The events of last night warp into nightmares as Eliza tries to sleep till morning. She tosses restlessly in her bed; the feather pillows are uncomfortable and her duvet too warm. Sighing in defeat she glances at her clock and groans; it is only 6 in the morning. Too early to get up. Eliza knows her uncle often rises after 7, therefore, she only has to wait an hour or so before she can talk to him about her engagement. She shudders at the thought. How to tell your uncle you are to marry after all your protests about matches and men?

Eliza can't quite believe she is waking up today with a husband to be. A man she not only dislikes but is a duke of all things! A duke! Which means she will become a duchess after the wedding. Ah, the wedding. She rolls over and groans louder into her pillow. Her wedding. No marriage is complete without a wedding. Oh, how she wishes she could avoid all the chaos and attention a wedding would bring, in fact, she wishes she could have avoided last night in its entirety, so she wouldn't be waking up with a fiancé or a wedding to partake. Eliza sits up on her bed and crosses her legs comfortably. Cecily knows not to wake her mistress before 8 which gives Eliza time to think. Last night she didn't do much of that. After Jasper left she sat in the Library drinking until Charlotte appeared with Cecily, got her into a carriage and drove her home. The whiskey made the journey blur together and she can only remember stripping her dress off and crawling into bed. Staring at the mirror Eliza tilts her head to properly look at herself. The girl in front certainly doesn't look like a duchess, she looks like a scared, nervous girl, not a rich confident wife.

The blasted dress from last night is discarded on the floor, Eliza slips off her bed and picks up the gorgeous material. It is still beautiful and hangs innocently, a surge of anger floods through her blood. She pulls open her window, wincing at the immediate blast of cold air and throws the dress outside, it flutters in the wind looking like a red ghost until it gently settles on the ground. If she had not worn that dress would things be different? If she hadn't been so riled up by the duke's words would she be free? Eliza slams her window shut, the glass rattles in the frame. It doesn't matter now, what's done is done and she has to deal with the consequences. She sits down on the poof in front of the vanity, her hairstyle from the ball has not been taken out, only the pearls removed. She begins to take down the curls from the plait, they fall in sections until they are all free and wind their way down her back.

Knock knock. There's a swift knock on her door.

"Come in." She calls as she tries to comb her hair. The door swings open.

"Eliza." Her uncle looks nervous, he hovers by the doorway, unsure whether to come in or not.

"Uncle." Eliza says surprised, "Will you sit down?" She gestures to an armchair with fat blue cushions and places the comb back down. Benjamin strides and sits down with a nod. Eliza swivels to face her uncle who coughs uncomfortably, he seems to be looking everywhere but at her. She glances down at herself and sees she is only in her nightgown, but this is the least amount of clothes her uncle has ever seen her in and blush spreads through her cheeks.

"Oh." Eliza pulls a shawl that is hanging on her bed and covers herself. Her uncle seems better as he looks directly at her.

"I don't know where to start." He runs a hand through his hair, "I am pleased, shocked of course and a little hurt but happy for you." He gives his niece a gentle smile

"Uncle I don't..." Eliza starts confused.

"Harrington came to see me this morning so you don't have to hide anymore." He says knowingly. Eliza's eyes widen and she looks at the clock, it's only 6:45, he already called here?

"What did he say to you uncle?" She asks nervously.

"That the reason you didn't tell me was because you needed to make sure it was love." He says with a happy smile, "Of course I wish you told me as soon as it happened but still."

"What else did he say?" Eliza presses, her heart racing.

"Oh, not much, he asked for my blessing which I gave without hesitation." Benjamin beams at her alarmed face. "He also told me about last night." Sadness creeps into his voice and Eliza looks ashamedly at the floor.

"I am sorry Uncle." She says sadly.

"Oh these things happen," He replies ruefully.

"I should have told you last night but..." She starts to apologise but Benjamin cuts across;

" I just wish I had been there." He says, Eliza frown unsure whether she heard correctly.

"Sorry?"

"But it doesn't matter now, you are engaged and I couldn't be happier. Your father would be very pleased. "

"Ok..." Eliza's mind whirls as she tries to figure what Harrington had told her uncle.

"So he will be here for the hunt soon but he left you this letter." Benjamin reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a letter and hands it to her. Eliza takes the parchment and places it on her table, she stands as does her uncle.

"I now understand your frustration yesterday." He says, "I know I am not a great guardian but I am always here for you." Her uncle says warmly. Eliza hugs his waist and he returns the embrace.

"Thank you, Uncle." She sniffs as she draws back. Benjamin is easily uncomfortable with emotion but he smiles and nods before leaving and shutting the door.

The letter lies on the table, Eliza takes it and sits on the edge of the bed as she rips it open. She begins to read.

Dear Eliza,

I took the liberty of visiting your Uncle Benjamin this morning to save you from breaking the news yourself. I received his blessing and explained our situation. However, I must catch you up on the events after I left you. I found the two ladies who ran off, waiting for me when I entered the ballroom. They apparently desired money more than the value of gossip and planned to blackmail me. I seized this advantage and announced our engagement before any word spread.

Eliza breathes out a sigh of relief, that is what her uncle was referring to. Her reputation is saved from speculation and rumours. She continues to read the letter.

I know this doesn't save you from marrying me however I hope this news puts your mind at ease in regards to your reputation. I am aware you do not wish to have me for a husband however Thomas suggested that having a joint wedding with himself and Charlotte would be beneficial and so I have arranged for this to happen. I am telling everyone who asks that ours is a love match and that is why we kept it secret so If those two odious women do talk then it will not hurt us. I will be at the hunt later and request we talk in private how we are going to undertake this task. I am quite content with you organising the joint wedding with Charlotte as I am hopeless with such things. I am prepared to pay for all that you wish in this wedding so please enjoy yourself by choosing the nicest flowers and dresses, hope you are well,

Kind regards

Jasper Harrington.

Eliza tosses the letter away in disgust, of course, he thought that she would be dying to organise an elaborate wedding that requires a fortune. However, a wedding with Charlotte means that she can do most of the work, so all Eliza has to do is turn up on time in the right dress at the right church which is harder than it sounds. Deciding not to wait for Harrington to return Eliza takes a piece of paper and an Ink pen out of a draw and begins to compose a response.

Dear Jasper,

I thank you for your letter and for visiting my uncle however I could have done it myself. In regards to our wedding, I am delighted it will be with Charlotte however I am not the type of woman who takes their fiancé's money and splurges on a fancy wedding, try to remember that. Therefore I will be asking Charlotte to take the lead. I will see you when you arrive for the hunt and I agree we must talk.

Eliza Turner.

Satisfied with her letter Eliza places it in an envelope when the ink dried and wrote the name of the front.

Cecily walks into the room with a tray of tea and biscuits.

"Oh, you are awake miss." She remarks surprised to see Eliza out of bed at 7.

"Cecily will you take this to give to a messenger to be taken to Harrington at once please." Eliza hands her the letter from the vanity.

"Of course miss, and might I say congratulations." Her maid says excitedly as she sets down the tray and accepts the letter.

"Oh thank you," Eliza says smiling at how animated her maid is.

"Also Lady Charlotte is downstairs to see you, I said you'd be asleep but she insisted on staying so I gave her some tea and biscuits."

"Thank you, Cecily, please tell her I will be down in a moment," Eliza says as she stands, looking through her dresses trying to pick what to wear.

"Of course Miss." Cecily curtsies and exits the room. Eliza puts on a cream and rose dress. Not bothering with her hair, she lets it hang loose down her back. Desperate to see her friend she hurries with her buttons and misses a few before flying out her bedroom.