Page 25 of My Dangerous Duke

“I think that is enough inspiration for now,” he said, his voice sounding extremely strained.

Eleanor searched his face as he pulled back, noting how vexed he looked; how his entire body was trembling. She wanted to reach for him again, to pull him back for another kiss, but before she could, he was moving her to the side, and opening the door.

“Mrs. Gaines,” Xander called, throwing Eleanor one more heated glance before he walked away. “I believe my wife is quite vexed. It would do her good to have a soothing bath.”

Mrs. Gaines hurried past Xander and into his study and gasped as she saw Eleanor in her torn-up gown and mussed-up appearance.

“Good heavens, Your Grace!” Mrs. Gaines exclaimed, leading her out. “What happened to you?”

“I do not know,” Eleanor whispered honestly. Though, she was sure they were referring to two entirely different things.

Chapter 12

“Ithought you said you were going to paint flowers all over these walls?” Cordelia asked, her eyes searching the pristine walls of the Larsen Hall.

The ball was in full swing and highly attended. Eleanor had worked tirelessly to make it a point of pride. If she was going to stay and play a part, she was going to do it well. She turned to her friend, amused to see that she appeared disappointed.

“No,” she replied, feeling a blush tinge her cheeks at the last time she had tried such a thing. “I have decided to put such childish things behind me. Besides, this ball is important to the Harrison name, and as a Harrison now, it is my responsibility to see that it goes well.”

“My, my,” Marina laughed, taking her arm as the three of them joined the mass of finely dressed nobles, “Look who is all mature.”

Eleanor smiled at her friend’s little jab. If she only knew.

“Oh, dear,” Penelope breathed, hiding her mouth with her champagne glass as her eyes darted toward the entrance. “Eleanor, it looks as if your family has arrived.”

Eleanor turned at once to the hall’s main entrance and indeed saw her father, mother, sister, and brother-in-law. It was the first time she had seen Edna since Xander had paid her to leave. Seeing them all now, she realized she could have gone a bit longer without a visit.

“The three of you should go on,” Eleanor encouraged, turning to her friends with a bright smile. “The Dowager is around here somewhere and you all always bring her such joy.”

“Do you want Rhys to come save you in a few minutes?” Penelope asked sincerely. “He is in the cigar room, but I can have him here immediately.”

“I do not know what I would do without you, girls,” Eleanor laughed, giving the three of them a gentle push, “But I shall be fine. Please, go enjoy the party.”

After seeing her friends off, Eleanor turned back toward the crowd and saw that her family was already making their way toward her. She scanned the great room quickly, hoping to spot Xander. But he was nowhere to be found; no doubt closing down some important deal or another. She had not seen him since he had left her in his study and had coordinated the ball with the Dowager and the staff alone.

She wished she had time to run to her rooms and check herself, but there was no time. For the ball, she had chosen to adorn a deep green gown with capped sleeves and black lace trim. Her arms had been adorned with elbow-length white-satin gloves and her circle of brown curls cushioned a small diamond-crested tiara that the Dowager had kindly allowed her to borrow.

“Mama, Papa,” she greeted timidly, curtseying to them respectfully as they approached. “Thank you so much for accepting our invitation.”

She then turned to Edna with a pleading glance.

“Sister,” she greeted as cheerfully as possible. “Good to see you again.”

Edna sniffed, pulled her husband’s arm closer to her, and said nothing.

“You have been lazy,” Her mother decreed, throwing a bored glance around the room.

“I beg your pardon?” Eleanor asked, feeling her cheeks grow hot with embarrassment.

“Nary a soul in this room knows who we are, Eleanor,” Laura Langley stated accusingly. “They do not know your name; they do not even knowyou.You were supposed to be helping your father further our family’s status, daughter, and you are failing.”

Eleanor looked from her mother’s disappointed face to her father’s, not at all aware of what they were referring to.

“I am afraid I had not realized that was a task required of me,” she said slowly, trying to comprehend.

Her father scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“What else do you think this marriage of yours was for?” He asked condescendingly.

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