"It's not that bad." Charlotte insists passing the letter back to Eliza.

"It is! 'Please enjoy yourself by choosing the nicest flowers and dresses...' Because that's what I immediately want to do, spend all his money." Eliza balls up the letter and chucks it over her shoulder, scoffing.

"He is trying to be kind," Charlotte says sipping her tea with her pinkie extended. " To make this easier for you."

Eliza leans back in her chair and groans. The tea and biscuits in front of her remain untouched.

"This is going to do my head in." She mutters bitterly and bangs her forehead on the polished wood. Her friend lets a little laugh slip out, Eliza raises an eyebrow at her.

"I never thought you'd be in this type of predicament," Charlotte confesses amused.

"Me neither." Eliza agrees less amused. "But you will organise everything for the wedding?" She leans across the table and takes her friend's free hand urgently.

"Of course, I love weddings." Charlotte replies, "But you have to come and pick your own dress."

"Why?" Eliza lets go of her hand and sinks moodily back into her seat.

"Because it's your wedding dress!"

"Just get me the most expensive one like my fiance wants." Eliza sniffs and crosses her arms.

"Stop being so childish," Charlotte says sternly as she places the cup on its saucer. Eliza sticks her tongue out in retaliation.

"Eliza Turner did you..."

"Excuse me."

Charlotte's sentence is cut short and both women turn to the door where Harrington stands, hat under an arm.

"Duke Harrington." Charlotte rises to her feet,

"Lady Charlotte." The duke inclines his head in her direction.

"Your maid let me in," Harrington tells Eliza who responds with a cool eyebrow raise.

"I was just leaving." Charlotte stands and pushes her chair under the table. Eliza straightens up in protest.

"Please don't leave on my account." Harrington hastily retreats, Eliza silently pleads Charlotte not to leave with her desperate eyes but she is ignored.

"Not at all, I have a great deal of wedding business to attend to." She says. "Goodbye, Eliza."

Charlotte casts a meaningful look at her before sweeping from the room, Eliza watches grumpily as her friend leaves her alone with her fiance.

Harrington stands there awkwardly, fiddling with his hat.

"May I?" He gestures to the vacant chair opposite her. Eliza nods subdued. He sits and places his hat on the wooden surface. He places fingers, tip to tip, on the table and scrutinises the girl in front of him. Her long hair hangs around her face which is pink with annoyance.

"I can call for some tea if you like." she offers out of courtesy, anything to get out of here.

"That's quite all right," Harrington says they fall into a dead silence. Eliza purses her lips and plays with the fabric of her dress while the duke's knee taps the floor in rhythm.

"I know we aren't fond of each other," He begins suddenly, "But to make this simple we must try to tolerate each other's presence."

Eliza looks into his face and wishes he wasn't so good-looking, the jaw is chiselled and the chestnut eyes sparkle.

"I agree." She says slowly, announcing each syllable carefully.

"I received your letter and I think it is best we discuss our peeves face to face." His gaze bores into her, a hidden accusation behind the eyes.

"Fine." She shifts under the stare but answers with her chin held high.

"Will you begin?" Harrington leans back ready to listen to what the minx is upset about now.

There's a short pause where her mind whirls, over the shock and dismay of last night Eliza's temper seeps through her words like blood.

"I don't like that you think that because we are getting married that it's all splendid because I get the most expensive dress I want If you think that of me then you are sorely mistaken."

"Woman like dresses." He narrows his eyes. "I only wanted to make this easier for you."

"What by presuming I am as shallow as every woman you have met that desire a wealthy husband like you??" Eliza spits furiously as she jumps to her feet.

"I can see my generosity is wasted on you, I will trouble you no further," Harrington replies coldly before standing and placing his hat on his head.

"Oh yes, your generosity." Eliza seethes, " You are so bloody generous to marry me so shall I kiss your feet and roll over so you can pat my tummy!?"

"I could have left you to ruin!" He hisses venomously stalking towards her.

"Then why didn't you?" Eliza whispers as she comes nose to nose with him.

"I...." Harrington struggles to find any words let alone the right ones.

"Because all this is your fault" Eliza turns away from him, "If you hadn't dragged me out of the ballroom this would never have happened, we'd both be free."

She folds her arms and dares him to deny her words. The duke takes hold of his composure before replying bluntly,

"What happened happened, we cannot change that, I am going to move on and deal with the consequences like an adult, please inform me if you wish to join me." He doesn't bother bowing but stiffly turns on his heel and leaves an open-mouthed Eliza gaping at his retreating back.

He strides angrily through the hall, barely stopping to snatch his coat from a terrified Cecily. He throws the door opens and gravel crunches under his boots as he grabs the reins from a stable boy and flings himself onto his horse. Nudging the animal into a canter he rides away from Ryddan Manor and his angry fiance. His head rings with her words and he curses himself.

Eliza sips her tea while she replays the heated exchange in her head. Had she overreacted? Was she too harsh? Was he just trying to be nice?

"Well, that went well."

Eliza chokes on her tea in surprise, Charlotte waltzes into the room and takes the duke's seat with a frown.

"I thought you had gone." Eliza puts the cup down and pats her mouth with a handkerchief.

"I knew you would do something like this so I stayed to assess the damage," Charlotte says with a dismissive hand.

Eliza crosses her arms with a smirk, "You eavesdropped?"

Charlotte scoffs,

"It hardly matters, you need to fix this."

"What? I didn't do anything." Eliza says defensively.

"You are angry so you lashed out at the one person who can help."

"But..." Eliza tries to protest.

"Eliza you need to set things right otherwise it's all going to be much worse for the both of you."

A meaningful pause and Eliza considers her friend's words, she groans and puts her head in her hands.

"What would your father say?" Charlotte presses softly, wary of the family topic.

Eliza's father was unusual, he taught his youngest daughter to ride, shoot and fight, he didn't care about learning classic French needlepoint. He loved his daughters and his wife, he used to tell Eliza that people may call her names and be jealous but to rise above the pettiness of the ton and its ways. He wanted his girls to be strong and determined but also soft and forgiving.

"Oh, you are right," Eliza admits heavily. "I will go and apologise."

"Good."

Together they leave the dining room and head to the hallway.

"I am going out," Eliza yells to nobody. Someone will hear and tell her uncle so he won't worry.

Eliza and Charlotte walk to the door and Eliza pulls on a pair of ankle boots patterned with roses and a thick cloak to protect against the wind. Outside the house sits Charlotte's carriage ready and waiting, Eliza signals to the stable master for her horse to be tacked and brought out. She helps her friend into the carriage and shuts the door but the window remains open, Charlotte leans out and hugs Eliza's waist.

A boy brings round a shiny black horse with a wild mane with polished tack and reins to stand by the carriage. It nickers when it reaches Eliza and nudges her with its nose wanting a carrot.

"Good luck," Charlotte says smiling. and she reaches out to stroke the horse's face.

"Thanks" Eliza grimaces "Wait where does he live?"

"You don't know?"

Eliza shakes her head as she places a foot in the stirrup and hauls herself onto her beautiful stallion, Captain. She takes the reins and adjusts the lengths.

"You really shouldn't ride in that dress." Charlotte admonishes, glancing at the bunched material, her friend chuckles.

"Just tell me where he lives."

" Chester Valley." Along the south side of the London edge.

"Love you Charlotte."

"Love you too." Charlotte rolls up the window and the carriage jolts along the main path.

Eliza steers her horse across the grass avoiding the road and nudges her horse to walk on,

"Come on Capt." The horse tosses his strong head before launching into a gallop. The steady beat of hooves on the ground allows Eliza to slip into her mind. What was she going to say to him? Where to start? What is he going to say? Captain slows as he reaches the edge of the estate, Eliza turns him south and directs him straight towards a fence a few 100 meters away, over the fence is rolling green fields that cut around London and take them south.

"You ready boy?" Captain's ears prick up at her words and he lengthens his stride ready to jump. Eliza sifts her body close to the saddle and excitement races through her body. The thrill of jumping always spikes up her adrenaline.

100m

50m

10m

1m

Captain springs over the fence and lands gracefully on the other side. Eliza rubs his long neck rewarding as he continues cantering forward. Over the hills they race, meeting no one except a few rabbits.