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“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Very well, then. I leave my attire in your fine hands.” Will washed up at the basin while Stevenson picked out the perfect jacket for dinner and then the opera.
Twenty minutes later, he was dressed and ready to eat. He entered the salon to find Elizabeth and his siblings waiting for him. Stopping at the threshold, he was once again amazed by the transformation of the children. The boys, while fidgeting, were well dressed and relatively quiet. Sarah, dressed in a pretty pink dress, sat on the wingback chair with a smile on her face.
“Where have you been?” Elizabeth asked, approaching him with a glass of sherry.
“I attended Parliament with Lord Selby.” Will took the outstretched glass and sipped it. The fruity essence of the liquor teased his tongue.
Before he could take another sip, the footman announced dinner.
“Are we still to attend the opera tonight?” he asked Elizabeth as she walked past him.
“Yes, I think Ellie and Lucy will enjoy it.”
“And tomorrow we work in my study.”
She paused and then agreed. “Very well.”
They rushed through dinner to get to the opera. Ellie and Lucy could barely contain their excitement during the carriage drive.
“Are you certain we look all right, Elizabeth?” Ellie asked, looking down at her saffron dress. “I’ve never worn anything as exquisite as this gown.”
“You both look beautiful. I expect many gentlemen will stop by our box during intermission.”
Will didn’t like the sound of that. His sisters were too young for suitors.
As if she’d read his mind, Elizabeth said, “Don’t worry, Will. They have not made their bow yet. Most of the gentlemen will respect that and only call after.”
“Then perhaps we should postpone their bow,” Will muttered.
“No, Will!” Ellie and Lucy said in unison.
Elizabeth laughed. “He will not cancel on the queen.”
“I might,” Will replied with a smile.
“No, you will not.”
“If you say so,” he said with a chuckle. The carriage
stopped and they all clamored out. As they walked inside and to their box, Will heard the whispered murmurings of their arrival.
They took their seats and he couldn’t help but notice the people covertly pointing to their box. He sensed the eyes of several women both young and old on him as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Never in his life had he felt this out of place.
“Do sit still, Your Grace,” Elizabeth said sharply. “Everyone is staring.”
“At me.”
“Of course. You are the duke. Your position demands respect and admiration.” Elizabeth smiled at him. “And there is that fact that you are an unmarried duke.”
“Maybe I should alter that state quickly,” he replied with a meaningful glance at her.
“Perhaps you should decide if you are staying in this country or leaving,” Elizabeth retorted.
“Leaving?” Lucy looked over at them. “You are not still thinking of leaving England, Will. What more could you want than this?”
He had no chance to reply as the musicians started playing. Athough, it gave him more time to think. What else could he want? Until a week ago, he would have said America has everything he could ever want. But America didn’t have Elizabeth, and she would never leave England.
