of the most delectable looking on her plate. “The staff have been working round the clock and it is bound to be the social event of the season in these parts. Dare I hope you will save me the supper dance? It is, I believe, a waltz. “
“Thank you for your kind offer, sir, but I have never learned to dance the waltz. It is still frowned upon outside London, you know. “
“Then perhaps we could take a stroll on the terrace before supper.”
“I should like that above all, but I cannot promise I shall be free. Lady Hargrave has instructed me to stay close by Lady Lucinda all evening, and I am at her command as long as I am in her employ.”
“In other words, she has instructed you to keep the girl away from the Earl of Chillingham while there is still a chance to make a higher connection.”
Emily flushed hotly, embarrassed that her aunt’s deviousness should be so transparent.
Mr. Rankin pushed his spectacles higher onto the bridge of his nose—a gesture Emily was beginning to realize he often made when he had something on his mind. “Will you think me completely out of hand if I offer you some advice, Miss Haliburton?”
“Of course not, sir, I would welcome anything you have to say.”
“Do not be too assiduous in your guarding of Lady Lucinda. She could do far worse than young Percival in choosing a husband. He may be an awkward colt right now, but he has the makings of a fine man—and an extremely rich one once he comes into his full inheritance.”
“My observation exactly.” Emily hesitated, wishing she could confide in this kindly gentleman, but she would only jeopardize Lucinda’s chance for happiness if she let slip the fact that the Earl of Hargrave was so deep in dun territory, he had to sell his only daughter to keep out of debtors’ prison. “I take it you feel as I do, that the earl much more suitable parti for Lady Lucinda than the duke,” she said finally.
Mr. Rankin nodded his agreement. “And she would appear to be the perfect wife for him. The earl’s requirements for his future countess are relatively simple—a pretty face, a sweet nature and a willingness to listen to an endless discourse on the merits of his prime cattle. The lad has, I am afraid, spent a great deal more of his young life with horses than with people…or books.”
He made another minor adjustment to his spectacles and surveyed her with what could only be termed intense scrutiny. “The Duke of Montford, on the other hand, is endowed with both an exceptional intelligence and a depth of feeling. It will take a very special woman to make him a proper wife.”
Emily choked on her tea. She found it difficult to believe a man of such obvious acuity could utter this drivel with a straight face. She had no way of measuring the arrogant duke’s intelligence, but his method of choosing his duchess gave the lie to any pretense of depth of feeling. She could only assume the duke’s man-of-affairs was blinded by his loyalty to his employer.
Mr. Rankin removed his spectacles, polished them on a linen handkerchief he drew from his waistcoat pocket and returned them to his nose. “I can see by the expression on your face that you cannot envision the duke as anything but the haughty, inaccessible aristocrat he purports to be. I’m not surprised; it is a part he plays to perfection in his dealings with the beau monde. Why, I am not certain. Though I suspect it is a defense against the swarms of toad-eaters who court him because of his title and wealth.”
“I suppose that is possible,” Emily said, though privately she considered the duke’s standoffish ways a bit too convincing to be merely an act.
“In actual fact,” Mr. Rankin continued, “his grace is one of England’s most dedicated
statesmen—was instrumental in the movement in Parliament to abolish the slave trade and since the beginning of this fracas with Bonaparte has served both the War Office and the Board of Governors of The Duke of York
“Thank you for your kind offer, sir, but I have never learned to dance the waltz. It is still frowned upon outside London, you know. “
“Then perhaps we could take a stroll on the terrace before supper.”
“I should like that above all, but I cannot promise I shall be free. Lady Hargrave has instructed me to stay close by Lady Lucinda all evening, and I am at her command as long as I am in her employ.”
“In other words, she has instructed you to keep the girl away from the Earl of Chillingham while there is still a chance to make a higher connection.”
Emily flushed hotly, embarrassed that her aunt’s deviousness should be so transparent.
Mr. Rankin pushed his spectacles higher onto the bridge of his nose—a gesture Emily was beginning to realize he often made when he had something on his mind. “Will you think me completely out of hand if I offer you some advice, Miss Haliburton?”
“Of course not, sir, I would welcome anything you have to say.”
“Do not be too assiduous in your guarding of Lady Lucinda. She could do far worse than young Percival in choosing a husband. He may be an awkward colt right now, but he has the makings of a fine man—and an extremely rich one once he comes into his full inheritance.”
“My observation exactly.” Emily hesitated, wishing she could confide in this kindly gentleman, but she would only jeopardize Lucinda’s chance for happiness if she let slip the fact that the Earl of Hargrave was so deep in dun territory, he had to sell his only daughter to keep out of debtors’ prison. “I take it you feel as I do, that the earl much more suitable parti for Lady Lucinda than the duke,” she said finally.
Mr. Rankin nodded his agreement. “And she would appear to be the perfect wife for him. The earl’s requirements for his future countess are relatively simple—a pretty face, a sweet nature and a willingness to listen to an endless discourse on the merits of his prime cattle. The lad has, I am afraid, spent a great deal more of his young life with horses than with people…or books.”
He made another minor adjustment to his spectacles and surveyed her with what could only be termed intense scrutiny. “The Duke of Montford, on the other hand, is endowed with both an exceptional intelligence and a depth of feeling. It will take a very special woman to make him a proper wife.”
Emily choked on her tea. She found it difficult to believe a man of such obvious acuity could utter this drivel with a straight face. She had no way of measuring the arrogant duke’s intelligence, but his method of choosing his duchess gave the lie to any pretense of depth of feeling. She could only assume the duke’s man-of-affairs was blinded by his loyalty to his employer.
Mr. Rankin removed his spectacles, polished them on a linen handkerchief he drew from his waistcoat pocket and returned them to his nose. “I can see by the expression on your face that you cannot envision the duke as anything but the haughty, inaccessible aristocrat he purports to be. I’m not surprised; it is a part he plays to perfection in his dealings with the beau monde. Why, I am not certain. Though I suspect it is a defense against the swarms of toad-eaters who court him because of his title and wealth.”
“I suppose that is possible,” Emily said, though privately she considered the duke’s standoffish ways a bit too convincing to be merely an act.
“In actual fact,” Mr. Rankin continued, “his grace is one of England’s most dedicated
statesmen—was instrumental in the movement in Parliament to abolish the slave trade and since the beginning of this fracas with Bonaparte has served both the War Office and the Board of Governors of The Duke of York
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