Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,23

Since I didn’t know how long I would be at Shedwell, Lord Ruthersby asked that I send his carriage home as soon as I arrived.”

“Oh,” Cousin Leonard said, blinking rapidly.

“That would be most inconvenient,” Lady Shelby said, making Elise think the woman cut from the same cloth as the new Lady Ruthersby. Inconvenient seemed to be both women’s favorite word, especially when it came to Elise and her actions.

“It would only be four days,” Elise said. “Two there and two back. As you are in mourning, you won’t be accepting social invitations.”

“About that,” Lady Shelby said. “We won’t be in mourning, you see. Shelby hadn’t seen your parents in ages.”

“My father thought Uncle a buffoon,” the earl added, angering Elise. “I hadn’t seen Uncle or Aunt in a good two decades or more. My wife and I see no reason to mourn people she never met and I barely knew.”

“I see.”

Elise would mourn her father in her heart but she didn’t have the coin to buy—or make—a mourning wardrobe. As for her mother, she was relieved never to have to speak to her again.

“You’ll understand then that we cannot give up our coach for you,” Lady Shelby said. “I wish to meet our new neighbors as soon as possible and become a part of things.”

She gazed pointedly at her cousin. “Then how am I supposed to get back to Briarcliff?”

“I’ll think on it,” he said.

She wanted to pin him down instead of allowing him to be vague, especially if she and Claire were to leave in the morning. It made her nervous being away from Briarcliff for as long as she had been. She felt she needed to make herself necessary to Lady Ruthersby in order to continue to have a roof over her head, and Claire’s.

They arrived at Shedwell and hurried inside, the rain now coming down in torrents. Mourning guests awaited them in the drawing room and they went to receive them. Elise spoke to all of the estate’s tenants, happy to see so many of them after her long absence. Claire was present and she enjoyed introducing her daughter and showing her off a bit. The girl was well-spoken and polite and very clever for her age.

Once their guests left, she asked Baines for a supper tray to be brought to her room. Both she and Claire were tired and she planned for them to eat and then go to bed.

“Where is Grandpapa now?” Claire asked as they dined on a hearty soup and warm bread.

“He is in Heaven with your papa.”

“Papa watches over me.”

She smiled. “Yes, he does. He loved you very much.” She didn’t add that she hadn’t loved Norwood, though she had liked him a great deal. They’d had a pleasant relationship but she’d felt no excitement or desire for him. She had done her wifely duty in the bedroom, thrilled that Claire was the result of their awkward couplings.

“Then why did he leave us?”

“I’ve told you, my darling. He was in an accident. The doctor tried to fix him but your papa went to Heaven instead.”

“Will Grandpapa have a hard time finding Papa?” Claire asked worriedly.

She ruffled her daughter’s hair. “Not at all. Your papa met him at the gates.”

“Will they be friends?”

“I’m certain they shall.”

Claire frowned. “Will Grandmama also go to Heaven?” she asked worriedly.

Elise choked on her soup. She sputtered and coughed and then regained her breath. “Where did you hear about Grandmama?”

Her daughter shrugged. “The servants were talking about her. Was she mean? They said she was mean.”

She always wanted to tell her girl the truth. “Yes. She was very mean.”

“Grandmama didn’t like you, did she, Mama?”

“No. She didn’t.”

“And she died.”

“She did. And now, it is time for bed. Enough talk about dying and Heaven. Let’s get you into your nightclothes and I’ll read you a story from your special book.”

After she got Claire settled into bed, Elise packed their things. She sat in a chair for a long time, thinking about how her life hadn’t turned out anything like she thought it would. Years ago, her father used to tell her she would grow up and find a wonderful man to wed. They would have lots and lots of children and live happily ever after. She had found a nice, shy man to be her husband but they’d had far too little time together. Even now, she had trouble sometimes recalling Norwood’s face. She would look at the current Ruthersby and see bits of Norwood in him but she