Page 38 of His Wicked Embrace
“Let me handle Mother,” Lucien said finally. “I will tell her she needs to have a christening gown made for her first grandchild. That will keep heroccupied.”
The men in the room snickered, but Emily and her Rebellious Ladies rolled theireyes.
Audrey leaned into Zehra and whispered behind her delicate gloved hand. “These men all have this silly notion that they can distract us with fashion. Impossible. I adore fashion, but it would never distract me from anything I deemedimportant.”
Zehra smiled at the other woman, feeling a kinship among them that she had not felt in a long time. In another life, this League of Rogues and Society of Rebellious Ladies might have become her dearestfriends.
She smiled at Lawrence, a silly grin curving her lips. When he smiled back, she could’ve flown with the rush of sheer joy it gaveher.
Do not think of the days you have left. Live in this momentso you won’t feel your heartbreaking.
Chapter Twelve
Emily St. Laurent, the Duchess of Essex, sat in the drawing room of Lord Denbruck’s townhouse in Mayfair, sipping tea. Beside her, Horatia and Audrey were also holding teacups. Lord Denbruck, an older man who still bore the vestiges of his handsome features, had been delighting the ladies with tales of hisyouth.
“My lord,” Emily said at an appropriate lull in the conversation. “The portrait behind you—may I ask who that is?” She nodded politely at a beautiful woman with blonde hair painted in a green gown, leaning against a pillar covered with English ivy. The woman was Zehra’s mother, Joan, she was sure of it. The resemblance in the eyes was uncanny. Even though Zehra was dark-haired and olive-skinned, there was no mistaking thoseeyes.
“That’s my daughter, Joan.” Lord Denbruck gave a world-weary sigh. “I have two other children, Elizabeth and Archibald. Joan was my eldest.” He chuckled, though it held more sorrow than humor. “I swore never to have favorites, but damned if she wasn’tmine.”
“What happened to her?” Audreyasked.
Denbruck looked away. “She died. Only a few weeks ago. She lived in Persia, where she had married a local shah, Rafay Darzi, whom she met while I was there negotiating tradeagreements.”
“Oh?” Emilyqueried.
“That was more than twenty years ago. I was quite mad at her at the time. I thought she ought to marry a young Englishman and…” His tone softened. “I fear I ruined everything with Joan. She married anyway, and our family fell apart, as they tend to do when everyone is too stubborn to mend things. She wouldn’t come home to visit, and I was too proud to ask herto.”
A tear rolled down his cheek, and Emily feared he would not continue, but he did. “I loved Joan. I even accepted the fellow she married, but I just couldn’t bring myself to beg her to return to England to see me. I hired the son of a friend who was remaining in the area to keep an eye on her. Over the years, he sent me reports, told me how my daughter, son-in-law and my grandchild weredoing.”
“Grandchild?” Horatia asked. She and Emily shared victoriouslooks.
“Yes, my granddaughter, Zehra. I never had the chance to see her, but I heard she was a lovely woman. I learned only recently that Joan had planned to send Zehra to England for a time and sought my blessing. Alas, the poor girl was never to have thechance.”
Emily leaned forward. “Was? Don’t tellme…”
“Yes. She died with her parents. Warring tribes or some such were to blame. That part of the world is politically turbulent. I only received word a few days ago that they were gone.” He wiped away another tear with his fingers. “Forgive me, ladies, I’m afraid I have not quite come to terms with it all justyet.”
Emily and her friends rushed to reassure him that his outpouring of emotion was notunwelcome.
“I’ve ruined our tea, haven’t I?” he asked atlast.
“No, certainly you haven’t.” Emily reached across the tea table and patted his hand. “In fact, we shall have to have you over for a ball in a few days. My husband has been meaning to meet with you if you would like to joinus.”
“I would love that,” Denbruck replied. “I may be a bit gray in the beard but I do love a gooddance.”
“Wonderful! I’ll send you an invitation soon. We should leave you to rest, my lord.” Emily gave her friends a slight nod, and they let Lord Denbruck escort them to thedoor.
As they climbed into her private coach, Emily was positivelybouncing.
“He’ll want to see her, don’t you think? He doesn’t know yet that she’s alive, but once he does, he’ll be overjoyed. It isperfect.”
Horatia and Audrey bothagreed.
“How can we bring them together?” Horatiaasked.
“It will upset the men, of course, but I think we should invite Lord Denbruck to our little ball tomorrow night.” Emily tugged on her gloves, tighteningthem.
“And if he refuses to come?” Audreyasked.
