Page 38 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
Emmeline’s eyebrows rose. “An outing?” She stepped into the room and shut the door behind her.
Lord Torrington stood as Emmeline took a seat beside him in one of the leather chairs. “We were just discussing that the next ball is set to be an outdoor one.”
“That sounds lovely,” Emmeline said as she sank down into her seat. Lord Torrington and her brother returned to their seats. “Yet you made it sound as if there was something wrong with it.”
“Not at all. It will be a wonderful time for all,” Lord Torrington responded, hastening to placate her.
Emmeline smiled at him then looked over at her brother. Harcourt chuckled and leaned up on his elbows upon the sturdy desk. “If I did not know better, Nash, I would think that you were nervous.”
“Haste not to judgment, Dear Harcourt. Remember that you too will be on this chopping block soon enough.” Lord Torrington leaned back in his chair, his gaze going from Harcourt to Emmeline.
She narrowed her eyes at her would-be-betrothed. “So, I am a horrible fate, am I?”
“Well, you are not for the faint of heart,” Lord Torrington sparred back as he folded his arms across his chest, daring her to deny the claim.
Emmeline nodded. “That is true. Why, you may very well not make it to the altar in one piece.”
“You two,” Harcourt chided, but there was a smile on his lips. “I shall be there, as will Francesca.”
“It really is not becoming to call her by her Christian name like that, Harcourt,” Emmeline reminded him. “She is my companion now, not some slip of a maid that you can just call about as if they were a child.”
Harcourt sighed. “Very well, Miss Durant will be accompanying you. Is that slightly better?”
“It will do,” Emmeline said, giving her brother an exasperated eye roll.
Lord Torrington frowned. “That French maid is your companion now?”
“It only happened recently,” Emmeline explained. “She was feeling a bit underappreciated in her current position, so we talked her into staying on as my companion for a while.”
Lord Torrington nodded slowly, as though he really did not quite comprehend that. He drew in a breath. “Before I have to head back to business, I was wondering if I might steal you away for a stroll in the garden, Lady Callum?”
“I would be delighted, Your Grace. After dining with Lady Grayson, I feel as if I need to get up and move or I shall fall fast asleep.” Emmeline rose followed by Lord Torrington and her brother.
Harcourt said, “Take Gerald to chaperone. I need to finish some work here and he is plenty capable.”
Emmeline and Lord Torrington both nodded their acceptance of this as Harcourt rang the bell. The butler came in. “Your Lordship?”
“Accompany my sister and Lord Torrington out into the garden as a chaperone, would you?” Harcourt went back to sit at his desk as Gerald bobbed his head up and down.
Gerald opened the door for the two nobles to pass through.
“Thank you,” Emmeline said to the butler.
To her surprise, she heard Lord Torrington strike up a conversation with him as they all walked towards the garden. Gerald was a man of few words to Emmeline, but apparently, he was not the same man to Lord Torrington. She was grateful that the men could not see her face for the split second she forgot to project a sweet smile instead of the annoyance she felt.
She had managed to control her face by the time they reached the garden. Gerald hurried ahead to open the door. She whispered, “Thank you.” After all, her mother had taught her to be polite to everyone, even if they did not return the favour.
Lord Torrington stepped through the door behind her. “Gerald, would you mind?”
“Not at all, Your Grace.” Gerald dipped his head as if this was something the two of them had conspired about. Gerald fell back behind them a few paces as they walked down the steps and into the garden.
Lord Torrington walked alongside her and Emmeline noticed that, slowly, Gerald fell further behind until he was a considerable distance away. “Why is Gerald walking so far away?”
“To give us some privacy to discuss matters of the heart,” Lord Torrington said, casting a glance back at the butler.
Emmeline laughed softly. “I suppose as long as he can see us, it is within societal constraints.”
“Exactly. And it gives us a moment to discuss how exactly you will go about finding your match while maintaining a lady-like reputation.”
