Page 64 of Playing the Scoundrel

Mrs. Dunn reached into her pocket and held out a handkerchief. “I am sorry if you have felt the pressure of this season weighing on you, but you are not to blame. At least not entirely, with your little revenge attempt.”

Emma nodded, pressing the handkerchief to her eyes. That much she knew to be true.

“While I did want for you to be successful, I was trying to make way for your happiness, not have you be successful at the expense of it. In truth, perhaps it was unwise of me to allow you an acquaintance with Mr. Godwin, but I…” Mrs. Dunn sighed. “I thought you could change him. You’re whip smart and don’t take his nonsense. I think you would have been good for him, if he could just get out of his own way.”

Residual emotions slid down Emma’s cheek, but she wiped them away. She had thought like that too, assumed she could change him. Perhaps Judith was right after all. Men do not change. Or maybe if Emma hadn’t set her hopes so high, her heart wouldn’t hurt so much.

Emma sighed, knowing her eyes were red and swollen. “I just want to go home. I can’t be in London anymore.”

“Well, we can’t leave just yet. To leave now would be to admit defeat, and we can’t have that. You may not have had a successful first go, but I don’t think that means your chances are ruined forever.”

Emma was grateful to hear that news, at least.

“Come now. We have an appointment for a picnic in Hyde Park. It will be good for you to be out of doors and enjoy some sunshine, and it will give you a chance to show the people of London you’re not giving up without a fight.”

This caused a shiver of fear to chill down her spine. “What if Mr. Bernard starts talking of the truth about Judith?”

“He wouldn’t dare. Not when I know the truth about his father.”

“The truth?” Emma’s eyes widened.

“The old fool lost his entire inheritance in a bad speculation and took his own life.”

Emma gasped. “Truly?”

Mrs. Dunn nodded. “They told everyone he died of heart failure, but that’s not the half of it. Which doesn’t mean Mr. Bernard has to run in the most excluded of circles, but he’ll have to marry well to gain some credibility back. And I certainly expected him to behave better where you’re concerned.”

Emma lowered her eyes. “And as our courtship did not result in an engagement?”

“That will result in a bit of gossip, but it will fade in time, and I believe you will overcome it. As long as you believe you can overcome it.”

She didn’t know if she could. “I’m not feeling very strong at the moment, Mrs. Dunn.”

“Well, go dry your eyes and change into something nice. We’ll enjoy the picnic, and if you’re still not feeling up to it anymore, I’ll arrange with your parents to send you back home. Perhaps we can try again next year.”

Emma inhaled and exhaled, then nodded, and hurried to her room to change. She didn’t feel like going out, not to a place where she had seen Henry so often, but she did like the idea of sending a message to society that she wasn’t giving up yet. Even if she was.

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