Page 22 of Lady of Providence
“Well, anyway. I still don’t know what that was all about in Newmarket, Julia. But I will not forget what happened between me and the Duke of Clarence in the past. I will not risk my heart once more.”
“That was a few years ago now,” Sarah said softly. “Could he have changed?”
Elizabeth frowned.
“I suppose he could have, in some ways,” she said truthfully. “Though I rather doubt it.”
“I do have to say,” Julia added, speaking slowly, “That there seemed to be more at play than what appeared on the surface when we were in Newmarket. It was as though he knew exactly what was happening, and was trying to… help things along, if you will. I have no idea whether or not that was the truth, but that was how it felt to me.”
“He manipulates situations,” said Elizabeth with some ire. “He always has. It’s some type of game to him, to see how he can use people like pawns on his chessboard in order to reach the King.”
“Well, all worked out for me,” Julia said with a soft smile. “But I can certainly understand your concern.”
“I think you are correct to avoid him,” Phoebe said, and Elizabeth looked gratefully toward her. “Can you really trust him? Though, never tell him that I suggested otherwise, for I wouldn’t want to ruin his friendship with Jeffrey.”
“Of course not,” Elizabeth assured her.
“Thank you. And what will you do now?” Phoebe asked.
“I will finish moving into this house,” Elizabeth said, waving her hands around her. “I will get to work at the bank, and determine exactly how to keep my cousin Henry from being a problem. If I choose to do so, I can decline his partnership, but that may raise the ire of the other partners, causing them to be concerned about the future. And in the meantime, I will ignore Gabriel Lockwood.”
CHAPTER11
Three months later
Elizabeth wasthankful to finally dress in lavender. It felt joyful after so many days of black, over and over. In all honesty, she felt her grandfather, had he been asked his opinion, would have far preferred that they wear color to celebrate his life. But, this was expected, and while the majority of her life these days seemed to be going against what others felt she should do, in this she would follow protocol.
“Good morning,” she said as she entered the breakfast room where her grandmother awaited. They had settled into what Elizabeth felt was a delightful routine, having breakfast together in the cream room that reminded Elizabeth of dining on clouds. There was the slightest bit of light blue scattered throughout the room in paintings and upon the upholstery of the chairs, but even the table was in the lightest pine that added to the brightness of the room, while the east-facing window allowed the morning sun to permeate the room.
“Good morning, darling,” Justine said, her face wrinkled into her usual smile. Elizabeth knew how much her grandmother missed her husband, but at the same time, Justine had a positive outlook on life and all that it included. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did,” said Elizabeth with a smile, though it was a complete lie. Every night she lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling as her mind was in turmoil over all she had to consider following her day at the bank. She hoped her concerns would lessen in time, but for now, she had far too much worry over which decisions were right, who she could trust, and who would prefer not to have a woman leading them. She wished she could ask her grandfather about her choices, but alas, she could only assume what he may think.
Her grandmother looked at her shrewdly now, perhaps guessing everything that was running through her mind.
“Your grandfather brought his worries home too,” Justine said, taking a sip of her tea.
“He did?” Elizabeth asked, raising her head from her plate to look at her grandmother.
“Of course he did,” said Justine, pulling her wrapper closer around her. She never dressed before noon — she said she had no reason to, so why not be comfortable while she breakfasted and read her papers? “Sometimes he spoke to me of them. He said it helped. I don’t want you to feel any pressure to do so, but you are always welcome to; I’d like you to know that.”
“Thank you, Grandmother,” Elizabeth said. “At the moment, it is primarily gaining the trust and confidence of clients and partners. A female senior partner is not exactly the norm.”
“No,” Justine agreed. “But your grandfather wouldn’t have named you in his place had he not trusted in you. They will come around — you will know how best to prove yourself.”
“Thank you,” said Elizabeth with a smile. How different were her breakfast conversations here than with her parents. “I do appreciate that.”
“Has the awful business with your cousin now concluded?”
“Henry’s contesting of the will? Yes, thank goodness,” Elizabeth said with a sigh. “I have no idea why he would ever consider that the will would not be valid, considering who Grandpapa was and how careful he was in such matters. However, after the interviews, it was concluded that there were multiple witnesses present through both the drafting and the signing of the will and, of course, Grandpapa was in a sound state of mind when he made it.”
“Well, I am relieved it is finished now and put to rest so that you can continue with what is important,” Justine said, and Elizabeth chose not to share her additional fears that Henry would only find new methods to attempt to undermine her authority and her position.
“Now,” her grandmother continued. “Have you decided what you will be wearing tonight?”
“Wearing? Tonight?” Elizabeth searched her mind as she tried to determine to what her grandmother was referring.
“To the party your parents are hosting, darling,” her grandmother said with a bit of a laugh. “Are you so preoccupied that you have forgotten?”
