Page 129 of His Duchess in Disguise
“I must ask you,” said Mr. Nob, “Are you here of your own free will? Have you been forced to come here?”
“Mr. Nob, I ran away from London, completely alone, and had the good fortune to arrive here. I am sorry if my father was worried, but I did not agree to wed the Earl of Cleweme and have no desire to do so now.”
“I’ll take your word for it, Miss Hoskins. I must say, you don’t look very much like the portrait your father had of you.”
“May I see it?”
“I have it right here in my pocket.” Mr. Nob drew out the miniature.
When she looked at it, Emma began to laugh. “I’m surprised that you could find anyone at all with this. It is a very bad chalk self-portrait I did when my governess thought I should learn how to draw. I hung it in the art gallery as a joke, since father would never have a professional in to paint my likeness.”
“Well, Miss, I must say that the original is much prettier than the picture. Just as a suggestion, don’t try to make your way as a portrait painter. I think you might starve.”
“Thank you for your advice, Mr. Nob. I believe I do a very fine job washing fine crystal but have found that slicing carrots is rather beyond me.”
“Mrs. Chambers, the cook, tells me that Miss Hoskins made a fine scullery maid, although she was a trifle slight to handle the large pots. It is just possible that the next few workers in that position will find it difficult to fill her shoes,” the Duke explained
“I was terrifically motivated to stay and be employed, you see,” Emma said.
The long, thin man in the black suit said, “Would it have been so very dreadful to marry the Earl of Cleweme?”
“Yes, it would have been, Mr.…?” Emma let the question hang in the air.
“Mr. Willoughby, the junior member of Willoughby, Willoughby and Chase, Miss Hoskins,” the Duke introduced the man. “I should have introduced him before Mr. Nob.”
“How very nice to meet you, Mr. Willoughby,” Emma said.
“I wish I could say the same of you, Miss Hoskins. Indeed, Your Grace, I could wish that you had allowed me to be on my way before this luncheon. So, you are stealing another man’s fiancée?”
“I did not agree to marry the Earl of Cleweme, Mr. Willoughby,” Emma said firmly. “The Duke and I met before he was aware of any such plan. Since my signature does not appear on any papers, I believe it is safe to say that only my father and the Earl desired this arrangement.”
“Since you are both a minor and female, it is a legal gray area, Miss Hoskins. You are duty bound to obey your father, and then to obey your husband.”
“What an amazingly entertaining point of view, Mr. Willoughby. Especially since it is the first interest my father has taken in me since I was born.”
“Is this the female you wished to protect from consequences if you are slain in a duel, Your Grace?” Mr. Willoughby directed the question to the Duke.
“It is. I do not wonder that the Earl desires her as his bride. But while she has not consented to his attentions, she has said yes to me.”
“How certain are you that she really is Miss Emma Hoskins?” Willoughby inquired.
“Quite certain,” Captain Arnault said. “I danced with her on the night she was presented to the Queen. She is an excellent dancer, I might add. If I had any sense, I would have asked her myself. But, alas, how can I compete with a title and such an estate as Menhiransten?”
“Oh, dear,” Emma said. “That makes this sound very much like a marriage of convenience.”
“I do hope it will be convenient for us both, Miss Hoskins,” the Duke said. “I believe we have met in a most timely fashion. Arnie, old man, sorry to have cut you out, but I do not regret at all that you did not move quickly enough.”
Captain Arnault wagged one finger at him and rolled his eyes in a droll fashion. “Then I shall simply have to take my revenge by hunting down all your game while you are junketing about getting married.”
“Good. Please take Mr. Nob and Mr. Willoughby with you. I am sure that your brother can spare you for a few days, Mr. Willoughby. I am called away on business for the next few days. Miss Hoskins and her maid will accompany me. Captain Arnault, can I trust you to keep all steady and stable here while I am gone?”
“If I am not called to service, Your Grace. As you know, that could be any day now.”
“I believe the household can manage tolerably well in that event. They managed before we came, and I will leave them both better staffed and better stocked than they were. Without your soldiers to direct, feed, and entertain, they should be fine.”
The new serving staff came in with the soup and bread, and conversation languished after that.
At the end of the meal, the Duke turned to Emma and said, “Ordinarily, you would go to your withdrawing room with the ladies, but we are perilously short of such today. Would you find it untoward if I escorted you to your room?”
