“Do you not know?”
“No.” Emily felt her chest constrict. Reading the letters would have made the claims easier to refute, but she could not do it. “I did not see what good it would do.”
“Then I was correct, you did not write them.” He chewed his lip thoughtfully. “You are many things, Miss Pembleton. You are wild and improper, with a fiery temper. But there is no vanity in you or arrogance. All I have seen is humility and kindness. I do not understand why you would not prove that you did not write them.”
“You know what he is like. He did this because I turned down his proposal. Can you imagine what he might do if I embarrassed him by revealing the truth?” Emily gave the Duke a flat look.
“He would have little power to do anything once you had proved yourself. All you need is some people to see you writing a letter, people of note.” He insisted.
“It is not that simple.”
“It is.” The Duke moved towards her. “People should not think such things of you.”
“Why does it matter to you?” Emily searched his face for an answer.
The Duke answered. “Because it is important.”
It is important to his duchy.Emily shook her head. “People have already made up their minds. Just as you have.”
“You could change them.”
“Like I have changed yours?” Emily stood up, and turned from the Duke, moving towards the door. “I do not think so.”
“I did not think you were the kind to give up without a fight.” He called after her.
“What makes you think I have?” she called back. “Perhaps I am simply tired of fightingyou.”
She left before he could say another word, her heart hammering in her chest. She had meant what she had said. Her hands shook. If things were different, it would have been so easy to restore her reputation. But the truth…
If he found out, he would never let me marry his brother.Lord Baine was her last hope. His brother could never learn her secret.
Chapter Sixteen
“Ido not understand how someone so willing to fight me, seems unwilling to take on someone like the Marquess.” Luke exclaimed the next day as he walked with Rodger along the corridor towards one of the drawing rooms.
“Perhaps she enjoys fighting you.” Rodger said.
Luke gave him an unimpressed look. “It is not the time for joking.”
Rodger muttered something Luke could not catch and then said, “Brother, she told you herself, if she revealed the truth, the Marquess would probably take some other revenge. Her father is a Viscount, she does not have a lot of protection.
I will protect her. Luke stopped himself from saying the words. He had no business protecting her. Society should do that, especially once she revealed the truth.
“It makes no sense. It would be so easy to do. She could write some letters in front of people – I am sure we would see that her writing looks nothing like the letters.” Luke frowned. “She has not even read the things.”
“Would you want to read them?” Rodger raised an eyebrow. “They are truly horrible things.”
“Knowledge is power, brother. If you know what the evidence is, then it is far easier to refute it. To prove a falsehood and clear your name.”
“Yes, but women are more sensitive. Perhaps it was simply too much for her?” Rodger offered.
Luke tried not to gape at his brother.Too sensitive – as though she is some blushing wallflower, truly my brother is blind to the truth of her.“Whatever the reason, it makes no sense to me.”
“I do not see why it matters.” Rodger replied. “You know that the letters are not hers, so the rumours are untrue.”
“Some of them are yes, but it is worrying that she seems satisfied to let things lie.” Luke ran a hand through his hair, puzzling at the situation.
“Perhaps she is hoping the less she engages with it, the more quickly everything will die down.” Rodger said reasonably as they reached the drawing room.
