Page 3 of The Unfortunate Debutante
“You would be far more than just an heiress,” Rachel assured her. “You would be free to make your own choices, to fall in love, and choose your own husband.”
Leaning even closer to Emma, Peter’s voice grew hushed, urgent. “Do not be fooled by them. He wants you for his mistress.”
“How dare you make such an offensive accusation!” Luke shouted, jumping up so fast that he knocked his chair over.
Rachel put her hand on her husband’s sleeve, stilling his outrage. “Emma, you must believe that we only have your best interest at heart, nothing more.”
“Why would you be so generous?” she asked curiously.
Luke picked up his chair and sat down. He reached for Rachel’s hand, his eyes lingering on her face before turning back towards Emma. “Because David was my friend. He taught me how to speak to Rachel and kept my secret, which allowed me more time to woo her.” He gave a half-hearted smile as his voice hitched. “He also saved my life, but more importantly, he saved my wife’s life. He gave his life to give me mine. Without Rachel…” His voice trailed off as a tear rolled down his face. “To repay my debt, I vow to protect you as he would have, to ensure you are happy and cared for.”
Emma could hear the sincerity in his voice, and she knew his offer was genuine. “Thank you. I would like to accept your offer and become your ward,” she responded, smiling.
“No, Emma!” Peter shouted. “We are to be wed.”
She shook her head in response. “No, Peter. I already told you, you’re like a brother to me. I could never marry you.”
“Don’t do this,” he urged. “I love you.”
Emma shifted in her seat, knowing she was making the right choice. Peter had offered for her multiple times, but she had always politely turned him down. For some reason, he had always assumed they would end up together, but that had never been a part of her plan.
“And I love you, too… as a brother,” she informed him.
“You will regret this, make no mistake of that,” Peter assured her as he stood up. He tugged down on his waistcoat before he stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Emma nearly jumped at the loud slam of the door. She slowly turned her apologetic gaze back to them. “He means well,” she said in a hesitant tone.
Luke rose from his seat and assisted Rachel. “We’re traveling back to our estate in Scotland. Would you like to accompany us? Or we can send back our coach, giving you time to pack up your home?”
Emma’s eyes roamed wistfully around the kitchen. There was nothing for her here anymore. “If you are not opposed, I would like to accompany you now. I find that my loneliness makes my heart ache.”
Rachel reached out and embraced Emma. Leaning back, she reminded her, “You will never be alone again. You are now a part of our family.”
A smile lit up her face, and Emma felt her eyes sparkle with renewed happiness. “Thank you,” she responded appreciatively.
“It is I who should be thanking you,” Luke maintained, stepping closer. “If you had refused my offer to become my ward, we would have been forced to abduct you.” He shrugged, his eyes full of merriment. “It makes life easier when a ward comes along willingly.”
Emma laughed as she started walking towards the stairs. “If you will give me a few moments, I will pack my trunks. It won’t be long.”
As she walked up the steps of the narrow staircase to the second level, Emma thought her heart was going to burst with excitement. She was going to become the ward of the Marquess of Downshire, the heir to the Duke of Remington. How her life had changed in mere moments. She was going to socialize with the members of the ton.
Another, more important thought occurred to her. She wasn’t going to be alone anymore. She was going to be a part of their family. Perhaps her dream of being a writer wasn’t so farfetched. After all, nothing would be beyond her reach now.
This may be the greatest thing that had ever happened to a constable’s daughter, she mused.
1
England, 1815
Emma was a notorious dreamer.She dreamed improbable dreams, and her mind was often far away, in another time. But even her wildest imaginations could not have prepared her for the good fortune that had befallen her. She was in the most remarkable circumstance for a constable’s daughter.
At sixteen, she had become the ward of the Marquess of Downshire. She went from living the life of a country miss to one of grandeur and opulence. The simple cotton gowns she had worn in her youth were replaced with the finest silk, her brown hair was now adorned with ribbons, and the coral necklace around her neck was worth more than her family’s cottage and land in Totternhoe.
Rachel, the Marchioness of Downshire, leaned closer and whispered, “You are staring at Lord Brisbane.”
“Am I? I must have been woolgathering,” she replied, diverting her gaze to Rachel.
“Dear heavens,” Lady Downshire said, bringing her teacup down to her lap, “I thought we had sufficiently stopped your tendency to reverie. I fear that you may require additional tutoring.”
