His Duchess in Disguise by Emma Linfield

Author:Emma Linfield
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-10-25T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 27

Emma looked into the Duke’s earnest face. “Your Grace, do you mean it? This is not a cruel hoax, not a scheme to use me and then throw me aside?”

“It is not a hoax, I promise. Emma, I would not rush you, but I might be dead seven days from now. If I am to protect you, then I must give you my name and make provisions for you before the duel. I cannot court you from the grave.”

“Why must you fight the Earl, Your Grace?”

“Because I caught him cheating at cards. In fact, now that I think about it, there is a good chance that he cheated the night he won your father’s permission to marry you.”

“Good heavens! Is that possible? And the losing at horses?”

“As to that, I cannot say. But I can have someone look into it. If you will give me the right to do so.”

“The right to look into it, I will give you and gladly, Your Grace. I do hope you will not regret this.”

“I do not think I will, Miss Hoskins.”

“Then, yes, I will marry you.”

The Duke caught her right hand in his and kissed her fingers, then he caught her up in his arms and kissed her lips. He then took off his signet ring, and placed it over her thumb, folding her fingers around it. “I think we shall deal famously together,” he said.

“Your Grace!” said Mrs. Noddicott, “Is this not rather sudden?”

Emma flushed and started to turn toward the housekeeper. Leo cradled the hand he held and smiled. “Mrs. Noddicott, there are some things in this world that come to one, and you just know that they are right. This is right.”

“But Your Grace,” burst out Mrs. Noddicott, “Is she not affianced to the Earl of Cleweme? It was in all the papers that came with the evening mail. And there is a reward out for her return.”

“Precisely. But the marriage was arranged by her father without the young lady’s consent. Since she is nineteen . . . am I not correct, Emma?” At her nod, he went on, “She is free to bestow her hand where she wishes. Since her signature is not on any papers, we shall proceed as if we know nothing of her father’s arrangements. It is plausible, given our somewhat remote location.”

Mrs. Chambers stared at Emma. “Where did you learn to wash dishes, Miss Smith? I mean, Miss Hoskins? She does them a right turn, Your Grace. You could see your face in the silver.”

“Father kept dismissing the staff. Finally, it was just me, Mrs. Able, and Mr. Jones, the stableman. Since I like eating and I like clean dishes, I helped Mrs. Able. She wasn’t used to doing all the household chores herself, after all.”

“How did you ever manage to run a townhouse with just two staff?” Mrs. Noddicott demanded.

“We closed off all of the rooms except the kitchen, the schoolroom, and Father’s chambers. He was away most of the time and never had meals at home, so we did well enough.

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