Page 5 of Only a Fortnight with the Duke

CHAPTER 5

T he next morning, Emmeline came down for breakfast at a later hour than usual to find that her father had already taken his, and was waiting anxiously for her at the table.

“Good morning, Papa,” she greeted him, curiously, as she came around to embrace him. “Did you sleep well? I was certain I would not see you until noon after the drink you had at the ball.”

“There is much to look forward to this day, my dear,” he chirped, waving her off to her seat. “Hurry and eat so that we might go out. I was thinking that a promenade would be quite nice in this weather.”

Emmeline giggled and quirked a brow. “Sure, Papa. That does sound like a fine start to the day. I will make haste so we might be on our way soon.”

The weather was pleasant–warm but not stifling. Society was out in the gardens in droves, and Emmeline enjoyed observing the new budding couples making each other’s acquaintance as they strolled through the plethora of gorgeous flowers and the year’s new art installations.

“This season is looking to be quite fruitful in the way of matchmaking,” she remarked to her father.

‘It is indeed,” he answered, his casualty surprising her. In the last few weeks, their conversations had been strained by the weight of the Earl’s pressing of her to find a husband. And here she had opened the door to the conversation, but he had not persisted? “I dare say it reminds me of the summer your mother and I were engaged. You are every bit as beautiful as Beatrice was, then, my dear. It comes as no shock to me that you have remained as popular among London’s finest young men as you have, but I–”

“Why, Lord Viscount!” An easy smile crossed Emmeline’s lips as she watched her friend approach them. “I am surprised to see you here so early in the day,” she began, teasingly. Immediately, though, her joy faded and the smile slid off of her face in a hurry. She watched as Reginald and her father gave one another a meaningful look, then the pieces began to fit together in her mind. Emmeline looked up at her father only to find that he was staring at her, his smile replaced with a stern, flat line.

This was no chance run-in with Reginald. Her father had asked her to the park with such haste for this very reason. “Papa, what is the meaning of this?”

“Emmeline, I have asked Lord Bancroft here to meet with us about a rather important affair.”

“What affair could pass between the two of you which concerns me?” she begged, her temper flaring in much the way it had the night before when Simon Waldorf had spoken so carelessly to her. “I detest that I have been cornered by the two of you like this here in the park. Tell me right away what is happening.”

“Emmeline, you must put your temper aside. This is joyous news,” Lord Clark insisted. “Just last morning, Lord Bancroft and I reached an agreement about your hand.”

“My hand ? What could the Viscount have to do with my hand?”

“Do not be preposterous, Emmeline,” the Earl warned, his voice stern now. “The two of you are to be married. I understand that this may be a shock, but–”

“A shock! Papa, that word does not begin to describe how I am feeling now. Betrayed comes to mind. Made to look like a fool, perhaps. But shocked? There has never been such an understatement. What could possess you? You know how important the matter of marriage is to me. To think that you would go behind my back and make such an arrangement–the both of you–without so much as asking how I feel about the matter is…is…it’s hurtful.”

Tears welled up in Emmeline’s eyes and she brought her hand up to her chest to clutch it. Reginald reached out to comfort her, like he would have done in any other circumstance, but she pulled away from him. Lord Clark gave her a scathing look of disapproval.

“Emmeline Clark, you know better than to behave in so unbecoming a manner,” he hissed, pulling her aside and finding an alcove for the three of them to stand in, hidden away from the prying eyes of the ton. “I do know how important marriage is to you, but you seem to have forgotten.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You have turned down any number of proposals, Emmeline, and you are hardly at an age to be wasting time. It is my opinion that you have misunderstood your mother all of these years. The two of us were dedicated to one another because we did our duty to our families, wed, and grew to love one another.”

“Papa! Mother would weep to hear you say as such. She has always–”

“I am not done speaking!” The Earl did not raise his voice, but the severity of his tone, instead, gave Emmeline pause. “It does not matter what you think, Emmeline. Your mother would have chastised you for this horrendous behavior. I did not make a careless decision about my only daughter’s future. I chose for you a suitor I am certain you will be able to grow to love, and who you are already quite fond of. I trust Lord Bancroft with my life and yours, and I will hear no more of this impropriety.”

“It is not a matter of who you chose!” Emmeline insisted. “It is that I was not given an option! I am off. I can hear no more of this.” The Earl called after her daughter as she hurried away, in pursuit of somewhere calm and peaceful where she might go to collect her thoughts. A sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach carried her away to a lake on the edge of the park property with no care that she’d left her chaperone and was now wandering about alone at promenade.

It mattered not to her. She would not marry a man she could not trust, and she had never felt so cross with her father. It was as if her encounter with the Duke the night before had been a precursor to today–to highlight that, in the end, she truly did not have any control over her own future. So long as there were men in her life to make decisions for her, she was at their mercy.

Just as Emmeline reached the lake’s banks and stopped to catch her breath, she heard the sound of footsteps fast approaching. She clenched her fists and turned to face Lord Bancroft. He came to a stop before her, and she found that the look of concern on his face now felt fabricated.

“I asked to be alone for a moment, Lord Viscount. It would appear that you have a difficult time respecting my wishes.”

“Emmeline– Lady Emmeline–it is nothing of the sort. Your father and I were only wanting to do what was best for you. I enjoy your company. I have always thought you to be pleasant to look at and intriguing to be around. I thought we made an amicable pair. I thought that you enjoyed my company as well.”

“And perhaps, Lord Bancroft, I would have entertained this line of thought had you not spent the night at the ball with me! You had all night to mention this to me, yet you withheld the information. You lied .”

“I merely adhered to the agreement your father and I made! It was his wish to be present when he spoke to you, and now I can see why.”

“Then what could have possessed you to go to my father first without asking me what I thought?” she demanded, her temper evident in her flushed cheeks and flaming eyes.

“Your father was a part of my concern, Lady Clark. It was my wish to ensure that this match would be beneficial to both you and your father. Once I settled the financial matters, I hoped to speak with you. This was not exactly the meeting that I had in mind.”

“I am hurt , Lord Viscount,” Emmeline told him truthfully. “I thought that our friendship would prevent such secrecy from you. That you did not even take a moment to consider whether or not I might want to marry you at all is insulting. I…I feel I do not know you as I thought I did. Please. I will take my leave. We can continue this conversation another time.” Emmeline turned to do as she told him he would, but Reginals reached out and his fingers closed around her arm, tightly, forcefully. He pulled her to him, and while she registered the desperation in his eyes and knew that he must not mean to hurt her, he was.

She opened her mouth to tell him that he was hurting her, but she felt another hand in the mix and the pressure of Reginald’s was pried away from her. Emmeline’s eyes looked up and saw Simon, but he was glaring at Lord Bancroft. The Duke had a presence about him that seemed to make the Viscount shrink away. Emmeline observed the exchange between the two men, taking a step away from them and nursing the place where her arm was sore.

Reginald softened, although Emmeline can’t be sure that the regret and sorrow on his features have anything to do with her, as commanding as the Duke’s presence is. He and Lord Bancroft were of similar stature, but the latter still appeared much smaller beneath the former’s icy gaze. When the Viscount looked to Emmeline, it was with apology, but she did not return his look. Her expression was hurt and confused as she gazed, instead, out to the lake.

“Take your leave,” Simon commanded. At first, Reginald did not move. He stared at Emmeline a few seconds longer, hopeful that she might explain the situation. When she did not, he bowed his head to the Duke and left Lady Clark in his care.

The moment he was out of sight, Simon went to Emmeline and, gently, pulled her arm up so he could examine her for a bruise. She allowed him to do so, but only briefly before taking it back again. He did not resist her.

“Thank you, Your Grace. Your interference but a stop to a remarkably uncomfortable situation,” she said, her eyes still locked on the glimmering surface of the water.

“I can see that you did not suffer any physical injury, my Lady, but are you quite well?”

“I am, thank you. Mine and Lord Bancroft’s conversation got a bit out of hand. That is all. I do appreciate your swift action.”

Simon watched her, curiously, for just a second. “I am afraid I owe you another apology, Lady Clark.”

“Whatever for?”

“It is clear to me that you could very well have saved yourself. Lord Bancroft did not seem to have intentions to hurt you. He merely forgot himself, and you are not a weak woman.”

Emmeline smiled, and the gesture softened the Duke’s expression and heart. “That is nothing to apologize for. I thanked you already for your intervention.”

“No. That is not it.”

“Then what is?”

“I intervened because I overheard your conversation. I apologize for this. I know now that it was a private matter, and it is regrettable that I am privy to it.”

Emmeline’s expression turned once more to one of defensiveness. “What, did you see me in a state of distress and follow us here so that you might mock me again as you did last night?”

“Not at all. I happened upon the scene, Lady Emmeline. Believe me, it was not my wish to listen in. I was happy to be here to assist, but I did not enjoy the intrusion. I hope that you can find it in you to forgive me.”

“To forgive you? You are only proving what I thought of you last night when I first saw you. Why, when you saw us, and realized that we were in some sort of disagreement, did you not merely walk away? You said to yourself that I could have handled myself. Do you think yourself of such great strength and virtue that everyone in the world is in need of your service?”

The Duke did not back down from her assault, nor did he let it give rise to his own temper. Instead, he smiled at her, as if she was reacting just as he hoped. “I am quite strong and virtuous,” he answered, teasingly. “Most people would be better off were I readily available to them all at a moment’s notice. You yourself would agree that this is not arrogance–it is merely the truth–if only you spent some time getting to know me.”

“You are nothing but a narcissist, Your Grace.”

“You are afraid that I am right.”

“I fear no such thing! I am anxious to take my leave of your imperious presence.”

“Then prove me wrong.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Prove me wrong, Lady Emmeline.” Simon pressed closer to her, the bridge of his nose tilted down toward her as he regarded her. They were so close that they shared body heat. “Spend a fortnight in my company, but I assure you that you will not find yourself immune to my charm as you thought.”

“What would possibly possess me?”

“A wager, of course. If I am right, then you will willingly enter into a courtship with me. If I am wrong, I will never approach you again–not with sharp words or a mind to save you from another gentleman.”

“This is preposterous. In what world would I want you as a husband? You insult me, Your Grace.”

“The opposite, actually, Lady Emmeline. My intention is to flatter you. I am not deluded into thinking that you wish for me as your husband. You have made it quite clear to me–and all of English society–that you want nothing to do with me.”

“Then why–”

“Because I have never felt the inclination to marry, but now that I have met you, I am certain that there is no other woman who would make a better wife for me.”

The anger drained from Emmeline’s eyes and was replaced with something akin to horror. The Duke smiled, a light chuckle leaving his lips at her reaction. “You jest.”

“I do not.”

“What is the meaning of this?”

“It is not the love that you spoke of before, Lady Clark, but I do now possess a great deal of respect for you. A dear friend has pointed out that a wife would do a great deal for my reputation–to quell rumors about the instability of my dukedom. Your own status and social skill are admirable, and would be beneficial. I think the two of us could be good for one another. At the very least, we will be able to engage in these remarkably entertaining conversations whenever we like.”

“I would never marry the likes of you.”

“Then what is the harm in playing along? I see you, Lady Clark. We are more alike than you have taken note of. There is so much more to you than meets the eye. I know that you hide an expansive world beneath your tailored, prim and proper society shell. I can show you things you would never get to experience otherwise, and if at the end of the fortnight, you still despise me as you appear to now, then you will have done nothing but earned yourself some peace and a small reprieve from your father’s dictation of your affairs.”

Emmeline gave him a look of disgust and opened her mouth to protest again, but Simon stopped the words in her throat by leaning forward, his lips so close to her ear that they nearly brushed over the exposed skin of her neck. “Unless, of course, you are saying no because you’re scared that you will fall in love with me.”

A flush crept over Emmeline’s cheeks as Simon straightened and stepped away from her. She narrowed her eyes at him, annoyed by his perfect hair and gorgeous eyes. She laughed bitterly.

“You know, on second thought, I would be honored to bring some humility to your life, Your Grace. I know myself well enough, and I accept your wager. At the end of a fortnight, you will learn that all the world is not susceptible to the charm you believe yourself to possess.”

“Perfect. It is decided, then. I look forward to spending more time with you, Lady Clark.”

“Likewise, Your Grace.”