by Fimch, Fanny
“She and her father are very close, are they not?”
The Duke of Cooksey nodded. “Yes, they are. She has always been her father’s daughter. They are much alike in many ways.”
“Does she get along well with the duchess?”
The Duke of Lox noticed when the Duke of Cooksey’s face screwed up a bit. “I do not believe they have the relationship she would have had with her mother. But I believe the duchess holds no ill will against her. I do not see why she would.”
“Perhaps a bit of jealousy? Because Lady Wentworth is not her own child?”
The Duke of Cooksey shrugged gently. “There is always a possibility.”
“I will come along, then, on my horse. I must assume the Duke of Rabney is invited to come.”
A chuckle escaped from the duke, whose large round body bounced as it came out. “He is invited. I do believe Camilla would be one unhappy young lady if I said no.”
They both laughed at that and parted ways. The Duke of Lox kept his eyes on Emma, who was casting him warm looks as she waited to get in the carriage with the rest of her family. He was filled with desire, mounting his horse, a little sad that once she was inside the carriage, he could no longer see her. He chided himself for being an impatient child. It was not a long ride to Corning Manor. He would see her there.
He wondered whether Lord Archibald had returned to Corning Manor as he followed the carriage down the path. He hoped not. He did not want to see Emma’s mood change again. It seemed whenever he was mentioned, she turned stiff as a board and was unwilling to talk to anyone. That did not sit well with him.
In three days, there was another ball. He wanted to attend this one with Emma. By next season, he wanted to be hosting balls at Brisbourne. He did not know what was stopping him from doing that anyway.
He thought about the idea as they rode along. It would be fun to host a ball. He could afford it, especially knowing he would have his inheritance to cushion him, should he spend too much. It would also open up a great many prospects and business deals. He glanced at the Duke of Rabney, deciding he would talk to him about it later.
He was grateful that Lady Daniella Christian was asleep when they returned to Brisbourne the night before and nowhere to be seen that morning at breakfast. He was not even sure she had stayed at Brisbourne into the morning hours. For all he knew, she could have gotten up in the middle of the night and wandered off. He would only be slightly surprised if she did something like that.
They got closer to Corning Manor and the Duke of Lox strained his eyes to see what carriages and buggies were in front of it. There was more than the night before but none that he recognized other than the usual. If Lord Archibald had come back, he did not leave his horse out front.
The Duke of Lox breathed a sigh of relief. Even if they were not alone, he would feel more comfortable being with Emma when the lord was not around. He could feel the competitive air between them and it made him uncomfortable.
The Duke of Rabney rode up next to him and kept pace with his horse. “I cannot stay long, Baldwin,” he said. “Much as I would like to, now that I know Lady Fielding will be there. I must go sign documents for the sale of the property we looked at.”
The Duke of Lox grinned at his friend. “I am glad you decided to make that purchase, Christian,” he said. “I believe it is a good investment.”
The Duke of Rabney nodded. “Yes, that was my thought, as well. But it was the look on Lady Fielding’s face that sold it to me. I want to see that look on her face every day.”
The Duke of Lox wondered if he had that look of awe on his face when he thought about Emma. “Have you discussed marriage with her or her father yet?”
“We, that is, Lady Fielding and I, have touched on the subject. I have not approached her father yet. She is waiting for something. I suspect it has to do with Lady Wentworth.”
The Duke of Lox lifted his eyebrows. “She is waiting? She refuses to be happy unless her cousin is also happy?”
“That is the impression I get,” his companion replied. “She has not come out and said it but it is what I suspect.”
“How do you feel about that? She knows she is also making you wait, does she not?”
“Oh, yes, she does,” the Duke of Rabney nodded. “But I do not mind. I will not lose Lady Fielding. She will be my bride, of that I have no doubt.”
“I long to feel so secure in my relationship, Christian.”
“It will come. You just have to be patient. But it will come.”
“How can you be so sure?”
The Duke of Rabney gave his friend a brilliant smile. “I have someone on the inside who has access to the information.”
Both men laughed. The Duke of Lox felt a sweeping sensation from his head to his toes. It was a new feeling, a feeling of contentment. He hoped it would last.
The carriage and the two men on horses stopped in front of the house. The dukes dismounted and threw the reins of their horses around a post in front of the house.
The Cookseys left their carriage behind to go up the stairs and file into the house. The housekeeper took their shawls, hats and coats when they entered but when she got to the Duke of Lox, who was in front of the Duke of Rabney, she gazed up at him with wide eyes.
“Oh dear.” She looked around as if searching for someone. The Duke of Lox felt anger slide through him as he held out his hat to her and she did not take it.
“What is the problem?” he growled.
“I beg your pardon, sir, it is only that her grace said only family and the doctor were allowed in the house right now.”
“I believe we have permission from the family,” the Duke of Rabney spoke up from behind the Duke of Lox. His voice was determined and it frightened the housekeeper.
“You know who we are,” the Duke of Lox said firmly. “There is no need for this sudden privacy.”
“I… I am sorry, sir, please, forgive me.” The woman bowed and nodded her head, taking hold of his hat and coat. She continued to apologize as she took the Duke of Rabney’s hat and coat but the terrified look on her face remained, even as she turned away.
The dukes looked at each other through cautious eyes. Something had happened to change the atmosphere of Corning Manor. It did not feel warm and loving anymore. It felt cold, sterile. The Duke of Lox found it somewhat uncomfortable.
But he rested his eyes on the back of Emma’s head as she darted down the hall to the room her father was in. He longed to follow after her, express his love for her in front of her father and ask him for her hand.
But it was not the time to draw attention to himself or his desires. It was time for Emma to spend with her father. If she convinced him she did not want to marry Lord Archibald, it would leave the door open for him and he would gladly walk through it.
He had a feeling it was not the duke that needed to be convinced. It was the duchess. He waited until he saw Gertrude coming back from the coat closet and stepped in front of her to make her stop. She looked up at him just once before keeping her eyes trained on the floor.
“Where is the duchess?” he asked.
Gertrude pressed her lips together. “I believe she is in the study, your grace.” Her voice was almost too low to hear but the Duke of Lox knew he was standing over her in a very intimidating way. He was much larger than her and could snap her like a twig if he so desired.
But that was not what he desired. He just wanted to ask some questions.
“Was she worried about Lady Wentworth last night?”
Gertrude looked up at him in surprise before quickly dropping her gaze. “I… I would not know, sir. I was not here. I do not stay in the house at night.”
“Is the duchess in her own study or the duke’s?”
“There is only one study, your grace,” Gertrude almost whispered the words. The Duke of Lox stepped to the side, regretting that the woman was so terrified of him but grateful that his intimidation got him information, however useless it might be.
> He raised his eyes to the Duke of Rabney. “Shall we go visit the duchess?”
The Duke of Rabney nodded. “I do believe that is a good idea, Baldwin. Do you know where the study is?”
The Duke of Lox paused before grinning wide. “I do. I had to think for a moment. But I do.”
The Duke of Rabney followed his friend down the hall on the other side of the stairs that led to the second floor. It was the third door down. The Duke of Rabney put his hand on the doorknob and pulled it open, only then realizing it was a closet.
He glanced over his shoulder at the Duke of Lox. “Wrong door.”
They both stepped to the next one and this time, the Duke of Lox knocked three times and then opened the door just as they heard the duchess calling out that they could come in.
When she saw the dukes come into the study, her face fell and turned a slightly ashen grey.
“Your grace. Your grace. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
The Duke of Lox stepped close to the desk she was standing behind, ignoring the chairs that looked so inviting. “I would like to apologize, my lady.”
She lowered the book she was holding and stared at him. “What are you apologizing for, my lord?”
“Your housekeeper did say that this was to be only family members present during this time but the duke and I thought it would be nice to pay our respects to you and your family. We have been with Lady Fielding and Lady Wentworth during this tragedy. We would like to continue to offer our support.”
The duchess looked from one to the other. “Gertrude was correct. I did ask for her to only let in those who are family. She did not do her job well, did she?”
The Duke of Lox was taken aback by the rudeness in the older woman’s voice. He raised his eyebrows and turned the upper half of his body to give the Duke of Rabney a shocked look.
“I know why you are here, your grace,” the duchess’s voice was not friendly and was only barely polite. “I must warn you. It would not be a good idea to give your heart to Lady Emma, as she will be shortly unavailable. Arrangements have been made with Lord Archibald Van D’Obson for their marriage. It will take place one month after the death of my husband.”
The Duke of Lox thought she said the words without a hint of affection or remorse. She did not care if her husband died. She did not care if her step-daughter lived a miserable, unhappy life.
But why Lord Archibald?
He was about to protest when the Duke of Rabney stepped up behind him. “We will go for now, your grace,” he said. “Thank you for your understanding.”
The Duke of Lox looked at him like he had lost his mind. The Duke of Rabney shook his head and pulled gently on his companion’s arm.
They left the room, the Duke of Lox seething and fuming. He would get to the bottom of this. He would not let Emma become the Lady Van D’Obson.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Two full days had passed and Emma had not heard from the Duke of Lox. Those two days were also spent in near isolation, as the duchess would not allow her to leave and did not allow any callers. She claimed visitors would disturb the duke but Emma knew better. Her father never shied away from his friends. He would have wanted them there.
Her only companion as she waited for the ball on Friday night was Katherine.
She and her sister dressed for the ball in their separate rooms but Katherine came into Emma’s to do their hair up in the beautiful jewel chains the duchess provided. They spoke quietly to each other, alert that at any moment, the duchess might come in and hear what they were saying.
“I do believe Mother has lost her mind,” Katherine said as she stood behind Emma, pulling a comb through her blond locks. “I have not seen her so agitated before. I am upset, Emma, that she keeps you apart from the Duke of Lox.”
Emma felt a little sorry for her sister. She had tortured Katherine with nonstop talking about the duke since he and the Duke of Rabney dropped her and Camilla off three days ago.
Camilla had visited one time and informed Emma that the duchess had run the dukes off the day they had come to visit, claiming it was a time for family only.
“I am terrified he will no longer want to see me after the way the duchess behaved to him,” Emma stage-whispered. Katherine bent down and said quietly in her ear, “You need not worry about him, Emma. I do believe you already have his heart.”
Emma shook her head gently. “The duchess told him I am to be married to Lord Archibald. If he believes that, he will never speak to me again. I must have a chance to explain myself!”
Katherine frowned, resuming brushing her sister’s hair. “I do not know why Mother would put you in such a position. It does not make sense to me. The Duke of Lox has much more to offer than Lord Archibald. I know she was upset that the Duke of Rabney rejected me but that is no reason to force you to be with someone you do not want to be with.”
Emma doubted her step-mother’s behavior had anything to do with Katherine but said nothing. Girls her age tended to focus events and circumstances on themselves. There was something else happening and Emma needed to find out what it was.
“You know, I even tried to ask Mother about it,” Katherine said. Emma’s eyes flicked up to look at her sister’s reflection in the mirror. Then she spun around, unintentionally pulling her own hair as it slipped from Katherine’s grip. She ignored the pain and stared at Katherine with wide eyes.
“What did she say? What did you ask?”
“I asked her why she liked Lord Archibald so much. She said he has potential.”
Emma frowned. “Potential? For what?”
Katherine gently turned Emma’s head so that it was facing the mirror again and resumed brushing her hair. “I suppose greatness… wealth… I know he can use the dowry that will be settled when… I mean if you were to marry him.”
“I am not going to marry him. There is no document that will make me do it.” Emma set her jaw and crossed her arms over her chest. She did not care if she looked like a sulking child. She was not going to live her entire life with a man she found somewhat repulsive.
Katherine began to pile the blond curls up on her sister’s head and pin them back. She traced the pins with the jewel chain carefully as she spoke. “I know, Emma. I will support you no matter what you decide. I did not want to marry the Duke of Rabney. I am so glad he chose Camilla. She has been looking for a man like him.”
“Yes,” Emma had to laugh. “We have all been looking for a man like him. What woman would not want a man like him?”
“I am sure he has some faults,” Katherine said thoughtfully, looking up for a moment. “He must. All men have faults.”
“I have not seen any yet,” Emma said. “But that does not mean there are none. I suppose it is Camilla who will find out long before we do.”
“If we ever do,” Katherine added, finishing the jewel chain she had threaded through Emma’s long curls. “How does that look?”
Emma turned her head from side to side. “It looks wonderful. Thank you, Katherine. All right, it is your turn. Sit, sit, I have an idea in mind.”
When Emma saw Camilla come in the ballroom, she felt like she had not seen her cousin in years. She resisted the urge to break into a run to get to her. She had chosen a spot closer to the door so that she would not have far to travel when Camilla came in.
She was only a few feet away when Camilla turned and looked behind her with a huge smile on her face. The Duke of Rabney came in with her, along with her mother and father. They were very obviously together. She would desire to dance with no one else, even though she was obliged to. She was a taken woman. It was written all over her dear cousin’s face.
Emma had mixed feelings, reacting with great pleasure and pride, as well as fear that she would lose Camilla and anger that she had not been told of the developments.
Camilla’s smile was dazzling. It melted Emma’s heart. She crossed the remaining few feet quickly and grabbed her cousin around the shoulders, placing soft kisses on bo
th her cheeks. “Camilla, my darling. I am so glad to see you. It has been an eternity!”
Camilla laughed, throwing her head back a little. Emma was once again reminded how much she loved the delightful sound of it.
“It does feel like it,” Camilla said, a giggle in her voice. She looked Emma over, holding her out at arm’s length. “Look at this gown! I absolutely love it! And did Katherine do your hair? Oh, Emma, you look lovely.”
“Lady Wentworth,” the Duke of Rabney bent and took her hand, silently admiring the color of her light green glove. “It is lovely to see you once again. It does feel like some time since I have laid eyes on your face. I do hope you have not forgotten all about me.”
“I believe those are my words, Christian.” Emma heard the voice of the Duke of Lox and it split through her like a knife. She had not realized how much the isolation she had felt in Corning Manor over the past three days had affected her.
When she saw his face appear behind the Duke of Rabney, she knew it was not just the isolation that had gotten to her. It was being kept from hearing his voice, seeing him. The Duke of Lox. The man she dreamed of at night and longed to be with during the day.
The duchess had not mentioned Lord Archibald during those three days. In fact, she had hardly seen her step-mother at all. She had stayed in her father’s room, painting, reading poetry, watching over him as he slept. He rarely woke up and when he did, he could not remain awake for long. The duchess always made him drink a medicinal concoction when he woke up and it kept him very sleepy.
Emma had spent those three days feeling so alone. She wanted to talk to the Duke of Lox. She wanted to talk to Camilla. She wanted to talk to her father and he was in the same room as her.
But she felt so very alone.
Now, in the crowded ballroom, staring at the lovely face of her cousin and the handsome faces of the two dukes who accompanied her, she felt completely at ease.
“May I put my name on your card, Lady Wentworth?”
The Duke of Lox seemed very amused by the fact that Emma had not answered his question. She stared at him for a moment before coming to her senses.