Page 26 of Lady of Providence
Elizabeth nodded, wondering how much longer she had to continue waltzing within his embrace. For she could no longer deny just how attracted to him she was. Yet, how could that be, that she would still want a man who had treated her so poorly years ago? Not only that, but he clearly had conflicting thoughts about her current role. She knew if she were ever to marry — particularly a man like the Duke, though of course notthisduke — she may have to relinquish much to him, for all of her income would become his. Thanks to her grandfather’s wording within the will, the shares and the inheritance would remain hers, but everything else could never be — anything she further earned would be his, as was the law, the injustice of which Phoebe was always fighting against with her paper. Elizabeth didn't want to be another woman who left everything she held important to her for a man, no matter who that man was.
But why did Gabriel have to be not only so devastatingly handsome but also so witty, so intelligent? She had never felt this way about another man and she likely never would again. She reminded herself that for all of his redeeming qualities, he could also be annoyingly infuriating.
At last, the final chords of the song sounded, and Elizabeth stepped away from Gabriel as quickly as she could.
"So eager to be rid of me?" he quipped with a raised eyebrow, and she felt her cheeks redden.
"I must see to the other guests. It is important that they all come to know me."
"Ah, potential clients," he said with a knowing smile. Of course, he saw right through her and her motives.
"I suppose so," she said, raising a silk-clad shoulder.
"May I call upon you tomorrow?" he asked, shocking her as he escorted her off the dance floor.
"Call upon me?" she repeated, sounding like an idiot. "Why would you want to do that?"
"Is it not obvious?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"Well, I suppose it is, but Gabriel ... it has been years. Months since we even last spoke. Why all of a sudden—"
He laid a fingertip on her lips, and she jerked away, aware that they were being watched.
"Hush," he said. "I will explain all — when I call upon you tomorrow. Will you be home?"
"In the late afternoon," she finally grumbled, now simply wanting to be rid of him with all of the eyes upon them. "After banking hours. But do not get any ideas."
He laughed then, a deep, rich chuckle that tickled her very soul. He raised her hand to his lips, kissed it, and then turned away, and she could practically feel the burn where his lips had been, despite the layer of her glove between them.
It took not a minute for Elizabeth to be flanked by Phoebe and Sarah.
"Oh, Elizabeth, I do believe the Duke still has feelings for you," Sarah said, her words coming out in a whisper.
“He is playing a game," Elizabeth said flatly. "I know it. If he actually has feelings, why did he not do the right thing years ago, or attempt to have anything to do with me between then and now? Why now, not long after I was named the senior partner of the bank?"
"Perhaps it is the fact he has seen you again, and you have refocused his energy?" Sarah said as though she were guessing.
"He could have grown up," said Phoebe, and Elizabeth looked over at her, surprised she would be trusting Gabriel’s current motives. "What?" she asked, seeing Elizabeth's expression. "I am not saying that is the case, I am only saying it is a possibility. One can never know for sure. Anyway, he is a powerful man, and in your current position, you wouldn't want to turn him against you. Best to play his game, determine what he wants. But Elizabeth," she said, turning and narrowing her gaze upon her. "Don't lose your heart."
"Of course not," Elizabeth said, straightening her spine.
Sarah shook her head at the pair of them, clearly not approving, but what could Elizabeth do? She had a role to play now, and she couldn't let her emotions get in the way.
Especially emotions concerning the Duke of Clarence.
CHAPTER13
Gabriel was rather perturbed with himself as he strode up the stairs of the townhouse now belonging to Lady Elizabeth Moreland. His heart was beating in an irregular pattern, it seemed, which was rather ridiculous. Not only was he a well-known, respected gentleman of the nobility, but he was a duke, one of the most wealthy and powerful in all of England.
So why was he allowing a simple attraction to a woman to cause such an unease within him?
It must be because of their past, he told himself. Surely that was it. Elizabeth felt he had wronged her, and though he agreed with her now, he knew that many would argue the fact. A woman, they would say, should be aware that such was the result of entering into a relationship with a man like himself. Many women — most actually — would have little to no expectation that she would remain hisonlywoman. In fact, most would expect a man like him to take other lovers.
And yet... he had known of what type of woman Elizabeth was, and, at the very least, he should not have been so entirely obvious in his trysts with others.
He knocked on the door, smiling when Justine's face greeted him.
"Hello, Mrs. Clarke," he said, embracing her with a kiss on the cheek.
