Enchanting the Duke - Lana Williams Page 0,12

you heard that.”

“It’s not the first time.” Eleanor noticed her friend didn’t deny it.

“Shall I say something to them?” Lillian scowled as she glanced at the pair again.

“Heavens, no.” Eleanor shook her head. “That will only have them calling you dour as well. Actually, I think I will take it as a compliment.”

“How so?”

“I have been trying to become a better person. Someone my husband will admire.”

Lillian’s brow puckered. “Surely he already admires you.”

“He admires my fortune. Me? Not so much.” Eleanor pursed her lips against the pain the truth caused. “But I want to show him and others that there is more to me than money.”

“I realize yours was a marriage of convenience from our previous conversations.” Lillian reached out to place her hand on Eleanor’s arm. “But I also thought it might be more.”

“I want it to be more.” Eleanor bit her lip, realizing she probably shouldn’t have admitted the truth but now that she had, the words slipped out. “That means becoming someone Douglas can respect and admire.”

“I admire your desire to strive to change if that is what you wish. But I for one like you just as you are.”

Eleanor managed a smile and patted Lillian’s hand. “Thank you. I appreciate that.” But it wasn’t enough. She wasn’t enough. And she intended to do all she could to change that.

“In all honesty, I think Rothbury would do well to smile a bit more.” Lillian paused in her work to stare across the room. “He takes life much too seriously.”

“He does, indeed.” Eleanor wanted him to smile too. She didn’t pretend to understand why he was so serious. Her husband seemed to have only one mood. Except for when he came to her in the dark of the night. And that smile he gave the little girl on the street in London. She’d thought of that particular moment often. And each time she did, it renewed her hope.

If her changing into someone Douglas could admire meant she would be called the Dour Duchess, so be it. She had duties and responsibilities now. Her life no longer centered on what to wear to the next ball. She’d rather have her husband’s respect than that of Lady Elizabeth or her companion. Showing she was serious about becoming involved in the orphanage was one of the first steps. Though she’d also like to help Douglas find joy in life, she wasn’t certain that was possible.

“I hope some of the activities we have planned will provide him with an opportunity to find levity. If not, I won’t rest until I find something that amuses him.” She smiled at Eleanor. “That’s the least I can do to help you.”

“I don’t know if it’s possible, but I won’t say no to your efforts.” If Eleanor couldn’t find a way to make Douglas admire and respect her at Christmas while she was helping with a charity and with Lillian’s help, she would never do so.

She simply had to succeed. The future would be long and bleak if she didn’t find a common ground with her husband so that they might have a joyful marriage and a true partnership.

Chapter Four

That evening, Douglas watched with no small measure of fascination as Eleanor settled at the pianoforte and adjusted her gown after the Duchess of Burbridge asked her to perform. He hadn’t realized Eleanor could play. She’d never done so at home. Or at least, never for him.

The evening thus far had been spent visiting with the newly arrived guests but with little mention of the charity that was supposed to be the reason they were here. Douglas supposed that was normal. A house party was a social activity after all. The charity would be second to that.

However, gatherings like this were not his strong suit. He knew some of the others, though not well enough to want to carry on a conversation with them. Then again, there were few people with whom he actually enjoyed speaking. He understood what people thought of him but didn’t feel the need to try to change their opinions of him.

For now, he remained standing at the back of the room, a drink in hand, keeping to himself. Dinner had been a lively affair with enough people talking that he’d been able to mostly listen, only giving his opinion on the various topics when directly asked. The brief time when the ladies had left them to their port had been the same.

When they’d joined the women in the drawing room, he’d