Chapter 8 #2
Her heart thudded as they approached the door.
She had been to the house, but this was different.
She was truly a guest this time, which meant she had to be proper.
She hoped that the Duke had told his staff to act as though they were meeting for the first time, for there was only so much she could hide from her sisters.
“Welcome,” the butler greeted, bowing as though he had never seen her in his life. “Do come in. His Grace has asked that you go to the dining room upon arrival.”
They did not argue, though Margaret did not doubt that Emily would have wanted to see more of the household. She was always curious about them, claiming that it said anything you could possibly want to know about a person.
They took their seats, and minutes later the Duke arrived.
He wore dark red, his hair more properly fixed than it had been when they met.
He was trying to make a good impression, and it meant more to her than she had expected it to.
She did not want to care, but she did. Here was one of the highest ranking members of society, and he was trying to impress her.
She watched as Poppy went to speak excitedly only to stop herself.
“My apologies, I was hoping to meet you in the foyer.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Your Grace,” Lady Fairleigh replied. “We are most grateful for the invitation.”
“And I am pleased to see you all. I have been looking forward to this.”
“Why is that?” Emily asked, and Margaret’s attention snapped to her.
They all looked at Emily, in fact. It was unlike her to speak out of turn like that,but she did not seem surprised to have said it.
“I rather think it necessary to meet the family of the lady one courts,” the Duke replied, grinning slightly as though amused. “I had been hoping to see you when I visited, but you were on a walk. Do you do so often?”
“Indeed,” Poppy nodded. “We like to spend time in the open air, for it gives us a change in scenery. Do you like to walk, Your Grace?”
“I certainly do. I was actually going to propose that we all promenade in Hyde Park two days from now.”
“That will be after a ball,” Emily said bluntly. “It shall be Poppy’s first, so I do not think it wise to plan something for the following day. She may be tired.”
“Enough, Emily,” their mother hissed.
“Very well. The day after?”
“We would be delighted to,” Margaret accepted before her sister could say anything more.
Their first course arrived, and at last Emily quietened, though she continued to watch the Duke with one eye. Margaret did not know what she was doing, nor what had gotten into her, but it had to be something. Emily had never been one to be disrespectful, let alone dismissive.
They finished their dessert after more pleasant conversation.
Poppy’s choice to become a lady slipped away from her, and she asked the Duke about his home, his life, his interests, the things he hated, and by the end of the meal Margaret expected him to have them hastily pushed out of his house again.
When he asked them to join him in his parlor room, she almost fell to the floor in surprise.
They went across the house, but he gently took her wrist and asked if she could speak with him in the drawing room for a moment. She followed him without question, and as he closed the door behind them she waited for him to say something about what had happened.
“I was certainly not expecting that,” he chuckled.
“Forgive my sisters. Poppy is an excitable girl, and with it being her first year in society she is happier than ever about her prospects. As for Emily, I… I do not know what has gotten into her. She is never like that.”
“I can imagine. Do not worry, though, for I do not mind it. In fact, I appreciate a young lady that is unafraid to make her feelings known. I thought it was a trait she shared with you and nothing more.”
“Do you think I speak to gentlemen like that?”
“No, but you certainly think it, and I see no harm in that. In all honesty, I was afraid that your family might be intimidated, and I am pleased that she felt at ease enough to tell me precisely what she thought. I do not think anything else.”
“Do you promise?”
“I do. I am many things, Lady Margaret, but I am not a liar.”
“No,” she giggled, “but you are a painter and a violinist and an avid fan of the theater. You fell for my sister’s charms very easily, there.”
“I did,” he chuckled. “She is most endearing. I did not plan to tell you all of my hatred for the color orange, but now you all know, I suppose.”
“I shall not wear it in your presence. I suppose that is why my mother thought you might wish to court them instead of me, for they are these bright and funny girls and I am… I am Margaret.”
“I do not see anything wrong with you being Margaret. They clearly think the world of you, too.”
She liked that other people saw it too.
Suddenly, the door flew open to reveal a furious Emily. She entered with a swish of her skirts and stood beside them with her arms folded. Margaret gestured for her to leave, but her sister did not once look at her.
“I require a word with the Duke,” she said firmly. “Alone.”
“Emily, I–”
“Chaperoned.”
Margaret exchanged a glance with the Duke, who was clearly rather amused by it all. She wondered if he had known young ladies like her before, and that was why he did not take it as most gentlemen would have.
“Very well,” he agreed, turning to Margaret. “I shall join you and your family shortly.”
Margaret agreed and turned to go, but she quickly took Emily’s arm as she went.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I will tell you later.”
And so she left, wondering what on earth had happened to the young lady that had been so pleased for her.