Page 21 of The Matchmaker Meets her Duke
Pandora took it, once again admiring the hard muscles that were concealed by his waistcoat. He brought her inside and dropped her off in the drawing room before retiring to his study.
She watched him go before turning to the Dowager. “You have a strange grandson, Your Grace,” said Pandora in a wondering tone.
Agatha looked up from her needlework with sharp eyes. “What makes you say that?” She watched as Pandora crossed over to a plush cream armchair beside the window.
“He isn’t anything like the man I imagined him to be before I met him.”
Agatha snorted. “Meaning you had some jumbled-up notion about him being a rake and took it entirely to heart.” Agatha shot a knowing glance at Pandora. “Yes, I’ve heard all about your little gossip column from Rose. But don’t worry, it will stay with me. Edna would have a field day spreading the news if she ever found out.”
“I am tired of people accusing me of that, Your Grace.”
Agatha stabbed her needle through her hoop with more force than necessary. “You don’t need to play coy with me, young lady. I know full well what you’ve been up to. I admire it, even. Going out into the world, taking a stand against rakes. The things you’ve said about those men have ruined lives though, you do understand that?”
Pandora’s chin jutted out. “I understand, and that is precisely why I did it. I won’t allow men like that to be in a position to harm women like Rose.”
“Women like you, you mean? I have a habit of reading the banns, you know. I’ve seen your name before. I know your history. And I know that you soothe that broken heart of yours by firing poison at others.”
Pandora stood. “Now that is an accusation I won’t stand for.”
The look Agatha gave her was exasperated. “Sit down. And you will remember to address me as ‘Your Grace’. You may have married my grandson, but I am still the Dowager Duchess, do you understand?”
Pandora lowered herself back onto the armchair, trembling with a mix of rage and embarrassment. She found her voice after a long minute. “I am sorry, Your Grace.”
“As you should be. But that is beyond my point. What are you going to do about my grandson?”
Pandora’s head snapped up. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, are you going to continue writing nasty gossip about him, or will you give him a chance? This family needs an heir, you know.”
Pandora flinched. “I know, and I am trying, but–”
“But that cold heart of yours won’t let him in. I understand.”
“Why does everyone think I am coldhearted?” said Pandora through clenched teeth. “Your Grace.”
Agatha shrugged and turned her attention back to her needlework. “The way you hold your heart back, no doubt. Even Rose has seen it, and she hasn’t always been the best judge of character.”
“I have a heart! I love my brother more than anything!”
“And yet you were content to remain a spinster your whole life until my grandson came along.”
“It’s not like I got married on purpose. It just… happened.”
Agatha spared her one last glance before setting her needlework on the couch beside her. “Exactly, Child. It happened. Now you’ve got to deal with the consequences. Now let my grandson in so we can all get on with our lives.”
Pandora’s fists clenched and unclenched. ‘How dare she tell me how to live my own life!’thought Pandora. “May I have your permission to leave, Your Grace? I have letters to write.”
Agatha waved an imperial hand, and Pandora stood. She bobbed a curtsy before leaving the room as quickly as politeness would allow. Rose, Agatha, even Emmett. She would not allow them to dictate how she ruled her heart. She would continue her work, even if she had to go behind Emmett’s back.
An hour later Pandora sat in a wooden chair in front of her brother’s desk in his study, hands clasped neatly in her lap. Her brother sat opposite her, suspicion etched onto his handsome face.
“Just tell me, Pandora. I recognize that face. What do you want?”
Pandora’s hands tightened on each other as she affixed what she hoped was a charming smile on her face. “My dear brother–”
“Oh, just get to the point,” said Edward with a huff of irritation.
“You are in a mood today,” said Pandora.
