Page 74 of The Duke's Ultimatum

No one covered how to act when someone you don’t necessarily want to marry proposes to you in front of someone you… what? What did she feel for the Duke?

Simon coughed.

Oh, right. Simon.Eleanor shook the thoughts from her head and concentrated on Simon. She settled on looking expectant.

Simon’s hand felt warm in hers. His fingers started to caress the hand he held, and it felt forced and insincere. Eleanor swallowed the instinct to pull away.

“Eleanor, I have had the honor of getting to know you over the past few weeks, and I think you agree that we are well-suited for each other.”

Heat bloomed across Eleanor’s cheeks. Her heart was racing at a precarious speed, and she actually thought she might faint if it continued at this pace. She tried taking a deep breath, but her lungs wouldn’t expand in this blasted corset.

“That being the case, Eleanor, would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

Eleanor blinked.

That was it? That was the proposal she was waiting for? He exuded no nerves, no emotion; it was as if he were talking about the weather.

She could feel all eyes of the room on hers. Simon looked hopeful and honestly, quite sure of himself. Her mother, she could assume, watched with bated breath. And the Duke?

Well, if she were to look at him, he would no doubt have a look of boredom and indifference.

Her eyes betrayed her will and looked directly at the Duke. Just as she expected, he was still leaning against the windowsill, his long legs crossed at the feet, his arms folded against his chest. He was the epitome of apathy, and it broke her heart.

With a slow breath, she looked into the Duke’s dark eyes, eyes that held no emotion, and responded with a simple, “Yes.”

The Duke blinked once and nodded his head.

Charlotte jumped from her chair, and into her line of sight. “What a wonderful day!” She took Eleanor into her arms for a warm hug. Eleanor’s eyes continued to look past her mother just in time to see the Duke stand and retreat from the room.

Eleanor sighed heavily into her mother’s arms.

Charlotte backed up, holding her daughter at arm’s length. “I am so happy for you, truly!” Charlotte wiped a stray tear from her eyes. She brought Eleanor in for another hug.

When Charlotte released Eleanor, she turned towards Simon, who was patiently waiting with a satisfied smile on his face.

“I am so glad you said yes. We shall be very happy together.” He took her hand and placed a kiss on the top of her hand.

His lips touching her hand sent no shock waves through her body. It didn’t make her stomach swirl with excitement. In fact, it made her stomach sink.

“Oh, look!” Simon said, while taking out a handkerchief. “You must be so excited, you have tears!”

Eleanor raised a hand to her cheek and was surprised when her fingers came back wet. She was crying.

She heard her mother’s small gasp and quickly wiped the tears from her face. “Yes, they’re happy tears,” she insisted, hoping it came across as sincere.

She couldn’t bear to look at her mother. One look, and Charlotte would know Eleanor was no longer hopeful about their marriage. After their talk in the garden, Eleanor had felt somewhat better about her decision to agree to this marriage, but after sitting in this room listening to him babble on about propriety within Parliament, she was less optimistic.

His proposal, if you could call it that, was another blow to the sliver of hope she held on to.

Simon looked at the clock. “Oh, I didn’t realize the time. Once I get talking about Parliament, it’s hard for me to stop,” he said with a little nudge to Eleanor.

Eleanor managed a smile. “I noticed.”

“I shall call on you tomorrow. I’m sure my mother will want to discuss wedding plans with you.”

Eleanor nodded. “That would be lovely.” The words barely cleared her throat, it was so dry.

Charlotte and Eleanor saw Simon out.

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