Read Online The Wild Duchess/The Willful Duchess (The Duchess Club Book 1) by Renee Bernard - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Renee Bernard
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easel covered with cloth. She pulled the cloth aside to reveal her latest work. “Here, see. Even if this is done only for myself and the eyes of my most trusted friends, I paint what I want. I think that more than a lark, don’t you?”
The twins followed her to take in their friend’s vision. “It’s…oh, my!”
“You don’t like it.” Ivy’s face paled.
“I do! I more than like it but it’s…oh, Ivy, it just takes a person’s breath away!” Starr whispered.
Scarlett reached for her friend’s hand, never taking her eyes off the painting. She squeezed Ivy’s fingers. “I misspoke. Ivy, I’m ashamed of myself. It is never silly to dream and if we can shape our world even a little, then it’s worth it.”
Ivy shyly covered her work back up, unable to face praise or criticism of the piece just yet. “I wrote Alicia as much just yesterday. They are coming to London, I think to rally to support your mother and father during this time. It’s exciting, your first Season!”
Scarlett blushed. “Our first Season,” she amended. “Starr may wish it otherwise but we are in this together.”
“I wish for nothing else,” Starr said quickly. “I would that we could do all things together.”
“All things except walk in gardens with a duke?” Ivy teased.
“Yes,” Starr agreed quickly with a laugh. “All things except that. Dukes are very unnerving and I am relieved to avoid their attentions so far.”
“It is a good thing there are not so many in the world.” Scarlett took her friends hands and they all returned to their perch in the sunlight by the studio windows.
“Yes, but let us hear more about Scarlett’s duke!” Ivy pleaded.
And so it was they spent the time they had for their visit with Scarlett regaling them with tales of finding gentlemen amidst the greenery and what it felt like to dance with a duke as sunlight danced through the windows.
T hat same afternoon , Elgin York, the Duke of Chesterton, was sitting at his desk quietly contemplating a blank sheet of paper. Usually personal correspondence was not a struggle and he was generous with letters aware that for many of his friends, the arrival of news was a great source of entertainment in quieter parts of the country. As a bachelor, he had never had a wife he could delegate the task to and he often wondered if he would have done so if his life had gone differently. In truth, he enjoyed it. Well, he usually enjoyed it.
Today the untouched page reproached him.
Elgin sighed and took up his pen again. It was a small act but one that demanded a touch of courage.
----
D earest Maeve ,
I hope this letter finds you well and that the quiet of the country is as magical as ever to your spirits. You seemed more melancholy in your last letter but I blame the incessant damp weather, Sister, and the anxiety that can come with gray skies and rainy days. But Spring brings beautiful days as well and I trust that you have enjoyed a fair share of brighter moments and noticed the happier colors of the season.
I don’t wish to bore you with recounting of much of the life here in Town. It is remarkably unchanged although there is perhaps one notable exception. After years of your urging, I have made more of an effort to step out in social circumstances. Though I would not admit to finally yielding to your wisdom and even now will protest that the shift is entirely of my own volition and not at my Maeve’s will. Count it as a fault in my pride, dear Sister.
I have met a lovely young lady recently and find that all the tedium of Town is forgotten in her company. A surprise to me, as well as my close acquaintances since I have so long been resigned to a solitary path in this world.
----
E lgin paused and reread what he’d written. It was a careful line he wished to tread. Lying was not in his nature but his aim was to remain honest and allow his sister to draw whatever conclusions she might. It was not a malicious thing to hint that he may be
The twins followed her to take in their friend’s vision. “It’s…oh, my!”
“You don’t like it.” Ivy’s face paled.
“I do! I more than like it but it’s…oh, Ivy, it just takes a person’s breath away!” Starr whispered.
Scarlett reached for her friend’s hand, never taking her eyes off the painting. She squeezed Ivy’s fingers. “I misspoke. Ivy, I’m ashamed of myself. It is never silly to dream and if we can shape our world even a little, then it’s worth it.”
Ivy shyly covered her work back up, unable to face praise or criticism of the piece just yet. “I wrote Alicia as much just yesterday. They are coming to London, I think to rally to support your mother and father during this time. It’s exciting, your first Season!”
Scarlett blushed. “Our first Season,” she amended. “Starr may wish it otherwise but we are in this together.”
“I wish for nothing else,” Starr said quickly. “I would that we could do all things together.”
“All things except walk in gardens with a duke?” Ivy teased.
“Yes,” Starr agreed quickly with a laugh. “All things except that. Dukes are very unnerving and I am relieved to avoid their attentions so far.”
“It is a good thing there are not so many in the world.” Scarlett took her friends hands and they all returned to their perch in the sunlight by the studio windows.
“Yes, but let us hear more about Scarlett’s duke!” Ivy pleaded.
And so it was they spent the time they had for their visit with Scarlett regaling them with tales of finding gentlemen amidst the greenery and what it felt like to dance with a duke as sunlight danced through the windows.
T hat same afternoon , Elgin York, the Duke of Chesterton, was sitting at his desk quietly contemplating a blank sheet of paper. Usually personal correspondence was not a struggle and he was generous with letters aware that for many of his friends, the arrival of news was a great source of entertainment in quieter parts of the country. As a bachelor, he had never had a wife he could delegate the task to and he often wondered if he would have done so if his life had gone differently. In truth, he enjoyed it. Well, he usually enjoyed it.
Today the untouched page reproached him.
Elgin sighed and took up his pen again. It was a small act but one that demanded a touch of courage.
----
D earest Maeve ,
I hope this letter finds you well and that the quiet of the country is as magical as ever to your spirits. You seemed more melancholy in your last letter but I blame the incessant damp weather, Sister, and the anxiety that can come with gray skies and rainy days. But Spring brings beautiful days as well and I trust that you have enjoyed a fair share of brighter moments and noticed the happier colors of the season.
I don’t wish to bore you with recounting of much of the life here in Town. It is remarkably unchanged although there is perhaps one notable exception. After years of your urging, I have made more of an effort to step out in social circumstances. Though I would not admit to finally yielding to your wisdom and even now will protest that the shift is entirely of my own volition and not at my Maeve’s will. Count it as a fault in my pride, dear Sister.
I have met a lovely young lady recently and find that all the tedium of Town is forgotten in her company. A surprise to me, as well as my close acquaintances since I have so long been resigned to a solitary path in this world.
----
E lgin paused and reread what he’d written. It was a careful line he wished to tread. Lying was not in his nature but his aim was to remain honest and allow his sister to draw whatever conclusions she might. It was not a malicious thing to hint that he may be
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