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She barely kept from rolling her eyes at the ever romantic Sophie. “I do not need a man.”
Sophie giggled softly. “Of course you do. Just not for what you’re thinking.”
This time she did roll her eyes. “Now you are as bad as Avis.”
“A good man in your bed cannot hurt,” Sophie replied with a slight shrug. “Think about what I said. My aunt and I would love to have you stay with us.” She stood and reached for her damp hat. “I should take my leave now.”
“Very well.”
As Sophie left, her words remained with Elizabeth.
The last thing she needed was a man interfering in her business. Most men liked nothing better than to stick their noses, and other parts, where they didn’t belong. Therefore, until she uncovered the truth of her parentage, she refused to suffer through any man’s attempt at courtship. Even then, Elizabeth doubted she would desire any man.
It just wasn’t in her.
While she found some men attractive, mostly she found them annoying. Sometimes she wondered if there was something wrong with her. After watching two of her dearest friends fall madly in love and marry, she thought she might feel as if something was missing in her life. Yet, the only thing she yearned for was the knowledge of her background.
Not knowing her father’s identity seemed to be eating at her more and more lately.
Perhaps because she knew her time in this house might soon end. Even if her cousin took over control of the house, she couldn’t stay. She wasn’t one of them.
Her heart constricted with pain. All her life, she’d been Lady Elizabeth. The daughter of the Duke of Kendal. Since the duke had never disowned her in public, no one knew the truth, except the few people who might have guessed. Even Richard and Caroline couldn’t know for certain. All they had were the obvious clues—her father had left her barely enough to survive, and with her red hair and freckles, she looked nothing like her sisters or late brother.
Elizabeth reached for her forgotten sherry and sipped a bit of the liquid. She had to come up with a plan for her future. There had to be something she could do with the little money the duke had left her.
Her only skills seemed to be mathematics and botany. Neither proficiency would bring her any income unless she taught them to young ladies. Perhaps that was the answer. Find a school for gentlewomen and teach. It would not be an exciting life but she’d had the glamour of the ton for the past eight years. Society became more tedious with each passing Season.
The small mahogany mantel clock chimed eleven times. Elizabeth rose to retire for the night. Most of the servants had already departed their posts for bed, but she could hear a footman in the hall. She kept one man on duty all night to protect her and her aunt.
Thankfully, her aunt had left last week for a visit with her ailing sister. That had given Elizabeth the opportunity to search her aunt’s room. Aunt Matilda had become quite impatient waiting for the duke, and wished to leave and live with her three sisters in Kent. Of course, Elizabeth would be welcome to stay with the cantankerous elderly women—a thought that made employment sound very attractive.
She walked into the hall and smiled at the tall footman. He turned and unlocked the front door.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
He looked back with a smile. “Nothing to worry about, Lady Elizabeth. I just heard a strange noise out on the street, and thought to investigate.”
“Very well, then. Good night, Kenneth.” Elizabeth stepped on the first marble tread and remembered she’d left her book in the parlor.
“Is everything all right, Lady Elizabeth?”
“I forgot my poetry book.”
“Did you leave it in the salon? I shall fetch it for you immediately,” he said before she could even reply.
She walked down the hallway behind him but stopped as the front door hurled open.
“Unbelievable,” a huge man said at the threshold. “They just leave the place unlocked at night.”
Elizabeth screamed as the strange man and several others walked in the house. “Kenneth, we have intruders!”
“Intruders?” the stranger said, shaking his head. “Lucy and Ellie, take the children upstairs and find rooms for everyone.”
“Of course,” said one of the women.
Elizabeth shouted, “Kenneth, where are you?”
“Right here, my lady,” he said from behind her. “I’m going to need some help with all of them.”
