Page 62 of The Matchmaker Meets her Duke
Lady Brexley watched it all unfold, tapping her cane, a rather bored expression on her face as if now that she had unfolded her revelation, she would rather be anywhere else. Pandora could not believe the old woman. She could not believe anyone could go this far in spiting and hurting an enemy and an enemy's family. More than anything else, and perhaps for the first time since she had made the acquaintance of the cruel woman, she wanted her out of her sight.
Edward's eyes swept across the room, a still-dazed expression on his face. Finally, he inched his head, bowing stiffly to the room. "Your Graces, your Ladyship. I am embarrassed to realize my mistake," he said. "I hereby withdraw my proposal this minute and shall be on my way at once."
"Edward, please," Pandora started to say. But even she was short of words. Rose stared at her beggingly, helplessly. But she turned away from her, unable to stand her gaze.
She was not a foolish or oblivious woman. She had not been blind to Rose's initial displeasure with her and Emmett's union, but she would never have imagined that Rose would connive to go so far.
"I bid you good evening," said Edward flatly.
Rose clutched her chest as he went away, sobbing openly now. "I'm sorry," she cried, although Pandora couldn't be certain to who, Edward, or she herself, or perhaps the entire room.
Pandora shut her eyes, too shocked for words. What an evening of unfortunate, shocking events. First, her name splayed in bold print on a preposterous gossip column. Now, this. She wanted it to be over. A wave of exhaustion washed over her, and she felt suddenly wearier than she would have imagined possible after making love with Emmett.
She wanted to place her head on a pillow and forget it all. She wanted to rest. Beside her, Emmett was saying to the Dowager Viscountess, his eyes hard, tone cold, "Lady Brexley, if you would be on your way now. I believe you've done enough for one day."
"We'll be on our way at once," said Ashton, guiding his grandmother out. Turning aside, he said in passing to Emmett, "I had to follow. She was insistent but I tried to stop her from coming."
"Clearly not hard enough," Pandora heard him whisper back.
With everyone but Emmett, Rose and their grandmother gone, the silence in the drawing room felt as palpable and physical as a fifth presence in the room.
The Dowager cleared her throat, cutting a disappointed glance at her granddaughter. But she said no more than, "I shall see you all in the morning," as she rose to her feet. Her tapping cane echoed in the silence that she left behind.
Rose turned to Emmett. Her eyes were wet still, but the tears on her cheeks had now dried. "Emmett, I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything," he said. "Not now. I'm too shocked and disappointed for words, Rose. And tired, too. It's been an extremely tiring day. Go to bed." His hand came around Pandora's waist as if he could sense that she needed his nearness, the assurance of his touch now more than ever, more than anything.
She sighed and leaned gratefully into his half embrace.
"Have a night's rest, Rose," Emmett said to his sister. "I'll see you in the morning.” They left Rose standing defeatedly in the middle of the silent drawing room.
They went into his chamber in silence that remained unbroken even as they shut the door behind and rearranged themselves in bed, their bodies finding warmth in each other, their limbs entangling.
"Well. That happened," said Emmett after a while. An eternity of a while.
"I suppose she meant well," said Pandora. She was hurt and disappointed in Rose. But she was her sister-in-law. She was Emmett's little sister. His sweet, jealously guarding and protective little sister and even she did not condone her actions. They hurt her beyond words could capture. But she understood the need to look out for a loved one. She had been looked out for all her life by her own brother.
Beside her, Emmett stiffened. "Meaning good, and doing bad are two entirely different things."
"They are."
"Of course, we mustn't underestimate Lady Brexley's influence," he conceded after a moment.
"We couldn't," Pandora agreed.
"I am sorry."
"Emmett," Pandora laughed. "You can't apologize for wrongs that you bear no fault in."
"I can," he said strongly. "And I do."
She dropped a kiss on his chest. "Then I accept your apology."
"Why thank you, Your Grace."
"Do you suppose Lady Brexley will be of any more trouble to us?"
"Certainly not," he said. "I'll see that Ashton ensures it."
