Page 34 of Healing the Duke's Desires
Just like everyone else, Emily approached the tea station, captivated by not only the smells but also the sights of this indulging presentation. She selected a delicate cup, its intricate design a testament to craftsmanship, and filled it with a fragrant infusion.
The first sip enveloped her palate in a symphony of flavors, the gentle notes of bergamot and jasmine dancing across her taste buds. The tea seemed to mirror the ambiance of the garden party itself—elegant, refined, and utterly delightful. It seemed she had been utterly wrong about everything here, including the Duchess of Montpelier.
Just as the ladies once again huddled into smaller groups, depending on the topic of conversation or, better yet, the topic of gossip, Emily kept herself to the side, enjoying her tea as well as the surroundings. She had never been much for gossip, for the simple reason that she was far more interested in her own life than in the lives of others.
“Is the tea to your liking, my dear?” Emily heard someone ask from behind. When she turned around, the Duchess of Montpelier greeted her with a warm smile.
“Oh, it is beyond description,” Emily gushed with genuine admiration. “I do believe this is the most wonderful tea I have ever tasted.”
The duchess seemed pleased. “That is very nice of you to say. You see, my husband travels all over the world, and among the things he likes to bring back are different tea flavors. This one, for instance,” she gestured at her own cup while she spoke, “is from Tibet, somewhere high up in the mountains.
My husband sent a servant up some goat paths to purchase this tea from a small farmer there. It took the man a whole day to climb up the mountain, the poor soul. He returned the following day, looking haggard and exhausted. They thought he was eaten by a mountain lion or some other beast and almost returned home without him.”
“Goodness.” Emily’s eyes widened in shock. She glanced down at her own cup in reverence. “I do hope my tea was procured more easily.”
The Duchess of Montpelier seemed to inhale deeply, then she shook her head. “A man died procuring the tea that you are drinking.”
“Died?” Emily gasped, the last sip of tea getting stuck in her throat, which threw her into a fit of violent coughing.
The Duchess of Montpelier was quick to pat her on the back several times, after which Emily’s coughing fit finally calmed down and she was able to breathe properly again.
“Oh, you poor thing.” The duchess looked at her sadly. “I was merely joking. Of course, no one died. There was no danger in procuring that particular batch. I do believe that my husband purchased it at a market in Turkey.”
“Oh,” Emily replied, feeling slightly embarrassed now, but it was too late to change anything about it. It was a joke, and Emily feared she might have offended her host by reacting so gravely.
“But… speaking of danger,” the duchess said, then paused, looking apprehensively about as though half-afraid that someone might overhear them, and that was obviously the last thing she wanted to have happen.
“Danger?” Emily echoed, a talon of fear gripping at her throat, which she thought would send her into another violent coughing fit but thankfully didn’t.
“Come with me.” The Duchess of Montpelier locked their arms and led Emily to a winding path through the roses, leaving the hustle and bustle of the tea party behind them. Once she was certain that they were far away from the crowd, the duchess continued in a hushed manner. “I have noticed that the Duke of Ravenswood has shown a keen interest in you, my dear.”
Emily almost dropped her teacup but managed to regain control of her senses at the last moment. She had no idea how this lady knew any of that. Were Alexander’s emotions towards her so obvious that the duchess of Montpelier could notice them? Emily was somehow unsure of that. Even she herself was unsure of Alexander’s true feelings. How could this objective bystander know more than herself?
However, what Emily did know was that she had to hear what the Duchess of Montpelier had to say. The question of danger in connection with Alexander made her alarmed. So, the two ladies kept on walking languidly, revealing words that, instead of offering answers, only managed to create more questions in Emily’s mind.
“I advise you to exercise caution with this man, my dear,” the duchess spoke in a conspiratorial manner as only a sister could, leaning close to Emily.
“Caution?” Emily echoed again. She couldn’t even formulate a proper question. First danger, and now caution. All she could do was repeat what was already said. That was how stunned she was by this conversation as the duchess kept taking her deeper and deeper into the rose bush maze, away from the rest of the guests.
“Yes,” the duchess confirmed, sounding quite concerned, her eyes wide and doe-like. “I know he may not appear so, but the duke is a man haunted by his past, and as such is utterly incapable of moving forward.”
Emily felt that these words meant nothing. They were supposed to be a warning, but the Duchess of Montpelier was yet to portray him as a dangerous man. And speaking of moving forward, Emily could not understand what that was referring to exactly. She needed more clarification. Much more.
“Are we all not haunted by our pasts in some way?” she wondered, hoping for illumination on this matter, which was growing darker by the second.
“In a way, that is true.” The duchess nodded. “Our present is inextricably intertwined with our past, but most of us have come to terms with it. We are who we are now, in the present, exactly because of our past. But with a man such as the duke, there are perils to becoming entangled with him.”
“Is it because of his late wife?” Emily asked, because it was common knowledge that he was married and that his wife had died tragically. She could not even begin to comprehend how that would have felt, and it was only natural that one found it difficult to move on from something so tragic and unexpected.
“Exactly,” the Duchess of Montpelier affirmed. “He loved her dearly, and it is obvious to everyone that he cannot let go of his late wife’s memory. Seeking temporary solace in another woman’s arms is something he is wont to do, just like any other man. But I would hate to see that happen to you, my dear, for you to become someone’s temporary comfort. You know what will happen to your reputation if such a thing happens.”
Emily was stunned by those words. Was it true? Was Alexander truly such a rake, without anyone being the wiser of it? Was he really pushing her away because he still loved his late wife and was unable to let go of her memory? It was all making sense, much more sense than she wanted it to.
“It would not be the first time such a thing happened,” the duchess confided what she clearly believed to be a shocking truth.
“It wouldn’t?” Emily gasped loudly, unable to refrain from doing so.
“Oh no.” The Duchess of Montpelier shook her head sadly. “I know the lady in question myself.” She paused as if to reminisce better, then she continued, staring at Emily in the eyes as she spoke.
