Rose stood and raised her glass. Silence fell across the table as she surveyed everyone with a smile.
“Now that we are all gathered, I would just like to thank our honoured guests for being here with us tonight. I am well aware of the busy schedule of a Duke, and appreciate greatly the respect you have shown us with your presence. I hope that this is the first of many such visits.” Rose bowed, and the table toasted to the Duke and his brother.
Everyone but the Duke and his brother stood, raising their own glasses and calling out, “hear, hear!”
The Duke drank from his glass and then stood, “I must thank you, Duchess Emberly for your kind and generous invitation.You have been exemplary hosts, gracious and most hospitable. I look forward to the coming days immensely.”
Emily struggled not to roll her eyes. It was of course, custom for someone to respond to a toast about them, but she had no doubt that the Duke was not looking forward to his stay at the castle.
As the table drank once more, Marigold, Jane’s daughter, flung something across the table at Peter who had been sticking his tongue out at the child.
“Marigold, you know better than to fling your potato at your uncle Peter!” Jane was saying to her daughter.
“Yes Mama.” Marigold said, chastened.
“If you are going to fling anything at him, it should be your peas. They will travel better.” Alexander added, laughing as Rose rolled her eyes and Jane shot him a despairing look.
Everyone was caught up in their own conversations. Even Lord Baine seemed distracted as he talked to Marie. Only Duke Warren sat silent and unspeaking, seeming to absorb everything that was going on around them.
“How are you finding your stay so far?” Emily asked the Duke politely.
“It is fine. Thank you.” He replied, briefly meeting her gaze before looking away.
“And your day? I notice that you and Lord Baine seem to have spent the day out of the castle.” Emily tried to keep her voice bright and warm.I will prove to him that I can be every bit as prim and proper as he is.
“Yes. We were exploring the grounds.” The Duke returned to his food.
Emily gritted her teeth, still trying to be civil.It would be easier to converse with a stone.“And what did you think of them?”
“They are well cultivated and pleasing.” Duke Warren said.
He lapsed back into silence, and Emily tried to think of what the next polite question to ask would be. Around them, the sounds of laughter filled the air, and she saw each of her sisters being rambunctious and rowdy.
A prickle of jealousy stole over her, and she pushed it aside. Everyone around her seemed to be having a delightful time, and here she was, stuck next to someone who might as well be a stone.
Her irritation got the better of her.
“What exactly is it about me that you feel is not worthy of your brother?” she asked without preamble.
Duke Warren turned slowly to her, raising an eyebrow as he did so. “Pardon?”
“You heard me. I wish to know why it is you are so against my marrying your brother.” Emily spoke firmly, but not so loudly that her voice would carry across the table.Not that it matters, the Rochesters are so rambunctious I am unlikely to be overheard.
“What makes you think I am against your union?” Duke Warren asked.
“It is obvious to see, and even more clear how much Lord Baine values your opinion.” Emily took a steadying breath, keeping her voice level and even. “I would know what is it exactly that I have done to set you against me. Do you not think I am intelligent enough for him? Am I not pretty enough?”
“It is clear that you are clever. Your wit is sharp and you are keenly observant.” Duke Warren said simply. “You are very pretty, though not vain. In those regards, you might be well suited.”
“Oh.” Emily felt her cheeks redden.Is he complimenting me?
“It is your impropriety that makes the match entirely unsuitable.” The Duke continued, erasing any semblance of warmth that might have been spreading through Emily.
The anger that spread through her, was hard to contain.Propriety. Ugh.“I may not be as proper as you, but I do not entirely eschew propriety.”
“Thus far, your behaviour has not indicated a great deal of respect for it.” Duke Warren pointed out.
Emily raised an eyebrow at him. “I respect what is necessary. I simply do not blindly follow the rules of society.”
