Page 48 of Lady Emily’s Matchmaking Mishap (Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues #5)

Chapter Twenty-Four

She ought to break it off before it was too late.

But it was already too late, another part of her brain argued. She’d come too far now and couldn’t simply retreat. She had to see it through to the bitter end, come what may.

After a sleepless night of tossing and turning and evaluating her choices, Emily rose and, after a brief, horrified glance in the mirror, crawled back into bed.

Her abigail had taken one look at her face and said, “I’ll bring some cucumbers for your eyes, m’lady. We can also use some powder to get rid of the dark circles.”

The powder, in the end, did the trick, and with her abigail’s help she looked as though she’d had at least a little sleep.

When she finally appeared in the hall, where the aunts were waiting for her, they did not seem to see anything amiss with her face. Only Mabel gave her a sharp look, but said nothing.

Their shopping trips wouldn’t end. How many gowns did a woman need? According to Aunt Araminta, a grand total of thirty-six.

“Why thirty-six?” Emily asked, taken aback.

“Because that is the minimum number of dresses a duchess needs to be called presentable,” Aunt Araminta explained. She was wearing a hideous bonnet that looked like a dark moss-green chimney with feathers and flowers. “It won’t do for the duchess to wear the same dress twice in a month.”

“It just seems so excessively excessive,” Emily said lamely.

“If you don’t want them, I will take them gladly,” Cissy put in cheerfully. “A girl can’t have too many dresses.”

“I am in agreement, child. As for you, you are a different matter altogether.” Emily was glad that Araminta had turned her attention to her sister. “You too must marry.”

Cissy took it in stride. “Indeed. I have been told so ever since I learned to speak.”

“The suitors aren’t a problem, it appears,” Aunt Jane put in thoughtfully. “The girl is quite adored by the men. In fact, one of them came calling only yesterday. What was his name? It was so ordinary. Mortimer or Marks or something like that.”

Emily sat up straight. “Never say that Mr Matthews came to call?”

“Matthews, yes, that’s his name.” Jane nodded. “A diffident fellow, to be sure. He came while you were out. Left his card. Said he’d call again today. I’m surprised the butler didn’t give it to you. He’s probably calling now and will find you gone again.”

“The butler might have told me.” Cissy had two distinct red spots on her cheek. “But it slipped my mind.”

“But, but—Matthews,” Emily turned to her sister. “Shouldn’t you at least talk to him?”

Aunt Araminta looked from one girl to the other. “Why? Was there anything special about the man? He looked quite ordinary, I must say. You also received a bouquet of flowers from a Mr Kent, Mr Allen, and a Lord Tarington, I think his name was. How extraordinarily fortunate you are to be so courted!”

Cissy averted her eyes and played with the string of her reticule. “Yes, well. It is always like that.”

“What Cissy means to say is that they always come courting, but nothing ever happens beyond flowers and an occasional ride out in the park,” Emily explained. “The problem, Lady Dalrymple, seems to be that while there is no shortage of suitors, none of them ever come up to scratch.”

“Perhaps it is because the lady’s heart is elsewhere?” Mabel’s quiet voice entered the discussion, but was overruled by Jane’s comment that it was neither here nor there, and that gentlemen, if interested, would have to be persuaded to come up to scratch, no matter what. Though how that was to be achieved was, of course, the question that many a matchmaking mama asked herself, too, no doubt.

“Are you well?” Emily asked Cissy that evening, after she’d slipped into her room. Cissy was sitting in an armchair with an open book in her lap, a candle beside her on the side table, staring out of the window into the darkness beyond.

“Quite,” she replied cheerfully. “Why shouldn’t I be? Look at this wonderful setting. This room is even more glamorous than the one at Ashbourne House. We live in Grosvenor Square, Emily. The heart of Mayfair! We are neighbours to a Russian princess on the right and a relative of the royal family on the left. How much higher can we climb in this world? You are to marry Wolferton and he worships the ground you walk on—do not interrupt, for it is the truth. I cannot for the life of me understand why you cannot see the truth that is so obvious in his eyes. I must say, I am glad that he turned out to be so amiable and that he isn’t the monster we always thought he was.”

Emily shook her head vehemently. “Because it’s not true. It’s all a lie. He is a consummate actor and you, of all people, have fallen for it.”

“Tosh, Emmy.” Cissy closed her book with a snap. “It’s you who can’t tell the difference between ruse and reality. You can be so stupidly stubborn sometimes. Don’t let your prejudices fool you. He is not at all the man he would have us believe. But why that is so is for you to discover.”

Emily looked at her curiously. “Have you forgotten what he’s done to us?”

Cissy looked at her sister thoughtfully. “I’ve come to the conclusion that he might not have been at fault at all and that we were quite wrong to have come up with this plan of revenge to begin with.”

Emily furrowed her brows. “How so?”

“I, too, talk to the servants, you know. I also talk to the three aunts daily. I learned that he came into his title and inheritance quite unexpectedly. I imagine he wasn’t at all prepared for his role, having been estranged from his father, as they say. They barely knew each other. So when he became duke, he had to rely on his steward to keep the estate running. I don’t think he knew about the eviction at all. He couldn’t have known what his father’s orders had been, and he had no reason to doubt the steward’s loyalty or his words.” Cissy’s face softened. “It must have been a tremendously difficult time for him.”

Emily looked at her sister, aghast. Trust Cissy to find it in her heart to not only forgive him for his actions, but to empathise with him!

“Don’t tell me you actually feel sorry for him now?” Emily demanded.

Cissy thought. “Well, yes. I see now how it must have happened. I believe he wasn’t to blame, Emily.”

“He was the duke, and as such, he should at least have been responsible for knowing what was happening on his estates,” Emily lectured.

“Yes, certainly. But back then, he was young and green and he made a mistake. I believe he would never have evicted us if it hadn’t been for that evil steward.”

Emily stared at her sister. “Sometimes, Cissy, I think you are too good for this world.”

What was more, she might actually be right. Emily recalled a single sentence from Olney’s letter in the library: “ This action was carried out in accordance with directives issued by your late father, the former duke. ” The words seemed to confirm Cissy’s claim. The old duke must have been behind it. Perhaps Wolferton had never directly ordered their eviction.

Yet, he insisted on taking responsibility for the consequences. That was another facet of his character she found utterly baffling. Had she truly misjudged him so gravely?

Cissy appeared to be convinced that they had.

Emily shook her head with a sigh. “Let’s not talk about Wolferton. Tell me how you feel. About Mr Matthews. Surely it can’t leave you indifferent that he has so suddenly reappeared in your life and has even come to see you. I must say, it’s very unexpected. Don’t you want to hear what he has to say?”

Cissy’s smile was brittle. “To what purpose? Merely to endure a litany of excuses?”

“Even if they turn out to be excuses, don’t you want to hear what he might say to explain why he disappeared the way he did in Bath? Even if only to find some kind of closure?”

Cissy shook her head. “There is no point. Besides, as Aunt Araminta said so well this afternoon, I have a number of other, far more eligible suitors who are eager to court me.”

Emily looked at her quietly. “As you wish.” Under her breath, she muttered, “And you call me stubborn… ” Then she leaned forward, a gleam in her eyes. “If it’s all the same to you, then you will allow me to meddle with some matchmaking, yes?”

Cissy looked at her, amused. “Who do you have in mind?”

Emily twisted a length of ribbon around her finger and smiled innocently. “Chippendale, of course. I confess I have a soft spot in my heart for him. I have never recovered from the fact that he is not the duke, you see.”

Cissy laughed suddenly. “Chippendale! By all means. But I haven’t seen him since we came to London. I wonder what the man is up to these days? Oh, Emmy,” she burst out suddenly. “Why do all the men in my life have a tendency to disappear after they have made my acquaintance?”

“Indeed.” Emily frowned. “There does seem to be a pattern. One wonders where the man has gone.” She put her arms around her sister. “It’s not you, sister heart. I know it isn’t. Surely there must be a good reason for his absence.” She pulled away to look into her sister’s face. “You haven’t fallen in love with Chippendale, have you?”

Cissy sighed. “I wish I had. He is everything that is kind and wonderful, and we are good friends, you know?” She pulled at the ribbon of her gown. “But that’s all there is between us, Emmy. Just friendship. There is no romantic attachment between us whatsoever. He makes me laugh, but my heart doesn’t skip a beat when he is nearby. Not like... ” She did not finish the sentence, but Emily knew what she was going to say.

Not like Matthews.

“Heaven only knows what it is about that man that can affect you like that,” Emily burst out. “He seems so terribly dull.”

“Oh, but he isn’t!” Cissy gave her a surprised look. “Chippendale is forever joking.”

“I wasn’t talking about Chippendale.” Emily patted her shoulder.

She said good night to her sister and returned to her own room.

She was getting ready for bed when there was a sudden knock at the door and Aunt Mabel entered, looking at her shyly.

“I don’t want to disturb you too much,” she said in her soft voice. “I just wanted to give you the dress. I embroidered a row of rosebuds on the neckline. I think it looks nicer now.” She carried a soft green dress, which they’d bought that afternoon. It was a very pretty dress, with many rows of extravagant flounces at the hem, and little rosebuds embroidered all over. Emily didn’t know when she would ever have the chance to wear something so beautiful. Surely she would not be allowed to keep all these beautiful dresses when their ruse was over and she returned to her simple country life at Meadowview Cottage.

It occurred to her that she hadn’t thought about the cottage for a long time. And when she did, it no longer held the warm glow of peaceful, idyllic country life. It had seemed rather cold, the chimney probably clogged and the walls damp and mouldy. Besides, when it was all over and she was back to being ordinary Miss Emily White, she found the idea of living on the Duke’s land, even when he wasn’t there, rather unpleasant. What would it be like if he lived at Ashbourne House nearby? She would be afraid to go for a walk for fear of running into him. Of course, he would never reside there. He’d hardly even visited before, so why would he do so now? But, how sad it would be to be living there and never seeing the Duke again… so close and forevermore out of reach. Why did this thought make her want to burst into tears?

And why on earth did her mind focus so onfuture events that might or might not happen? She’d got herself all upset and nostalgic for no reason at all.

There was Mabel, standing in the middle of the room, arms folded, looking at her curiously.

How long had she been standing there patiently?

“I’m sorry. I was woolgathering again,” Emily stammered. “I tend to do that. It’s almost an ailment.”

Mabel smiled. “Don’t worry. It appears you’re suffering from a severe case of bridal nerves.”

Emily looked at her wide-eyed. “Is that it? Bridal nerves?”

“Nothing to be overly hard on yourself about. I dare say Jasper is wearing the carpet thin by now, pacing around his bedroom. Araminta had to throw him out of the drawing room because he was insufferable in his temper.” Mabel paused. “He only gets insufferable when he is nervous.”

That was the most she’d ever heard Mabel say. Emily sat down on the edge of her bed, inviting Mabel to do the same. She accepted her invitation.

Mabel was a small woman with soft wisps of grey hair, a gentle smile and a narrow face. Emily realised how little she knew about her, about any of them. She wondered what her history was and if she’d ever been in love.

“Tomorrow means so much to us,” Mabel said now. “You have no idea how much.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Araminta is over the moon. Jane doesn’t show her feelings too often, but she’ll have a sleepless night too. As for me... ” She gestured to herself with a small smile. “Here I am. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For making Jasper happy.”

“Jasper.” The name sounded strange on her lips.

“He hasn’t known much happiness in his life. It was a hard one. His parents separated early, and though they never divorced, they lived in different houses. Jasper never even knew his father when he was growing up. His father, the old duke, simply wasn’t interested in his own son.” She sighed. “Makes you wonder why he even bothered to get married. He was one of those people who would have been better off never marrying. But Jasper’s mother died young.”

“So you brought him up instead, you and Araminta and Jane,” Emily said quietly.

“Yes. He was a shy and sensitive boy who spent more time in the library than out in nature.”

Wolferton? With a scholarly, intellectual bent? Surely not?

Mabel saw her look of disbelief. “Oh yes. He wasn’t always like he is now. Look.” She pulled out a locket, opened it and showed it to her.

“Oh!” escaped Emily’s lips. It was a miniature of a boy with thick, curly hair and dark eyes that looked too big in a narrow face.

“He was a handsome boy, wasn’t he?” Mabel asked proudly.

“How different he looks. He looks almost... ”

“Sad.” Mabel regarded the portrait with sorrow. “He was such a lonely boy. We were relieved when he went to Eton, thinking he could make friends with other boys his own age, only to find he was badly bullied. You see, as the only son of a duke, he had only ever met two kinds of people: those who would take advantage of him through flattery and deceit, and those who would take advantage of him through bullying. This made him cautious and suspicious, and must have given him the cynical streak you see in him now. If it hadn’t been for Chippendale, who befriended him, I don’t know what would have become of the boy.” Mabel shook her head.

“Poor boy,” Emily whispered.

“It was extremely difficult for him to trust people. And even more impossible for him to love... But when he finally did, it was with an absoluteness that frightened us. We have told you about it, and I do not want to say more about it. It will not do to talk to Jasper’s future bride about his past loves. You are his future and what is past is long gone.”

Emily thought that was a pity, for she felt an intense streak of curiosity about his past love, followed by something more surprising: jealousy. She pushed both feelings firmly away.

But Mabel went on. “It was a shock for him when he suddenly became a duke. His father died unexpectedly. He simply dropped down dead.” She shook her head, as if she still could not believe it. “The boy was barely of age. You cannot imagine the deluge of duties that fell on him from one day to the next. It is too much to ask of one man, let alone a boy like him, completely inexperienced and unworldly as he was. Everyone, I tell you, everyone took advantage of him. Including many of the servants in this very house.” She shook her head. “We moved to Wolferstone Abbey, Araminta, Jane and I, to help him put the whole household in order. The problem was that there was not only the household, but all the estates and the responsibilities and duties that went with them. And he was entirely unprepared.”

“So he trusted people too much,” Emily said in a monotone voice. “Believing that they could be trusted to do the job as they had always done it... ” And that had led to Jago driving her family away. But only now did she fully understand what it must have been like for him.

Emily looked at her with wide eyes. “He blamed himself.”

Of course he did.

Of course he must have.

Mabel nodded. “He always took his responsibilities too seriously. I don’t know exactly what happened, but mistakes were made and there were casualties. Five years ago, he discovered that his father’s steward was corrupt and that must have rocked his world quite a bit. Yet more proof that people could not be trusted,” Mabel sighed. “It led him to dismissing the entire staff at Ashbourne Estate.”

Mabel had just confirmed what Cissy had suspected.

Emily sat back in her chair with a slow exhale.

Mabel took her hand in hers. “Well, you see, knowing you’ll be his wife, seeing him happy at last, that means so much to us, child. You do not know how much you matter to him, to us, to all of us.”

The sense of guilt that overcame her nearly took her breath away.

Emily licked her lips. “What if it’s all a lie?” she whispered. “What if it isn’t true? Any of it. What if—what if I am not who I say I am and I have deceived you all?”

A veil of tears blurred her vision.

“You’re not deceiving anyone, child.” Mabel’s voice was firm and sounded eerily like Araminta’s. “What nonsense you talk. Besides, we all wear masks. We all lie and deceive at some point in our lives.”

Emily wiped her eyes. She would have liked to tell her the truth, that this was all a sham engagement, and that they were pretending to enter marriage just to please her, that it had all been arranged by her and Wolferton, and that after tomorrow things would be very different indeed, he would leave on his travels abroad, and she and Cissy would retire to their cold cottage...

Mabel kept patting her hands. “You are tired and weary. I won’t keep you any longer. You must get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a wonderful day. You’ll see!”

Emily smiled at her through her tears, not finding it in her heart to tell her the truth.