Deathly Defiance

Chapter 4 - Elizabeth

I slipped my way into the servants entrance with Joe and quickly changed for dinner.

The questioning had taken longer than expected and I was now running late.

Just as my foot reached the last step of the grand staircase, a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Elizabeth!" said Charles

I plastered an amused grin on my face before I turned around to greet my brother.

" Charlie! " I said in reply

He frowned at me

"where have you been? You are late for dinner." he questioned

"If I told you you wouldn't believe me " I said cheekily

He  crossed his arms and lightly tiled his head to the right.
"try me" he said echoing the words I had said not hours before.

I stayed silent debating whether to tell the truth or not.

"Well then? " he prompted as I stayed silent.

I decided on going with the truth

"I brought down a highwayman"

Charles frowned "that's funny because our guest also gave the exact same excuse when he also arrived later than scheduled"

"Our guest?"

"yes the Duke of Somerset, did father not inform you of his arrival?"

"but father said he was to arrive tomorrow!"

"well, he was not well informed then"

It was now my turn to frown

Oh great now I'd have to make an appearance and act all ladylike.

"when did His Grace arrive ?" I asked

Charlie took out his pocket watch and looked at it "About 20 minutes or so ago " he said

"Anyway, never mind that ,you are late and you need to eat something, come along ". He then proceeded to walk towards the dining room.

Following him, I braced myself to meet His Grace .

The footman announced the both of us and I walked through the door, my eyes scanning the occupants of the table untill it landed on a familiar face .

My eyes widened .

"You! " I gasped out loud
Standing  on the right of my father was the very man that had  swung at the highwayman .

His hazel eyes also widened at the sight of me.

"Elizabeth!" My father hissed "That is no way to talk to a guest"

Getting a hold of myself I curtsied politely and apologized "I am terribly sorry ,your grace, it's just you caught me by surprise"

The Duke cleared his throat "No need to apologise Miss Elizabeth, if anything you surprised me as well "

"You know my daughter, your grace ?" My father asked

I panicked, if father ever found out about what happened today I'd never be allowed to set foot outside the estate.

Sensing my obvious panic The Duke answered " Yes, I had the pleasure of meeting her last winter at Lady Metcalf's Ball"

I mouthed him a Thank you  as I sat down opposite him, Charles came and sat next to me.

He nodded his head in a sign of acknowledgement to my gratitude.

Charles Looked between the two of us .
"Whats wrong ?" I asked him

"Nothing " he replied

"Well then stop staring at us " I said as I tucked into my plate

Dinner was pleasant and  finished rather quickly The Duke never spoke a word to me the entire time and instead chose to talk to either Charles or My father about his business of affairs ,I much preferred it that way .

After Dinner we  went into the drawing room for some tea.

"Elizabeth why don't you play for us? " Father asked as he and the rest of the men sat down at the cards table.

I moved towards my piano forte and opened the lid .

Before I could even press a note a voice rang out saying "Oh please may we not listen to music whilst we play cards gentlemen, I cannot concentrate on the game other wise"

Charles laughed  "Only if it's alright with Elizabeth of course"

I smiled grimly at him "of course it is" I said getting up from the piano stool and walking towards the door 
"Please excuse me, I suddenly feel rather tired and wish to go to bed"

"Goodnight, my dear" Father said

"Goodnight Miss Elizabeth " Said his Grace

"Goodnight" I replied and rushed out the room to my bed .

.......

It was past one o'clock in the morning and I could not sleep I had been tossing and turning for the last three hours.

A warm cup of cocoa may do me some good right now.

Getting up to go to the kitchens I saw that the candles in fathers study were still lit.

What was Father doing up so late?

As I approached the door I could hear voices.

"There is nothing that I would like greater than this, it is my sincerest wish" my father drawled out

"I understand that your lordship however I really think that there may be a better alternative" Said the Duke

"You need the investment and I need a son-in-law, it's the best possible agreement we can come to"

Son-in-law? Why would father want a .... oh.

I couldn't hear anymore, I didn't even want to so I rushed back to my room.

I cannot believe father was selling me as if I was merely a horse.

An idea quickly struck me.

What if I behaved so abominably that the Duke would strike whatever deal he had made with my father forevermore?

Yes that was exactly what I would do.

I would make the Duke despise me so much that the mere thought of marriage to me would have him running for the hills.

And with those thoughts I settled comfortably back into my bed and fell asleep.

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