LOVING HER DUKE

September 1821“Beth. Bethany, wake up. It’s morning.” Eric whispered in her ear, shaking her up. She stirred and turned, shoving him away as she did. “Wake up woman, it’s your birthday.” He whispered again, successfully capturing her attention. Beth sat up and glared at her brother who was sitting on the edge of her bed.The heat from the fireplace had reduced with the dead fire, but Eric held up a candle to her face, smiling sheepishly at her. His face would make anyone think that the survival of the world rested singularly on her birthday. She blinked and started to lie back down.Eric pulled her legs to rouse her even more. “Stop it!” She whined. “What is it about my birthday that's making you so joyful?”He placed his finger on his lips, then walked to the table and sat candle down. Whispering, he said. “Quiet down, unless you intend to wake Mother and Father.”Beth pulled her blanket to her neck and whispered back. “I'm glad you realized that it is too early to be rudely interru

September 1826Beth quickened her pace as the footfalls behind closed in on her, running up the rough road with strength she had no idea she possessed, her heart in her mouth. At six ‘o’clock in the morning, Beth suddenly realized, much to her chagrin, that Carlisle might not be the safest of places.Her hands frantically searched through her bag for something, anything that would serve as a defensive means to protect herself but flowers wouldn’t even scare the nicest of people, how would it scare anyone else? She could call someone for help, but whom? And if she should try to, her assailant – she supposed the person behind her was one – would catch up with her before she could call for help again. No, she shouldn’t, the knowledge they lacked regarding her exact position was probably the only advantage she had over them. If she tried to call for anyone, her voice would give it away and that was not what she wanted. Perhaps she should seek refuge in one of the caravans? But no one was

* * *From a comfortable position on the bed, Beth watched as Lucy added even more rouge to her cheeks and smiled at the mirror – she looked beautiful. Her ever unruly hair danced on the side of her face as she turned to look more upon her makeup. Gwen sauntered into the room, looking beautiful as well.“Beth, Aunt Marrily said to come to the door in ten minutes.” She approached the mirror. Lucy gave her a thin blue sash.Beth pushed herself down on the bed and closed the book she held, dog-earing where she was. “I told earlier that I want no part of this ball. How best should I say this?” She lifted herself to her elbows. “I do not want to attend the ball.”“Mother!” Lucy turned to the door. “Beth says she won’t attend the ball!”She jolted up. “Lucy!”“What is this I hear?” Aunt Marrily was immediately at the door, hand on her hip. “Why would she not…?” Her Aunt stepped into the room. “Why wouldn’t you want to go to the ball? This is the very reason I asked my sister to send you ove

Their Aunt approached them, two fine gentlemen on either side; her smile was broad and naughty. She stopped briefly to hold a discussion with Lucy, introducing the men to her. Beth straightened her stance while Gwen patted her hair again. “You seem happy.” She observed the younger girl.“I enjoy the attention.” She whispered. “I choose to. Hold up your best smile, else Aunt Marrily will never forgive you.”Their faces lit up immediately as their Aunt finally stood before them. “Go easy on the wine, sweet child.” She warned. Gwen turned red but Aunt Marrily didn’t care. “Sir George, these are my nieces, Beth and Gwen. Beautiful, are they not?” Ignoring whatever reply the men would have given, she continued. “Girls, this is Sir George, a fine Cavalry soldier, second son to the Earl of Moore.”“Lovely to make your acquaintance.” He shook both their hands, kissing hers on the knuckle, holding on longer until Beth slowly withdrew. He gave her a too-bright smile.A smile stuck in place on h

This time she laughed lightly, her hand still over her mouth. “I suppose one does, for your sake.” She leaned again on the railing, this time, putting up enough distance between them. “The view from up here is beautiful.”She commented, he said nothing. After a while, “You are Carlisle.” He looked to her. “On the hill, why did you say you were an only child?”He looked away. “Because I am. ““You mentioned both parents. You only have a Mother.”Nothing.Maybe she had been rude. The silence that followed was at first unnerving and scary, but soon it brought comfort, as they listened to the music flowing in from the ballroom and the gay laughter of men and women. Beth closed her eyes and nodded her head slowly to the beat, enjoying it as much as she couldn’t when she was in the ballroom. The breeze swayed the garden's trees again, but she was content enough to not care about anything.He tapped the railing twice. “How is your wound?”She opened her eyes. “What wound?”“From this morning.