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Emily frowned as she unfolded it. Written in familiar script were the words, “Meet me later in the gardens tonight. Daniel.”
CHAPTER17
For the rest of the day, Emily could hardly sit still. To Jenny’s delight, Emily finally managed to eat a little although she still dared not eat too much for fear of being ill.
She felt as if her stomach was tied into knots as she patiently waited for the sun to set and night to fall over the land. Even then, she still had to wait until everyone had retired for the night before she fastened her cloak at her neck and pulled the hood over her head.
She had chosen the darkest cloak she had in her possession—a deep gray with very little in the way of embroidery. It was a little too big for her, and whenever she wore it, it seemed to drown her in swathes of unnecessary fabric.
“How do I look?” she asked Jenny anxiously.
“Well, it’s not like he could see ye well in the darkness, Milady, but ye look rather well considerin’ ye haven’t slept a wink a’tall!”
Emily smiled foolishly to herself. Yes, Jenny was quite right—it was rather dark outside which was perfect for a secret tryst. This time, nobody would ever see them or spy on them again.
But…why did the Duke insist on meeting her under such clandestine circumstances?
After the fiasco with the Viscount, she had grown wary of such rendezvous. If it was not that she wished to see him so badly, she would have outright refused to see him.
She had already tempted scandal once. She really should not be adding another infraction to her list of crimes.
With Jenny’s help, Emily managed to successfully sneak out of the house and into the gardens. She knew without a doubt that the Duke would be waiting for her in the gazebo in one of the darkest parts of the garden.
What is it with His Grace and gardens?Emily thought to herself as she stepped quietly over the grass. Every once in a while, she would glance behind her to see if someone had managed to see her.
She felt great relief when she finally saw the gazebo and standing just outside was Daniel with his back to her, his hands clasped behind him. She felt her heart pound as she drew nearer.
As if he sensed her presence, he turned around, and his eyes took her form in hungrily.
“Emily,” he groaned.
“Daniel!” she murmured. Before she knew it, her feet were flying over the grass, and she had launched herself into his arms. “What took you so long?”
“I am so sorry, Emily,” he murmured into her hair. “I am so sorry.”
He pulled himself away from her, and she saw the agony written all over his features. She felt her heart sink as she backed away, shaking her head.
“Emily, I cannot marry you,” he told her hoarsely.
No!Emily felt her heart shatter to pieces at his words. The tears came to her eyes, cascading over her lashes down her softly rounded cheeks.
“Why?” she demanded, her voice soft and fierce. “Why not?”
He shook his head and looked at her sadly. “Emily, I do not deserve you. You deserve somebody—”
“You have no right to tell me or decide for me who or what I want and deserve,” she told him.
“Emily, please listen to me,” he pleaded with her. “This is for the best. I would only hurt you, and I cannot live with myself if that ever happened.”You are hurting me now!Emily wanted to scream at him, but the words were struck in her throat. Her hands clenched into fists at her side as she raised her eyes to meet his tormented ones.
“I know that I am not the most beautiful or desirable,” she spoke slowly. “Neither am I the wittiest or the most well-spoken lady in the realm. But pray tell, Your Grace, what is wrong withme? Why is it that you find it so repulsive to marry me?”
“There is nothing wrong with you!” he cried. “You are absolutely perfect—”
“Do not lie to me!” she snapped at him angrily. “I saw your face when Benedict demanded that you marry me. You looked like you would rather jump off a cliff than be married to me!”
“You little fool!” he growled, pulling her back into his arms. “Can’t you see how much I desire you? How much I burn for you? It is precisely for this reason that I cannot marry you.”
Emily shook her head and pushed at his chest weakly. “I do not understand. You are not making any sense. Make it make sense…”
