The gossip pages could hardly keep up. The Duke of Clearhaven, had been seen calling upon Miss Elizabeth Hendrick three times in a single week.
On the fourth afternoon, he arrived in a dark green carriage, dressed impeccably in a grey coat. Elizabeth waited for him in the entryway of her father's townhouse, her gloved hands folded neatly in her lap, cheeks flushed the softest pink.
"You look radiant, Miss Hendrick," he said, offering his arm.
"And you look far too serious for a man enjoying a stroll," she teased, slipping her hand through the crook of his elbow. He smiled. A real one.
They strolled along Rotten Row beneath a pale sun, the trees overhead beginning to bud with spring. Elizabeth's bonnet was trimmed in blue to match her eyes, her laughter delicate, her conversation lively. She challenged Henry in a way that amused and intrigued him. There was no coyness in her, no simpering attempts to impress. She was herself—and it enchanted him more with each passing day.
Society took notice. The Dowager Countess of Ashbourne paused in her carriage to take a long look. Two young debutantes whispered behind gloved hands as they passed. And Lord Halbridge, a bachelor who had once called upon Elizabeth himself, offered Henry a respectful nod before walking on.
Every gesture, every glance, said the same thing: This was no idle courtship.
Henry made no effort to hide his admiration. He sent her books he thought she might enjoy, flowers that reminded him of her dress at the ball, and on one occasion, a tiny box containing a silver brooch in the shape of a rose.
The message was clear. She was not just the object of his attention. She was the object of his intentions. As they reached the edge of the park that afternoon, Elizabeth turned to him. "You've made quite a spectacle of us," she said, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"I should hope so," Henry replied with a smirk. "The world should know I've no interest in anyone else."
Elizabeth blushed, lowering her gaze—but hersmile lingered, wide and warm.
YOU ARE READING
The Price of a Title
RomanceWhen Henry, the Duke of Clearhaven, meets the captivating Lady Elizabeth, their undeniable connection promises a future filled with love and prestige. But a scandal involving her father forces Henry to make a heart-wrenching choice. Now, years later...
