“I am sure I will be.” Luke inclined his head and watched as the Duke left.
He knew that the man had been trying to assuage his fears, to mollify his concerns, but the encounter had only made him more determined than ever to stop the match.
There was absolutely no way he could allow his brother to marry a woman like Miss Pembleton. He would not leave his duchy in the hands of her children. And thanks to the Duke, he knew exactly how he was going to get his brother to see reason.
Chapter Five
“Oh, Lord Baine. I did not expect to run into you!” Emily exclaimed as she and Lord Baine collided briefly in the entrance hall.
“Miss Pembleton. I am sorry. I should have been more mindful of where I was walking.” Lord Baine looked away distractedly.
It had been a day since their walk in the gardens, and they had not had a chance to speak to one another since. Emily noticed that the man seemed rather more formal and guarded than he had been with her the day before.
“Is something the matter?” Emily asked.
“No, nothing is the matter.” Lord Baine’s voice was tired, and as he said his words, he could not meet her eyes.
“Then you will not mind if I walk with you to dinner?” Emily said brightly.Clearly something is the matter, and I mean to find out what.
She could see the tension in his shoulders. He seemed tired but also as though she were not present. There was a reluctance about his step and he did not seem able to look at her.
“I – um… Yes. I mean no, no I would not mind.” Lord Baine gestured in front of him.
“Good. Then we shall walk together. It will be nice to get some time to speak with one another without your brother. Is he always so…” Emily trailed off unsure of a polite way to say ‘overbearing’.
“He is protective of me, and well… He just wants to make sure that I do what is best for me.” Lord Baine explained, a faint flush of colour in his cheeks.
“And does he know what is best for you better than you know it?” Emily raised an eyebrow at him.
Lord Baine’s colour deepened. “Sometimes.”
“I doubt that is the truth.”
“He is older. And he knows more of the world than I do. He has always done his best to provide for me.” Lord Baine wrung his hands. “He has never led me astray.”
“You were not joking when you said you could not marry without his approval.” Emily’s heart sank.I was right.
Lord Baine looked at her, and she could see sadness in his eyes. “No, I was not. I mean, technically I could, but I would not want to.”
“I see.” Emily nodded.
Before she could say another thing, they reached the dining room. Lord Baine held open the door for her, and she followed him inside. Everyone else was already in the room.
Emily took a seat at the end of the table, choosing deliberately to have only one empty seat next to her. To her frustration, Duke Warren sat next to her, and Lord Baine gave her an apologetic look as he slid into a vacant seat between Marie and Jane.
“Your Grace.” Emily inclined her head towards him, refusing to let him see her irritation.
“Miss Pembleton.” Duke Warren answered.
“I am surprised you would sit here. Given your status.” Emily knew that by rights, the Duke should be sitting nearer the head of the table, as should she.
“From what I have understood neither Duke nor Duchess Emberly place importance on such things. Therefore, the properthing to do would be to sit where I please.” The Duke replied calmly, which only fuelled her irritation.
It was at this particular moment that one of the children – Emily was fairly certain it was Arthur – flung a piece of potato at Natalie (one of Alexander’s other sisters.) There was a squeal and roars of laughter, while Alexander tried to keep the peace.
Duke Warren watched the exchange, confusion and something else on his face, but Emily could not work out what it was.Jealousy perhaps? But that makes no sense. Perhaps it is simply judgment?
That is probably it.
