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Emily dropped her gaze glumly to her hands. “It was not His Grace who led me out into the gardens but Lord Chaney,” she admitted. “It was foolish of me, but I thought he meant to propose. When he tried to force himself on me, I was fortunate that the Duke showed up.”
“That bastard!” Benedict swore, his eyes blazing. He turned to his father. “You cannot possibly mean to make her marry that scoundrel!”
The Marquess of Rutbridge silenced his son with a quelling look. “Let your sister continue.”
Emily swallowed as she felt hot tears pricking at her eyes again. “The Duke stayed behind, and we kissed, but that is all, I swear! We did not do anything dishonorable!”
It was a complete and utter lie. Even as she sat there, roiling in abject misery, she could still feel his lips on her flesh, his masterful touch where she ached the most.
But to divulge the details of what transpired in the gardens would put Daniel into even more of a predicament with her family. Her brother was already livid enough to demand that the Duke marry her. She did not need to add fuel to the flame.
She only hoped that Daniel would meet with her later as she asked of him so that she might be able to tell him how she truly felt.
And maybe bid him goodbye.
Her father sighed wearily as he massaged his temples, looking at her worriedly. “And now, what will become of you? Your only recourse would be to either marry the Viscount to assure he does not speak of this matter,” he paused and looked at her pointedly, “or you can marry the Duke of Gilleton, if that is your wish.”
Emily blinked her eyes as she fidgeted with the lacy patterns on her skirt. “I do not intend to do either.”
A collective hush fell over the entire room before the Marchioness exploded in a burst of anger, rising to her feet as she cried, “You cannot do that! If your reputation suffers, then the family will be dragged along the mud withyou!”
And by association, so would Amy, Emily thought bitterly to herself. It scarcely mattered to Lady Horatia if Emily was to sacrifice the rest of her life to an unhappy marriage as long as Horatia could ensure that Amy would live happily and well.
“You have already seen Lord Chaney, and you must have an idea what his true intentions are,” Emily told them softly. “His pride has suffered a telling blow when I refused his advances tonight. If I marry him, he will naturally exact his revenge on me, and none of you will be able to do anything about it.”
Benedict sucked in a deep breath and swore softly. The Marchioness looked like she was ready to sacrifice Emily on the altar of matrimony just to ensure Amy would be successfully launched to society. Her father looked torn.
“Then, do you want to marry His Grace?” the Marquess asked her.
Emily shook her head sadly. “His Grace does not intend to get married anytime soon, and I do not think he will change his mind for me. It was my fault that we were caught in this predicament, so I should be the one to remedy it.”
Benedict shot her a swift look. “What do you intend to do?”
“If I marry either man, I will be forced to live the rest of my life in misery, and I am not resigned to that at all.” Emily raised her chin and looked them each in the eye. “I will marry no one, even if I have to become a spinster and live the rest of my life as a governess. Turn me out, if you must, for Amy’s sake, but I will not be bound to either a vicious man or one who must be forced to accept me.”
Silence descended over everyone as her quiet but fierce declaration weighed on their hearts.
Lady Horatia let out a soft wail. “You will drag the rest of the family down with you!”
Emily flinched but maintained her stance. She would try to resist them as best as she could. If only the Duke would agree to marry her, that would be for the best for she certainly did not want to be married to that vile Lord Caney. However, she had seen the look in his eyes when Benedict demanded that Daniel marry Emily.
It was utter contempt. Like marrying her was the worst idea in the entire world, and her brother was an absolute idiot for daring to suggest it.
She could not marry such a man either.
“I think,” the Marquess said softly, “that we have had enough for one night. It would be best if we were to retire and sleep on it. Maybe tomorrow would bring a solution to our predicament.”
“But—but this cannot be allowed to go on!” Lady Horatia sputtered. “The longer it drags on, the more difficult it will be to silence those wagging tongues!”
“Horatia,” the Marquess told her firmly. “I amtired. Tomorrow morning, we can discuss this at greater length. Not tonight.”
Without waiting for her answer, he stood up and walked out of the salon, his shoulders hunched over as if he bore the weight of the world on them.
Lady Horatia glared at his back before transferring her ire to Emily.
“This is all your fault!” she hissed. “I swear, I will make this right even ifyouhave to suffer the rest of your life for it!”
Benedict stepped protectively in front of Emily and spoke in a dangerously soft voice, “Lady Horatia, I understand that this night’s events weighed heavily on you, but I would caution you towatch your tonguearound my sister.”
