Page 70 of A Winter with the Rakish Duke

“Eloise!” Kate barged through the door, entering the room as her cream gown floated like she was dancing. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re all right, mama told me you arrived just a while ago.”

Eloise stood up, extending her arms to allow for a hug. Kate smelled of roses and soap, making it easy to assume that she’d been ready for quite a long time now.

“I didn’t have time to find you,” said Eloise, “I’ve been getting ready ever since, for the…dinner.”

“You don’t need to explain yourself. I only need to know one thing—” Kate inched closer to Eloise, her full lips extending into a grin, “How was he?”

“How was who?”

“Oh, the Duke, of course! You know, the Duke of Richmond? Is he as charming as they say? I swear if you told me you’d be spending a week alone with him, I’d never have believed it.”

Her question was to be expected, of course. If there was one thing Eloise missed about home, that was Kate’s high energy. No matter how dire, serious, or even plain grieving the situation was, Kate had her own way of turning things into a ray of positivity and somehow influencing everyone around her. That was one of her many charms, not her beauty or her grace. As she sat across the pink dresser, Kate placed a golden pin in her hair, which only helped enhance the glow of her cheeks.

“Well, it wasn’t anything special…”

Kate looked at her through the mirror, one of her eyebrows raised higher than the other in a look of disbelief. Yes, there was also no use lying to Kate.

“I want to know every detail—all the hot and passionate—”

“What makes you think it was hot and passionate?” Eloise giggled.

“It’s the Duke of Richmond we’re talking about, are you telling me he didn’t try to seduce you?” Kate asked.

Eloise was stuck in an eternal conflict. On the one hand, revealing everything to Kate would help relieve a huge weight off her chest. But not only would it remind Eloise of everything that transpired, but it would also add to the danger of gossip spreading wider and quicker since Kate was notorious for parroting juicy details to every soul around her.

“No, he was a gentleman,” Eloise continued, “He offered me one of the best rooms in the Castle and—”

“He strolled in one evening while you were alone?”

Eloise cleared her throat, ignoring her remarks. “And he made sure I was treated well, and I had everything I needed. He never attempted to seduce me—” She flinched at her own words as memories of Simon kissing her in his study perked to the surface, “And he never showed any interest in me. Honest to God, I don’t think men like him are interested in women like me.”

Kate shifted downward to her chair in disappointment. “Did you speak to him at least?”

“Only twice. Once when I told him that I hated men like him—”

“You did what? Oh goodness, you can’t be serious.” Kate held a hand to her heart, almost as if she were to faint. “You told him you hate him? And he didn’t try to kick you out?”

“No, he never did. I told you, he didn’t really care.”

A forced smile stretched on her lips at the memory of their last interactions, how he told her he fooled her, that she was a toy to him. But she shook her head, pushing it away before tears formed in her eyes once more.

“Either you’re the best liar ever, or the gossip columns are wrong,” Kate said in thought. Then, she shuffled closer, roosting right beside Eloise’s chair. “Did he talk about me?”

Eloise squinted her eyes a little. “Hmm, not that I recall.”

All of a sudden, the door creaked open, revealing the sight of Letitia, her young and petite maid, who stood patiently with her fingers interlaced against her stomach.

“Yes, Letitia?” Eloise asked warmly.

“My Ladies,” she started, clearing her throat. “Lady Lyndon told me that she requests the both of you downstairs—the guests have arrived.”

“Very well, thank you,” Kate said.

Letitia bowed respectfully, exiting the room with no hesitation. At first, Eloise found it odd since Fenella would remain by her side until she dismissed her, but things worked differently at Lyndon estate. It was easy to forget when you’ve spent even a short time away from high society. Not that Castle Richmond wasn’t the peak of aristocracy, but it was quite informal compared to the rest of high society. Here, the maids would only remain if you requested it from them, which did save from some awkward interactions at times.

Kate stood up, turned her gaze to Eloise, and eyed her from head to toe. “Is that what you’re wearing? Why don’t you go with blue, you know, it is after all your Lord James’ favorite?” She winked.

Eloise shuddered at the reminder of the ball less than a fortnight ago. As her reflection of the mirror stared back at her, she hunched her shoulders at the bright yellow gown, which made her look like a carnival hand at best. Yellow was definitely not her color, but the last thing she wanted was to impress James. If looking hideous was the way to repel him, then she would do just that.

“Oh, I should be independent of men’s choices. It is quite fashionable, after all. I think I’d rather stick with this.” She waved a hand over her figure.

“Well. If that’s what you wish. You suit everything you wear regardless.” Kate smiled warmly.

It was a lie, of course, they both knew it, but she wasn’t about to argue with her kind-hearted cousin, who was Eloise’s only confidant at a time like this. Kate paced next to her, wrapping her petite hand around Eloise’s arm.

“Come on, let us go. Mama will send the whole of Lyndon estate to find us if we’re not punctual enough. Apparently, being late is not fashionable if you’re a Lyndon,” giggled Kate.

“Well, a Brooks.” Eloise giggled too. An attempt to lift her downcast mood a little.

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