“And is there a certain gentleman in your life at this moment?”
Emma chuckled and glared intently at Lord William. “You are quite forward, my lord.” Refreshingly so. Emma detested lies and deceit.
“Is there?” he persisted.
“No. I am yet to meet a man who is brave enough to court me,” Emma answered.
“And why is that?”
She sighed dramatically, enjoying the conversation more than she’d anticipated. “I am too outspoken, and men do not approve of that. I do not agree with marriages where the man wields absolute power in the union.”
“But who on earth would then make the decisions? The woman?” Lord William asked, his mouth open and his eyebrows high.
Emma frowned at him. Where had the carefree young man gone?
“My lord, your tone is condescending.”
For a moment there she’d thought she’d found someone with whom she could carry on an enlightened conversation.
“But my words are true,” he argued. “Men are better at making decisions and using their powers of authority.”
Really? He’d obviously never met a woman who’d applied herself to better her mind. “Perhaps in your opinion”
“It is not an opinion. It is a fact,” Lord William insisted. “Women are weak when it comes to making decisions, and taking charge. In everything.”
Anger boiled up inside Emma’s belly? Weak? In everything? How dare he!
“If women are weak, why are we the ones who bear children?” Emma inquired, raising an eyebrow at Lord William. “You think that is weak?”
When he didn’t respond, she scowled at him. “You are an arrogant, thoughtless man, my lord, and as long as you possess this manner of thinking, no woman will ever marry you, regardless of how charming and handsome you think you are.”
And if she did, she would get what she deserved. To be treated like a simpleton for the rest of her life.
For Emma, however, that would never do. She deserved a lot more than that.
Lord William paused for a moment, cleared his throat, then stomped off angrily.
Emma didn’t even feel a shred of remorse for saying those words to Lord William. In fact, he was fortunate those were the only words she’d uttered to him.
Chapter Two
Will sipped the brandy from his glass, then placed it on the low table beside him.
He gazed down at the garden from the large window of the duke’s study. The guests still conversed cheerfully, laughing and enjoying themselves.
He, however, was certainly in no mood to return to the garden, as Emma’s words had affected him more than they should. Despite their brief conversation, Emma had – for some unbeknownst reason – riled Will up in a manner he had not expected.
He was angered not only at the fact that the beautiful red-haired beauty did not share his opinions on marriage, but also that she had dared to oppose him. Furthermore, Emma had caused him to appear inadequate, as he was left speechless, unable to counter her last sentence.
This not only infuriated Will, but made him wish the ground would open from under him and swallow him whole. Embarrassment had washed over him despite his intoxication, and he was now second guessing himself.
Will had been a confidant person from a very young age, and he had not doubted himself. His carefree nature was something the duke had blatantly envied, as it had been something he had lacked. But since meeting Kitty, that had seemed to change. James was now much more self-assured, and it troubled Will somewhat. He could not have imagined that their roles were now reversed, and he was the one who lacked confidence.
Will ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, glancing at the empty glass on the table. Perhaps he’d had enough, and it was time to stop. He’d embarrassed himself sufficiently for one day, and could not bear any more, especially from Emma.
Although she was a magnificent beauty with long, red tresses pinned at the nape of her neck, he would not tolerate a woman who behaved inappropriately in every manner.
Both he and his brother had been raised in the same manner, but James seemed to have been swayed by the lovely duchess, being rather forgiving for his own needs. James had even allowed Kitty full control of the wedding arrangements, which was something Will would certainly not have allowed.
“There you are.”
Will whirled around and saw James standing in the doorway, his arms hanging down his sides, a pensive expression mixed with a hint of concern on his face.
“Indeed,” Will answered curtly.
“I was under the impression I would find you passed out cold somewhere,” James said with a sly grin.
Will nodded and his jaw clenched.
“What’s the matter?” James asked, closing the door and coming to sit in the chair opposite Will.
“My entire life, I have not felt inadequate, or anything less than confident. Not even for a moment, James. I have never doubted myself, or my beliefs. Ever,” Will grumbled.
“What happened?” his brother asked.
Will opened his mouth to explain, then shut it again, feeling awkward.
When James waited patiently with an eyebrow raised, Will sighed. “I’d rather not say.”
“Surely it must have been something dire for it to have such an effect on you, brother. As you stated, you are the confident one, the self-assured one. What happened?”
Will turned towards James once more. “This stays between the two of us?”
“Of course,” James nodded. “You have my discretion.”
Will’s shoulders slumped and he sighed wearily. “Emma said things to me that usually I would never take to heart, or allow to affect me.”
The duke’s brow furrowed. “Emma? Kitty’s friend?”
“Is there any other Emma present?” Will muttered.
“Indeed,” said James and leaned forward. “What did Emma say to you?”
What didn’t she say?
“She insulted me. Called me arrogant and wrong in my beliefs of marriage and women,” Will answered.
“Did she state those specific words?” James asked in disbelief.
“She may as well have,” Will exclaimed and threw his hands in the air. “Never in my life have I allowed anyone to speak to me in such a way, least of all a woman! Then she comes along and causes
