Chapter One
“There can be absolutely no doubt. This time we have out done ourselves. He is perfect for you, absolutely perfect!” Duchess Rose Emberly exclaimed.
Emily Pembleton felt her heart sink at her eldest sister’s words. Beside Rose, Emily’s other sister, Jane was nodding enthusiastically. She was the youngest of the three women, and both her sisters were now married.Each to a Duke.
“Oh, I am not sure if–”
“Come on Emily, will you not at least give him a chance? It was your keen eye that helped me find my way into Blake’s arms, it seems only fair that I should return the favour!” Jane gently took her hand in hers, her eyes full of a gentle affection as she thought of her own husband.
“It was not a favour. I just wanted you to be happy. And it was clear the two of you were well suited.” Emily felt her cheeksredden.Must everything be so transactional?“You do not need to repay me for anything.”
“Well, then consider it our sisterly prerogative.” Rose said, glancing between Jane and Emily. “After all, we need to look after you.”
Rose moved towards her and gently reached up to tuck a strand of Emily’s hair behind her ears. Emily was several inches taller than both of her sisters. Where they seemed perfectly proportioned, Emily felt like a perpetually gangly teenager – she had given up hope that she might someday grow into her limbs.
“I do not need looking after.” Emily muttered.
“Perhaps looking after was the wrong choice of words.” Jane moved towards them. “We just want to support you, to help you find happiness. After all, you are our baby sister.”
“Hardly a baby!” Emily pointed out. “I am two and twenty.”
“Exactly! And this is why we need to find you a match.” Rose insisted.
Though her sister’s smile was kind, Emily struggled to smile back. She felt a twist in her stomach and tried to keep her voice light as she said, “Is it not usually the place of a mother to find a match?”
The Viscountess Cotswalts was renowned for her matchmaking skills, and though she had secured a marriage for Rose and Rose’s sister-in-law, Olivia, she had not managed to find Emily a love-match.
“You know that Mother is in Bath for the season, she needs to recover her strength.” Jane wrung her hands, and Emily could see the worry in her eyes. “Besides, Mother could not see what you saw when you matched me with Blake, and has not had any success with you yet. It’s obvious you need a little sisterly guidance.”
“Because that worked so well last time.” Emily retorted without thinking, her temper flaring as she remembered her sister’s last matchmaking attempt.
Jane winced and glanced at Rose. Guilt swelled in Emily. She sighed and took Jane’s hand in hers.
“I am sorry that was unkind.” Emily said.
“You have nothing to apologise for. It was… Well, it was unfortunate how things turned out.” Jane shook her head. “And this time will be different. Rose and I have done much, much more research.”
Rose nodded in agreement. “Besides, the Marquess of Snowden is only one man.”
“One man, who has rather a lot of sway. And who seems to have made it his delight to spread all sorts of rumours about me about the ton.”Which have only made me even more unmarriable.Emily clenched her hands into fists. “All because I did not want to marry him.”
“I am so sorry that we ever introduced the pair of you, I had no idea of his temperament.” Rose bit her lip, a flash of anger in her eyes.
“Honestly it is ridiculous how readily the ton believed his lies. And those letters –” Jane began, but Emily interrupted her, colour flaring in her cheeks.
She held up a hand. “- I do not want to discuss them.”
“I still do not know why you have not proved you did not write them. It would be easy enough to do, you would just have to have a sample of your writing to hand and-” Jane began but Emily shook her head.
“- and no doubt he would think of half a dozen more lies. I have no desire to spend the rest of my life disproving him.” She sighed. “My reputation was hardly wonderful before his interference, and I think it safe to say that it is well and truly tarnished at this point. I might as well accept my life as a spinster.”
“Emily, you are being ridiculous.” Rose gave Emily a frank look—such a perfect mirror of their mother’s that for a moment, she felt as though she were staring at the woman. “Youcannot simply become a spinster! Not when you are a perfectly marriable young woman.”
“Clearly, I am not. Otherwise, I would be married.” Emily pointed out unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. She forced herself to smile brightly and shrug as she said, “Besides, I think a spinster’s life might suit me.”
“How do you intend to provide for yourself?” Jane asked, chewing on her bottom lip, something Emily knew meant she was very worried. “Father will not be around forever, and we have no idea if the new Viscount will keep you on.”
“I- Well I…” Emily faltered.What will I do when there is a new Viscount?
