Page 88 of The Duke's Ultimatum

“Stop looking at me like that. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Sarah clucked her tongue. “That in and of itself is a lie, and you know it.”

Eleanor cracked a tight smile. “Fine then, I wouldn’t lie to you about something that matters as much as this.”

Both women were quiet for a moment. Eleanor had begun to think what she said was the end of it, but then Sarah stood and walked to stand behind her at the vanity. Sarah placed her hands on Eleanor’s shoulders and met her eyes in the mirror.

“You know, you do not have to carry this burden,” Sarah noted.

“What burden?”

Sarah raised an eyebrow. “The burden of being married off to some rich man for the sake of the family. This does not have to fall on your shoulders.”

Eleanor’s eyes widened as she laughed. “Of course, it has to fall on my shoulders. I’m the eldest sister. If I don’t marry and set the course for the family, things could go awry very quickly. I will not let that happen.”

Sarah wrinkled her nose. “That may have happened before the Duke came, but now that he’s here, our finances are a bit better. I’m sure we would survive if you had another season.”

Eleanor shrugged. “His Grace wouldn’t allow it. You heard him when he first arrived; his first priority was to marry us off. He gave me to the end of this season. We’re nearing the end now.”

Sarah walked around her sister and knelt in front of her. She took Eleanor’s hands in hers and looked up into her sister’s eyes. “You know you don’t have to do what the Duke says. Contrary to belief, he’s not a dictator. I’m sure if you talked to him and explained you want to marry for love?—”

Eleanor abruptly stood up, breaking contact with her sister. She walked to her bed and stood with her hands on her hips. “And who says I want to marry for love? I’m not like you, Sarah. I don’t have dreams of some great love coming to rescue me. I just need a stable man who can provide for me… for us. I don’t have the luxury to marry for love.”

Eleanor’s words broke her own heart, but she refused to acknowledge it.

Sarah sat on the floor watching her sister. “Is that all you want for your life? To be provided for?”

Eleanor threw her hands up in the air. “It makes no difference what I want. I agreed to marry Simon, so I will marry Simon, and that’s the end of it.”

Sarah sighed as she stood up. “Eleanor, I?—”

Eleanor raised her hand to stop Sarah’s words. “No, Sarah, enough. I’ve grown tired of this conversation.”

Sarah shook her head. “All I was going to say was that I want you to be happy, and right now, I don’t feel as though you are. But if those words are too exhausting for you, I’ll just leave.”

Sarah marched across the room to the door. Eleanor lunged to grab Sarah by the wrist as she passed her.

“Sarah, wait! I’m sorry.” Eleanor took a breath. “Thank you for being concerned over my wellbeing. It is quite sweet of you, and I appreciate it very much.”

Sarah dropped her head before turning to meet Eleanor’s eyes. “You always look out for us; it’s time someone looked out for you.”

Eleanor’s heart swelled. She really was lucky to have a sister like Sarah caring for her. “Thank you. But in regard to my future, I know the path I am to take, and I made my peace with it long ago.”

Sarah bit the inside of her cheek. “I think this world has done you a great disservice.”

Eleanor tried to swallow, but her throat ran dry. “How do you mean?”

Sarah lifted a shoulder. “I feel you think you don’t deserve the happiness everyone else gets because in your organized mind, you separated love and marriage. Marriage has become a job to you instead of the outcome of love.”

Eleanor sighed. “My sweet sister. Someday you will understand. Real life doesn’t happen the way your books say it does. Most often love comes after marriage.”

“What about the other times?” Sarah asked.

“What other times?”

“You said most often love comes after marriage, meaning there are times when love comes first.”

Eleanor nodded her head in acknowledgement. “I suppose so.”

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