The Heir and the Spare by Maya Rodale

Author:Maya Rodale [Rodale, Maya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical romance, Fiction
ISBN: 9780425217634
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2007-08-06T21:00:00+00:00

Dear Lady Palmerston,

I hope this letter finds both you and my daughter well. Things are well here in Philadelphia—I wrote to Emilia as well, and I’m sure she will share the contents of the letter. As her chaperone, there is something I must discuss with you, and you alone.

I have also written to the president of my company, Devon Kensington, asking him to call on you and Emilia, as he, too, has traveled to England, unfortunately due to his father’s ill health. He is an extremely talented young man, who is devoted to his work. In fact, I think he works far too much at the expense of other aspects of his life.

I had thought that he and my daughter would suit, but alas, I never had the opportunity to introduce them. Perhaps you might invite him to join you and Emilia for events in London. Should he and my daughter show an inclination toward each other, please encourage them.

I must thank you for chaperoning my daughter. I do not worry, knowing that she is in your care.

Sincerely,

Harold Highhart

“Hmmph,” Lady Palmerston said aloud. Harold was entitled to his opinion of Devon Kensington. She, however, would reserve judgment for now. She went upstairs to deliver Emilia’s letter to her.

“A letter from your father,” she said, handing it to her niece, who was seated at the small writing table by the window.

“Oh, good. I was just writing to him.”

“Telling him what a horrendous, awful man the president of his company is?” Lady Palmerston replied, pausing before the mirror above the fireplace to check her appearance.

“Yes. And that I am a spectacular failure on the marriage mart,” Emilia said bitterly.

“And how it’s all Devon Kensington’s fault, too, I suppose.”

“Well, obviously.”

“Emilia, he came here to apologize to you today.”

“Really? Because I didn’t hear an apology,” her niece said hotly.

“I know, and I told him as much.”

Emilia smiled at that. Her aunt was her champion.

“I also told him that we would be seeing him again.”

Emilia’s smile vanished. Her aunt was a traitor.

“How could you?” Emilia said, rising to her feet as her aunt sat down on the bed. “I never want to see either of them again!”

“Emilia, you did nothing wrong,” her aunt said gently. “All you did was give him, or them, a chance to prove themselves. You listened to your head and your heart, instead of rumor and speculation. I am very proud of you for that—and I would be very sad to see you lose that. Do not be angry with yourself because they did prove themselves to be what you wanted them to be.”

“But—”

“And you mustn’t forget that they are only young men. They don’t know all the answers—you think they have them, and they think they should have them. But they do not. From what I know of the old duke, he never provided much guidance to those boys.”

Emilia opened her mouth to protest.

“No, I am not condoning their actions, particularly Phillip’s. Their tarnishing your reputation is one thing; do not let them tarnish your heart.

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