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Authors: Candice Hern
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privilege their whole lives. They
could have no idea what it meant to be dependent upon others for
one's very existence. They could surely never understand the
humiliation that would result from active matchmaking on her
behalf, the shame she would feel if presented to Society as an
impoverished gentlewoman on the hunt for a husband.
Years ago, when her father's death had left her
destitute, she had made a conscious decision not to present herself
on some distant relative's doorstep, to be taken in as a poor
relation. She would certainly never have approached her mother's
hateful family. Instead she had chosen a life in genteel service,
which had allowed her to maintain some degree of dignity. She
suddenly felt that that last scrap of dignity was was about to be
torn away from her.
She knew the dowager's determination was sometimes
an unstoppable force. If the old woman had decided to find her a
husband, she would be tenacious in achieving that end. She must
think. Her mind was in a whirl, but she must think. Somehow she
must not allow the dowager to place her in such an awkward
position.
Lord Bradleigh apparently noted the distress on
Emily's face and jumped into the fray before his grandmother could
cause more damage. "Don't worry. Miss Townsend," he said in a soft
croon that caused Emily to look up again and meet his eyes, "I can
assure you from experience that Grandmother is not given to
matchmaking. She has left me alone for years. Although," he
added with a wink at his grandmother, "I suspect now she wishes she
hadn't."
Emily returned a weak smile, but then dropped her
eyes once again, staring at the hands clasped tightly in her
lap.
"Miss Townsend," he said gently, "you may trust me
when I tell you that I will not allow Grandmother to embarrass you
while you are guests in my home."
"Robert!" the dowager cried. "You offend me!"
Emily lifted her eyes to find the dowager smiling
affectionately at her.
"I am very fond of you, my dear," the older woman
said, "and only want to see you happy. But I would never do
anything to embarrass you," she said, glaring briefly at Robert,
"no matter whose guest you are. But, honestly, what harm is there
in simply introducing you to a few eligible gentlemen?" She flicked
a speaking glance at Lord Bradleigh.
"I confess, Miss Townsend," Robert said, grinning
sheepishly, "that I have agreed to bring a few of my friends to
your attention. I would be pleased to introduce you, if I might be
so bold."
"Your friends?" Emily asked softly, still somewhat
bewildered by this conversation.
"Oh, don't worry," he said with a laugh, "not all of
my acquaintances are rakes and libertines. I actually know a few
upright fellows who might even be considered respectable."
Emily realized that she may have inadvertently
insulted the earl. Her innate politeness rose to the surface,
overwhelming any previous awkwardness. "I had not thought
otherwise, my lord. I should be pleased to make the acquaintance of
any friend of yours." She looked at the dowager, her resolution
once again in control. "You must understand, however, that I am not
interested in marriage, and I would be made to feel quite
uncomfortable if it were generally believed that I did hold such
hopes. It would be most awkward, considering my position. I
appreciate the kind sentiments of you both, but I must ask that you
respect my wishes in this matter."
"It shall be as you say, Miss Townsend," Lord
Bradleigh said. He rose and bowed toward both ladies. "I shall
leave you now to your discussion of your shopping trip. I will join
you again for dinner."
The dowager swiftly launched into a lively monologue
of the various fashions they had seen that morning, obviously
determined to avoid any further mention of matchmaking. For the
moment, thought Emily with rueful resignation.
As they discussed their purchases, the dowager
insisted that Emily wear her new dress that evening for dinner. "We
must try it out on Robert!" she exclaimed, rubbing her
could have no idea what it meant to be dependent upon others for
one's very existence. They could surely never understand the
humiliation that would result from active matchmaking on her
behalf, the shame she would feel if presented to Society as an
impoverished gentlewoman on the hunt for a husband.
Years ago, when her father's death had left her
destitute, she had made a conscious decision not to present herself
on some distant relative's doorstep, to be taken in as a poor
relation. She would certainly never have approached her mother's
hateful family. Instead she had chosen a life in genteel service,
which had allowed her to maintain some degree of dignity. She
suddenly felt that that last scrap of dignity was was about to be
torn away from her.
She knew the dowager's determination was sometimes
an unstoppable force. If the old woman had decided to find her a
husband, she would be tenacious in achieving that end. She must
think. Her mind was in a whirl, but she must think. Somehow she
must not allow the dowager to place her in such an awkward
position.
Lord Bradleigh apparently noted the distress on
Emily's face and jumped into the fray before his grandmother could
cause more damage. "Don't worry. Miss Townsend," he said in a soft
croon that caused Emily to look up again and meet his eyes, "I can
assure you from experience that Grandmother is not given to
matchmaking. She has left me alone for years. Although," he
added with a wink at his grandmother, "I suspect now she wishes she
hadn't."
Emily returned a weak smile, but then dropped her
eyes once again, staring at the hands clasped tightly in her
lap.
"Miss Townsend," he said gently, "you may trust me
when I tell you that I will not allow Grandmother to embarrass you
while you are guests in my home."
"Robert!" the dowager cried. "You offend me!"
Emily lifted her eyes to find the dowager smiling
affectionately at her.
"I am very fond of you, my dear," the older woman
said, "and only want to see you happy. But I would never do
anything to embarrass you," she said, glaring briefly at Robert,
"no matter whose guest you are. But, honestly, what harm is there
in simply introducing you to a few eligible gentlemen?" She flicked
a speaking glance at Lord Bradleigh.
"I confess, Miss Townsend," Robert said, grinning
sheepishly, "that I have agreed to bring a few of my friends to
your attention. I would be pleased to introduce you, if I might be
so bold."
"Your friends?" Emily asked softly, still somewhat
bewildered by this conversation.
"Oh, don't worry," he said with a laugh, "not all of
my acquaintances are rakes and libertines. I actually know a few
upright fellows who might even be considered respectable."
Emily realized that she may have inadvertently
insulted the earl. Her innate politeness rose to the surface,
overwhelming any previous awkwardness. "I had not thought
otherwise, my lord. I should be pleased to make the acquaintance of
any friend of yours." She looked at the dowager, her resolution
once again in control. "You must understand, however, that I am not
interested in marriage, and I would be made to feel quite
uncomfortable if it were generally believed that I did hold such
hopes. It would be most awkward, considering my position. I
appreciate the kind sentiments of you both, but I must ask that you
respect my wishes in this matter."
"It shall be as you say, Miss Townsend," Lord
Bradleigh said. He rose and bowed toward both ladies. "I shall
leave you now to your discussion of your shopping trip. I will join
you again for dinner."
The dowager swiftly launched into a lively monologue
of the various fashions they had seen that morning, obviously
determined to avoid any further mention of matchmaking. For the
moment, thought Emily with rueful resignation.
As they discussed their purchases, the dowager
insisted that Emily wear her new dress that evening for dinner. "We
must try it out on Robert!" she exclaimed, rubbing her
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