“Yes, it is that,” Mrs. Liston whispered, and her tears were real this time, not born entirely out of manipulation.
Emma sighed. She moved toward Mrs. Liston and caught her hands gently. “I do not dispute that you have reason to fear. Fatherdoesturn up at the most inopportune times and his behavior usually causes nothing but trouble.”
“And he may very well show up yet again, you know,” Mrs. Liston said with a sniffle. “It has been almost a year since we saw him last, and I wait to hear his footsteps almost every night now. Pounding up the stairs and dragging misfortune in his wake.”
Emma bent her head. “I suppose that is possible.”
“And this time I will not bend to his charms, I promise.”
Emma pressed her lips together, for she knew that wasn’t true.
“You know that if I am mercenary, it is because I am terrified that this time or the next time or the time after that he will bring something down on us that will destroy us permanently,” Mrs. Liston whispered. “And the only way to avoid that fate is if you are married or at least engaged. Then he can blow and bluster, but his hurricane will not destroy us as it could now.”
Emma reached into her pelisse pocket for a handkerchief. As she handed it over, she said, “I’m sorry I’ve failed you so far, Mama.”
Mrs. Liston shrugged but didn’t deny Emma’s failure. “You have an opportunity here, my dear. And we are going to take it. We’re going to that party.”
Emma knew that tone. It was the one that brooked no refusal. She wouldn’t convince her mother any differently no matter what she said.
“Very well, Mama,” she said softly. “Though I cannot guarantee that I will leave this party with any more success than I have left any other.”
Her mother’s upset a moment before now seemed gone, replaced by grim determination on Emma’s behalf. “You shall have ample opportunity to succeed. Surely there will be dozens of eligible men there for the pursuing, including the Duke of Abernathe, himself.”
Emma’s heart began to pound and she tried very hard not to think of dark eyes and the sadness within. Of big hands and broad shoulders. Ofhim.
She shook her head. “Abernathe is as interested in me as he is in a gnat, Mama,” she said, but her voice sounded breathless and wavered slightly.
Mrs. Liston didn’t seem to notice. “Then you should try harder. You are not a great beauty, no, but you are not unattractive. If you didn’t show your intelligence so much then perhaps you would have more luck.”
Emma bit her tongue hard. Her mother had been saying that for years. It might be true that her mind brought her no suitors, but Emma didn’t want a man who needed a stupid wife. She didn’t want to hide who she was.
It was just that no one seemed to want who she was.
“I cannot force a man’s attention,” she whispered.
“So you will not even try? For me?” Mrs. Liston said, and then she began to cry fully.
Emma clenched her hands at her sides.Thiswas manipulation and she knew it, but she couldn’t help herself. She stepped forward and embraced her mother.
“Of course I’ll—I’ll try. We will go as you desire. And I willtry.”
Her mother gave a triumphant gasp and hugged Emma before she rushed from the room, calling for her maid and shouting about gowns and hats, like the outburst before had never happened at all.
After she was gone, Emma sank down into the closest chair and covered her face with her hands. Trying was one thing, succeeding was another. And in this moment, there didn’t seem much chance of success at all.
Chapter Six
One week later, James stood on the stairs at Falcon’s Landing, watching the carriages pour into the drive one by one. At his side was his mother, who had managed to stay sober for the first time in weeks. And Meg stood at his other elbow, smiling and acting the true hostess of this soiree.
Normally he wouldn’t have minded this duty. Many of those invited were his closest friends. Both Graham and Simon had ridden down to the estate with them three days before and the Dukes of Brighthollow, Roseford and Sheffield had already arrived. Their club wasn’t complete, but he was surrounded by friends, regardless.
Yet James’s mind was somewhere else as he shook hands and kissed knuckles and smiled at friends and acquaintances as they came up the stair and streamed into his home.
The duchess let out a long, put upon sigh at last and said, “Is that all, then?”
Meg began to speak, but James interrupted her as a final carriage turned into the drive. “No,” he said softly. “There’s one last one.”
The carriage stopped and he found himself taking a step forward as one of his footmen rushed down to open the door for the occupants. Mrs. Liston exited first, in mid-sentence and her face flushed. He ignored her, leaning slightly to see Emma behind her.
