Page 29 of The Matchmaker Meets her Duke
“Is your second engagement, if I remember correctly. Yes, I do pay attention to these things, you are close enough to being a neighbor that I took interest in. Such a sad tale, left at the altar, your reputation in tatters. You’ve rebuilt it well enough with these matchmaking parties of yours I suppose, but don’t think I haven’t got an eye on you.”
“Lady Brexley, I’m not sure what you are insinuating.”
“Don’t play coy, girl. My Ashton has told me everything. Your gossip column, the way you tricked Lord Willcrow into marriage. You may act innocent, the perfect hostess, but I know better.”
Pandora’s hands balled up into fists, and she bit back the angry words boiling on her tongue. “Pardon me, Lady Brexley, I must see to my other guests.” She turned on her heels and stalked away.
Rose stood against the wall, a young man she didn’t recognize trying to talk to her, but Rose deflected the poor man with ill-disguised disdain. Agatha was nearby, watching her granddaughter with a careful eye. There was no sign of Emmett.
Pandora’s face ached from keeping a smile on it, and it was difficult to unclench her fists, but she managed both as she threaded her way through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with those she knew.
The musicians switched to a waltz, the music pounding against her temples, and the urge to flee the ballroom rose within her breast. Her excuse of a headache was becoming less of a lie with each glance Lady Brexley shot her from across the room. But no. She would not let the Dowager Viscountess get the better of her.
A hand at her back elicited a squeak, and she spun around. Emmett. Pandora sagged with relief, one hand raised to his chest for balance.
“There you are, my wife. I’ve been looking for you,” said Emmett in a low voice.
“I had a headache,” said Pandora in a quiet voice, the lie suddenly leaden on her tongue.
“I suspected as much, but you weren’t in your chamber when I checked.”
“I wandered, trying to find a place that was nice and dark. I find myself restless at times.” Emmett looped his arm around her waist and pulled her through the crowd until they were at the wall.
“Are you well enough to be down here? You look rather pinched.”
Pandora shook her head. “That is because I had an encounter with Lady Brexley. Apparently, your friend Ashton told her about my… hobbies. And she thinks poorly of me because of it. That, and she threw my past in my face, and–” Pandora broke off, cheeks flushed with anger.
“Hush, now. There’s no need to get upset. Come, let’s get you out of here.” Emmett took her arm and steered her toward the entrance of the ballroom. He nodded at the guests but didn’t pause to talk when his name was called out.
Pandora let herself be led. It was a surprising comfort, to have someone else take charge. He led her into the hall and up the stairs. One Lord they passed winked at Emmett, and Pandora blushed. So he thought they were going for a dalliance, did he? Pandora snorted, and Emmett looked down at her in confusion.
“Nothing, just thinking,” said Pandora.
“I’d be privileged to know those thoughts,” said Emmett as he led her into his study.
Pandora hesitated before sinking into a plush velvet-cushioned seat opposite his desk. “I’m sorry, I let Lady Brexley get to me.”
“Judging by my grandmother, she has a habit of doing so. I hope this isn’t the start of another feud!”
Pandora laughed. “Hardly, she just knew more about me than I expected and caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting her to dislike me.”
“Now I’m really curious. What did she say?
Again Pandora hesitated. “Why do you want to know?”
Emmett shrugged and sat on the edge of the desk with his arms crossed. “Curiosity. Plus, you are my wife. We shouldn’t have secrets from each other.”
Pandora winced. “I suppose so. It’s just… my past is painful to recall.”
“Your parents' deaths?”
Pandora shook her head. “No. I… well, let’s just say you aren’t the first rake I’ve become entangled with.” She squeezed her eyes shut. Emmett stayed silent, and she continued. “I was young and foolish., around Rose’s age. He promised me the world, including his heart. But when the day came, he was nowhere to be seen.”
“You don’t mean–“
“We were to be married. It was all arranged, and on the day of the wedding, he just vanished. I was heartbroken.” A tear leaked from her closed eyes, and she jumped when a rough thumb swiped it away.
Pandora opened her eyes. Emmett leaned over her, a hard look on his face. “Men like that give men like me a bad reputation. No wonder you hated me when we first met.”
