Page 10 of The Odd Riddle of the Lost Duchess
What would they look like angered, lit with jealously or aflame with desire?Anddid his eyes just flit to my mouth?
“Oh, dear,” Lady Garrick noted as her voice floated over the hedge. “Is that the Duke of Newberry over there?”
Emmeline went so tense she froze. If they saw her, her spotless reputation would be a thing of the past. Thoughts of disparaging reports, cruel barbs, and jeers towards her flew through her mind like swift wind.
“Leave him be, dear,” Lord Garrick said, as he hurried his wife away.
Though it was only a few moments, it felt like an eternity before the couple moved off and Noah released her from the contorted position.
“I will have to return you in the honorable condition I found you in.” While repeating his words from before, the Duke’s voice had deepened to a husk. “Come, it is time for you to go.”
Taking his hand once more, Emmeline followed him from the inner recesses of the gardens, back into the Cascade area. They had barely set foot on the main walk when Ann barreled into Noah.
Dutifully, he grabbed a stumbling Ann. The loss of his warm hand shocked Emmeline, but she refused to acknowledge it and the feelings it carried.
“Steady there, Miss Benwick.” The Duke calmed the nearly frantic Ann. “Your precious friend is safe…I found her wandering the gardens and brought her back to you.”
Rolling her eyes at his impertinence, Emmeline stepped in front. “I think it’s time to go, Ann. Some of thetonare here.”
Ann’s blue eyes darted between Emmeline and the Duke but instead of saying anything about the pairing, she nodded, “I agree. Thank you, Your Grace.”
By that time, Owen had joined them and acknowledged the Duke with a respectful nod. “Ladies, the hackney carriage is waiting. Have a good evening, Your Grace.”
As she hurried off, Emmeline looked over her shoulder to where Noah was still standing, and felt something warm curl inside at his heated gaze.
They arrived at the hackney carriage and with Owen’s help alighted. Seated, Ann turned to her companion, “So, how did the Duke really find you? Or did you–?”
Emmeline groaned internally. “Must you torture me, Ann?”
Chapter 3
Dancing with Hades
The Duchess of Newberry listened to the constant grumbling of her mother-in-law, the Dowager Duchess of Newberry, as they sat on the sidelines of a ballroom. Their hosts, Sir John and Lady Ludlow, had put on a magnificent masquerade ball.
The Duchess did not understand how the old lady–gray-headed and diminutive as she was–had the stamina to attend even one ball of the season; the Dowager Duchess, however, had insisted on this particular masquerade ball because her heir, Noah, was attending.
The Duchess would continue to be known as such until her son, Noah, the present holder of the dukedom, married. She knew that Noah had become quite bored of the frivolities of a London season. However, two years before, he had become enraptured with a beautiful opera singer and had enjoyed himself greatly. She had almost lost hope for her only son, when the singer left London abruptly after a scandal. He had sat out last year’s season.
Intent on finding her son a good, amiable wife, whom he would not grow bored with, and one who would assist him in his many duties concerning the dukedom, the Duchess knew that, ultimately, Noah had the last word.
“Dear me, have a look now, Miriam,” the Dowager Duchess muttered, pressing her gold-rimmed monocle to her left eye. “Who is our Noah talking to? I cannot decipher the features from this far.”
“Mother, the monocle is for your near vision, remember?” the Duchess said patiently. “He is talking to Lady Judith Bailey.”
“The Bailey chit!” the Dowager Duchess said, scowling in her displeasure. “Her family does not have enough wealth, you know. Her father, the Earl of Sibsey, lost most of his fortune gambling.”
“But then, do we need more wealth, Mother?” Miriam countered, “We have enough to last us for generations.”
“Keep that view, and we shall be in the same boat as Lord Sibsey!” her mother-in-law snapped in agitation.
“If Noah sets out to find the perfect lady, I am afraid he will have a lot of trouble,” remarked the Duchess. “There is always something lacking.”
“Our Noah is perfect.” The Dowager Duchess did not seem pleased by the conversation. “And if he is, so will his wife be. We willhaveto find someone worthy of him.”
“My dear Mother, I doubt Noah will let us do anything for him,” the Duchess commented. “He barely lets me manage the household, as he constantly orders me to rest. I am certain he will choose someone on his own.”
“Not if she is unacceptable to us!” the Dowager Duchess said stubbornly.
