Page 42 of Five Ways to Bed a Duke

What could she have been doing that would worry her brother?

Catherine thought back to what she had been doing with Richard and feared that perhaps Emmy had also done something scandalous.

“No,” Emmy sighed. “You know that our mother abandoned us when we were quite young, and Richard has never forgiven her for that. I hadn’t too, but…”

“But what, Emmy?”

She sighed and rose from her seat, going to stand by the window.

“She’s been writing to me, and she is sorry for leaving us with our father. I was so angry and told her as much, but I so long to have her in my life.”

“Why haven’t you told Richard about it yet?”

“Because, Cathy”—Emmy turned to Catherine with tear-filled eyes—“I am afraid he is going to forbid me from speaking to her. I know he will. He spent so many years after she left telling me that if she ever came back, he would throw her out. She wants to see me, Cathy, and I don’t know how to tell her I can’t see her. We’ve been writing to each other for a while, and there’s so much I still want to know about her. I really want to see her, but I can’t go anywhere without Richard or my maid chaperoning me.”

Catherine sighed and leaned back in her seat. She understood her friend’s fear and wanted to help, but she didn’t know how.

Richard had every right to be angry with their mother, but it was about time Emmy told him. How he hadn’t even discovered her correspondence already was a miracle.

He would be very upset if he knew how long his sister had been writing to the woman he was so angry at, and now that Catherine knew, he would also be angry at her for knowing and not telling him.

“You could try talking to him,” Catherine suggested. “It might not go as poorly as you expect.”

“Cathy, I can’t!” Emmy cried. “He will never forgive me. You have to promise me you’ll keep this from him.”

“I—”

“Please, Cathy. Promise me.”

Sighing deeply, Catherine resigned herself to her fate. “I won’t tell him.”

“Oh, thank you!” Emmy cried, hugging her.

“Alright, alright.” Catherine laughed, rubbing her back. “Let’s finish your lessons quickly, so we can do something fun for a change.”

“What do you have in mind?” Emmy asked gleefully. Her entire demeanor had changed, so one wouldn’t know she had been crying.

“Cards.”

“Are we going to make a wager?”

“Gambling isn’t ladylike, Emmy,” Catherine chided, shaking her head.

“But there’s no one here to see us.”

“Focus on your lessons.”

An hour later, she was proud of Emmy’s table manners and conversational skills, and then she announced the lessons were over for the day.

They went to the drawing room for cards and munched on sweet pastries and tea served by the parlor maids. Emmy proved to be proficient at cards but was no match for Catherine’s superior skills.

An hour passed before Catherine decided to return home, so she could also have time to rest before the evening meal.

As she was helped into her coat, Richard strolled in, looking tired. His eyes widened with surprise, and then he schooled his features into a neutral mask.

“Good day, Miss Burlow,” he greeted.

“Good day, Your Grace.”

---