Page 7 of The Matchmaker Meets her Duke
“Don’t ‘oh Edward’ me! You sound like Aunt Tabitha when you say that.”
Pandora rested her head on the wing of her chair. “Well, maybe you shouldn’t give me such cause to say it, then.”
“Aren’t you upset by this? Surely… you weren’t a willing participant in that debauchery, were you?”
Pandora laughed at the stricken look on her brother’s face. “Certainly not! The man is a scoundrel, that much is certain. But a duel? It wouldn’t be his first, and how long has it been since you fired a pistol?”
Edward’s expression grew stubborn, his eyes red from lack of sleep. “You don’t think I could win.”
“I didn’t say that! Goodness, you are touchy today.”
“A Duke just took advantage of my sister! Of course I’m touchy!”
Pandora stood and gathered his hands in hers. “Dear brother, I am as upset as you are. But this is no time to lose our heads! There must be something we can do that doesn’t involve death.” She wrinkled her nose as she drew closer to him. Was that a hint of alcohol on his breath?
Edward shook his head and squeezed her hands. “I am duty bound to defend your honor. And I will. Willcrow must pay for this insult to you.”
“I’m sorry. I never should have wandered off. This entire thing is my fault.”
“Don’t say that, if he wasn’t there, your honor would be intact.”
Pandora paused. “I suppose that’s true, but I also knew better than to go unescorted into the maze.”
Edward dropped her hands and crossed over to the window, where the maze was just visible through the morning fog. “Why were you in the maze, anyway? I could have used your hand with the Gale sisters.”
“I thought I heard a noise in the maze. I went to pursue whoever had upset them so. I know, it was reckless of me. But you were preoccupied, and I didn’t want them to get away.”
“It was a lost cause, in any case. There was no danger. Just a woman upset that the man she wished to marry was engaged to another.”
Pandora’s mouth fell open. “Honestly? But why the screams?”
“Shrieks of despair. The sisters should have been actors, seeing how they are driven toward theatrics.”
“Of all the ridiculous–! All of this could have been avoided if I had just waited a few moments?”
A rueful smile fell over Edward’s face. “I’m afraid so.”
Pandora dropped back into the wingback chair and squeezed her eyes shut. Images of the Duke’s face, so close to hers, conflicted with visions of the young women she so wanted to help. It was all over. And all because she had been too impatient, too impetuous. Tears dripped down her chin and spilled onto her morning dress.
Edward crossed over to her with swift steps. “Pandora, it will be all right! You’ll always have a home here, and my name to protect you.” He pulled a monogrammed handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.
Pandora covered her face with it. She couldn’t stand for him to see her cry. His hand was gentle on her shoulder, but she barely felt it. “What good am I to you, I’ll be nothing but a burden for the rest of our lives! What woman will have you, with a spinster sister looming over your marriage?”
Edward laughed. “You forget that I intend to remain a bachelor. The life we have lived has suited me just fine, and matchmaking parties or not, we will both be just fine.”
Pandora shook her head and sniffled into the handkerchief. “You’ll be fine. I’ll have to remain here, none of my acquaintances will want anything to do with me. I’m ruined.” A knock sounded at the door.
“Enter,” said Edward in a distracted voice. Warwick entered the chamber on quiet feet and bowed to them both. When he hesitated to speak, Pandora lowered the handkerchief and gave him her full attention.
“Yes?” said Pandora.
Warwick cleared his throat. “My Lord, My Lady. It’s His Grace, he’s here.”
ChapterFive
Emmett paused when the footman opened the door of his coach.
He was hesitating, and he knew it. With one last heavy sigh, he descended from his coach, coat of arms emblazoned on the side to announce his coming.
