Page 58 of Unbound Duchess

Madalene’s words gave Ellen pause, but she said nothing as she walked into the dining room. Perhaps her sister-in-law was right.

“Well, well,” Madalene mused. “Look who has finally decided to grace our table.”

Ellen looked up then, and was surprised to find Laurence sitting at the head of the table. He looked dashing as always, sporting a mint green jacket, white shirt, and cream trousers. He looked up from his newspaper, his eyes going first to Madalene before settling with a quiet intensity on Ellen.

“Good morning, you two,” he greeted, not taking his eyes off Ellen.

“Good morning, brother,” Madalene returned.

She left Ellen’s side, leaving her to stand alone before the table, and walked over to her brother. She ruffled his dark hair with affection, grinning fiendishly as he scowled at her, and took a seat to his right. His scowl quickly shifted into a smirk, however, as he smoothed back his hair and turned his gaze back to Ellen.

“Going to join us?” he asked, raising a curious brow.

Ellen jolted at the question, then bowed her head as she hurried to the table, taking the seat on his left.

“Did you want to join us?” Laurence asked, leaning down so that he could look up at her downcast face.

She furrowed her brows in annoyance as a blush heated her cheeks, and said nothing as servants came forward to place plates of food and cups of tea in front of them.

“What are you taunting her for, brother?” Madalene asked with a bored sigh as she picked up her teacup.

“I have a lesson to teach the new member of our family,” Laurence answered, not once looking away from Ellen’s narrowed stare.

“I need no such lessons,” she hissed, scowling at him.

“What is this?” Madalene asked, raising an amused brow.

Ellen finally looked away from Laurence’s intense stare and found Madalene looking repeatedly from her to Laurence.

“Your brother believes I need to learn how to say no,” Ellen huffed, picking up her own cup of tea.

“Oh,” Madalene breathed, then took a long sip from her cup. “I agree.”

Ellen’s brows shot up as she looked at Madalene, her eyes speared with betrayal.

“I—I do not!” she insisted. To her surprise, Madalene laughed.

“Oh, you certainly do,” Madalene countered as she set down her cup. “You allowed me to take you dress shopping even when you did not want to go.”

Laurence’s taunting grin was wide and instant, clearly satisfied with Madalene’s siding.

“That is because you pressured me,” Ellen countered, giving her an exasperated look. “I said no at first!”

“Yes,” Madalene admitted. “But then you let yourself be dissuaded into abandoning your own wants to suit mine. You start by saying no, but I would wager that you always allow others the power to make the ultimate decision.”

The heat in Ellen’s cheeks rose even higher. She parted her lips to deny the accusation, then decided to give it some thought.

Two years ago, she had told her father a hundred times that she was not going to go to his dinner party. Yet in the end she went, and in doing so had attached herself to Judith. She had said no to the masquerade party Judith had pushed her into last month as well, yet she’d still found herself trussed up in an awful gown and ugly mask. She had said no to Benedict’s proposal. But instead of staying and making him understand that her decision was resolute, she had chosen to run away. The consequences of this had put not only herself but others in danger.

Ellen’s shoulders drooped as she frowned down at her plate, suddenly not at all hungry.

“Oh, Good heavens,” she muttered. “I do give in, do I not?”

She raised her eyes to Madalene, who was giving her a sad smile. Then she looked to Laurence, who, to her relief, had shed his smugness and was once more looking at her with that usual quiet intensity.

“Alright then,” she sighed, throwing her hands in the air. “Teach me your lesson.”

“Oh, I want to help!” Madalene said, clapping her hands excitedly.