Page 17 of A Duke Reformed
Emma laughed, the sound escaping before she could stop it. "Swallows? You discussed swallows with the viscount for ten minutes?"
"I did. And I didn't even yawn once. Though I came close when he started describing their nesting habits."
"Their nesting habits?" Emma asked, louder than necessary and unable to control her laughter. The sound was bright and unrestrained, and it seemed to catch even her by surprise. She quickly brought her fan up to her lips, as if to stifle the outburst.
"I reckon that's the first time I've made anyone laugh since I came to London," Solomon said, staring down at her. His voice was quiet but with a note of something she couldn't quite place. Surprise, perhaps. Or maybe even relief.
Emma's laughter faded, and she slowly lowered her fan, holding his gaze. There was something in his tone, something in the way he looked in that moment, that made her pause. She saw past the arrogance, the sharp edges, the infuriating smirk. She saw a man who, for all his wealth and power, might be just as out of placein London as she sometimes felt. A man who, despite his title, might be... lonely.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.They simply stood there, staring at each other, the tension between them palpable.
Solomon was the first to break the silence."When is our next lesson, Miss Lockhart?"
Emma blinked, caught off guard by the question. She had been so lost in her thoughts, so caught up in the strange tension between them, that his words took a moment to register. "Our next lesson?" she repeated. "You... still want me to teach you?"
"Yes," he said simply.
Emma's cheeks flushed and all she wanted to do was leap for joy, but she quickly masked her reaction with a brisk nod. "Very well, Your Grace. If you're serious about continuing, then I suppose we can arrange another lesson."
The sheer relief that washed over her was enough to weaken her knees. She told herself it wasn't about liking it. It was about doing what was necessary. For her family. For Cecilia. For her future. For whatever this was.
"That's good to hear," Solomon said to her with a firm nod. "I will await your letter. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Miss Lockhart."
"You too, Your Grace," she said and curtsied as he walked away.
Emma watched him go and she had to remind herself this was just business... a necessary, mutually beneficial arrangement. Her family needed the money, and she couldn't afford to let anything, not even her differences with Solomon get in the way of that. They were so different and it was proving difficult to get past it, but she had to. No matter how much he grated on her nerves, she couldn't let it distract her. The stakes were too high, and she wouldn't allow her hesitance... or anything else jeopardize what her family needed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"So, Cecilia and your papa are still not speaking?" Lavinia inquired, her voice trailing off as she raised an eyebrow at Emma.
"Yes," Emma said in an exasperated tone. "They always bicker about everything. It's the same argument every time. Papa spends too much, and Cecilia reminds him that we don't have ‘that much' to begin with. It's exhausting. I don't know how they haven't driven each other mad by now."
The garden party was winding down, but the air was still fragrant with the scent of roses, their vibrant blooms spilling over trellises and climbing arbors in a riot of color. Emma, Lavinia, and Alice stood near one of the rose beds, their skirts brushing against the low hedges as they admired the flowers.
Alice tilted her head as she admired a pale pink rose. "It's a difficult situation. Money troubles can strain even the strongestof families. But surely they'll find a way to work through it. They always have before. It's not the first time they've argued."
"How are you coping with everything?" Lavinia asked Emma. "It sounds like they're stuck in a never-ending cycle of blame and frustration. Your papa spends, Cecilia scolds, and round and round they go. It's enough to make anyone want to scream."
"I scream sometimes," Emma admitted. "But only when I'm certain no one can hear me. Besides, it's not all terrible. Sometimes, they listen when I intervene."
Alice turned to her. "You're doing the best you can. And perhaps... perhaps this is just their way of coping. Some families bicker because it's how they communicate. It doesn't mean they care for each other any less."
"I know," Emma mumbled.
She glanced at her friends, knowing full well that both Alice and Lavinia could easily offer her money to ease the strain. They had been the first to help when the family's finances had crumbled after her mother's death, but Emma had put a stop to that. She had banned them from offering or even suggesting financial help. It wasn't pride, exactly. It was the knowledge that she couldn't keep taking from them, no matter how much they insisted they didn't mind. She had to find a way to stand on her own.
Emma's gaze drifted across the garden, landing on Cecilia, who stood a short distance by the refreshment table. Ceciliawasunusually quiet these days. Emma frowned, her chest tightening with worry. Cecilia had always been the spirited one so it was surprising how mellow she seemed these days. It made her wonder if the constant quarrel with her father was getting to her.
"Lately, Cecilia doesn't seem quite herself," Emma murmured as she turned back to Lavinia and Alice. "She's been like this for a few days. I've tried to ask her what's wrong, but she just brushes me off and says everything is fine."
Alice followed Emma's gaze, her expression softening as she watched Cecilia. "Perhaps she's finally feeling the strain of everything too. It's not easy, She's young, Emma. She might not know how to process all of this."
"You recall how you were in your debut year," Lavinia added. "It was tough, wasn't it?"
"Extremely," Emma groaned. "But I think it's more than that."
Alice nodded and exhaled softly. "You can try talking to her about it. You're right, she does seem a bit withdrawn, and without your mother here to guide her, it must feel even more overwhelming for her."
