Page 33 of The Odd Riddle of the Lost Duchess
“I plan to challenge your brother to a duel for your hand,” Noah said stately.
The turmoil inside her erupted, “A duel! Noah, you are already in question for St. Maur’s death, how can you be thinking of challenging another that might succumb to the same fate? Are youmad, Noah?”
The man grabbed her shoulders and looked her straight in her eyes. Emmeline grimly noted that Noah’s gray eyes were a striking duplication of his mother’s, and both were unnerving.
“I love you, Lady Emmeline Grant.” Noah professed, “Night after night I have turned in my bed, with precious sleep eluding me, as I kept thinking of any way to have you be mine. Every peaceful plan I had met roadblocks, and I was forced to come to that conclusion. I cannot see any other way of winning you.”
The words came out before she knew them, “I love you too, Noah, but I cannot stand by and let you put yourself and my brother in danger forme. I’d rather be alone for the rest of my life than see you dead.”
Tugging away, Emmeline ran, with the burn of tears under her eyelids. She hurried down the corridors and dashed to her room and secured the lock behind her as the tears came trickling down her cheeks.
“This stupid feud,” Emmeline cried while striking the wooden door with a closed fist, “I’m doomed to die alone all because of an old grudge!”
Sinking to the floor with her gown crumbling under her, the Duchess’ words were coming back to her in spades. At first, she had thought the woman was ludicrous, but now her words were making sense.
“Your brother George is going to refuse my son’s petition to marry you and will do any and everything to spite him, despite knowing that he has the power to banish this petty grievance,” the Duchess of Newberry had stated. “My mother-in-law is hell bent on continuing this feud, but I for one, think it is an old nuisance, stopping two profitable Duchies from an even more gainful connection.”
Emmeline was hesitant, “Then what do you propose we do?”
“After the next assembly, there will be situations where the two will have to be in each other’s presence. Do whatever is in your power to turn your brother’s mind to us, while I do the same on my son…hopefully we can get them to make peace before a drastic step is taken,” the Duchess replied.
“And how severe would that be?” Emmeline asked.
The Duchess’ smile was a bit unsettling.
Breathing slowly, Emmeline hoped and prayed that the situation would not get that far, but knowing how stubborn her brother was, and how tenacious Noah tended to be, it was a far-fetched hope.
Chapter 10
One Step Forward
The Benwicks’ country house, in the hamlet of Foxcotte, was the lasttonparty of the season. As the line of carriages drove down the road to the manor, Emmeline was silent, only listening and humming her approval to Ann’s fervent chatter as they approached her home.
Her mind was occupied with weighing and debating how she was going to approach George on behalf of Noah. It was not going to be easy, she knew that. George held his grandfather’s word as law and was so steeped in tradition that it was going to take a hefty effort and—hopefully not—the drastic measure the Duchess of Newberry had mentioned, to change his mind.
“Em!” Ann huffed, “You’re ignoring me, I can see it!”
Emmeline blinked her way to the present and met Ann’s flushed face and glimmering eyes. “No, I was not ignoring you, Ann…I was just distracted. I heard when you’ve decided to send Lord Coombs to Coventry for not putting in a formal courtship notice. I’m sorry, Ann, I know you fancy him dearly, but things are getting a bit complicated on my end.”
Sniffling, Ann turned her head to train her eyes out the window, before she sighed and looked back, “I understand. You do love him, don’t you?”
Darting an apprehensive look to Lady Alford, who was still asleep, Emmeline nodded, “I do, but it’s this family feud that is making matters such a mess. Last night…Noah told me that he was going to challenge George for my hand.”
Ann’s eyes went wide, “A duel—has he lost his senses,Em? He’s already in the crosshairs with the authorities for St. Maur, how could he think of doing such thing?”
“Because he loves me,” Emmeline replied, “And I him, but…instead of Beatrice and Benedick, I’m pressed to think we are now Romeo and Juliet–doomed to die for unfulfilled love.”
Ann reached over and grasped Emmeline’s hands in hers. “You are neither. Put these distressing thoughts out of your mind.”
“I need to find a way to change George’s mind towards Noah.” Emmeline sighed. “But he is so stubborn that I fail to think he would listen to me.”
Ann chewed on her lip a bit then sighed deeply, “He might listen to me.”
Soft surprise lit Emmeline’s features, “So, was all this hostility between you and my brother some sort of a mirage? Was it all pretend? Do you not hate him then?”
Ann snorted and rolled her expressive eyes, “Hate is a bit strong… he irritates me to no end but… we have an understanding and do not go making any conjectures about that!”
Emmeline’s lips twitched, “I’d never dare. So you will help me then?”
