explanation.”
“Perhaps. I feel, however, that I have lost him irrevocably. There is no warmth in his regard any longer, not like there was. And then, after my foolish behavior in traveling unaccompanied after dark, he probably thinks my actions completely inexplicable. Certainly they were lacking in the decorum one looks for in the wife of a marquess, not to mention a future duchess. No, I must forget him,” Emily announced resolutely, and when Lydia looked disbelieving, Emily just smiled. “You do not believe me, I see. Well, I am determined. I am only nineteen after all, and Lord Wesleigh is not the only gentleman in the world. I am going to a ball on Wednesday, where I am sure to meet a number of nice gentlemen. I refuse to let Lord Wesleigh destroy my pleasure in the ball. I just hope my bruise has faded by then.” This effectively turned the subject to that of cosmetics that could be discreetly applied to disguise Emily’s bruise, if necessary, followed by a serious discussion of how each of them should arrange her hair.
Lydia, however, could not be happy when her sister suffered so miserably. She resolved to do something about it, and consulted Sedgewick at the earliest opportunity. He was happy at the prospect of interfering in his friend’s romance as thoroughly as Wesleigh had interfered with his own, and he and Lydia soon decided the most effective way of inciting Wesleigh to passion was to make him jealous.
“But of whom?” Lydia asked, once this course was decided upon.
“There are sure to be quite a few gentlemen at the ball.”
“Yes, but I know of no one in particular who admires Emily.”
“Wesleigh does not know that. We just have to pick out one of her partners, and I will mention to Wesleigh that he has told me how greatly he admires Emily.”
“Jonathan,” Lydia exclaimed, admiration shining in her eyes, “you are brilliant.”
This statement was bound to make Sedgewick forget his friend’s ill-fated romance completely, and the conversation was effectively over.
It was not to be imagined, however, that the two unfortunate lovers were not thrown together often before the ball on Wednesday evening. The duke was still Lady Smithfield’s guest, Alexander was now acknowledged as his son, and Sedgewick was engaged to one of the daughters of the house. This made for many unpleasant meetings between Emily and Alexander. Added to this were the obvious matchmaking efforts of Lydia and Sedgewick, and the less obvious efforts of Lady Smithfield and the duke. Sir Marcus was the only person who had no interest in seeing Emily and Wesleigh get together.
For Sir Marcus fancied himself quite smitten with Emily Smithfield in his own right. He had been previously well disposed toward her for her concern for him when he had been restricted to his bedchamber, but upon learning that she favored him, as Wesleigh had assured him she did, he began to see her as a female of great discernment. There was also some romance in his arriving in the nick of time to wrest her from the arms of her captor (as he persisted in thinking he was her true rescuer, whatever Wesleigh might think). However, it was her behavior since that time that he found truly entrancing. He sensed a softer quality in her since the abduction and, not realizing she was in the throes of despair, felt that perhaps her adventure had changed her in some way. For, although he had liked Emily previously, he had not been as charmed by her vivaciousness of manner as Wesleigh had. He still recalled her theft of his quizzing glass with a shudder.
Tuesday, the day before the ball, it was decided the group would take an excursion to Bodiam Castle. Lady Smithfield was hopeful that the romantic setting would inspire Lord Wesleigh to propose to Emily. Lydia and Sedgewick hoped similarly, and resolved to somehow leave the two of them alone together. Sir Marcus likewise saw it as the perfect place for a proposal, and had determined to use the opportunity to make Emily an offer of marriage.
The day was fine, and the scenery exquisite, and even Emily felt her spirits begin to revive. She and Alexander were still only engaged in exchanging comments about the weather, but the atmosphere was charged with emotion, and Emily felt that anything could happen.
Everyone partook of a picnic luncheon, and Emily felt Alexander’s eyes on her quite a few times throughout the meal. She and Alexander said very little, but Emily found herself laughing a few times at some of the duke’s remarks, and it felt good to laugh again.
After lunch, Lydia and Sedgewick decided to take a walk about the grounds, and invited the others to join them. Lady Smithfield and the duke immediately declined, preferring to rest after their meal. Emily agreed, a little hesitantly, looking at Alexander in an attempt to gauge his reaction. He agreed readily, and Lydia and Sedgewick felt their scheme to be proceeding well, when, to everyone’s dismay, Sir Marcus announced his intention of joining them. There was little to be done but acquiesce with good grace, and they all began their walk, Lydia and Sedgewick first, with Alexander, Emily, and Sir Marcus trailing behind.
After they had gone a short distance, Lydia mentioned she had left her sketchbook in the carriage, and she would like to make a drawing. She asked Sedgewick to accompany her to retrieve it, but insisted the others continue with their walk. While she was unable to leave Emily and Alexander completely alone, she trusted that Sir Marcus would realize what they were hoping to accomplish and withdraw on his own.
Sir Marcus, however, saw their removal as instrumental in assisting him in carrying out his plan, and was determined to rid himself of his friend’s unwelcome presence. Pointing something out to Emily in the distance, so that she walked a little away from him and Alexander, he lowered his voice and told Alexander to make himself scarce.
“I beg your pardon?” Alexander asked.
“I am going to put my luck to the touch. I don’t want you around spoiling the moment.”
“Of course,” Alexander said. “Forgive me for being so obtuse.” Emily had begun walking back toward the gentlemen, having looked in vain for the black swan Sir Marcus had thought he had seen in the moat. Alexander bowed to her, telling her he must see to his father, and left her and Sir Marcus alone.
Emily was quite disappointed, but did not want to spoil Sir Marcus’s pleasure. So she asked him would he like to turn back like the rest, or continue their walk. She was quite shocked when he led her over to a patch of grass and laid down a handkerchief, where he carefully placed one knee.
“Miss Smithfield, Emily, I feel that my admiration for you cannot have gone unobserved, you must realize how ardently I admire you.”
When Emily shook her head no, and would have stopped him from speaking further, he interrupted her. “Your modesty does you credit. You could not but be aware that I have loved you from the first moment I laid eyes upon you. Well, perhaps not the first moment, because, as I recall, you were laughing at me for observing you through my quizzing glass while wearing green glasses, but shortly after that,” he asserted, before realizing that he had not actually loved her until very recently. He then became tangled up in an explanation of how, even though her gall in stealing his quizzing glass had offended him, he was willing to overlook her natural high spirits, and that he was sure she would appear much more fashionable once she had a London modiste. Just as he realized that he had not yet asked her the all-important question, he was interrupted by a stifled giggle.
He stopped in mid-sentence, looking at Emily in disbelief. Surely she had not
“Well!” he said, highly offended, and stood up, picking up the handkerchief he had been kneeling on, and waving it in the air to remove any dirt or straw, before folding it and returning it to his pocket. “I am glad you stopped me before I actually offered for you! I could never be married to someone who is so lacking in delicacy that she actually
Emily attempted to apologize, but when Sir Marcus began to mutter how he should have known better than to ever think they would have suited, and she hadn’t even let him win at chess, she gave up the attempt as useless. However, she did do her best to maintain her composure, with only a slight shaking of her shoulders to betray her, until they returned to the rest of the party.
Alexander was not with the others, as he could not bear to be present when Sir Marcus and Emily returned, and their engagement was announced. He hoped Emily would refuse Marcus, but when he remembered how she had stated quite firmly were she to have a choice between him and Sir Marcus, she would choose Sir Marcus, he did not think there was much chance of that.
