Page 120 of The Duke's Inconvenient Bride
“Well, yes.” Daisy didn’t seem to know what to make of Violet’s offer, but she accepted the assistance, and together they lowered it over Emma’s head.
Emma slipped her arms through the sleeves and let out a sigh of relief as the skirt settled around her. She’d worried she might have gotten too plump for the gown to fit, even with the alterations, but it seemed that all would be fine.
Daisy moved around behind Emma and began doing it up while Violet came around to her front and fussed with the layers, trying to position everything just so.
“I’m sorry I missed your wedding,” Violet said softly.
“It was probably for the best,” Emma said. If Violet had turned up, the gossip would have been vicious. Of course, there was still gossip then, and there would be now, but they would surely be far more concerned with the eccentricity of this ceremony than anything else.
“Probably,” Violet agreed. “But I’m pleased I can be here for this. Perhaps we too will redo our vows next year, so our families can celebrate with us, and so that I may shock the ton once again.”
“That sounds nice.” Emma wasn’t so sure their parents would feel the same. It was one thing to have their daughter who’d married a duke make a fuss of repeating the event and attracting the attention of all their peers, but if Violet did so, it might not be received so well.
Still, perhaps they could do a private ceremony and hope that nobody caught wind of it.
“Maybe I’ll have a wedding soon too,” Sophie said, not wanting to be left out.
Emma and Violet exchanged a smile.
“Not too soon, though,” Emma said. “Mother and Father have had enough excitement for now.”
“Mm.” Sophie sounded disappointed, but then she rallied. “If we wait a few years, perhaps my skin will clear up.”
“Even if it doesn’t, we’ll find someone who adores you,” Emma assured her. She would accept nothing less for her younger sister—unless, of course, Sophie decided that love wasn’t what she wanted. In which case, Emma would support her.
“Ladies.” The male voice made them all turn. Lord Carlisle stood in the doorway. Lady Carlisle hovered beside him.
“May we have a moment alone with Emma?” Lady Carlisle asked.
Sophie and Violet both looked intrigued, and Emma had no doubt that she’d be fielding questions from them later, but they left without argument. Daisy followed behind them.
Lord and Lady Carlisle entered together and sat side by side on the chaise. Emma remained standing, since she didn’t want to crease her dress.
“What is it?” she asked, unnerved by their serious demeanors. Not to mention how unusual it was for her parents to request a private conversation together. Usually, Lord Carlisle let his wife handle anything of that nature.
“We owe you an apology,” her father said, shamefaced.
“For what?” Was there a problem with the ceremony?
“This matrimonial match has turned out well for you,” her mother said, taking up the reins. “For that, we’re immensely grateful. But the truth is, it could have been very different.”
Understanding began to dawn.
“Your marriage could have made you miserable,” Lord Carlisle said, confirming her suspicion. He stared down at his hands, which were intertwined on his lap. “I was confident that Ashford was not a known fortune hunter or rake, but I had no way of knowing whether he would be a good husband to you.”
“We were scared of what it would mean to be exiled from the ton,” Lady Carlisle added. “So we sacrificed your happiness to ensure our return to its embrace.”
Lord Carlisle patted his wife’s thigh comfortingly. “We’ve been discussing this since you returned to London. We’re ashamed of how thoughtless we were. Just because many women would be glad to marry a duke doesn’t mean it’s what you wanted. We both knew you had other aspirations.”
“We are very sorry,” Lady Carlisle whispered. “And regretful. We hope that our support of this…ceremony…goes a little way to showing that.”
Emma’s eyebrows had climbed her forehead by the time they finished speaking. She stared at them, scarcely able to believe they’d apologized. She’d never expected it of them.
“I… accept your apology,” she said slowly. “I was crushed when you made the suggestion—I won’t deny that. You pushed me toward Vaughan despite knowing I have always wanted love.But you were in a difficult situation, and I know that if I’d refused to marry him, you wouldn’t have forced the matter.”
“Of course not,” Lord Carlisle sputtered.
“We’d never!” Lady Carlisle added.
