Page 71 of The Duke's Ultimatum

Simon lifted a shoulder nonchalantly. “Word gets around.”

Eleanor was positively livid. “Well, that’s a garish rumor, one you should have stopped immediately. Regardless of what anyone may think of the Duke, it is ridiculous to speak about him like that.”

Simon gave Eleanor a blank look. “Eleanor, have you ever really looked at the man? His hands are rough, his shoulders are wide, and I’m surprised he can fit through doors. Not to mention his behavior when he first arrived was screaming of lower class. It is completely within the realm of reality to think he would act like a barbarian.”

Eleanor’s pulse ticked up, and her eyes took in the company she held. “Simon,” she said harshly, “he is nothing of the sort, and I would expect you to defend him from such disrespect now that we are courting. If anything should come of us, he will be in a fixture in our lives. He may have made a few missteps when he first arrived, but it is our Christian duty to give him some allowances as he navigates his way through his new role.”

Simon softened. “Oh, look at you, you poor thing. You’re all flush and out of breath.”

His patronizing tune irritated Eleanor.

“I’m sorry for speaking so harshly about our good old Duke. I suppose you’re right; he seems to be on board with our arrangement, so I guess it is in my best interest to give him those allowances.”

Eleanor eyed the man before her. It wasn’t exactly an apology, but coming from Simon, it was the best she was going to get.

“So, you’ll be kinder to him in the future?” Once again she forced her hand to lay on his arm, hoping the connection would instill confidence between them.

Simon’s eyes warmed. “Of course. After all, I’m getting what I want, so why shouldn’t you get what you want?”

The lobby lights dimmed, notifying the audience the second act was about to start. As Simon led her into his box, Eleanor couldn’t get Simon’s words out of her head. Is this what she wanted? Yes, she was getting Simon to finally treat the Duke with the respect not only his title but the man, himself, deserved, but shouldn’t she be getting more out of their arrangement than that?

Eleanor looked over to where Simon sat with a satisfied grin on his face. The man looked as if he had the whole world at his fingertips. She turned to face the stage. She was doing the right thing, she told herself. This was her course in life. She was to marry the Viscount, be the dutiful wife, and keep peace within her family.

Everything she grew up wanting was now at her fingertips, and all she had to do was say ‘yes’ when Simon proposed.

Her heart settled into her stomach. If it was what she wanted, why did the thought of saying yes churn her stomach and crush her heart?

CHAPTER 21

Eleanor sat at the breakfast table, staring out the window, mindlessly pushing a grape around her plate.

“Everything all right, Eleanor?” Charlotte asked, tilting her head slightly.

Eleanor continued to push the grape, not hearing her mother.

“Eleanor!” Charlotte waved her napkin around to get her daughter’s attention.

Eleanor looked across the table to her mother waving at her.

“I’m sorry, Mama, I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

Eleanor paused; she really didn’t know what she was thinking about. Too many thoughts fought over precedence in her mind. She had a feeling Simon would propose soon. They had been seeing each other regularly now, and since the Duke had stayed away, their time together had been more than casual.

Simon often brought up future plans, how many children he would like, and what he expected from his household. Nothing that shocked or concerned Eleanor. Their principles aligned with each other due to their similar upbringings. However, Eleanor couldn’t help but feel a part of her no longer wanted the perfectly polite high society life she was raised to strive for.

And if she did, she no longer saw it happening with someone like Simon.

Eleanor looked at her mother who was patiently waiting.

She couldn’t find the right words to adequately describe all the turmoil happening within her mind. Plus, she wasn’t sure her mother would approve of such thoughts and doubts. After all, her mother was a big proponent in her traditional upbringing and expected her daughters to be the prime example of high society. To have her oldest daughter doubt the match she was about to make and the life she was about to lead might lead her mother to the infirmary.

Instead of words, Eleanor lifted a shoulder and shrugged.

Charlotte put her fork down and pushed away from the table. She walked over to Eleanor’s side of the table and extended her hand. “Come. Take a walk with me.”

Eleanor looked at her mother’s hand and then back out the window. Perhaps a walk with her mother would help her clear her head.

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