Aside from the social ostracism, there wasn’t much more the duke could do to harm Lord Blakely. And so, what if Lord Blakely took actions that would make the duke’s life unpleasant?
What might do that?
And then she knew!
If Lord Blakely married a less than suitable lady, the betrothal the duke had agreed to years ago would become null and void. The duke would be shamed. Ah, that would be interesting indeed.
And furthermore…
If Lord Blakely were to marry an unsuitable lady, in defiance of the Duke of Waters, the scandal would cause all other scandals to pale in significance! And then perhaps thetonwould forget Rhoda’s indiscretions, whatever they might be.
Could Lord Blakely be convinced to marry Rhoda?
Although her heart protested, as she considered the plan thoroughly, her head assured her this might be a most excellent remedy.
Emily would speak with Lord Blakely in private. A scheme such as this would require the utmost discretion and possibly haste. The two could travel to Gretna Green and return a married couple.
Rhoda would be a countess!
But Emily couldn’t speak of any of this in front of Sophia and Prescott. Sophia would likely be amenable, but Emily didn’t know the duke all that well.
She would wait until the timing was right.
And, she supposed, Rhoda must be amenable as well.
She returned to musing about whether his father had in fact, ordered a man murdered. Had the matter ever been investigated?
She pursed her lips.
Maybe she ought to look into this as well. Aside from the expected ducal arrogance, he’d not seemed so diabolically evil as all that.
He had come across as quite desperate though.
But why?
Someone ought to verify the facts behind the earl’s feud. Lord Blakley would do well to know the truth.
What if the duke was innocent and their estrangement was due to a misunderstanding? Over the past year, she’d come to believe anything was possible.
Emily had been staring out the window for quite some time, contemplating the Duke of Waters and all possible outcomes of her plan for Lord Blakely when the familiar sights of Kent came into sight.
When Emily had visited Eden’s Court for the wedding a few months ago, winter had still held the world in a tight grasp. The trees had been bare and the flowers in hibernation.
But with the arrival of spring, everything was coming to life.
As they turned down the long drive to the majestic estate, Emily couldn’t help but lean forward to peer out at the bursts of colors lining the drive. “Sophia!” Her friend had awakened and was taking the baby from her husband’s arms. “The gardens are absolutely splendid!”
What would it be like to go walking in these gardens with Marc—with Lord Blakely? Emily allowed herself to wonder for only a moment. What was she thinking? She was going to marry him off to Rhoda! The gardens would be the perfect place for a proposal…
Sophia stifled a yawn. “Eden’s Court must have been carved from heaven itself.” She gave a secret glance toward the duke. “We enjoy the gardens almost daily when the weather allows.”
Oh, bother.Being with these two was enough to cause any girl to become syrupy with romantic nonsense. That must be what it was.
Nothing to do with the man sitting beside her.
Nothing at all.
At least she had her spectacles again. That feeling of not being able to see never failed to leave her spiraling inside, as though the world was spinning out of control. Emily reached up and touched the frame near the lens.
