Page 69 of A Dashing Duke for Emily

But Sophie continued to wander the room. It looked like she wanted to say something but she just drifted absently around theroom.

“You said you wanted to have a word?” Emily finally spoke upagain.

“Yes… You have been taking up a great deal of my fiancé’s time these past weeks. And I would like to knowwhy?”

“You are officially engaged then?” Emily asked, surprised she had notheard.

“Well, not officially, I suppose. But we intend tobe.”

“I see. Well, to answer your question, His Grace has been helping me with my career. Most specifically to help organize a Europeantour.”

“And why would he do that?” Sophie asked with a definite edge to hervoice.

“I suppose you must ask him that. But his interest in music has brought us together and he has been helping me facilitate my future,” Emily said, becoming irritated with this conversation and longing to get to her bath and a nap before dinner and herrecital.

Then Sophie came over and stood before her, finally getting to the gist of her inquiry. “And do you have any romantic feelings for Mark? I want to know, because I want to make it quite clear that he is off limits. He is mine and I mean to keep itso.”

“Oh…” Emily said, shocked by the bluntness of herstatement.

“Well?”

Emily did not know what to say. She knew of Mark’s and his grandmother’s concerns about Sophie—but it was not for her to reveal those concerns to Sophie, herself. And whatever the reality might be, she could not keep her private hopes, dreams, and desires from wandering to Mark from time to time. She would be a hypocrite if she saidotherwise.

Emily finally answered, “Any romantic feelings from me would be entirelyinappropriate.”

Sophie smiled. “Excellent. I am delighted to hear that, and please keep it that way. Good day.” And she swept out of the room leaving Emily quitenonplussed.

Chapter 20

While Emily was not nervous about her performance that evening, she was determined to keep focused on her objective and planned to refuse any wine and to eat little during dinner. It was imperative she maintain a sharp and alertmind.

When Emily entered the green salon, where drinks were being served before dinner, she immediately sought out a friendly face and headed directly toward Alice and Chester who were chatting with theDuchess.

Alice opened her arms and welcomed Emily in anembrace.

“How lovely you look this evening,” Alice said, stepping back and admiring Emily’s dress—a high-waisted, navy blue gown with black lace at the sleeves and as a collar around the neck. It was an exceedingly simple design but very effective. Her mother had offered to let her wear her simple diamond and blue sapphire necklace which added an additional element of elegance to herensemble.

“Thank you, Alice,” Emily said. “It looks to be a very elegant and delightful evening. I am looking forward toit.”

“And are you ready for your recital?” Aliceasked.

“I certainly hope so. I spent all afternoon practicing for it.” Emily then turned to the Duchess. “And did your floral entries arrive at the county fair in a satisfactorycondition?”

“The lad who took them over said so. But I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow to see for myself. I cannot afford to lose even one precious petal in the rosearrangement.”

Emily nodded. “And I shall go with you if you like. I want to see you win two firstprizes.”

“Oh, I do not know. I always win first in whatever I enter, but I fear it is because I am the Duchess. And I instructed Mark to try and prevent that happening again, but I do not know if he did that ornot.”

Just then Mark came over, accompanied by a glimmering Sophie, and took his Grandmother’sarm.

“And what was it I was supposed to do?” he asked her, having overheard the end of herstatement.

“Talk to the mayor about me always winning firsts at the flowershow.”

“I did talk to him as you asked me to,” he said with asmile.

The Duchess looked slightly dejected. “Well then, who knows what will happentomorrow.”