The Reluctant Duchess

...that familiar whisper hovered over his spirit, the same impression pounding, pulsing. Pay attention. Pay attention. He nearly groaned. He had trouble enough at his doorstep right now, given the diamonds even now being set In gold and the ruthless women out to claim them. The last thing he needed was the distraction of a needy young lady....and a generation old feud coming to call.

So be it. Let them all imagine his reactions. Let them guess at his next move. He'd surprise them all. He'd do absolutely nothing.

Our sisters are going to give me an apoplexy if they don't cease drawing the attention of every male guest in a five Mile radius.

Rowena had been just a normal girl back then. Running along with the dukes daughter on every merry chase. Huddling under makeshift forts when the rain drove them inside. Heads bowed together over books and papers on which they'd scratched treasure maps and poem and.... Magic —that's what it had been

His eyes, the same grey as Rowena's, went darker under his drawn brow. "What are ye suggesting, Lilias?" "A replay of history, with a bit of a twist

She was a lady, by rights.

I don't know why. Life is far more entertaining with a few deviations from the set course.

Rowena focused on the plate set before her. Rimmed in gold leaf, filled with food she'd scarcely touched. She had never wanted, not when it came to those things. But what about the other empty places in ones life? An empty heart? And empty soul? "I dare say this Mr. Muller had many stories to tell of the Lord's provision." " We all do, if we open our eyes to it. He is always directing us towards our better good. Sometimes that means trials, but they will lead us to the place where He knows we need to be. And He will always be there beside us, if we but let Him in.

....but somehow she wasn't surprised when they arrived at a figure of a frog wearing a crown and looking at them as of to say, " Hello, fly. You look delicious. " "Oh, drat." Ella narrowed her eyes at the frog. "Don't look at me that way Edmund. You never turn into a Prince no matter how many times I've kissed you.

Because ye willna accept me for who I am! I can only be the Duchess of Nottingham now, not permitted to wear wool or speak with a burr or believe what I have spent my whole life believing. I canna turn around without your oldest friend lecturing me on superstition or you calling me daft for believing in curses " His usually gut reaction beckoned--- spin away, refuse to engage in what he deemed a ridiculous argument. But a quiet Stay resonated within him, and this time he didn't think he was misunderstanding. He shoved his hands in his pockets to anchor himself. " I love to hear you speak. I care very little what you wear, so long as you have what you need and are happy in it." She snorted. " Your society disagrees " "Yes, they do. And you can either conform to their expectations or defy them. Whatever your choice, I will stand beside you. But it is the other that really bothers you, and that is my fault. My failing. Your opinions and beliefs are worth no less than mine.

I can't blame you for being annoyed with me, given my utter perfection--- perfection is annoying, isn't it? Though in your list, you left off a few vital items. Like my perfect horsemanship. My perfect teeth." She laughed and grabbed a pillow with which to bash him in the face.

I don't know who you are either, Rowena. " His fingers tightened around hers. "But I know who your not. You're not who your father made you. You're not who that Kinnaird fellow made you. You're who God made you. And perhaps now you have been given the opportunity to discover who that is. Freely" Brice ducked his head a bit, caught her gaze. "And if you really want to spite them, do you know what you should do?" He leaned closer, pitched his voice lower. "Thrive. Be happy.

Ella!" Brice's voice echoed over the hedges, dripping more with frustration than concern. "Have you lost yourself in the maze again?" His sister clapped a hand over her mouth, though her giggle still slipped past. "Not just myself, I'm afraid. Will you be a doll, Brice?" "Where are you? Wonderland?" Wonderland? Ella grinned. "Whitby has the most delightful White Rabbit in one corner, and then the Queen of Hearts and Gryphon in subsequent ones." Louder, she called, "No, dearest, I made it all the way to Neptune this time! With only one wrong before now!" "Bully for you.