Page 35 of The Odd Riddle of the Lost Duchess
Looking around, Emmeline nodded, “I like it. It is not your style, but after you get married you can upholster in any vivid color you want.”
“Exactly,” Ann replied, and sat on the nearest chaise, tugging Emmeline with her. She removed her shoes and then flexed her stocking-clad toes. “Oh, that feels nice. So now, why have you not spoken to His Grace?”
Emmeline sighed, “Because I fear for his life, Ann. Every time I see him in my mind, I see his dead body and my brother gloating over him. I’m scared to death.”
“You love him that much,” Ann sighed. “I’m glad that you’ve found him. I, on the other hand, only feel fleeting attraction here and there. There’s nothing that captures me, and certainly nothing to keep me coming back.”
Inquiring golden eyes turned to her, “Do you think maybe you’ve found it already, but don’t know it?”
Ann slanted her best friend an evil eye, “Do not go using that ‘I-know-something-you-don’t,’ tone on me, Missy.”
Shaking her head and deciding to address that issue another time, Emmeline sighed, “I think there’s another reason for George’s anger towards Noah and–”
“Ooh!” Ann cooed like a girl smitten with her first crush, “He’s Noah now, not His Grace, or the Duke of Newberry?”
“No,” Emmeline shrugged as there was no point in lying. “The day he challenged St. Maur, he made me promise to call him by his Christian name if he came out alive, and I did the same for him.”
Ann leaned in, “You really are in deep, my friend. But none of that. How do you plan for me to get to your brother?”
“He thinks you are infatuated with the Duke,” Emmeline replied. “Actually, he thinks you are infatuated with almost every man except him. Tonight and tomorrow, could you pay attention to him and ignore your many suitors?”
Ann’s eyes narrowed, however playfully, “I am not a tart, Emmeline, but I will butter up your brother if you need me to. I know you are planning much more, but that can wait until tomorrow.”
“Great,” Emmeline said while stifling a yawn, “can you get some tea and biscuits? I am hungry, and I am tired. Are we sleeping in the same bed as when we were children?”
“Where else would you sleep?” Ann’s left eyebrow was arched sardonically, “On the floor? Or on the balcony?”
Laughing, Emmeline lobbed a small pillow at her and ducked when Ann flung the same cushion back at her.
* * *
With his forearms braced on the balcony’s balustrade, Noah could feel eyes digging into the back of his head but didn’t deign to turn around.
He, Ian, and a few other bachelors from the Bexley Manor house party were gathered in the Benwicks’ den. Four of them were playing cards, and two were reading books from Mr. Benwick’s library.
That left Noah and Lord Bexley standing silently on the balcony, with tumblers of scotch in hand, looking out on the verdant property. The Duke of Leverton had sojourned to his home to take care of a matter but was slated to rejoin the party later that night.
Lord Bexley sighed and decided to break the silence, “Care to tell what is perplexing you, Newberry?”
“The same beautiful perplexity that has confounded men from the dawn of time, Bexley,” Noah grunted.
“Has Lady Emmeline rejected you then?” Lord Bexley asked, with his brows knitted over dark blue eyes.
“No,” Noah said grimly, “but I think I have lost her.”
“How?” Ian inquired, before drinking a sip of his burning alcohol.
“I told her that I plan to engage her brother in a duel for her hand,” Noah replied, not even casting an eye at Ian’s hacking choke. “She told me she'd rather be alone than see me on ice.”
Lord Bexley managed to control his cough and patted his chest to clear his airways, “Well, firstly, her statement shows how much she cares for you, and, secondly, instead of a duel, how about going about this discourse like civilized men, around a table?”
“With cocked pistols pointed at each other under it?” Noah returned dryly while swirling his drink. “The man would rather see my cold hide than shake my warm hand, Ian.”
“Have you even attempted to try?” Ian pressed, “Assumptions will not get you anywhere, my good man.”
“What it there to try, Bexley?” Noah groused before throwing back the rest of his drink. “I’m telling you, the man is unalterable. God alone has the power to change his mind–I am not that commanding.”
“I still believe it can be done,” Ian pressed. “Leverton is coming back tonight–approach him then.”
