Chapter 6

 

 

Seated by total strangers, Natalie felt out of place. She never ate with strangers, only her cousin and aunt. When neither were available, she ate with the servants or alone. Suddenly nervous, Natalie struggled not to squirm in her chair. Silently chastising herself, she reminded herself that she was every bit a lady as her cousin and could handle any society thrown her way.

 

She could hear light conversation amongst the guests, but no one had engaged her. Natalie was well read, but her aunt often chastised her over her opinions. “Ladies do not have opinions, Natalie,” she would say. “They agree with the gentlemen in their company.”

 

Gazing down toward her cousin at the far side of the table, seated closely to the duke, Natalie thought back to the circumstances that had brought her to such a low point. Her father, the second son of the Earl of Warren, had made himself quite successful from various investments. When Natalie's mother took ill, her father spent every cent they had for a cure. In the end, nothing prevented the inevitable, and her mother had died. Her father followed his wife within a year.

 

With the money gone and no other family to speak of, her aunt begrudgingly took her in. Not as a member of the family, but as a servant. For that matter, not even a valued servant, but the whipping girl to her spoiled daughter. That had been over a year ago.

 

Natalie continued to eat quietly when she heard the duke's booming voice from the end of the table. He was asking Elinore what she thought of the dinner and Elinore was eager to give her opinion. Of course, she thought it was delightful. Rolling her eyes, Natalie continued to eat her soup.

 

Miles couldn't stop taking covert glances at Miss Tibbets. She sat at a table full of people, and yet seemed completely alone. Having spoken to Lady Elinore a few times, Miles could imagine how she treated her companion. To say that Elinore was selfish and spoiled was an egregious understatement. Miles should know, since he had been the same way not long ago.

 

Still, even with her hair simply done and her gown cheap and unfashionable, Miss Tibbets stood head and shoulders above her cousin. There was an air of elegance, of maturity, that Elinore didn't, and never would, possess. There was something there that Miles had every intention of finding out about, despite his real reasons for attending his mother's party.

 

When the dinner had ended, the dowager escorted all the young ladies to the parlor for tea. Miles was to sit in attendance with the only other men at the party. The thought of listening to a few fathers wax lyrical about their daughters was enough to send Miles to bed early. But suffer through it he did, if only hoping to spend a couple of minutes talking to Miss Tibbets in the parlor.

 

By the time Miles and the three fathers joined the women, Miss Tibbets was nowhere to be found. Elinore, spotting her prey, sashayed over to his side.

 

“Your grace, have I mentioned how delightful your home is? My mother and I have been ever so comfortable in our accommodations. I was just complementing your mother over the furnishings.” Miles barely heard a word of her speech, too fascinated with how the young lady was able to bat her eyelashes so precisely.

 

“Yes, I am sure my mother takes great pride in this home. Of course, after I marry, she will move to the dowager house and my wife will have command of this pile,” he concluded with a smile.

 

The flash in Elinore's eyes was both obvious and disturbing. Miles could practically hear her thoughts, thinking about what she would do with his home. Still, he thought to himself, at least she is capable of having some thoughts going through her head.

 

“I am certain that your wife would do many great things here as well.”  Elinore ran her fan down his arm, while giving Miles what could only be described as a smoldering look.

 

Not wanting to encourage her too much, Miles asked, “Is your cousin about? Or has she decided to retire early?”

 

Elinore's eyes flashed again, but this time with something more ugly. Gathering her wits and trying her best to look placid, she responded, “As I said earlier, Natalie prefers the company of her books. She decided to retire as soon as dinner was over.”

 

Arching an eyebrow, “Oh, she reads, does she? I have recently read a few novels myself. I wonder if she has had the pleasure. Perhaps tomorrow, I will seek her out and see if she would like to borrow them.” Miles knew he was being cruel, but he simply couldn't help himself. For a woman who was taught everything she needed to know to lure a man, Elinore was easily displaced. Her mouth resembled a fish out of water, gasping for breath.

 

“My cousin will not be below stairs tomorrow, your grace. She has many duties to attend and will not be joining in the activities.”

 

“Pity, that. She seems a nice, young lady. Why does she not wish to join in all the trivial pursuits my mother has planned?”

 

“Your grace, really? She is my companion,” Elinore drew closer and whispered the rest of her reply. “She is but a servant to me. Surely you do not expect her to act the role of proper, young lady.”

 

Before he could stop himself, Miles' expression turned dark. Recovering quickly, but not before Elinore saw her grave mistake, he replied, “As your cousin, I would have thought Miss Tibbets would be treated as family, not as an employee.”

 

With that, Miles walked away, leaving Elinore speechless and staring at his back. Lady Norbury, her mother, walked up to stand next to her daughter as she watched the duke's back.

 

“You had the duke's attention for a good ten minutes, my dear. Excellent work.” Lady Norbury knew that it was her daughter that would be chosen. She was, after all, the prettiest and most graceful of all the young chits attending.

 

“Mother, Sutherland keeps asking about Natalie. Why would he care about her?” Elinore's voice was huffy. How dare her mousy cousin get in the way of her being a duchess.

 

A look of shock came over her mother's face. “Natalie? Surely you jest. What could he possibly have to say about her?”

 

“He asked why she retired early and then said he wanted to speak to her about books. What interest could the duke have in a some plain, blue-stocking?”

 

“I'm sure the duke was only being polite. He was simply showing an interest in your family. Perhaps, he was trying to impress you.” Elinore's mother grinned, like the cat with the proverbial canary.

 

Taking a moment to consider her mother's assertions, Elinore stated, “I believe you must be right. He surely has no interest in Natalie beyond trying to impress me.” Elinore felt infinitely better. She was by far the prettiest girl in attendance, and would produce the most beautiful heirs.

 

“Allow us to sit by the window and discuss our strategy. Although I think an offer will be forthcoming, we must do everything we can to keep you at the head of his list.” The two women sat together, plotting the tightening of the parson's noose on the duke of Sutherland.