Page 1 of The Duke's Ultimatum

CHAPTER 1

Eleanor stepped aside to let the red-faced maid scurry past her. “I really don’t think chastising the poor girl over the state of the curtains was appropriate, Mama. It’s not like she was the one who hung them.”

“Well, just look at them!” Charlotte cried. “This one side hangs lower than the other. The Duke will think our house is sinking.”

Eleanor took a deep breath and commended herself on not rolling her eyes. “Doubtful, Mama. Besides, if he was one to pay attention to such matters, don’t you think he would have shown up sooner? It’s been a year since he inherited the title, and this is the first we’re seeing of him? I doubt he’ll care much about the state of anything.”

Charlotte continued her ministrations, tugging at the curtain, hoping to stretch the material out to even the sides. “Or it could have been the man was terribly busy with one of his many lucrative business dealings, and now, he has found the time togive us our appropriate attention. Everything must be perfect for his arrival.”

This time, Eleanor couldn’t stop the roll of her eyes. She felt it preposterous they were running themselves ragged preparing for a man who took his time coming to claim his title. And why was he coming now? It didn’t sit right with her. None of this did.

Charlotte stood with her hands on her hips. “There. I think that’s better.”

Eleanor narrowed her eyes. The curtains looked exactly the same as they did before her mother started fussing with them, but she was not going to tell her mother that.

Charlotte fluttered past Eleanor, on to her next issue. A chandelier that hasn’t been moved in years was, all of a sudden, casting an offending shadow across the hallway. Apparently, it had to be dealt with before the new Duke arrived.

Eleanor huffed out a breath and followed the sounds of her mother barking orders to their poor deaf butler. Old man Madden was currently standing precariously on a rickety ladder, reaching upwards, trying to move the chandelier to stop the shadow from appearing.

“Mama, do you think this is safe?” Eleanor came to stand next to her mother, both women peering up at the wobbly old man.

“What? Oh.” She waved off her daughter. “Of course it is. Madden has done this a thousand times, haven’t you, Madden?”

Eleanor peered up to the man, whose legs were making the ladder shake. Her hands were itching to reach out and steady it for the old man.

“No need to be concerned, Your Grace. I’ll fix it for you.”

Charlotte beamed. “See? He’s fine.”

Eleanor was about to point out that he obviously misunderstood her but thought better of it.

Charlotte turned towards her daughter and cast a judging eye over her.

Eleanor grew uneasy under her mother’s eye. “What?” Eleanor patted down her dress. “What’s wrong?”

Charlotte cocked her head to the side. “Do you always wear your hair like that?”

Eleanor touched her hair. “Mama! I take great pride in how I look, you know that.”

Charlotte let out a sigh as she brushed past her. “Oh, I know. I just want everything and everyone to look presentable.”

Eleanor pulled at her dress. “Are you saying I don’t look presentable?”

Charlotte shook her head. “No, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that I want everyone to be ready, and nothing can go wrong.”

Eleanor once again tugged at her dress.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Doing what?”Tug. Tug. Tug.

“That.” Charlotte pointed at Eleanor’s waist. “Why are you pulling at your dress?” The color faded from Charlotte’s face. “Please don’t tell me your dress no longer fits. Oh Eleanor, you know money is tight right now, and we don’t have the means to buy more which is exactly why we need to be welcoming to the Duke. We need him more than he needs us.”

Eleanor held her hands, so she would stop pulling at the digging material. “No, Mama, the dress fits fine. I think Susan just pulled my corset a bit too tight this morning is all.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “That better be it. I swear I don’t know how we’ll get through this season with our current finances. And to think your sister comes up next season. We must count our blessing the Duke has decided to take us on.”

Eleanor snorted. “You make him sound like he is our savior and not just a man with money.”

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