Something Scandalous. Christie Kelley
assistance of a trusted solicitor to help him wade through the legalities of his inheritance. Except he didn’t know a soul in London. He barely remembered any one of his acquaintances from when he was eight.
This, of course, meant he would be required to speak with the termagant again. Well, there was no time like the present. He pushed back his leather chair and walked to the front hall.
“Elizabeth!” he yelled from the banister.
“Your Grace, if I may…”
Will waved off the footman and shouted once more, “Elizabeth, get down here.”
Soft footsteps sounded from the hall upstairs. She glared down at him. “Did you just shout for me to come down as if I were a servant?”
A quick rush of heat crossed his cheeks. He had forgotten that he wasn’t in a small home without servants. “I suppose I did.”
“Well, that is not how we speak to people in a civilized country.” She turned on her heels and walked back toward her room.
“I don’t think so,” he muttered and then raced up the stairs. The door to her room shut just as he reached the hallway. He stormed to her room and rapped on the door. “Elizabeth, I need to speak with you.”
“Then I suggest you use a nicer tone of voice.”
Will clenched his fists and looked up at the high ceiling. “Elizabeth, may I have a word, if you please.”
The door slowly opened and her smug face smiled back at him. “Do you need my assistance with something, Your Grace?”
“Can we talk in the study? I have a few questions only you can answer.”
She nodded. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
Every time she called him that, he fought against the annoyance he felt. “I believe I asked you to call me Will.”
“Yes, you did, Your Grace.” She opened the door to leave, and he noticed the valise on the bed.
“Are you leaving?” he asked softly.
“You did ask me to do so.”
She couldn’t leave yet. He had no idea how to survive in this country without her guidance. But he couldn’t tell her that.
“You don’t need to leave today.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” A flash of relief passed over her face.
Will followed her into the study and shut the door behind them. Elizabeth sat in the seat in front of the large cherry desk as he sat in the leather chair.
“What do you need my help with?” she asked in a slightly harsh tone.
At least she’d stopped calling him your grace. “I believe the only way I can sort through all this mess is to find a trusted solicitor.”
She smirked. “And why do you need my help with that?”
Will narrowed his eyes on her. “I don’t know of any solicitors here. I thought you might be kind enough to assist me.”
She shrugged and rose from her seat. “You might be wrong.”
“Elizabeth, I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Do not be sorry. You are only doing what you think is right for your family. Personally, I believe you are very mistaken.”
“I know how you feel,” he tried again.
She walked to the threshold and turned back at him. “You have no idea how I feel. You’re a man. You can do as you please. You don’t have to worry about what people will think of you if they find out no one in your family wants you.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped. Quickly, she raced from the room.
Will stared at the empty doorway, unsure of what to do to help her. But he knew he had to do something.
Elizabeth grabbed her reticule and strode from her room. Bloody stupid man making her say something so appalling. Even if it was true. Her sisters didn’t want her. They most likely either knew or suspected the truth. Her aunt would grudgingly take her in but then she would become nothing but a nursemaid to a group of old ladies.
“Are you going out?”
Elizabeth looked up from her fuming to see Ellie and Lucy walking up the stairs to their room. “Yes. I am off to pay a call on a friend.”
“You’re going visiting?” Lucy asked.
“Yes.”
“May we join you?” Lucy asked, and then received a quick jab from Ellie’s elbow.
“It’s not polite to ask such a thing, Lucy,” Ellie whispered.
“Your sister is right, Lucy.”
Lucy’s face fell with disappointment. “Of course. Ellie is always right.”
Even though Elizabeth had four sisters, she’d only lived with Jane, and that was only for a few years. Elizabeth didn’t understand how to handle the sisters.
“Lucy, you are not ready to face anyone yet,” Elizabeth started softly.
Ellie bristled. “We’re not good enough to meet a friend of yours?”
Oh dear, now both of the sisters were upset. “We need to prepare you for Society. Before you go out, you will need new gowns, shoes, bonnets, undergarments, everything. And you need to learn the rules of Society.”
They both looked at each other and then at Elizabeth. Ellie’s gaze moved toward the floor. “There is no point, then. My brother will only say it’s a waste of money when we won’t be staying.”
“I shall talk to him when I return.” The idea of speaking with that man made her blood boil. She had never met such an insensitive, arrogant, handsome man. Handsome! Dear God, no. She refused to be attracted to such a man.
“What are we to do all day?” Lucy asked. “At home we would be doing chores the majority of the day.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Work on your music or your needle-point while I’m gone. Monday I will have Madame Beaulieu here to fit you for your new clothes.”
Both girls grinned.
“What about Will?” Ellie asked.
She shook her head. “I will take care of your brother. But now, I must go call on my friend.”
Elizabeth walked outside and smiled. The deplorable rain of the past few days had finally stopped, and now the sun shone brightly and the air smelled clean. While she should have waited inside for the carriage to be brought around for her, she couldn’t stand being in that house another moment.
When she finally arrived at Sophie’s home, Elizabeth discovered all her friends were there. While they used to be known as the Spinster Club, even with Avis and Jennette now married, the women remained the closest of friends.
“Elizabeth!” Sophie announced, and then moved to give her friend a hug. “Is everything all right?”
Elizabeth sat in the floral chair by the window and shook her head. “As you predicted, he has arrived.”
“Who?” Avis and Jennette asked at the same time.
“The duke.” Elizabeth glanced outside at the carriage rumbling down the street. “Only it’s not Edward. It’s his son, William.”
“What about all the children, Elizabeth?” Sophie asked. “Does the new duke have a few children?”
She glanced back at her friends and shook her head. “He is unmarried but he did bring his seven siblings with him.”
“Seven?” Victoria said with a smile. “That should bring a little excitement into your home.” Victoria ran a home for orphaned children,