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“All right, we shall go find your book,” Elizabeth said.
“Very good,” Sophie said with a self-satisfied smile. “I shall order the carriage.”
As Sophie left to speak with her footman, Elizabeth sat in the chair, bemused. Sophie was up to something, Elizabeth determined. But she had no idea what.
Elizabeth had come over to talk about what happened last night, knowing she could trust Sophie with such a private subject. Not that Elizabeth had given Sophie the lurid details in the diaries. Only that they had discovered Elizabeth’s father. But Sophie had barely listened to her. Perhaps Elizabeth should have gone to Victoria for guidance. Although, Elizabeth had never been certain about Victoria. There was always an air of quiet mystery surrounding her friend.
None of that mattered any more. Tonight Elizabeth would pack her belongings and tomorrow she would move in with Sophie. Sophie’s aunt had agreed that she could stay with them and her small allowance would help offset the rising costs. Everything would be perfect.
Except she would not see Will any longer. And she would never kiss him again. And what if she was with child? Elizabeth rubbed her temples to keep the agonizing pain away. She had been such a fool to let him make love to her again last night. But if they hadn’t, she might never have found the diary. Still, the idea of having a child out of wedlock terrified her. She didn’t have the means to take care of a child on her own.
“Elizabeth, stop this nonsense right now. I know what you are thinking.”
“What are you speaking of?” Sophie could not know what Elizabeth was thinking. Could she? Perhaps her friend’s powers were stronger than Elizabeth ever realized.
Sophie glared at her. “You are not with child. You will not be out on the streets. You have friends who love you and will help you in any manner possible. So no more self-pity!”
Elizabeth almost laughed at Sophie’s angry tone. Never had her friend spoken in such a way to her. “Very well, Sophie. I shall have to trust you in this matter.”
“Yes, you shall at that,” Sophie said. “Now come along, the carriage awaits.”
“As you wish.” Perhaps Sophie could tell with her powers that everything would work out all right. Elizabeth wondered if Sophie knew for certain that she wasn’t with child. As much as she loved children, and would be pleased to have a baby when she married, having one now would be a disaster.
They traveled to the bookstore in relative silence. Elizabeth didn’t mind as she was still lost in her own thoughts. Will would not be pleased when she told him that she was leaving. It was her fault. She should have left as soon as he arrived. Then she never would have fallen in love with him. She never would have found those disgusting journals and discovered just how depraved her parents were.
But now she had to move forward. Decide on a path for her future. Something that would involve never seeing Will again. No matter how much that hurt. The future Duchess of Kendal could not be the daughter of a footman.
They finally arrived at the bookshop and climbed down from the carriage. “What book are you looking for, Sophie?”
Sophie paused. “I am not quite certain. I shall know when we enter the store.”
Elizabeth shook her head as frustration with her friend overcame her again. “I cannot help you if I do not know what you are looking for.”
“Help me? We are here to help you, not me,” Sophie said elusively.
“Help me with what?”
“Will, of course.” Sophie walked toward the store, leaving Elizabeth standing behind her with her mouth gaping.
She followed quickly behind Sophie as her friend walked around the store. “Over here,” she whispered to Elizabeth.
“Why are you whispering?”
Sophie put her finger to her lips to hush her. Elizabeth had no idea what they were doing sneaking around a bookshop but she followed her friend anyway.
Sophie stopped by a selection of poetry and pulled out a book. She inclined her head to let Elizabeth know to do the same. Elizabeth found a volume of sonnets and pretended to peruse it. As she did, voices carried from the stack of books on the other side of the shelves.
“Everything is set,” the woman said with confidence. “I sent him the note this afternoon.”
“Excellent, my dear. You will soon be the Duchess of Kendal,” the man said in a soft tone.
Elizabeth reached for the shelf in support. Who was on the other side of the bookshelf? She attempted to glance through the spaces but could only see a blue gown that looked slightly outdated.
“Do you honestly think this will work, Father?”
“Abigail, remember, he must believe you defied me by coming to England. He must believe you love him and this was all your idea. If he ever discovers the truth, he will never marry you and all our plans will be for naught.”
“I understand, Father. Everything will go exactly as we planned. He will marry me and I will become the duchess.”
