Page 13 of The Odd Riddle of the Lost Duchess
Emmeline shivered under his soulful gaze. This Duke was drastically different from the young man of the past couple of seasons. It was if he had switched places with the Noah of long ago, the one she had admired and yearned to know better. His eyes met hers–he touched her very soul–and she felt the barriers she had put up against him slowly fall away.
The sounds of chatter, laughter, and music faded in her ears as all of Emmeline’s senses were taking in only him. Unknowingly, she spoke. “Let us be friends.”
The Duke smirked, “Friendship is constant in all other things
save in the office and affairs of love.”
Why oh, why, did he choose that particular line from the play?Emmeline groaned as a warm rush claimed her chest, further fueled by the smoldering look in Noah’s eyes.
“I’d rather be your friend, than fight you as an enemy, Your Grace,” Emmeline replied softly, as she pulled away and curtseyed. She barely managed to hold onto him as he escorted her to her Aunt.
Emmeline’s legs felt weak as they walked across the floor, and as she sat, her insides were turning so fiercely she felt ill. Lady Alford, in concern, touched her niece’s clammy forehead.
“Emmeline, darling,” she declared, “are you ill?”
Swallowing bravely, Emmeline shook her head, “It’s just the heat, Aunt. Let me have a drink, and this spell will pass.”
Ann miraculously materialized at her side, “I’ll accompany her, Lady Alford.”
The two made it to the refreshment table where Emmeline poured herself a glass of water. Looking up, she briefly spotted the Duke speaking to a lady in a gorgeous peacock mask, with ripples of golden hair flowing down her back.
A spark of jealousy cut through her, but she didn’t want to believe that she was envious of the lady, and decided that heat was addling her mind.
I don’t fancy him,she resolutely told herself as she swallowed.I certainly do not!
She turned away, in the very moment, when Noah’s eyes flitted over to her.
Chapter 4
Awakenings
When Noah had seen Emmeline descend the stairs, he could not believe that she had dressed as Persephone. He was not a man given to romance and poetry, but when she saw her, he felt as if the heavens were letting him know that she was meant for him.
The russet color of her attire was perfect for her gold-brown hair, for she was an autumnal creature, belonging in a world of earth colors. Noah was convinced that there was bold nature concealed behind her veneer of shyness.
His suppositions were proved right as the veil of shyness lifted during their dance, and she spoke with a teasing humor. Noah was fascinated by the keen intelligence twinkling in Emmeline’s tawny eyes and could not stop himself from staring at her.
The waltz ended, and he escorted her back to Lady Alford, who was beaming in her Marie Antoinette costume. He smiled wryly to himself as he thought of Emmeline–still respected by theton–she was very lucky. Most men had not lost sisters to a vicious society–the face of Noah’s late sister, Victoria, briefly flashed before his eyes.
While dancing with Emmeline, he had felt the same protectiveness he had felt for his sister claim him, and it bothered him.
Where is this coming from? I don’t even know her that well.
* * *
“You have no qualms in letting the Duke dance with me?” Emmeline asked her aunt after Newberry was out of hearing range.
“Why not? I allowed him two dances,” admitted Lady Alford. “He asked for three but that would get tongues wagging.”
Emmeline’s mouth dropped open. “But…what about others?”
Lady Alford took a bit of the tea cake she held and gestured with her spoon. “Well,let them eat cake, my dear!”
“Aunt, have you…had a little too much champagne. perhaps?” Emmeline inquired as there was no way her Aunt–such a stickler for propriety–could give Noah permission to dance with her that often unless she was tipsy.
“Why would you say such a thing, dear?” her aunt demanded in indignation. “I have not had more than one glass, and I will not have you treating me like your ward when I am the one doing the chaperoning!”
“You do know about… us and the Newberry’s?” Emmeline said tentatively.
