Could he disappoint them both by sending Miss Baxter away without so much as a meal? What sort of gentleman would that makehim?
“I am Miss Emma Baxter.” She reached her hand out to Sophia. “And who do I have the pleasure of introducing myselfto?”
Sophia took her hand, her eyes dancing as a small giggle escaped her. “Lady Sophia, ma’am. Do say you are staying for the eveningmeal?”
“I am afraid that decision is your Papa’s to make,”—Miss Baxter turned her violet eyes on him—,“though I would be pleased to dine with you if he sees fit to inviteme.”
Sophia’s pleading blue gaze locked on him. “Daddy, do say she can stay. Please. Pretty please with crumpets ontop.”
Aaron’s resistance faded under his daughter’s pleas. Resigned he proffered his arm to Miss Baxter. “I would be honored if you would consent to joinus.”
“The honor is all mine, Your Grace.” She took his proffered arm while Sophia grabbed his freehand.
He inhaled a cleansing breath as he led them toward the house. All would be fine. It was only a meal after all. What harm could come ofit?
* * *
Emma satto the duke’s left across from Lady Sophia. She’d been given a room to freshen up in, along with a bath before coming down to dinner. The duke had even sent a maid to assist her. To her chagrin, the maid had taken her wrinkled, dusty gown to launder and given her a new frock to wear down tosuper.
“Is your room to your liking, Miss Baxter?” Lady Sophiaasked.
“It is a lovely room, thankyou.”
The girl smiled. “I picked it out special foryou.”
“You did?” Emma smiled back at her. “Well you did a splendidjob.”
“Daddy says I am not to pry, but I cannot stop myself. Won’t you consider spending the night? I do so love the idea of having a lady’scompany.”
Emma watched as the duke fairly choked on his wine. “Miss Baxter has places to be,Sophia.”
“On the contrary, I have no commitments,” Emma said in arush.
She felt terribly out of place in such a grand home yet safer and better cared for than she had in weeks. If only she could stay—even for a few nights—she might be able to come up with a more permanent solution to herproblems.
“Wonderful. Then you will stay as my guest if not Daddy’s.” Lady Sophia sipped a spoonful ofsoup.
Rather than consent to the girls wishes, as bad as she wanted to do just that, Emma looked to the duke for direction. He sat stone still, a blaze in the depths of his sky-blue eyes. Would the duke take pity on her if she revealed her situation tohim?
She sat her water glass aside and studied him at the head of the table. He might sympathize, might even offer to protect her, but what if he saw her as a danger? She simply could not risk being tossed out tonight. Not when Lady Sophia had invited her to stay. She’d be gone soon enough at anyrate.
Giving the duke what she hopped was a sympathetic look, she shrugged her shoulders as if to say, ‘sorry but what would you have me do’. Emma was about to turn her attention back to Lady Sophia when the duke gave a nod of what Emma hopped was consent. She smiled at him, then looked at the girl, “I would be honored to stay as your guest, LadySophia.”
Emma ate her fill of each course, soup, fish, foul…as Lady Sophia chatted about a myriad of topics. Everything from fashion to favorite pastimes and deserts was covered by the time the meal concluded. She enjoyed listening to, and chatting, with Lady Sophia a great deal. The girl’s exuberance and innocents proved infectious. And Emma’s mood had been lightened a great deal, her worries somehow lessoned during the meal, as a result of Lady Sophia’s goodcheer.
She placed a bite of sherbet into her mouth and relished the way it melted on her tongue. When had she had such a delectable treat? Certainly never at Uncle Silas’s home, perhaps her parents had given her such sweets? She could notrecall.
“Daddy?” Lady Sophia sat down her spoon, a serious expression overcoming her heart-shaped face. “I have something I mustconfess.”
The duke swallowed, setting his wine glass aside. “Do have out with it,Poppet.”
Emma’s curiosity peaked at the girl’s words, though she did her best not to look overly eager as it seemed like a privatemoment.
Lady Sophia averted her gaze for a moment, bringing her hand up to cover a small grin. “Mrs. Dowerly says you will be very upset, but I told her you wouldunderstand.”
Emma pushed her desert around in the crystal bowl, pretending to eat rather than invade on Lady Sophia’s confession. Though, in truth, she was riveted. What could the small girl havedone?
The duke nodded, his gaze on his daughter. “Tell me whathappened.”
