“And who is that?” Emma asked and crossed her arms with annoyance.
“The duke and I.”
Emma pouted, “But that is different.”
“How is that different?” Kitty challenged.
“Your husband did not think you ought to be quiet beside him, and submit to his every whim. That is not who the duke is.”
“But he was,” the duchess pointed out. “Emma, you must remember they grew up with the same father, the same values and the same teachings. It is only their manners that make them seem so different, but the situation was rather similar. I desperately wished for the duke to care for me, even before we met for the first time. I had utterly wrong expectations, thinking he would be a lovely man who adored me from the moment he saw me. He did not. I was not what he expected, and it terrified him, overwhelmed him, and made him seem distant and cold.”
“He does not seem that way now,” Emma said, surprised to hear this from her friend.
“Indeed. He has grown very much since our first meeting, as have I, and we will continue to grow together.”
“How did the duke make his feelings for you known?” Emma asked.
“He found me in my mother’s garden and told me that he had been in love with me from the moment he had seen me, but he had been too terrified to admit his feelings. I was betrothed to another man, as I had broken our own a few days prior.”
“Only a few days?”
Kitty had been engaged to two different men within a week? That was unexpected!
She sighed and nodded. “My father and mother were rather adamant that I marry as soon as possible.”
Emma placed her hand on the duchess’. “I am sorry that I was not there for you during that time, my dear friend.”
“There is no need to apologize, my dearest Emma. You were visiting your grandmother and I did not wish to trouble you with my foolish dilemma,” Kitty smiled.
“Your dilemma was not foolish, even if it did involve a foolish man,” Emma sighed and rolled her eyes. “Both the Seymour men truly are foolish.”
Kitty chuckled. “Indeed. But we love them despite that.”
“Unfortunately,” Emma sighed once more. “Perhaps we are the foolish ones for doing so.”
“I often think that very thought.”
Emma and the duchess giggled together for another few moments, as they had done many times before.
Finally, Emma sighed. “I do love him, Kitty, but he has not done anything that makes me believe that he loves me in return. Time is running out, and no matter how much he might possibly beg me, I am not staying. This trip is not a means to distance myself from him, but rather it is something I am doing for myself.”
“I am sincerely happy to hear you say that, Emma, as you should never allow a man to have such power over your decisions. You never allowed it in the past,” Kitty said with a smile.
“And I will continue to do so,” Emma stated, “which means I will never marry.”
“Oh, do not fret. Men who think you are intimidating are cowards. And you deserve to be with a man who is better than that.”
“Do those men still exist?” Emma scoffed.
The duchess smiled with assurance and nodded. “Now, shall we continue to pack?”
Emma smiled, tears of gratitude filled her eyes and she threw her arms around Kitty’s shoulders, embracing her tightly. “I will truly miss you every moment that I am away.”
“And I will certainly miss you,” her friend answered, her voice breaking slightly. “If there is one thing I can request?”
“For you, I will do anything,” Emma said sincerely.
Kitty looked into her eyes and Emma noticed the sadness within them.
“Please promise me that you will not stay away too long. I would not wish for you to miss the birth of your godchild.”
A tear rolled down Emma’s cheek and she embraced her friend once more. “I promise. I would not miss it for the world.”
Chapter Eighteen
William absentmindedly scraped his food from the one side of his plate to the other, his jaw clenched tightly. It was quiet in the dining hall, and the air felt rather tense, despite him being the only one in the room.
Emma was embarking on a trip across the country and it bothered him severely. Of course, he was well aware there was nothing he could possibly do or say to make her stay.
Carson’s words still resonated in his mind. Go with her.
But he was certain Emma would not allow him to accompany her.
Every cell in his body screamed out to him that he could not let her leave. He just knew that if she did, she was not going to return anytime soon. He still had not told her how he felt about her, and if he never did, it would be his biggest regret.
“William?” The duchess called as she entered the dining hall. She wore a thick cape with a fur collar, as it had become very chilly during the past few days. It also made him worry about Emma’s safety and her health, as the cold could bring a variety of illnesses. Scotland was known for inclement weather.
He wished for her to be safe and happy, but he also wished to be a part of it. It was rather selfish of him, but it was the truth.
“Your Grace,” William stood from his seat and forced a smile. “You have returned.”
“Indeed,” Kitty said and slipped off her gloves. “It seems as though winter is coming early. The frigid air chills to the bone.”
“I am glad you have arrived home safely,” William smiled. “My brother is in the study. A messenger brought documents for him to sign, sent from the banker.”
“Ah, yes. He informed me of those documents a few days ago. It has something to do with his will.”
“His will?” William gasped. “Is something the matter with James?”
“Of course not. Your brother
