Page 37 of The Earl's Hired Bride
“The same sort of trouble started up again at the beginning of this Season. Didn’t it?” He looked around. “But one young woman went so far as to resort to trickery, subterfuge and blackmail.”
“And lies,” Emily interjected.
“Just so.” The duke nodded. “Lord Hartford, being a smart man, called for help.” He walked over and took her hand. “My great niece, Miss Emily Spencer, answered.”
She gripped him hard. She was filled with gratitude. The duke was telling only the truth, even if he was adjusting the timeline. She should object, she supposed, but if it saved Hart from censure, if it gave them a chance—then she would not quibble.
“Some of you may not be happy that she did it under an assumed name, but let me assure you that she did so with Hestia Wright’s guidance and my full knowledge, as well as that of Hartford and his esteemed mother, the countess.”
She blinked at him. Was it true? Was he why Hestia Wright had developed a sudden interest in her? She might have been indignant about it yesterday, but now she felt more than ready to forgive. After all, his manipulations had led her to Hart.
Talk started up again and some of it sounded angry to her ears—but she didn’t care. The duke was giving them a gift that she would not scorn. And she couldn’t keep from staring at Hart—or prevent all that she was feeling from showing.
“Some of you may be persuaded to hold her birth against her.”
There were several murmurs of disgusted assent.
“But I confess, I would find this a disappointment—especially considering the fact that we have more than one of the royal natural children amongst us this evening.” He paused to let that sink in, and then raised Emily’s hand higher. “This girl is my blood. My family. She is the granddaughter of my beloved sister Georgina and she will always be welcome in my homes.”
Emily, through tears, thought that the plural use of that last word—and its reminder of the duke’s wealth and power—might help drive his point home.
“She will always be welcome at Elleshaven as well.” Lady Ellesworth stepped out into the open circle and took her other hand. “I am thrilled to find that you are my cousin.”
Emily bit her lip.
“I’ll bandy sticks with you any day,” young James said valiantly, stepping forward.
“Yes, she is as family here,” echoed Lady Feltham.
“She will always be family,” the countess said.
“She is always welcome in our home, as well.” Mrs. Carmichael stumbled forward after a little push from a teary-eyed Mary.
“And mine,” someone called. The swell of support and dissent began to rumble across the room. Hart silenced it when he stepped forward and raised his hands. She waited to hear what he had to say, along with the rest of them.
“Thank you, sir.”
Emily retrieved her hand and wiped away tears as he bowed to the duke.
Hart turned back to the crowd. “It is no surprise to me that so many of you have come to care for Emily Spencer. I took her on as a pretend betrothed, a faux fiancé. And in the weeks since, she has made me laugh. She has demonstrated kindness and an incredibly clear insight that I can only envy. She has shown me true loyalty and awed me with her militant side.”
He winked at the crowd. “I think we can all attest to her beauty—but I have had the extreme honor of growing to know her character.”
The baroness let go of her other hand and stepped back. Hart took it up and bent over it. “With your great-uncle’s permission, I would like to ask you, in earnest, if you will make the position a permanent one.”
Emily laughed through her tears. She pulled her hand away and threw both arms around his neck. “Yes, my lord!” She tilted her head back to meet his gaze. “I would love to be your hired bride. Forever.”
Epilogue
Hartsworth was indeed magnificent. It had two towers, a meandering river, an actual dungeon, glorious gardens and a great hall that made Emily dream of knights, troubadours and ladies in heavy, flowing gowns.
All of that was perfectly lovely, but in her estimation there was only one asset that mattered—and that was Hartsworth’s master.
They had all gathered at the castle in preparation for the wedding. It was to be a huge affair. Everyone in Society wished to attend and sometimes Emily felt as if they had all indeed been invited.
But for now, it was just family. Emily and her mother had been put in the South Tower in a lovely set of rooms that had once been the Ladies Solar. The light was wonderful, the view amazing and right now—the occupants were worrisome.
Emily paced at the bottom of the Tower, around and around a pretty, wood-trimmed hall.
