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Authors: The Regency Rakes Trilogy
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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 hands together in anticipation.
"I beg your pardon?" Emily asked warily.
"I mean, let us see how Robert
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 hands together in anticipation.
"I beg your pardon?" Emily asked warily.
"I mean, let us see how Robert
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