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Authors: Jackie Manning
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grace.” For the first time, Elizabeth felt greatly relieved.
“Now, while we wait for Dalton, I have a littlesurprise for you.” She smiled, the color returning to her face.
“I love surprises!” Elizabeth clapped her hands with glee. “Please, tell me before Dalton gets here.”
Mildred nodded. “I want you to look especially beautiful for the ball this weekend.”
Elizabeth’s curiosity rose. She had never seen the dowager as excited as she was now. Maybe she had planned to finally announce her engagement to Dalton.
“Please, your grace, tell me what it is.”
“I want you to wear my diamond-and-ruby necklace. It was once owned by Marie Antoinette.” She paused, as though waiting for Elizabeth’s reaction.
Elizabeth forced a smile. “Thank you, your grace.” She fidgeted. “I remember that you wore the diamonds last year to King George’s Jubilee.” She could care less. After all, once she married Dalton, the diamonds and more would be hers.
The dowager leaned back and studied her. “You can’t hide your disappointment from me, Elizabeth. Now, why wouldn’t you be delighted to wear one of the most famous necklaces in the world?”
Tears flowed down Elizabeth’s cheeks, and she left them for effect. “I’d hoped that the ball would end with the announcement of my engagement to Dalton.”
Mildred’s face tightened. “But my dear—”
“Every day, more and more titled, wealthy men present offers for me to my father. I don’t know how long I can keep my father from marrying me off to a foreign prince or—”
“Your father and I have an agreement, Elizabeth. You needn’t worry on that account.”
“But there can’t be a wedding without a bridegroom.”
The dowager eyed her with disapproval. “I want you to consider something very carefully, my dear.”
Elizabeth lowered her head. “I don’t understand—”
“Dalton is very strong-minded. He was so even as a child. He’s a man you can’t rush.”
“I know, but—”
“Since Drake’s death last year, Dalton has been moodier than ever. He was very close to his brother. I’m afraid that…” The duchess hesitated, her fingers working nervously over the large diamond-and-ruby ring on her finger.
Elizabeth glanced up uneasily. “Afraid of what?”
“That Dalton might leave England and return to that horrid war. I’m afraid that if any pressure is put upon him, he might rejoin his outfit.” She laced her fingers in her lap. “He remains at Havencrest only because of his stallion’s accident.” Her gaze drifted to the acres of green lawn outside the window. “In a way, I’m glad Bashshar was injured. It’s kept my son at Havencrest longer than I ever thought possible.” She regarded the younger woman with a warning look. “As a special favor to me, Elizabeth, I’d like you to be extremely patient with Dalton.”
“But I don’t see why—”
“I want nothing more than to see you and my son wed. Nothing could give me greater pleasure. And believe me, my dear, it will come to pass.”
“Oh, how I want to believe that it will.”
Mildred smiled. “Trust me. One day, you shall be the mistress of Wexton.”
Before Elizabeth could speak, a sharp rap sounded at the door and the butler entered.
“I’m sorry, my lady, but we are unable to find his lordship. The stable master told William that his lordship has gone hunting. He won’t return until later this afternoon. Shall I have Ulger send a groom to the gaming field to find him, your grace?”
Mildred thought a moment, then shook her head. “No, the matter can wait until he returns.”
Elizabeth felt a stab of disappointment. She glared at the dowager. “But the matter can’t wait.”
“That will be all, Henry.” The dowager’s voice betrayed no emotion when she dismissed the butler.
Elizabeth remained silent until the servant had left. “Time is running out, your grace. You must say something to Dalton. If our engagement isn’t announced at
“Now, while we wait for Dalton, I have a littlesurprise for you.” She smiled, the color returning to her face.
“I love surprises!” Elizabeth clapped her hands with glee. “Please, tell me before Dalton gets here.”
Mildred nodded. “I want you to look especially beautiful for the ball this weekend.”
Elizabeth’s curiosity rose. She had never seen the dowager as excited as she was now. Maybe she had planned to finally announce her engagement to Dalton.
“Please, your grace, tell me what it is.”
“I want you to wear my diamond-and-ruby necklace. It was once owned by Marie Antoinette.” She paused, as though waiting for Elizabeth’s reaction.
Elizabeth forced a smile. “Thank you, your grace.” She fidgeted. “I remember that you wore the diamonds last year to King George’s Jubilee.” She could care less. After all, once she married Dalton, the diamonds and more would be hers.
The dowager leaned back and studied her. “You can’t hide your disappointment from me, Elizabeth. Now, why wouldn’t you be delighted to wear one of the most famous necklaces in the world?”
Tears flowed down Elizabeth’s cheeks, and she left them for effect. “I’d hoped that the ball would end with the announcement of my engagement to Dalton.”
Mildred’s face tightened. “But my dear—”
“Every day, more and more titled, wealthy men present offers for me to my father. I don’t know how long I can keep my father from marrying me off to a foreign prince or—”
“Your father and I have an agreement, Elizabeth. You needn’t worry on that account.”
“But there can’t be a wedding without a bridegroom.”
The dowager eyed her with disapproval. “I want you to consider something very carefully, my dear.”
Elizabeth lowered her head. “I don’t understand—”
“Dalton is very strong-minded. He was so even as a child. He’s a man you can’t rush.”
“I know, but—”
“Since Drake’s death last year, Dalton has been moodier than ever. He was very close to his brother. I’m afraid that…” The duchess hesitated, her fingers working nervously over the large diamond-and-ruby ring on her finger.
Elizabeth glanced up uneasily. “Afraid of what?”
“That Dalton might leave England and return to that horrid war. I’m afraid that if any pressure is put upon him, he might rejoin his outfit.” She laced her fingers in her lap. “He remains at Havencrest only because of his stallion’s accident.” Her gaze drifted to the acres of green lawn outside the window. “In a way, I’m glad Bashshar was injured. It’s kept my son at Havencrest longer than I ever thought possible.” She regarded the younger woman with a warning look. “As a special favor to me, Elizabeth, I’d like you to be extremely patient with Dalton.”
“But I don’t see why—”
“I want nothing more than to see you and my son wed. Nothing could give me greater pleasure. And believe me, my dear, it will come to pass.”
“Oh, how I want to believe that it will.”
Mildred smiled. “Trust me. One day, you shall be the mistress of Wexton.”
Before Elizabeth could speak, a sharp rap sounded at the door and the butler entered.
“I’m sorry, my lady, but we are unable to find his lordship. The stable master told William that his lordship has gone hunting. He won’t return until later this afternoon. Shall I have Ulger send a groom to the gaming field to find him, your grace?”
Mildred thought a moment, then shook her head. “No, the matter can wait until he returns.”
Elizabeth felt a stab of disappointment. She glared at the dowager. “But the matter can’t wait.”
“That will be all, Henry.” The dowager’s voice betrayed no emotion when she dismissed the butler.
Elizabeth remained silent until the servant had left. “Time is running out, your grace. You must say something to Dalton. If our engagement isn’t announced at
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