Page 5 of The Unfortunate Debutante
Emma brought her gloved hand up to her lips to hide her growing smile as she watched all the men awkwardly file out of the room. Once the last man left the drawing room, she rose, walked over to the window, and watched as the men started walking down the pavement.
“You must really stop glowering at all my potential suitors,” Emma stated in a mock chiding voice.
“Those men were not worthy of your notice,” Luke proclaimed, placing his hand around his wife’s waist. “I did you a favor.” He paused, before smirking. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
She let out a puff of air. “You don’t think any man is worthy of my notice.”
“That’s not true,” he acknowledged. “I would be happy to arrange a marriage between you and the Duke of Dudley’s eldest son, Lord Stuart.”
Emma arched an eyebrow. “The Marquess of Stuart would be interested in marrying me, an untitled country miss?”
“I have no doubt,” Luke remarked eagerly.
An image of a pallid, slightly podgy man came to her mind as she thought of her offered suitor. She shuddered. “I shall pass.”
“Good choice, Emma,” Rachel said, earning a disapproving look from Luke. “By the end of the Season, you shall have your pick of suitors.”
“I detest the Season,” Luke whispered to his wife.
Rachel laughed as she placed her hand on Luke’s chest. “You have made that abundantly clear, but we had to come to Town for Emma.”
Turning his attention back towards Emma, he offered, “I will give you £10,000 if we can forego the Season and return back to Scotland tomorrow.”
Emma shook her head. “You’re lowering your price. Previously, you offered me £20,000 to remain in Scotland for the Season.”
“£30,000 then,” Luke attempted hopefully.
“You cannot deny Emma the opportunity to have a Season,” Rachel said.
“She already had one last year,” he pointed out.
Walking over to the tray of biscuits, Emma picked one up. “If you recall, you refused to let me dance with any gentlemen, refused to hold a ball in my honor, and refused to let me read any books from your library.”
Luke gave her a baffled look. “I issued no such order. You are always free to read.”
“That’s so kind of you, my master,” she teased, dropping into a curtsy. “I just assumed that would be forbidden, as well.”
Letting out a deep sigh, he replied, “You just turned nineteen last week. You were much too young to entertain suitors last year. Frankly, you’re still too young to even consider marriage. It would be preferable if we departed for Scotland tomorrow.”
“Oh, hush,” Rachel said in a light tone. “We went through great lengths to prepare Emma for the Season. For the past two years, she has endured a barrage of tutoring on social etiquette, drawing, needlework, dancing, riding, and learning the pianoforte. Will you please stop trying to pressure her to go back to Scotland?”
The image of Mr. Hawkins shouting at her to look livelier as she danced caused Emma to shudder. “Mr. Hawkins was the most unpleasant dance instructor.”
“I agree completely,” Rachel responded, smiling. “He felt you were a lost cause.” She grew serious. “But you must try not to bait all the gentlemen. Poor Lord Harrington was about to have a fit when you quoted Kant.”
“You quoted Kant?” Luke shook his head. “We have been over this… multiple times. A lady of your station is to avoid…”
She spoke over him. “…topics such as literature, politics, morality, and anything that is remotely interesting. Instead, we are supposed to focus on our accomplishments and other polite topics.”
“I fear that our ward is not pleased,” Rachel teased.
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. The butler stood on the other side with a silver tray in his hand. “We received a letter for a Mr. David Blackmore,” Mr. Munro announced with his usual stoic expression.
“That’s for me.” Ignoring Luke and Rachel’s curious looks, Emma walked over and picked up the letter from the tray. “Thank you, Munro.”
Ripping open the envelope, she read the letter and let out a joyous cry. “My article has been accepted, and they have included two one-pound notes as payment,” she announced, rushing over to Rachel to show her the letter. “And the editor of The Morning Post would like me to submit additional articles for their consideration.”
Rachel read the paper, handed the note off to her husband, and embraced her. “I am so pleased. What wonderful news.”
