Page 28 of A Spinster for the Rakish Duke
“I think people oftentimes can’t help but be more than a bit silly. Something about humanity, I suppose,” he told her. He was only half kidding, but they both laughed all the same.
From the moment Emma stepped onto the carriage, she knew it wasn’t goodbye.
Of course, she had treated it as a goodbye. Had given thanks and departing promises to write to both Mr. Connor and Mr. Herst. They each in turn made their own commitments to her. It was all very commonplace, but she knew that she wouldn’t be able to keep herself from London for long. She knew she wouldn’t be able to keep herself from Donovan for long.
During the length of her carriage ride, a million different ideas played out how she could come up with any excuse in the world to go to London. Her brother would be found eventually, of that she was quite optimistic, but even after that, there would bereasons. She and Mr. Connor were friends, after all, and a social call is acceptable once in a while, then there were her hobbies.
There was still some shame there that hovered in her heart. The shame of disloyalty. The shame of her married life and love life not being one and the same. But shame and desperation mix as oil and water, one causing the other to go unseen for some time. So, while the shame was there, it was supplanted by the need. The need to have more of Donovan in her life.
She would find a way. She had to.
“So,” Donovan let out a deep breath as the carriage rolled away, finally letting himself accept Emma’s departure. “What will you do now, Mr. Herst?” he asked the man next to him.
“To be honest, Your Grace, I’ve been trying not to think about it. Once we have discovered where Mr. Bradford has gotten, it is unlikely he will keep me on as his apprentice given my ejection from the Inn of Courts. He may choose to keep me on as a messenger, but I doubt he could justify the cost of boarding me then, and…” he sighed and kicked his foot against one of the loose cobblestones causing it to clack, “well, it will probably take me some time before I am sorted again.”
“I’m sorry that my actions placed you in such a state,” Donovan said, sincerity clear in his voice. He had grown quite fond of the young man in their short time together, and an idea was brewingin the back of his mind and rapidly moving to the front as they spoke.
“I helped you in the ways that I wanted to. You never twisted my arm, Your Grace, and I consider us even,” Mr. Herst assured him.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Donovan said, “though, knowing that you need room, board, and employment and having spent the last several days with you, I do believe I have an opening in my home you would be well suited for. If you are interested, that is.”
“An opening?” Herst asked, clearly not expecting this turn in the conversation.
“Yes. You see, despite the insistence of some of my peers, as well as my brother, I have never taken on a valet. The practice always struck me funny, to be honest. But I think you would be a good fit. Truly,” Donovan said.
“But, Your Grace, I have no experience in such a position. And surely being the valet of a Duke would be demanding to say the least,” Mr. Herst said, his voice not carrying a lot of confidence in the prospect he just was offered. Donovan noted a hint of disbelief that lingered in Herst’s voice as if he thought Donovan was leading him on.
“There will be skills and such you will have to develop; I have no doubt. But you have solicitor training, which makes you a very well-suited valet for the matters I like to deal in. Also, I think having someone I would consider my friend close at hand at alltimes as my valet seems like it would be, well, a very smart move on my part.”
“I thought Lords weren’t supposed to be friends with their staff?” Mr. Herst asked, but more of the skepticism had left his voice.
“And solicitors apprentices aren’t supposed to knock Lords over when a Duke asks them to. Bending the rules a tad seems like a good way to surprise people when the need arises, wouldn’t you say?” Donovan asked him slyly.
“I say, I’m not going to need a solicitor to look over the employment contract.” And they both laughed.
“So, you’ll take the position then? That’s grand.” He smiled and grabbed Herst’s hand shaking it heartily. “I think this will work out swimmingly for the both of us.” Donovan gestured for Mr. Herst to walk with him to the carriage.
“So, when will I have to start, um, attending to you, Your Grace?” Herst asked, stopping before the carriage door, unsure if he was supposed to open it.
“Is it part of your job to know?” Donovan asked laughing. Herst laughed too, although much more nervously. They both stood there for a moment until Herst gave in awkwardly and opened the carriage door for Donovan, causing him to laugh the whole time he ascended the carriage steps.
Chapter Twenty
“Aren’t you concerned about Benjamin, Aunt Barbara? He is your nephew after all?” Emma pressed her aunt one afternoon at tea.
The last few weeks had not been what Emma had wanted. Easily the opposite in fact. She had been confined to the countryside with no news of her brother, no justification to be with the man she really loved, and a rapidly approaching wedding date.
Mr. Dole and her aunt were prepared to act like the whole trip to London never happened.
“Of course, I am concerned,” Barbara said with a huff and set down her cup with an impolite clink. “Emma, when you have been around as long as I have been, you begin to understand the importance of priorities. Life will always come at you with highs and lows, often at the same time. The important thing is not to let the world ruin the good moments, so that you can enjoy them.”
“But how can I be expected to enjoy my wedding when I do not know what has befallen my brother?” Emma pleaded. She felt as if she was going mad; no one close to her seemed as concerned as they should be.
“That is the root of the very problem, my dear,” her aunt snapped. “You seem unwilling to try to enjoy your wedding and insist on fixating on the subject of your missing brother instead. Well, I have had enough of it. Until this wedding is done, you are not to talk to me anymore about Benjamin.”
“But Aunt Barbara-!”
“I said enough is enough. No more on the matter, and that is the end of it,” Aunt Barbara spoke sternly and picked her cup again, bringing the matter to a firm close.
