Page 16 of A Virgin for the Cruel Duke

“I would love to go out there and look at the bones myself. I think it must be terribly thrilling to be able to find ancient things in the earth and learn about the secrets of the world that way.”

“Indeed,” Mr. Dewsbury said slowly.

“Of course we simply must get more women into the field. When I think of the steps that women scientists have taken, leaps in some cases it makes me shudder to think how many brilliant minds we may have lost over the years to the foolish idea that women’s place is not in learning, it makes me sick to my soul.”

Elizabeth glanced at Stephen and saw him watching his sister in a mixture of fondness and concern. It was strange to see a man so fond of his family, it was certainly not anything she had experienced growing up. The Duchess was fond of her children, but distant and her father had a note of cruelty to all his interactions.

“Do you read a lot of books, Lady Selina?” Mr. Dewsbury asked suddenly, and Selina looked taken aback.

“As many as I deem good for my mind, Mr. Dewsbury,” she said quickly, her tone tart. “Do you not?”

“By Jove no, I much prefer to be out doing than to be staying home and thinking,” he said, a little pompously, Elizabeth thought. “Give me my horse and a hunt any day, or a fine ride over the heath or a shoot at one of my friends’ estates.”

“I believe I could tell that about you, sir,” Selina said slowly. “You had the air of a man who does not prefer thinking about you.”

There was a moment as everyone on the walk waited for Mr. Dewsbury to understand that he had been insulted, but it didn’t seem to happen. Instead he looked rather pleased with himself. Stephen turned his head to glance at Elizabeth, an expression of foreboding on his face. On an impulse Elizabeth squeezed his arm quickly, hoping that this would be comforting.

“It’s understandable that you would want to stay in the home,” he said to Selina, missing the dangerous way her posture shifted. “It’s what all ladies should do, sweet fragile things, but I’m a man. And men are meant to be out doing. And also books just aren’t good for the mind, Lady Selina. You will find that you become sick.”

“I did not know that you had studied medicine, Mr. Dewsbury,” Selina said. “But perhaps you are right. I’m beginning to feel sick now. Perhaps you will excuse me while my brother takes me home.”

“Of course, of course, I see a few of my friends, I hope you feel better,” he gave a cursory bow and was already walking on towards some young men as Selina turned back to Elizabeth and Stephen.

Stephen looked thunderous, and Selina looked both cold and disappointed at once. It was as disastrous a moment as it could be, and Elizabeth’s caution about engaging with her siblings-in-law melted a little in the face of the hurt feelings she could see Selina was hiding.

“I cannot think that the loss of his attentions will be a great loss to you,” she said quietly. “He is one of the most boorish men I have met.”

“Considering who your brother is, that must be saying something,” Selina said sharply, moving up to take Stephen’s other arm, who shot her a quelling glance.

Elizabeth was taken aback and unsure how to respond. It wasn’t really a jab at her, but it also felt like it was directed at her, like she and Dudley were connected in more ways than their father.

“I will communicate that you are not interested in continuing the courtship,” Stephen said firmly. “If that is what you want.”

Selina nodded. “I can overlook some things, but not a detestation of books, of learning.”

“Nor should you,” Elizabeth burst out. “It’s a part of who you are. Who you marry should be in harmony with that.”

They were walking underneath canopies of trees, the branches tangling overhead into a beautiful green dappled tunnel. The weather was warmer than expected, a sort of golden day of crisp air and gentle winds that would have felt perfect if it weren’t for the tension in the air.

Elizabeth was consumed with the desire for a few minutes to walk through the trees on her own, perhaps to dip her hand into the running brook or to seek out birds' nests or squirrels to watch.

She had spent so much of her life cooped up in her room or sneaking out into the estate to watch the wildlife that she had not realized how much becoming a duchess and not being able to disappear for hours on end would affect her.

There was so little freedom in her world, no matter what she did.

“Thank you for your advice,sister,” Selina snapped. “But considering that you did not do any courtship of your own, forgive me if I do not value it above my own thoughts on the matter.”

“Selina,” Stephen said warningly. “Enough.”

It was a familiar feeling, this. Not being able to do anything right. No matter what she said it would be twisted and used against her. Elizabeth pursed her lips and fell silent, letting the other two take the lead back to the coach. Once they were inside she fell into silence and looked out the window.

Stephen was telling Selina that she would find the right man and that he would ensure that she was supported in what she wanted to do, a luxury of freedoms that Elizabeth couldn’t even dream of. Was it possible for two women from the same household to be so different in position? She was a duchess and yet she had less say in her life than her husband’s sister.

“No, I shall say something!”

Elizabeth realized that she had fallen into her thoughts so deeply that she had stopped listening to her companions completely. They were drawing up to the house, the graceful lines of the building beautiful against the backdrop of gardens and woodlands.

It was such a beautiful house. Somehow it felt less grim than the Rosenburg estate, less poisoned by cruelty. It felt like a place that had been made by people who had summer in their hearts.

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