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Love, she deduced, could come at a later time. After all, she hardly knew the gentlemen she was acquainted with.
With the exception of His Grace, of course, for she had known him foryearsas her brother’s friend. If she had not, she would not so casually place herself in his hands.
I hope I can at least be comfortable enough to carry on a conversation with the man I eventually marry, she sighed to herself.Someone as funny and witty as His Grace would be ideal.
She laughed at that and shook her head.Well, maybe if he was a little less arrogant…now, that would be ideal!
She was still smiling much later after Jenny had helped her wash up and change for dinner, a fact that did not go unnoticed by her father, who was smiling as he regarded his eldest daughter, and Amy, who glowered at her from across the table.
“You seem to be in rather high spirits today, my dear,” the Marquess remarked cheerfully with a happy glint in his eyes. “Did you have a wonderful afternoon?”
Emily had scarcely nodded when Amy butted in, “She was out at Hyde Park with the Duke of Gilleton!”
At that sudden outburst, even her stepmother looked sharply at Emily.
“I did not receive His Grace’s card,” Horatia said, her eyes boring into Emily, who had dropped her gaze onto her plate.
The Marquess looked at Amy then his wife. “The young Duke has been Benedict’s friend for many years, and he has never expressed a desire to court Emily.” He turned towards his eldest daughter. “Is there something I need to know, child?”
In her heart, Emily silently bemoaned Amy’s incessant prying into her affairs.
“It is nothing of that sort, Papa,” she murmured timidly. “His Grace and I are merely friends. I…I do not suppose he sees me in that way at all. Besides, Jenny was there, too, so I was not wholly unchaperoned.”
The Marquess seemed quite satisfied with this reply. “Indeed, but you are already a young lady now. Maybe you should take your brother or your mother along the next time.”
Emily nodded and continued to eat her dinner in relative silence, only speaking when she was spoken to. Thankfully, Amy once again dominated the dinner conversation, and Emily was only too happy to give her the spotlight.
It was clear that her younger sister sought to come between Emily and the Duke, but for what reason, Emily was not certain.
Amy has always deemed me her rival in all things,she thought to herself.Perhaps she thinks this is yet another thing to fight over.
Emily, however, was sick and tired of having to fight over every single thing.
After dinner, she bid her father good night and retreated back to her room as soon as she could, closing the door firmly behind her before letting out a loud sight of relief.
Dinner had always been a rather uncomfortable affair for her, but her father always insisted that they at least shared the evening meal together as a family. Tonight was simply another one out of so many.
CHAPTER6
Benedict picked Emily up at the Montgomery townhouse just an hour after breakfast, dressed immaculately in a dark jacket and pristine white linen shirt with a standing collar.
“You know, I sometimes find it rather uncomfortable going out with you,” Emily admitted ruefully as she stepped into his carriage. Today, she was dressed in an ugly yellow dress that made a poor attempt at being a cheerful, lively color.
“And why is that?” her brother frowned, closing the door behind him.
“Because the difference between us is comparable to the difference between heaven and earth,” she sighed sadly. “I have heard many young ladies have cast their eyes on you, and here I am—the failure of two seasons.”
“Through no fault of your own, I assure you,” Benedict swiftly replied. He looked at her dress in distaste. “And one that I intend to start remedying.”
Emily smiled a little at that. “A dress or two would be nice. A riding habit, too, although I rarely go out on rides.”
“Like I said, we will remedy that.”
“But I heard that Madame Dubois is particularly busy this year. Lady Horatia said—”
“Lady Horatia,” her brother cut in with an acrid tone, “is aliar.”
Emily covered her mouth with a gloved hand to smother her laughter. “Onlyyouwould disparage her so openly. It is no wonder that she and Amy despise you so.”
