He had meant the last as a joke, but his voice came out less jovial than he had intended.
She shrugged at him. “That would imply they are there to begin with.”
“And how do you know they are not?” Luke asked.
From everything he had seen of her sisters, they were fiercely protective of her. And both were married to Dukes. They would protect her—no doubt they had already tried but could do very little without proof the letters were not their sister’s.It is probably due to their interventions that the scandal is as contained as it is.
“I just do.”
“That is hardly proof.”
Emily snapped. “Why does it matter? You are supposed to be teaching me how to read, not to pepper me with questions.”
Luke tried to bite back his own anger, but failed. “I am not the one fighting everyone who offers help until they abandon me.”
“How dare you! You do not even know me.” Emily’s voice broke with emotion.
“I do not need to know you.” Luke shook his head. “I offered to teach you and you seemed excited. Yet tonight you have been prickly as a pincushion.”
“Maybe this was a mistake.” Emily stood up and began to move away from him. “I should not have come here.”
Luke felt a mix of anger and disappointment flare through him.What a waste.“I did not think you were the kind of person to give up so easily. I did not think you were a coward.”
“I-just- I am leaving.” She turned and fled, the sound of the slamming door waking the sleeping maid who darted after her.
Luke watched the closed doorway for a moment, trying to understand what had just happened.Why did I say those things?He clenched his fist and let out a growl of frustration.
The slam of the door had disturbed the paper, and Luke picked it up, looking at the letters Emily had written. He felt the warmthof her fingers against his as he had corrected her grip. Heard the pride in her voice as she explained her theory on the letters.
“An upside down b.” he muttered as he rotated the paper. “And a q is just a p reversed
He smiled in spite of himself, finally seeing what Emily had.What kind of person could make such a connection?
“She has a brilliant way of noticing details. And I do not intend to let her waste her mind.” He vowed, determination filling him.
Chapter Nineteen
“Utterly irritating, infuriating man.” Emily fumed as she strode down the corridor. “How dare he say those things to me?”
Her steps echoed around her, blood thundering through her.I did not think you were the kind of person to give up so easily. The Duke’s words echoed in her head, the disappointment clear in every syllable.
Emily clenched her jaw and fists.What would he know? He is a man, and a Duke. He has power, and education. He does not know what it is like to only ever be an afterthought.Some part of her knew that she was being unreasonable.
After all, she had been so excited to start their lessons and then. “How did this even happen?” Emily muttered to herself as she slowed down.
“Yes, miss. Very rude of him.” Lucy panted as she drew up beside Emily, evidently only having heard Emily’s anger at the man.
Emily turned to her, stopping so abruptly they almost collided with one another. “You should get some rest, Lucy.”
“But-” Lucy began but Emily cut her off, “I need some time alone. Do not worry, I will not need a chaperone.”
“If you are certain, Miss Emily.” Emily could see the tiredness in Lucy’s face.
She smiled at her. “I am. Thank you.”
“I shall see you in the morning.” Lucy curtsied to her and left.
Emily turned away and continued to walk, muttering to herself. “I do not push help away.”
