever been hesitant to join Sophia and Julia on the shopping expedition in the first place. Truly, Nicholas' sister was a delight, and surprisingly, Julia believed that Eliza was good for her brother. In fact, Julia had gone so far as to say that Eliza was precisely the sort of woman Nicholas - whom she always referred to as Nicky - required as his wife. A woman who did not fawn all over him or fall at his feet in a swoon. And especially a woman who was not afraid of him.

It was clear that Sophia had her doubts about that last part, but then, she had not grown up with Nicholas in her life. Eliza had.

"I missed him greatly while he was away," Julia said as she perused the fabrics Madame LaVallier had spread out on a table before them, a cup of tea at her wrist should she wish it. "But I also understood my parents' hesitancy to allow him to remain at Seldon Park. There were too many rumors even then swirling about him and Benjamin. About what they had both done to protect me."

The other woman spoke off-handedly about the incident from her past, but Eliza knew it had to be extremely difficult for her, especially since Benjamin had killed his own father before the man had a chance to kill Julia. Julia had been a child, barely old enough to understand what was happening to her or why the man she had often considered a second father was slicing her body open with a fencing foil. Even now, Eliza was not certain how Julia had endured such pain. She was not certain she would have been as strong.

"And I never questioned why Nicholas was at Langton Abby. He was merely Stephen's friend and a fixture in the house during the long summer months. And while my father did not approve of the friendship, my mother did." Eliza sighed wistfully as she fingered a bit of gold brocade, thinking that it might make a wonderful cape. Though she did not dare spend the funds today, the issue with Stephen still unresolved. "They were stronger then. My parents, I mean." Then she quickly clamped her mouth shut. It would not do to reveal too many of her family's closely guarded secrets.

But unsurprisingly, Julia already knew much and from the expression on Sophia's face, she did as well. "Your parents stopped living when Stephen died, didn't they?" Julia raised an eyebrow, so much like her brother that it was frightening. "They left you to pick up the pieces. My mother did much the same when my father died." The duchess held up a pair of new French silk stockings, examining them with a critical eye. "That is when Nicholas became the duke. But he wasn't like our father."

"I know." Eliza swallowed. "Or, rather, I know some of it. Your brother came to see my father often in those days, seeking advice.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.