Page 9 of It's In The Duke's Kiss
Three
Two weeks later
Ainthorpe, Yorkshire, England
Albersey Estate
As Emma descended the stairs and came to a stop beside her sister in the foyer, her mother gave herthelook. The one that always preceded thetsk,which was followed directly by a criticism. Emma got one fortifying breath in before the ritual began.
“Tsk, tsk, Emmaline. Look at you!”
Emma glanced down at her peach-colored gown. She thought she looked passably acceptable. She smoothed a hand over the silk. Had Beatrice missed a wrinkle?
Her mother’s disapproving brown gaze started at Emma’s hands—which Emma had made sure to glove before coming downstairs so Mother wouldn’t comment on the unladylike tinge she vowed Emma’s painting left on her skin. Mother’s gaze climbed to Emma’s hair, and she fought the urge to raise her hand to pat it down. “Why,” her mother demanded, “would you fail to have Beatrice dress your hair and sweep it up as is proper for a dinner? Have you forgotten we are here in the country because ofthe incident?”
That was hardly possible given that Mother reminded her every other minute, but Emma knew better than to say that. “No, Mother.”
Her mother nodded approvingly. “Look at your sister’s lovely coiffure.”
Emma forced herself to do so in order to avoid their departure to the Duke of Blackbourne’s country home for dinner being delayed by her mother’s temper. Emma still could hardly believe they’d even been invited to Nathan’s birthday dinner. Gooseflesh appeared on her arms just thinking about seeing him tonight. Perhaps Nathan had requested her presence? Her stomach tightened with the possibility. “It’s lovely,” she murmured, meaning it, hoping that would quell her mother’s rising tempest.
Mother wrinkled her nose as she stared at Emma. “With your hair down like that you look more suited to be a mistress than the wife of a peer.”
Mary snorted her amusement, but with one dark glare from Mother, she quickly replaced the smile with a blank look. When Mother turned back to Emma, Mary shot Emma an apologetic expression. Emma tilted her head in acknowledgment, glad for Mary’s silent support, which was a vast deal more than she used to have.
“Mary, pinch your cheeks.” Mother ordered.
Emma watched as Mary dutifully obliged, and their mother nodded approvingly. “You look lovely, dearest. Now,” Mother said in a serious tone, “I have decided that tonight you will catch the duke’s eye.”
Emma’s mouth parted in shock. She looked quickly at her sister and noted the ticking in Mary’s jaw. Emma slid her glance to Mother to see if she’d taken note of Mary’s irritation, but Mother didn’t seem to see the tick. It occurred to Emma that she’d been as bad as Mother in noticing how Mary truly felt about things. All this time she’d thought Mary wanted exactly what Mother wanted for her, to marry a man with a the greatest possible title, yet Emma was almost certain that wasn’t true. Mary had simply been hiding her feelings for a very long time.
Mother nodded again as she studied Mary. “The blue looks splendid with your pale hair and porcelain skin. The Duke of Blackbourne will be instantly enamored of you. Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if he asks to call on you tomorrow if we play our cards just right. Soon you’ll be a duchess just as I’ve always planned for you.”
Mary’s neck flushed. “Mother, I hardly—”
“Pish posh!” Mother said, as she pulled on her gloves. Papa walked into the foyer, but she continued without a glance at him. “The Duke of Blackbourne is the most eligible bachelor on the marriage mart, and we’re dining with him tonight. It’s fate, I tell you!” she added shrilly, as if any of them had not heard her. Mother turned toward Papa then and took his outstretched arm. “Tell your daughters, Walter, how tonight must be fate.”
Bless Papa’s soul, he looked utterly baffled as he closed the book he’d been reading. “Fate?”
“Walter!” Mother screeched. “Do you ever pay attention to anything I say?”
Emma watched Papa. He didn’t even pretend to try to answer. He knew, they all knew, Mother didn’t really want him to do so. “It can only be fate that sent Blackbourne and his family to the country directly afterweleft for the country when the Season still hasn’t begun.”
“Or,” Papa said, “perhaps His Grace wished to get away fromthe incidentmuch as you did.”
Emma burst into laughter at Papa’s surprising imitation of Mother’s ludicrous whispering and soon Mary was laughing as well. Mother smacked Papa on the arm with her fan. “Don’t be ridiculous. Blackbourne would never run from scandal. Scandal cannot touch a gentleman as powerful as he is. Besides, my most trusted friends in Town have assured me that no gossip ever really took hold regarding Emmaline and Lord Nathaniel, despite what Lady Peabody told me. That bit of good fortune must be attributed to divine intervention!” Mother declared.
Emma was inclined to agree with that outlook, though it was a tad dramatic. She could not fathom why people seemed to think she got debilitating megrims or that she’d had one that day on the Serpentine, but she would take the reprieve from scandal no matter how it had come to be.
Mother motioned them all to proceed out the door, which the butler immediately scrambled to open. They made their way outside and then settled into the carriage. Mother sat with Papa opposite Emma and Mary. Mother’s gaze landed firmly on Emma, and she resisted the urge to squirm.
“I have to admit,” Mother continued, “I was simply shocked when I encountered the duchess at the modiste last week and she invited us to her younger son’s birthday dinner. Afterthe incidentI was sure we had no hope of ever seeing the inside of Blackbourne Mansion. Yet look at us now! And to think I was worried when Mary failed to secure a marriage proposal from the Duke of Darlington last season.” Mother laughed. “He’s a paltry duke compared to Blackbourne!”
Emma felt herself relax as her mother looked away, but it was as if Mother sensed her relief because her sharp gaze swung back to Emma and impaled her against the plush green cushion. “Emmaline, if you so much as utter a word abouttheincidentI vow I’ll marry you off to Lord Smitherson, do you understand me?”
Emma nodded while cringing.
“Don’t think I’ve failed to notice the way he looks at you with utter adoration. The only reason I have not pressed the matter is that I wish for you to do better. But with your behavior, Emmaline, we may very well have to settle for anearl.” Distaste filled the last word and made it roll with a thud off her mother’s tongue.
