“Why?” Luke’s voice was soft.
“Because reading is not the same as playing music.” Emily said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“But you have to read music to play it.” And then Luke remembered her sisters talking about her talent.
She only has to hear a piece once to be able to play it.“Come to think of it, I do not think I have even seen you read any music. And from what I have heard of your skill, I would have thought you read much of it.” Luke moved closer to her.
“You have barely seen me play.” Emily countered.
Luke looked at her and shook his head. “No, I have not. No doubt because of this business with the Marquess. But from everything I have heard of you and much of what you have said, it is clear that music means a great deal to you.”
“So?” Emily frowned.
“It begs the question. If the rumours that have spread from the Marquess are affecting your confidence in your playing, why would you not have cleared your name? No doubt, you know some of what the rumours say, if not the exact content of the letters.” Luke gestured around them.
“Perhaps I did not want to read the vile things because it would hurt too much.” Emily insisted.
Luke arched an eyebrow at her. “Why have you not cleared your name?”
“I told you why.” Emily frowned at him.
“I do not believe you.” Luke replied.
“I do not care what you believe.” She retorted.
The reason she would not clear her name. She was not afraid of what the Marquess would do, she simply was not capable of doing it. Luke was sure of it.
She was not slighting me at charades, she simply was not reading.He looked at the woman sitting on the sofa and strode towards her, grabbing a book as he did so.
Luke sat across from her and glanced around. It was only the maid. He looked at Emily.
“I think I know the reason.” He murmured. “I know your secret.”
Her eyes went wide. “What do you mean?”
He took a breath and said, “You cannot read.”
Her face told him the truth.
Chapter Seventeen
“How dare you accuse me of such a thing?” Emily clutched a hand to her chest, trying to sound offended rather than terrified.
The world seemed to be spinning wildly around her, and she could scarcely hear over the blood roaring in her ears.How had he known?
“If it is not true, then prove it.” Luke held the book out to her.
“I do not need to prove myself to you.” Emily made to stand up but Luke shook his head.
His eyes were hard as he said, “If you wish to marry my brother, prove to me that you can read.”
Emily swallowed and looked at the book. She took it with shaking hands. Luke watched her. She opened the book and turned to one of the pages.
Letters swam before her, as they always did. They seemed to dance around the page, jumping from one spot to another.
“And of this,” Emily squinted at the page as she tried to make sense of the jumble of letters. “There were. Man-Man. Many per-per-peramboo–”
Tears filled her eyes and she flung the book away. “Fine. I cannot read. Or at least, I can barely read. I suppose you will leave now, end this whole thing and tell your brother you were right and I am not good enough for him.”
