Page 52 of The Unfortunate Debutante
Stepping into the dining room, Emma greeted Luke and Rachel with a smile. “Good morning.”
Luke was sitting at the head of the table, and he lowered the paper when she walked in. “Good morning, Emma. Did you sleep well?”
“I did, thank you.”
Sitting on Luke’s right, Rachel smiled up at her. “How was visiting Eliza this morning?”
Luke groaned. “Did I not confine you to the estate?
“My apologies. Since Eliza’s townhouse is only a few blocks away, I assumed it was safe to visit,” she replied honestly. “As a precaution, I took four footmen along with me.”
“I suppose you can continue your morning visits to Eliza’s,” Luke said. “But next time, take six footmen along with you.”
“Understood.” Accepting a plate from a footman, Emma started filling it with food. “Cosette was there this morning. She sends her regards.”
“I will have to join you tomorrow,” Rachel said.
“You should,” she replied. “Cosette showed me how to sweep an attacker’s foot, causing them to fall, and how to escape a choke hold.”
Luke let out a groan. “What happened to needlework and reading Latin?” he asked, placing the folded paper on the table. “It’s much more feminine and civilized.”
Coming to sit down next to Rachel, Emma waited as a footman pulled out her chair for her. “Do not fret. I do those, as well,” she assured him.
The butler walked into the room with a tray filled with missives and extended them towards Rachel. “These came in the mail this morning, milady.”
Accepting the pile, Rachel placed them on the table next to her and reached for her letter opener. She opened the first missive and pursed her lips before she placed it down next to her.
“What is it?” Emma asked, glancing curiously at the discarded missive.
Rachel gave her a forced smile. “Nothing to concern yourself about,” she replied in a strained voice.
“You are a horrible liar,” Emma said. “May I see the note?”
Picking it up, Rachel shared, “Your invitation to Lord Baskett’s ball this evening has been rescinded.”
“What?” Emma asked, her mouth parting in shock. “Were you uninvited as well?”
Rachel shook her head. “No.”
“Oh,” she managed to say before she diverted her eyes to her lap and started blinking back her tears. Her actions had not only embarrassed the Beckett family, but now members of the ton were distancing themselves from her.
“Rachel,” Luke growled, reaching over and grabbing the note, “send a note that none of the Beckett family will be attending this evening.” He crumpled it up and tossed it over his shoulder. “Furthermore, let it be known that if anyone shuns Emma, then they will receive the cut direct from us.”
Emma’s eyes snapped back to her guardian. “No, I won’t let you do that. This is my fault, and mine alone.”
Luke placed his forearm on the table and leaned in. “I am the Marquess of Lansdowne, and one day, I will be the Duke of Remington. No one will dare defy me, Emma. We will find a way to restore your reputation, I promise.”
“You can’t give the whole ton the cut direct,” she insisted.
Rachel reached out and placed a hand over hers. “You’ll find that there are many families that are loyal to the Beckett family. Don’t worry, Emma.”
“How can I not?” she questioned.
“Lockhart wants you to fail,” Luke pressed. “He wants you to be an outcast of Society, to prove that he was right. But he’s wrong, and he always will be. You belong in this world, Emma.”
“Do I?” she asked, her voice rising. “I’m just your ward. I was not raised in this world.”
Rachel patted her hand. “You are part of our family; whether you were born into it or not, it doesn’t matter.”
