Page 39 of Lady of Providence
"I only mean that, perhaps, this might be a good thing," Sarah said with a shrug. "Perhaps you and the Duke might find that you are no longer the same people you were years ago and that if you explored this attraction for one another further, you might be very well suited for one another."
Elizabeth was already shaking her head before Sarah finished speaking. She couldn't give in — she wouldn't. She had decided that she could not be with him for a multitude of reasons, and tonight only further proved why it would be a disastrous decision. For if he could distract her from all rational thought with one simple touch in the gardens, what would that mean for everyday life?
"He's calling upon me tomorrow... with a question," Elizabeth told Sarah now, and she saw her friend's eyes widen in joyful surprise.
"Oh, Elizabeth, do you think—"
"I hope not," Elizabeth cut her off, already anticipating Sarah's question. What would she say if Gabriel did propose? A large part of her jumped in gleeful anticipation at the thought, but the other part — the rational side, which typically won over — was much more cautious. For there were many more concerns with marriage. It was a lifetime decision and one that she certainly couldn't take lightly.
"Why not?" Sarah asked once more, and Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her friend.
"Oh, Sarah, I know you always see the best in people, and I love that about you, truly I do. I wish I could be much the same way, but, unfortunately, I am far the opposite. You see—"
Elizabeth's words were cut off by the appearance of red skirts in front of them, and she looked up to see a woman staring down at her. She was beautiful, her dark, shining hair perfectly coiffed, her ample breasts pushed up over the bodice of her elaborate gown. She had a black circular mark over her lip and Elizabeth wondered whether she had put it there on purpose.
"Lady Elizabeth," she drawled. "How lovely to see you. And who is your little friend?"
Elizabeth felt Sarah bristle beside her, but she took her elbow and drew her up next to her so that they stood in front of the woman, allowing Elizabeth to look down upon her, which she far preferred.
"Lady Pomfret," she greeted her, and she felt rather than saw Sarah startle next to her, recognizing the woman's name. "Please meet my dear friend, Miss Jones."
"How lovely to make your acquaintance," the woman said. "My, it has been far too long, Lady Elizabeth," she said. "I heard the silliest rumor the other day — that you were running a bank!"
As she tittered, Elizabeth felt her ire toward the woman growing. She told herself that it was because of her rudeness, and not because of the fact she was the very same woman Elizabeth had seen Gabriel with many years ago, but she knew she was lying to herself.
"I am the senior partner of Clarke & Co., actually," she said, and Lady Pomfret fanned herself. The widow was a frequent guest at parties such as these, unfortunately, for she was a favorite of many of theton— particularly the gentlemen, as she was generous with her favors. "Perhaps you have heard of it?"
"Oh, I'm not sure," the woman said with a shrug. "I do not bother myself with such issues but have my solicitors and stewards and the like care for it all. It allows me to spend my time on other matters that are far more interesting."
"I actually find bank matters more interesting than most others," Elizabeth said dryly, and Lady Pomfret laughed as though Elizabeth had told an amusing joke.
"Oh, Lady Elizabeth, darling, you are silly, are you not? Now, I must ask you about your growing acquaintance with our darling Clarence. It is on the tongues of everyone, as you must know. I do recall you were close some years ago, were you not? He has always been such an enjoyable man."
Her words were warm, but her blue gaze was ice, and Elizabeth felt her spine grow stiff as she stared her down.
"We are friends," she said, which was the truth. They were. She enjoyed their time together, enjoyed talking to him. She would just never admit to this woman that there might be more than that between the two of them.
"How lovely!" the woman gushed, then leaned in, resting her fingers upon Elizabeth's bare ones.
"Oh, whatever happened to your gloves?" She looked back up at Elizabeth with a knowing glance.
"I spilled a drink upon them and they were ruined," Elizabeth said, unconcerned, suddenly wanting to be anywhere but this room. "Now if you will excuse us, Lady Pomfret, but I promised Miss Jones that I would introduce her to a friend of mine. Farewell."
As they turned away, Sarah murmured, "Nasty witch," and Elizabeth could only nod in agreement, though her stomach was in turmoil at all she had been reminded of through her conversation with Lady Pomfret. Was Gabriel still involved with the woman? Or any other women? She felt as though she was going to be sick and she took a few deep breaths as she brought a hand to her belly.
If —if— she were to accept Gabriel, or, at the very least, further whatever it was that was currently between them, these would be the types of women, the types of circumstances she would have to endure.
“Are you all right?” Sarah asked, placing a hand on Elizabeth’s arm, and she managed a nod. She would love, more than anything, to return home and leave this party behind, but that was not to be. For she had clients here who would find it rude, would consider it odd, would say that this is what a fickle woman would do — attend such a party and then leave the moment she felt emotional or ill. No, she would remain and do what she needed to do. She took a deep breath, pasted a smile on her face, and went to work.
* * *
Gabriel sankinto the broad leather chair in front of the fireplace of his study, his brow deeply furrowed in concentration as he studied the item he held between his fingers. The gold of the band glinted in the reflection of the orange flames, while the three diamonds in the center reflected a brilliant light around the dark walls of the room.
The ring had been his mother’s. Years ago, when her health began to decline, she had become too thin for the ring to fit any longer, and it kept slipping off her finger. It was then she had given the ring to Gabriel, making him promise to find a woman worthy to wear it.
It was not so much that the woman had proven difficult to find, Gabriel thought as the longcase clock in the hall chimed midnight. No, it was Gabriel himself who had not been prepared to offer it to anyone. Even when he had asked Elizabeth to marry him the first time, all of those years ago, something had kept him from offering such a gift to her. It was as though he had known that it wasn’t meant to be — at least, not at that time, at that moment. For the truth was, had they married five years ago, it never would have worked between them. He was not ready to be a husband, and he would have disappointed her at every turn.
But now… now he was sure that he could be the man she needed. He just had to determine that this was the right step to take — for both of them. For once he went down this path, there was no turning back. Gabriel refused to fail at anything in his life. Especially not at this.
