Page 3 of A Bride for the Devilish Duke
“I believe I found it in Mr. Gannet's curio shop in Nettlebed,” Emma said lightly, “I was quite taken by it. It was only a few pennies.”
Duncan looked away. Rising from the table, he went to stand by the window, gazing out at the gardens.
“My, my,” he muttered, clasping his hands behind his back. “The rhododendrons are rather spectacular this year. I always dread the end of summer. The beds look so… empty without them.”
Emma’s eyes followed him, her smile slipping at the edges.
He knew.
She understood and wished the subject had not come up. Duncan knew where the brooch came from and how much it meant to Emma. He also knew that her brother meant more to her than any piece of jewelry.
“Well then,” she declared with a practiced brightness, “I suppose I must begin readying myself. There is suddenly quite a great deal to do before next Saturday.”
Her siblings nodded in distracted unison, and she slipped from the breakfast room.
From there, her feet carried her to the sanctuary of her chambers. She had dressed for a morning in the house with a book and would need to change before she went out in the trap.
When she reached her rooms, Elsie Potter was replacing her bed sheets. Younger than Emma's twenty-three years by one year, Elsie looked older. She had black hair tied back tightly and a long face with coal-black eyes.
“Change of plans, Elsie. I shall need to redress and shall be taking the trap into town,” Emma announced as she entered.
“Very good, my lady. The gray is clean. May I ask what has prompted the change?”
Emma perched on the edge of the stripped bed, letting her shoulders slump and her head drop. A few times in Montrose Hall, she felt she could let the facade fall. The facade of being the lady of the house, always calm and collected, always in control of herself and circumstances. Elsie was the one person who saw her as she was.
“We have received an invitation to attend a ball held by the…Duke of Redmane. Papa thinks it is wonderful as he hopes to find husbands for the three of us. Josie is afraid that he will not accept her handsome but untitled knight, and Rosie worries about the state of her wardrobe.”
“And Charles?”
“Who knows these days? He noticed that my mother's brooch was missing but did not seem to guess what I had done with it,” Emma sighed wearily.
“And has not questioned where you came by the money to pay his latest gambling debts?” she uttered with the disapproval only a servant to Emma would have the leeway to give. Emma did not care for hierarchies, preferring that her ladies’ maid should also be her confidante and friend.
Emma fell back on her bed. “Charles is a good man, albeit immature at times.”
“Is our errand into town related to this invitation?” Elsie asked.
“It is. I must speak to Mrs. Spinnaker about Margaret's further tuition. And ask for my payment to be in dresses for Rosie and Josie,” Emma murmured, staring thoughtfully at the ceiling.
“And yourself?”
“I have dresses aplenty.”
Elsie moved to the wardrobe and picked out Emma's gray and white walking dress. She then stood aside to allow Emma to see directly into the wardrobe, revealing how sparse the dresses were hung within.
“I often find myself wondering how this wooden contraption has not fallen apart under the weight of your imagination, my lady…” the maid began with an arched brow.
She kept a straight face, as did Emma. Elsie's smile broke through first. Emma snorted, throwing herself back onto her bed with arms spread.
“I do not need new dresses. I do not require any attention. I am content as a spinster,” Emma sighed happily.
Elsie strolled over with the walking dress and sat beside her mistress. “The true question is… did our littleployresult in this invitation?”
Emma shot up. Heat flaring in her cheeks, she cupped her face in her hands.
“By the heavens, I thought you would never ask! I hoped letting a few rumors spread that I was courting the Duke of Redmane would frighten away any potential suitors. Now, the very man I never expected to meet invites me and my family to a ball. Goodness gracious, Elsie! How did this happen? I did not expect this result!”
“Nor I, my lady. And it was I who planted some of those rumors for you in town. Who would have thought it would reach his ears?”
