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Chapter 1
London, 1817
As the door to Elizabeth’s home slammed shut, she braced herself for the inevitable confrontation. They hadn’t even waited for the butler or footman to open the door and announce them. Loud footsteps preceded their entry. Her heart raced as she attempted to rein in her emotions. Glancing up from her needlework, she watched Richard enter the salon with his wife Caroline following behind him.
“Elizabeth, we have given you six months and still you have refused to comply with my—our simple request,” Caroline said as she sank to the sofa with a deep sigh.
“You have no claim here.” Why must she have this conversation with them every month? And worse, why did it distress her so terribly each time? He had no claim here…at least not yet.
“Actually, I just might,” Richard said, and then sat in the chair across from his wife.
“You are not the duke, Richard.”
“Not yet,” he added softly.
Her attempts to keep the greedy couple from taking over her father’s house had only made them more determined. They only wanted the house and the estates in the country for their ambitions. Mostly, Caroline’s ambition. Without her, cousin Richard would have been happy with his manor home in Dorchester. But Caroline wanted more. She would never be satisfied as the wife of a baron. She wanted the duchy and all that went with it, including Kendal House.
Only the house didn’t belong to them…or her.
“Do you have any new proof that Edward is dead?” Elizabeth asked, staring at him. “Don’t forget he had at least one son who would inherit over you.”
“It has been ten months since your father died,” Richard said harshly. “The solicitor sent several missives to Edward, but received no reply. And he has yet to arrive. Everyone knows about those heathen savages they have in America. Edward and his family were probably killed by them.”
“Edward has been in Canada for the past five years.” Elizabeth inhaled deeply, trying to keep her patience. “And until you know for certain about his death, you have no right to live here. Kendal House and the estates belong to the duchy until such time as his death is confirmed.”
She prayed she was right. Richard and Caroline would squander the income from the estates on gambling, gowns, and balls. Neither appeared to have an interest in putting forth the effort to ensure the tenants were cared for and the lands remained profitable.
“That is where you are wrong,” Caroline said with a tight smile. “Our solicitor is drawing up the paperwork right now.”
“That shall be nothing but a waste of his time—and your money. It means nothing. This is the duke’s residence, and Richard is not the duke.”
“Edward refuses to return and claim his rightful inheritance,” Richard added.
“That still makes no difference,” Elizabeth explained. “He is the duke, whether he chooses to return home or not. Besides, ten months is no time at all. He most likely had to pack up his entire house in York and arrange passage over here. Plus the voyage time. I have heard the winters in Canada are dreadful, so they might not have been able to leave as expected.”
“Then he should have sent a missive to that effect. Something acknowledging his inheritance,” Richard replied.
Caroline shook her head. “For all we know, Edward is dead.”
“Then his son would inherit.” Dear God, they were driving her mad. It seemed as if they were far more determined than in previous months.
“Ah, yes,” Caroline drawled. “But if he and Edward are both dead, then Richard inherits.”
“True enough. However, if they were both dead then someone else in his family would notify the family solicitor here.” Elizabeth clenched her fists in frustration.
“Unless the entire family was wiped out by those savages they have over there. Besides, it really should not matter to you,” Caroline commented. “You will either be a burden on us or the new duke.”
A fact not lost on her. Elizabeth had only the very small allowance left to her from her fath—the late duke. “I realize that, Caroline. I suppose I shall live with one of my sisters once the duke is installed.”
“As if they want you,” Caroline sneered.
“It is nothing to concern yourself over,” Elizabeth snapped. Her sisters were so much older that she barely knew any of them, save Jane. And none of them had ever taken the time to invite her to stay with their families for more than a week.
“And I don’t,” Caroline retorted with one brown eyebrow arched. “But if I were you, I would be looking at all the eligible gentlemen.”
r /> Self-serving Caroline would only be looking for the richest and highest titled gentleman she could hope to snare. Elizabeth didn’t want that. If she found herself in a position that required marriage, then she wanted to find a man who would love her for who she was…or who she wasn’t.
“Nonetheless, Elizabeth,” Richard started in a slow, warm voice, “we only want what is best for the estates. Your late father’s steward could be robbing the family blind, for all we know. Someone must take over things until we hear from the new duke. My solicitor will petition the prince so that I may oversee the estates until such time as Edward either makes an appearance here, or is deemed deceased.”
Elizabeth stared at Richard. With gray hair and tired lines creasing his forehead, he looked every bit his sixty years. She released a long sigh. “I have been checking over the books from each estate every month, Richard. My father’s steward is an honest man.”
Caroline gave a quick shake of her head. While her husband looked on the verge of elderly, Caroline was only six years older than Elizabeth’s twenty-six years.
“You are looking after the books?” Caroline asked in a high-pitched tone. “I thought you were a lady.”
“I am quite competent when it comes to mathematics. Unlike either of you, I grew up on the estates. Who better to know what they need?”
“Of course, cousin,” Richard said quietly.
Elizabeth knew she was defeated. Unless she petitioned Prinny himself. But she doubted the prince would even listen to her. He would want what was best for the estates, and that meant a man controlling the lands, not her. She was a bit surprised the prince hadn’t managed the situation before now.
“If your sisters refuse to take you in, I suppose you could stay here,” Richard said.
“Richard!” Caroline’s voice pitched higher. “In a few months, there won’t be room in the house.” She rubbed her rounded belly.
Richard shook his head and rolled his eyes. “This house is large enough for a passel of children, Caroline. I cannot have my cousin on the streets.”
“But—”
“Enough, Caroline.”
Elizabeth might have felt a spark of hope, except Richard’s tired tone was scarcely convincing.
