Kate Pearce - Educating Elizabeth

"You understand that Gervase and I are no longer lovers? He gave me the bracelet many years ago as a thank you gift for helping his daughter Eloise escape from France. He and I are almost exactly the same age. My mother was his wet nurse and I've known him for most of my life. My family worked on one of his estates and we remained loyal to him through the revolution."

A curious sensation of relief flooded through Elizabeth as she realized she had nothing to fear from Angelique. She allowed the courtesan to pour her another cup of tea and they enjoyed a comfortable coze until the duke reappeared from the garden and took Elizabeth home.

At the ungodly hour of six in the morning, Elizabeth tied the plum-colored ribbons of her bonnet in a jaunty bow under her right ear and tiptoed down the main staircase. Unfortunately, Standish, the duke's butler passed through the hallway just as she approached the front door. Elizabeth gave him a confident smile and tried to unlock the massive bolts.

To her chagrin, Standish cleared his throat and with a murmured, "Please allow me, Madame," slipped past her. With one deft turn of his gloved wrist, he opened the door wide.

Elizabeth gave him a grateful smile and hesitated as she looked out onto the desolation of the rain-swept square. Before she could step out into the deluge, Standish appeared and handed her a large gentleman's umbrella. She assumed that it was his, as she knew the duke would never own anything so plebeian. He said nothing but his expression clearly conveyed that if she insisted on gallivanting around at this hour in the morning, he would not be held responsible if she contracted a chill.

The rain beat down with a steady drumming sound onto the umbrella as Elizabeth picked up her skirts and headed for Hyde Park. She had agreed to meet Michael's new assistant, Jack Llewelyn, there before he started work. Elizabeth shivered as she reached the ornate gates and scanned the apparently deserted park. Apart from a few hardy souls on horseback, she couldn't see anyone foolish enough to be out and about in a rainstorm.

"Miss Waterstone?"

Elizabeth turned at the sound of a musical, welsh voice, which came from directly behind her. A young, blond-haired man, his head uncovered in the rain, awaited her attention. He wore a tattered old army greatcoat and decrepit army-issue boots. His skin was tanned and his eyes were a deep chocolate brown. She guessed him to be in his late twenties, much younger than she had anticipated from their correspondence.

"Are you Mr. Llewelyn?"

"I hesitate to be so informal, Miss Waterstone, but would you consider continuing this conversation under the cover of the trees?" He grinned at her then, his strong teeth flashing white in the green gloom as they ducked underneath the low branches of the encroaching trees.

Elizabeth found herself smiling back. There was something so warm and honest in the depths of his brown eyes that she felt no concern in accompanying him. The sound of the rain diminished into a gentle, shushing patter under the canopy of green leaves and Elizabeth closed her umbrella with a decisive snap.

"Well, Mr. Llewelyn. How do you find my brother and how do you like your position?"

Mr. Llewelyn turned to face her. "I find Michael an easy employer, if a somewhat stubborn one." His agreeable smile invited her to share the joke. "In truth, although I cannot cure him, I can certainly encourage him to be more active. It is important for him to maintain as much of his mobility as possible, especially in his upper body. He seems eager to learn all I can teach him and I think we will deal extremely well together, however ..."

Elizabeth hastened to intervene. "I asked you to meet me here so that we could speak freely to one another. I know you must find it difficult to understand my mother's attitude toward Michael."

Mr. Llewelyn nodded. "On my first day, I offered to provide Mrs. Forester with a daily report on Michael's well-being." He sighed and ran his fingers through his damp corn-colored hair. "She asked me why I should think she was interested and told me to refer my reports to you."

Elizabeth swallowed hard. "I apologize for my mother's rudeness, Mr. Llewelyn. She has not been the same since Michael returned from the Peninsula in such poor condition."

"Excuse my bluntness, Miss Waterstone, but Michael is a fine and honorable man. If he were part of my family, I would be proud to welcome such a hero back."

Something dangerous flared in the depths of his eyes, making him look older and harsher.

Elizabeth hastened to reassure him. "I'm glad you are caring for Michael and I do wish to hear of his progress. If you have any problems with my mother, please don't hesitate to contact me." She handed him a copy of her address. "I think you will be an inspiration to him."

Mr. Llewelyn saluted her. "Hardly that, Miss Waterstone, but thank you for your confidence. And next time, please choose a drier place for us to meet." His eyes lit up with good humor. "Maybe Gunter's or a coffee house, somewhere warm, perhaps?"

Elizabeth laughed and fought to open her umbrella as they walked back out into the drizzle. "I do apologize, Mr. Llewelyn and I hope you don't catch cold. I promise I will choose a more suitable place next time. I will also see you at the Foresters' when I visit on Friday."

"Of course, Miss Waterstone, I look forward to it."

With a last bow, Mr. Llewelyn strode off across the park, seemingly oblivious to the rain that soaked his thick blond hair and the damage being done to his well-worn boots. Elizabeth sighed and turned in the opposite direction to begin her journey home. Her surprise at Jack Llewelyn's youth hadn't diminished. She had expected an older man, one who had completed his years of service with the army and had craved a familiar environment as an officer's aid. Jack Llewelyn had all the assurance of an officer, so why had he stopped serving, especially in this time of need?

His voice had been as cultured as her own and his manners as good as any gentleman of her acquaintance. He was a puzzle but thankfully not one she needed to unravel. She would talk to Michael on Friday and see how he felt about the mysterious Mr. Llewelyn. If Michael were satisfied, then she would be to.

She increased her pace, keen to reach the duke's mansion and sit down to breakfast. Her half boots squelched and slipped on the steep incline of the hill as she crossed the road. The sound of a solitary horse behind her made her veer toward the wall. The clatter of hooves on the wet cobblestones grew louder and Elizabeth half turned as the clamor seemed to concentrate directly behind her.

She gasped as the wind flipped her umbrella out of her grasp. Before she could retrieve it, the tip of the horseman's whip came to rest under her chin.

"Miss Waterstone. You are soaked to the skin."

She shuddered with a combination of relief and bone-shaking cold as she recognized the duke's stern face under the brim of his dripping hat.

"Your Grace." She tried to curtsey, but before she could recover her balance, the duke leaned forward, looped his arm around her waist and deposited her in his lap atop the horse. Her teeth chattered as his warm breath blew over her ear. He gathered the reins into one capable hand, unbuttoned his riding coat and drew Elizabeth against the warmth of his chest. She sighed as his heat permeated the sodden layers of her clothes. The horse moved in gentle rhythm beneath her as she relaxed into the security of his arms.

"You frightened me," she murmured against his shoulder.

"You deserve it. What the devil are you doing out at this hour of the morning?"

"Am I not allowed to walk in the park?"

"Why would you wish to do that in this weather?"