“Perhaps,” Emily agreed, not liking the smallness that filled her conscience on account of his pleasantly spoken reprimand.
“As a matter of fact, I am equally impressed. Especially by your modesty.”
“My modesty?” Emily choked, coughing on the end of her words. Did he really have to mock her as well?
“You turned your back on the easy path and chose to scale a mountain instead.” His voice was gentle, tender even, and so beguiling it forced her to meet his gaze. And in his eyes she saw only warmth and…something she would have labeled as affection if she hadn’t known better. “Your mother knows it wasn’t easy, yet you persevered and succeeded, proving that you can do anything you set your mind to.” He smiled, causing Emily’s heart to expand with pleasure. And then he leaned back, took a sip of his tea, and added, “I believe that is what she was trying to tell you.”
“Quite right,” Georgina agreed. “Thank you for being more eloquent than I have ever managed. My own parents always taught me to be direct for the sake of efficiency, but that can be a disadvantage sometimes.”
Lord Griffin chuckled as if he actually enjoyed Georgina’s company. “You should know that your daughter has also inherited that trait— a propensity for directness, that is, though in a slightly different capacity.”
“How so?” Georgina asked, her eyes bright with interest.
Emily stared at her and then at Lord Griffin, incredulous at their relaxed manner when she herself felt as though she was strung as tight as a bow.
“She speaks her mind,” Lord Griffin said. “Which is not only admirable, but also extremely attractive.”
Emily’s mouth dropped open. He had not just said that. Had he?
Judging from the gleam now brightening her mother’s eyes, it would seem that he had. Emily groaned. Was he deliberately trying to undermine their efforts to avoid getting married?
“Attractive?” Georgina echoed with a slight crease to her brow. “You find opinionated young women attractive?”
Emily smiled. Finally. Lord Griffin had found a topic on which the two would never agree. To her mother’s way of thinking, a young lady had only one purpose besides getting married, and that was to show off all her accomplishments while refraining from speaking as much as possible.
“A person’s opinion is the best indication of their intelligence,” Lord Griffin murmured. “In my experience, foolish people either have no opinion at all, or they tend to babble on endlessly without ever making their point clear. So when making a new acquaintance, I always strive to consider opinion. After all, it is the quickest way to determine compatibility.”
“I see.” Georgina’s satisfaction with Griffin’s response was clear in the way she smiled.
Seeing straight through to the plan forming in her head, of Lord Griffin and Emily getting married despite their protestations, Emily chose to change the subject immediately. “We have dinner plans on Friday at a nearby estate.” She explained how she and Lord Griffin had met the Partridges in town and that both had appeared to believe he was Caleb.
“So you wish for me to lie?” Georgina asked in dismay. “To a lady and gentleman?”
“You may remain here if you prefer,” Emily offered, but her mother quickly dismissed that idea.
“Since this is a matter of protecting our entire family’s reputation, I shall find a way to overcome my aversion in order to do what I must. And I do believe my presence will add credibility to your story.”
Lord Griffin pushed his empty plate and cup aside so he could lean forward with his folded arms on the table. “I completely agree.”
“Do you have something appropriate to wear to this event?” Georgina asked Emily.
Emily stiffened. She hadn’t packed before leaving London, so the only evening gown she had at Clearview was the one she’d been wearing when she’d arrived two days earlier. Salvaging that disaster was out of the question. “I’ve a respectable dress cut from cornflower blue muslin. It will suffice.”
“For a dinner party hosted by gentry?” Her mother shook her head. “On no, my dear, that will not do at all. You must wear silk. So if you haven’t such a gown, then I suggest we order one today from the local modiste. I shall need one as well, of course. And you mustn’t worry about the cost. It shall be my treat.” She stood, so Lord Griffin rose as well. “And what of you, sir? Have you the appropriate evening attire required, or will you join us for this excursion so you can visit the tailor?”
“I will happily escort you both.”
“Excellent. Then I shall go and ready myself immediately.” She looked to Emily whose jaw was starting to ache from gnashing her teeth. “Thank you for breakfast. I found it to be most satisfying.”
Emily was tempted to tell her the dishes now had to be washed. Instead she kept quiet, holding back her emotions just like a corked bottle of champagne forced back the pressure bubbling within.
To saythat the relationship between Miss Howard and her mother was strained would be an understatement of monumental proportions. Griffin waited quietly until Mrs. Howard had left the kitchen before returning his attention to her daughter with every intention of addressing the issue.
Except she spoke first, reminding him of the point he’d been trying to make about her outspokenness. He still wasn’t sure he’d phrased himself correctly. At least not well enough to convey the extent of his admiration for this woman who’d been released into London ballrooms by her over-eager mama. The mission had been the same as it was for all other debutantes, only Emily’s chances of success had been greatly reduced by the very same person who’d wanted her to succeed. And as a result, Emily had failed at the one thing she’d been expected to do, which was marry well.
Anyone else in her position would have been crushed by the adversity, but not Miss Howard. She had the strength and perseverance of a warrior princess.
“What. Are. You. Doing?” Fire burned in her eyes, not the kind brought on by desire, but the kind that warned of impending battle.
