Page 25 of Her Wolf of a Duke

“When you are lying by the sea, Aunt Megan’s servants bringing you sandwiches? I do doubt that.”

It was a nice thought, being treated in such a manner, but it wasn’t going to be the case. For one, their Aunt Megan did not spend all of her time by the sea, and not only that but she did not have a large staff. There were certainly no spare servants to hand-deliver food to her, at least.

“I would miss you even if I lived in a palace,” she promised, fixing a stray curl that had fallen.

Inexplicably, she was believing that she would actually come to miss the Duke as well. She reacted strangely to him, in a way that nobody had ever made her before, and she did not like it at all. Itdid not make any sense that a man that vexed her so could have such a profound effect on her, when she had passed so many years unruffled by the most ardent of suitors.

They were soon ready to leave, and as they joined the others in the grand hall she chastised herself for noticing the Duke of Lupton before anyone else. He was smiling brightly, socializing with anyone and everyone. He seemed to genuinely enjoy it, and Emma wondered if that was all she had been, all that Gretchen had been. Meaningless conversation, a way to be known by others. It calmed her a little, to know that she was not as important to him as she thought, but she would have been lying if she said that a small amount of hurt did not come with that, too.

They boarded their carriage, Sarah joining Emma and her friends. They liked Sarah well enough, though Cecilia thought she was a little too timid. Then again, she thought that of anyone that was not as outspoken as Emma was, and not many ladies could reach such a feat.

“So, have the two of you met any prospective suitors thus far?” Emma asked Beatrice and Dorothy before the talk could turn to herself.

Both ladies shook their heads, much to her dismay.

“I have been spending far too much time in the gardens for that,” Dorothy explained. “We’ve played a game since our youth, Beatrice and me. She points out plants and I name them. I hadn’t expected her to find this many new challenges for me.”

“I will say,” Beatrice nodded, “that it is far more entertaining here than it is in other places we have played it. The Duke of Pridefield has many exotic plants.”

“He also has many interesting gentlemen,” Emma coaxed. “Ones that you might find pleasant to talk to.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that,” Dorothy giggled. “I do not know how to, and should I do it incorrectly and make a fool of myself then the party shall be ruined for me. Perhaps I might say a few words to a few gentlemen an hour or so before we leave? That way I shall only ruin the hour.”

“You are being ridiculous,” Cecilia huffed. “You speak perfectly well, I can hear you just fine. You are simply making excuses because you are afraid.”

“Yes! That is precisely what I am doing. Very astute, Cecilia.”

“Well, such behavior will not lead to a good match. It will lead to your father, exasperated, choosing a man for you. You do not want that, do you?”

“What I want is to study botany, but we cannot all do as we please. In all honesty, my father finding a husband for me would be welcomed. That way, I would not have to do it myself.”

“And marry a man old enough to be your grandfather?” Beatrice asked, horrified. “You run that risk, you know. I would much rather be a spinster. The two of you have it right.”

“Beatrice, I swear that you will find a match too,” Cecilia sighed. “I am as bad an influence as they say, aren’t I Emma?”

“We both are, it would seem. Where did we both go so wrong?”

The pair continued with their dramatics until they arrived at the village, at which point the five of them laughed and stepped out into the sunlight. It was a warm day, perfect for wandering. Emma hoped to explore the village, then find somewhere to purchase baked goods for Beatrice and a nice flower shop for Dorothy, ending at the library for Cecilia. She had not told the group of her plans, but she was excited for them nevertheless. It had been a tumultuous time, and she wanted nothing more than to spend time with her friends and her sister, not needing anything more than their own company.

She did not know why she expected it to actually happen.

They were but twenty paces away from the carriages when Emma heard a sixth pair of feet join them, heavier and more purposeful. She knew who it was before she had even turned around. To nobody’s surprise, the Duke of Lupton was now standing with them.

“What is it, Your Grace?” she asked in a colder tone than was considered proper.

“I was wondering if I could join you?”

“Do you not have other friends to walk with?”

“Ah, so you admit it! We are friends. Wonderful, I shall accompany you in that case.”

Emma knew she was glaring, but she did not attempt to stop. She was furious with him for intruding upon her time with her friends, but worse she was anxious that her friends would grow tired of his intrusions. However, her friends were immediately taken with him, even Cecilia. Emma wondered just what it was about him that everyone else noticed but she couldn’t understand.

“It is nice to be afforded such gallant protection,” Sarah laughed as they walked the bustling streets. “Although, should it have been needed, Cecilia would have more than sufficed.”

“I shall consider this a day’s rest,” Cecilia chuckled in return. “Thank you, Your Grace, for affording it to me.”

The Duke nodded. “You may all truly enjoy yourselves today. You shall have nothing to fear in my presence.”

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