A Dashing Duke for Emily_A Historical Regency Romance Novel

by Hanna Hamilton

  “No, Grandmamma, Miss Sophie and I have always been friends, and for me, she was not really a desirable bride, except in your mind. I went along with your wishes until it became obvious to me that Emily Dunn was the one I wanted to wed.”

  “But as a Duchess?” Grandmother asked, appearing to be appalled.

  “Yes, as a Duchess. She may not have the pedigree that you imagined for that position, but she is the kindest, most intelligent, talented, and beautiful creature I have ever encountered. And I have asked her to be my bride.”

  The Duchess folded her hands in her lap, giving a long, serious thought to his announcement, finally saying, “I must admit, she is a lovely girl and I like her very much. Not to mention her immense talent.” She seemed to consider a new point. “And what about that? Is she willing to give up her ambitions for a solo musical career to become a duchess?”

  “Not at all. And I would not ask it of her. Grandmamma, it is I who discovered her great talent and proposed expanding it.”

  “But as the new Duchess of Edgerton, she will have responsibilities that would preclude her from having such a career outside of Linfield Hall.”

  “That might be the conventional way of thinking, but she shall be the ‘new’ Duchess. I believe that she and I together will be able to manage our ducal responsibilities and maintain her career. After all, she will have you to guide and advise her.”

  The Duchess seemed to take comfort in that thought. “That is true—if she is susceptible to my guidance.”

  “I have no doubt she will eagerly accept your guiding wisdom and you shall become fast friends,” Mark said, standing now and gazing down at his grandmother with a large grin.

  The Duchess studying him, asked, “And you truly love this woman?”

  “With all my heart, soul, and being.”

  Grandmother sat quietly for a moment, lost in her own thoughts, and then looking up to him said, “As I did your grandfather.” Nodding, she added, “Send her to me so that we may discuss what her new responsibilities shall be—at her convenience.”

  “Thank you, Grandmamma, I am very happy.”

  “And have you set a date?” she asked.

  “Not yet. I am relying on your guidance in that matter.”

  Grandmother considered and said, “An autumn wedding is always nice, I think. Let me see… it is now late June… mid-October seems about right. Does that suit you?”

  “Very well, although I wish it were sooner.”

  “Of course, you do. You are a man with little patience.”

  Mark laughed. “As are all men, I expect.”

  “In matters of the heart, that is most certainly true.”

  “Were you able to tell Alice about our engagement before she and Chester left?” Emily asked.

  Mark smiled. “I did, and I was only sorry you were not there to receive her generous hug. She was so disappointed you were up with Grandmamma, but they needed to get back to the twins. She said, if they did not get back soon, they would lose yet another nanny.”

  “I will visit her when I return,” Emily said.

  “I want to go back to London with you. We should announce the engagement together to your family,” Mark said, as he held Emily’s hand in his while strolling along the lake path.

  A couple of swallows seemed to be playing overhead in the clear summer’s early-afternoon sky. A bank of fluffy clouds was piling high above them, but threatening no rain. However, Mark’s attention was momentarily distracted as a fish jumped in the pond and Emily suspected he wanted to try and catch it. However, he immediately returned his attention to his fiancé, saying, “After all, it is my duty to ask your father for your hand in marriage.”

  “You would do that? So soon after your father’s passing?” Emily asked.

  “I can mourn my father while equally rejoicing in the happiness of our nuptials.”

  “But is that proper?” Emily asked.

  “Well, look at you… suddenly the expert on social customs.”

  “Well, after my meeting with your grandmother, I am now keenly aware of my new responsibilities. And I want to be the best wife and Duchess that I can possibly be.”

  “Did she overwhelm you with all of her ‘must dos’ and ‘must don’ts’?” Mark asked.

  “No, it was more like guidelines. But with access to her if I have any questions on specific points of protocol or other related matters. I am certain all will run smoothly.”

  Mark seemed to hesitate a moment, turning to her with a questioning look. “But before we return to London, there is a very delicate and important task I must perform.”

  “Sophie?” Emily asked.

  Mark nodded. “I must tell her of our engagement. If she should hear it from someone else…”

  “I understand,” Emily said squeezing Mark’s hand.

  “I shall go to see her immediately after lunch. Are you all right with that?”

  “Do you want me to go with you?”

  “Oh no, I must do this alone.”

  Emily nodded, “Of course. It was insensitive for me to even suggest that.”

  Now he squeezed her hand. “I know. It is difficult for me to be separated from you for even a moment. I paced nervously when you went to sit with Grandmamma. I could not wait until you returned.”

  Emily laughed, “However are we to manage as a successful couple if we can never be separated? With my family and my music, and your estate and responsibilities at the House of Lords, we cannot always be together. We are going to have to get used to that.”

  “How wise you are.”

  “But that is not to say I shall be happy being separated,” she added.

  “Then you must excuse me while I leave you to inform Sophie of our engagement.”

  “And you are excused.”

  Mark was feeling a great deal of sorrow as he entered the drawing room where Sophie was occupied with her maid sorting through a box of buttons.

  Sophie gave Mark a large grin and stood up while dismissing her maid with a wave of her hand.

  “Mark, how lovely to see you. I was in the process of looking for buttons as eyes for a doll I am making my young niece.”

  She practically danced over and threw her arms around Mark. He very gently but firmly pulled her arms away. Her countenance immediately darkened.

  “What?” she asked, stepping backward.

  “Please sit with me. I have something to tell you.”

  “Is it your grandmother?” she asked, sensing something momentous had happened.

  “No, the Duchess is well,” he said, leading her to a sofa where they sat.

  “Are you still grieving over your father?” she asked, as she reached for his hand, which he refused to allow.

  This darkened her countenance even more, and she sat very straight and demanded, “What. Tell me now.”

  Mark took a breath and said, “I am engaged to be married to Emily Dunn.”

  Sophie’s face remained remarkably calm and she said nothing.

  Then Mark pleaded, “Please remember our enduring friendship. Ever since we were children we have had a deep and abiding affection for one another. Do not let your disappointment in what you hoped would be our marriage detract from our lifelong relationship.”

  To his surprise, she formed a faint smile and answered, “I have been expecting this meeting for some time now. How can you think I did not know where you were headed? We have always been able to read each other and, of course, I could see that Emily was besotted with you as well.”

  “Then why have you persisted in this charade of courting without telling me you knew?”

  “Because I thought you might want a cover with your father and grandmother. Miss Emily hardly seemed to be the sort of woman they would look for as the bride of a duke.” Mark was truly surprised by her answer. “And how is your grandmother taking the news of this surprise engagement?” Sophie asked.

  “Very well. She is very fond of Emily, and after some reassurances, I believe
they will make a good team—the two duchesses. But what about you? I hope your cover for me has not impeded your own romantic life.”

  “Oh, no. I have been seeing a young man—a family friend—who is the first son of a count and will one day run a quite lovely estate in Hampshire.

  “I see.” Mark laughed. “And I came here thinking I was the one with a surprise and it ends up being you who held the trump card.”

  They both laughed.

  “Oh, Sophie, I cannot tell you how relieved I am at your great news. And how happy I am for you and your new beau. And I trust we shall never keep such secrets from each other ever again, and always remain the best of friends.”

  Chapter 33

  Emily’s mother was ecstatic—two weddings—who would have thought? She barely knew which way to turn, until Emily announced that her wedding was to take place at Linfield Hall. The protocols and requirements of a duke’s wedding were far beyond the scope of the Dunn family and the Duchess had taken on that task with some additional help from Alice.

  But it was quite enough for the family to prepare for Ruth and Spencer’s upcoming wedding. Ruth had arranged for the reception at Harrods with Fanny’s help, as Emily had suggested. Since Teresa suddenly considered herself the new fashion expert, she was helping Ruth choose the bridal gown. Mother was taking up the slack by arranging everything else. It had been discussed and decided that Emily would be far too busy with her new career to be of much help with this wedding—now that she had her own wedding to plan by October.

  However, first, she was determined to get her career back on track. Mark made it clear he was expecting her to follow her dream and he was true to his word.

  Emily received a letter from him in the morning post. It read:

  My Darling Beloved Emily,

  How I have missed you these few days we have been separated. But I have such great news for you. I have had a letter from Herr Darmstadt with the schedule for a proposed European tour for you in next year’s season. He was able to make these arrangements far in advance of the three months he had originally anticipated.

  I am planning to leave for Heidelberg in two days and should be gone no longer than a week to finalize the tour and program, and to sign whatever papers are required. I hope this meets with your approval, as you will not be there to see the schedule and programs for yourself. I considered asking you to accompany me, but I know you are busy with other matters and it would mean at least a week away from your rehearsing—which I believe you would not want.

  I am also writing to Alice and I have asked her to contact Mr. Butler and straighten out the mess that Silas made for you. She is very adept at dealing with difficult situations—after all she has twin boys!

  You shall be hearing from Alice shortly and you may ask her any questions you might have.

  And thus, I send you my deepest and enduring love.

  Your Ever Devoted

  Mark

  Emily immediately wrote a reply, giving Mark full power to take care of business for her in Germany—knowing he would have her best interests in mind.

  Emily posted the letter so that he would receive it before he left for Germany and realized that, with the funeral and the proposal and Ruth’s upcoming wedding, she had not practiced for more than four days. It was time to start up again.

  She practiced hard all morning, and after a brief lunch, started up again and continued the rest of the afternoon. She was shocked to see how much the dexterity in her fingers had decreased with just a few days of neglect.

  During a tea break, the afternoon post arrived, and there was a letter from Alice, inviting her to visit the next morning to discuss her bridal gown (which Alice had been tasked by the Duchess to help provide) and to visit about what Alice had accomplished in her meeting with Mr. Butler.

  Most encouraging, Emily thought.

  Alice’s invitation was set for ten o’clock and Emily was careful to arrive on time, as she did not want to inconvenience Alice, who was as busy with her own work as Emily was with hers.

  This is the first time Emily had seen Alice since Emily had become engaged to her brother and, as Emily entered the sitting room, Alice screeched and ran to Emily, throwing her arms around her.

  “Now we shall truly be sisters,” she said, as she released Emily, who had dropped her handbag in the enthusiastic embrace. “I am so very happy for you. And to tell you a little secret,” she said as she linked her arm with Emily and led her to the sofa. “I always suspected you two would make the perfect couple, and you see how right I have been proved.”

  They sat down and just stared each other with large grins. They were so happy they could only leave their joy unspoken.

  Then Alice broke their trance saying, “First, a report on my meeting with Mr. Butler.”

  “Why must I even deal with the gentleman? He was so dismissive of me and never let me defend myself. How can I ever work with him?” Emily asked.

  Alice raised her hand in a gesture of caution. “It seems that Silas did go to see him and explained the entire episode. And Mr. Butler was so ashamed of himself, he pleaded with me to bring you to him as soon as possible so that he might make amends. In fact, he is putting together a nice limited UK touring schedule for you for this upcoming season. However, you may not be able to accept all the dates, as a few fall close to your wedding date.” She leaned forward and whispered, “And I am certain Mark wants to take you on a splendid and extended honeymoon. But do not tell him I told you.”

  Emily both smiled and blushed. “Then I shall be happy to meet Mr. Butler again. And might you be able to accompany me?”

  “Of course.”

  “It is just that I worry about taking too much time away from your… pardon me, Mr. Blake’s composing,” she said with a smile.

  “My dear, I think we can dispense with the fiction of Mr. Blake between us now, think you not?”

  Emily nodded. “Yes, but the ruse was such fun. Then may I use your name, instead of Mr. Blake’s, when I premiere the piece you gave me for my tour?”

  Alice hesitated, but then said, “Why not? How appropriate to have a female pianist play a work by a female composer. Times are changing, are they not?”

  “It would appear to be so.”

  “Now then, to the second important item—your bridal gown. Grandmamma has asked me to help with the design and construction of your wedding dress. Of course, I want it to be entirely to your taste, but I know the very best designer, and together we can make you the most beautiful bride of the fall season.”

  “I should like that very much. On my own I would have no idea where to go or what would be appropriate for a ducal wedding.”

  “Excellent. I have set up an appointment in an hour for us to meet with the designer. Measurements must be taken. Then a spot of lunch at Russets, and we have a two o’clock appointment with Mr. Butler. Does that suit you?”

  “Most assuredly,” Emily agreed.

  For a moment, Alice just stared at Emily with such a look of affection, and then asked, “Tell me, how did Mark propose to you?”

  Emily related the disturbing incident with Silas coming to her bedroom, but ended the story with the joyous and unexpected surprise of Mark’s proposal.

  “Oh, my dear. Now that is a story.”

  “And I have no idea what Mr. Skeffington’s status is right now in the family. Have you heard?”

  “Mark has said nothing to me,” Alice said.

  “All I know is that he was escorted out of the house in the dead of night by a burley footman.”

  That image set the two laughing.

  Emily then said, “But Silas did recant his story to Mr. Butler. So, he has, at least partially, redeemed himself.” Then she asked, “But did you feel terribly violated?”

  “It never came to anything. Mark intervened before Silas could make any serious advances. It was more of a surprise than an actual threat.”

  “But it must not have seemed so at the time,” Alice said.
>
  Emily tilted her head. “There were a few startling moments. But it passed, and I believe the threat catapulted Mark into asking me to marry him.”

  “And here we are—about to choose your wedding gown.”

  “And launch my new career.”

  Emily’s day with Alice had been a lot of fun. The meeting with Mr. Butler was most successful, and together they had worked out a schedule of performances that would work around the wedding.