Page 15 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
Emmeline allowed Francesca to brush out her hair then pin it back up. She had to admit that by the time the woman was done, she looked remarkably better than she had when she’d started out. Emmeline admired her reflection.
“Thank you, Francesca,” she said.
Francesca bent forward in a graceful bow to Emmeline. “It was my pleasure, My Lady.”
The two of them went down to the dining room together. “Are you sure that you are not interested in His Grace?” Francesca whispered the words to Emmeline as they walked.
Emmeline laughed lightly and spoke quietly. “Honestly, I have not even given it any thought.”
“Perhaps you should. He is here often, and it would make getting to know him far more comfortable. You seem to not like having to be on display.” Francesca shrugged lightly. Her own black and white dress was representative of her station, but somehow the woman managed to make it look far more than simply a uniform.
Emmeline smiled and agreed with a nod. “I am not fond of any part of being on display. But it would be a shame not to get to wear any of those lovely dresses we are having made.”
“That is true,” Francesca said with a smile.
One of the male servants rushed over to open the door for them as they reached the dining room. Francesca gave the young man a demure smile. It impressed Emmeline how much sensuality the woman could put into something as simple as a smile, and she knew she had a lot to learn.
Thanks to Francesca’s words about the duke, Emmeline’s eyes went to him, and she saw him in a different light. Could this man truly be a husband to her? She wondered what he even thought of her. He had always been kind to her, friendly even.
“There the ladies are,” Harcourt said as he stood up. “Emmeline you look wonderful. Does she not, Your Grace?”
Lord Torrington rose with Harcourt at their approach. Emmeline watched the man’s eyes pass over Francesca before settling on her. Emmeline knew that in comparison to the exotic beauty of Francesca, she had little to offer. But she did her best to smile. He gave her an incline of his head.
“I do think your brother is right, Lady Callum. You look lovely.” Lord Torrington looked at Harcourt. “And you worry that she will not find a match?”
Emmeline smiled at Francesca, who gave her a nod of approval before they took their seats.
Harcourt moved his eyes to Lord Torrington. “Shall we eat?”
Lord Torrington bumped the table with his fist. “Hear, hear.”
The serving girls were quickly around the table delivering plates. Emmeline was delighted to see the meat pie that the girl sat before her. “What sort of pie is this?” she asked warily of her brother.
“I think it is lamb,” Harcourt replied. He looked at Lord Torrington. “She is wary of our English ways.”
The sound of Lord Torrington’s chuckle made Emmeline blush. “I merely wanted to know if it has any organs in it. I have grown distrustful of what people call meat pies.”
“You should venture down to the kitchen near my office,” Lord Torrington said as he broke open his pie so it could cool a little. “They have the most marvellous meat pies. I go there at least once a week. More if I can manage it.”
Emmeline smiled. “It must be nice having somewhere near your work to go and eat. Do you work from your office often?”
Francesca bumped Emmeline’s elbow. Emmeline met the woman’s eyes and she knew that she had probably broached a topic she should stay away from. Lord Torrington did not seem to notice.
“As often as I can get away with if my parents are visiting,” Lord Torrington said with much amusement.
Harcourt shook his fork at him, but the duke did not seem to mind that either as he laughed merrily. “Honestly, you are supposed to set a good example.”
“What good would that do? Society consists of two kinds of people, those who care about the rules and those who can see their way around them.” Lord Torrington clearly was more in the latter category, Emmeline wagered.
Harcourt laughed and asked, “How did your talks with the marquess go?”
“That man did not have anything useful to say. It was merely a ruse to get me into an acquaintanceship with his daughter. Why he should care about that is beyond me. She clearly has more than enough prospects as is.” Lord Torrington shrugged and picked up a piece of his meat pie with his fork as he spoke. “I apologise for my manners, Lady Callum. I am merely tired.”
“No need to apologise,” Emmeline assured him. “I think if people were constantly shoving their daughters at me that I would be quite tired of it too.”
Harcourt called, “Here now. Can we all talk with some decorum?”
“What is so wrong with what I said?”
