Page 86 of The Duke's Ultimatum

Eleanor looked down at her mother, but she could feel the heat of the Duke’s gaze on her. “Yes, Mama. I’m happy, too. I know I’ll have a happy life with Simon.”

Eleanor excused herself from the room, refusing to look at the Duke. She walked down the hallway, and she quickened hersteps when she got to the staircase. When she got up the stairs, she all but ran into her room.

Charlotte gasped. “Oh Eleanor! Look at the color and overlay on this one!” Charlotte’s voice rang out across the modiste’s room. “This color would look so beautiful on you. We must get it.”

Eleanor felt numb. The colors of the dresses that surrounded her blurred together creating a tapestry of muted colors. She walked aimlessly around the room, randomly touching different fabrics. It didn’t matter if they were soft or delicate, each touch felt like sand beneath her fingertips.

Nothing felt right. Nothing looked right. Eleanor passed a mirror and stopped. She tilted her head as she took in the sight in front of her. Gone was the confident, excited, and positive woman that awoke this morning. Now, she felt shattered, broken, confused.Curse that blasted Duke.

“Eleanor?” Sarah approached her timidly. “Mama wants you to try on a dress she found. Don’t you hear her calling? I think Beatrice back at home heard her.”

Eleanor continued to stare into the mirror.

Sarah took Eleanor’s hand in hers. “Ellie, is everything all right?”

Eleanor looked at her sister. “Ellie? You haven’t called me that since we were little.”

Sarah offered a slight smile. “Well, if I’m honest, you look like you’re a lost little girl, so I figured it was appropriate.”

Eleanor just nodded at the explanation.

Both women stood in awkward silence.

“Eleanor! There you are! I’ve been calling you and calling you.” Charlotte stopped and took in Eleanor. “My goodness, child. Are you feeling all right? You look so pale?”

Eleanor licked her dry lips. “Yes,” her voice croaked. “I’m fine, just a bit overwhelmed, I guess.”

Charlotte laughed. “Oh, yes, I can understand that fully! It’ll pass my dear. Try to remember how you were feeling this morning, so happy and joyful” Charlotte began to pull Eleanor to the front of the store. “Come, seeing this dress will perk you right up.”

Eleanor allowed her mother to pull her. If she didn’t, Eleanor feared she would remain staring at the stranger in the mirror.

Once they got to the front of the store, Charlotte took the dress from the modiste who was holding it with the delicacy of handling a new born baby. “Here she is. Isn’t she beautiful?”

Eleanor smiled. “Thank you, Mama.”

Sarah leaned in and whispered, “I think she was talking about the dress.”

Eleanor laughed despite herself.

“Look at the detail, Eleanor. Not too busy but just enough to give it an air of sophistication. I think this will look beautiful on you. It’ll be the perfect way to start your new life as a wife… and hopefully mother,” Charlotte added with a twinkle in her eye.

Charlotte’s happiness was making Eleanor feel guilty. Whatever was going on in her mind in regard to the Duke must stop. Her mother was right, she just needed to get back to the way she was feeling this morning.

Obviously she wasn’t as over her crush as she thought, but if she kept her focus on the wedding, she could overcome it. For the sake of her mother and sisters’ future well-being, she would marry Simon.

She had to.

CHAPTER 25

Asoft knock sounded at Eleanor’s door.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Sarah’s head peeked through. “Mind if I bother you for a moment?”

Eleanor put down the pen and pushed her correspondence away. “For my favorite sister, of course.”

Sarah’s eyes brightened. “Oh, I’m holding you to that and will continue to hold it over your head for all future arguments with both you and Beatrice.”

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