Page 46 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
He left the dinner party wondering if he should really take responsibility for his mother’s rampant want of grandchildren. No one told the woman to get attached to a young lady that she had only met once. She knew as well as others that just an assumption of a marriage proposal was not the same as having one.
Yet he still felt a bit bad about it even after his mother badgered him for most of the ride home. He would make sure that at least Lady Callum would not have to deal with this part of their agreement as much as possible. After all, the young lady had hardly agreed to deal with his family when she had gone along with his idea.
***
Emmeline twirled around in front of the mirror. “Jasmine, do you like this one?”
“They are all beautiful,” Jasmine said as she looked at the dresses, clearly overwhelmed. “I do like the blue one on you though. It really makes your eyes sparkle and sets your hair off nicely.”
“Then that is the one I shall wear.”
“You trust me to choose a dress?” Jasmine put her hand on her forehead. “I am no fashionable lady.”
She shrugged. “You know what looks good and what does not. Besides the blue one makes me happy. It reminds me of the sea back home.”
“How is your Caeley?” Jasmine asked as she helped Emmeline into the dress, pulling the straps to tighten it up.
“I had another letter from home. They think she will have the baby before mid-summer.” Her expression fell with her sadness. “I shall miss it being born.”
“Fret not, there is plenty of time to get to know the babe,” Jasmine assured her, giving the strap she was working on another tug.
Emmeline groaned, “Ouch!”
“Sorry.” Jasmine grimaced, as she pulled the next strap, which caused Emmeline to laugh so hard she almost undid all the work Jasmine had already done. “Stop that,” Jasmine complained, but Emmeline could see the smile on the girl’s face.
Emmeline sucked in a breath of air to try and quiet her laugher. “I know that you are right about Caeley and her wee one. I just get so homesick at times.”
“Surely you will see it again soon.” Jasmine finished tying the dress up and then stepped back to make sure it was straight. “Can you breathe?”
Emmeline nodded. “I can breathe enough that I do not think I shall faint at any rate.”
“Perhaps there will not be too much energetic dancing,” Jasmine said with a hopeful look, causing Emmeline to laugh again.
“I do not know for certain if I will be allowed to return to Scotland.”
“I do not think you would much put up with that.” Jasmine put her hands on her hips. “You do not strike me as the kind of lady who takes that sort of talking to.”
Emmeline grinned and whispered, “I probably would not put up with it much, but who knows what sort of man I will get.”
Jasmine frowned as if confused. “Are you not wedding Lord Torrington?”
“Oh yes, of course,” Emmeline stumbled. “What I meant was that you never really know a person until you are married. He might not want to travel or to have me in Scotland and him here.”
The young maid shook her head and frowned. “It is a predicament, what with his business being mostly here in London.”
“Precisely,” Emmeline said. “Who knows when I shall see my home again.”
Jasmine tapped Emmeline on the shoulder and handed her a shawl. “I think Lord Torrington will fall in love with you even more tonight. You look like magic.”
“I do not know about magic, but I do like how you braided my hair,” Emmeline said. “Better not keep them waiting.” She gave Jasmine another smile and then hurried out through the door.
Downstairs she found Harcourt already waiting. “Francesca will be along shortly. I had a maid run and fetch her.”
“I wager she will enjoy that,” Emmeline said with a grin. “How do I look?”
“Like you have a dress on?”
“Brother, do you wish me to go out looking like a buffoon?”
