Suzanne Allain - Incognito

Lady Smithfield heard the second announcement with far more shock than she had the first. She would be a laughingstock. All of her dreams, her plans for her daughter, had come to nothing. Her beautiful daughter, the pride of her mother, was to marry a vicar. How Lady Abernathy would crow. But then Lady Smithfield happened to look at her daughter. Lydia had at first been sitting in stunned disbelief, but soon afterward an expression of such sweet happiness transformed her face she was more beautiful than she had ever been. Certainly, when Lady Smithfield compared her current expression with what it had been the past week or so, it was obvious that she had not been looking out for her daughter’s best interests. And Sedgewick was a handsome fellow, she thought, looking him over critically. She really did prefer fair-haired gentlemen. Perhaps Sir Marcus might be persuaded to give Sedgewick the name of his tailor . . .

After a few minutes, Lady Smithfield was so reconciled to the match that she persuaded Lydia and Sedgewick to retire to the morning room, where they might enjoy some privacy from the rest of the group. She also began to think of asking the duke when the living at Silverden, his country estate, would be available, for that was a far more prestigious living than the one there in Stonehurst, and he might be persuaded to give it to Sedgewick. When she finally did get the opportunity to ask him, she was quite disappointed to hear that the current occupant was in robust health, and only forty years of age at the very most.

When Lydia and Sedgewick left the room, Emily felt she, too, could leave without occasioning any comment, and she soon took her leave of the gentlemen, murmuring something about some chore she had to perform.

It was obvious to Alexander that Emily was laboring under some strong emotion, but, as he was convinced it was no more than her regret in losing out on his fortune, he was not too sympathetic. He would allow her to suffer a little, as he had suffered by her refusal, but, in the back of his mind, he felt he would marry her in the end. He soon took his leave, and, when Lady Smithfield issued him an invitation to stay, he thanked her but told her he was quite comfortable with Sedgewick. Lady Smithfield was somewhat relieved by his refusal, as her small house was almost filled to capacity with her current guests and their retinue of servants. Sir Marcus, on the other hand, was happy to agree to an extended stay, at least until after the Abernathys’ ball, which he had every expectation of being invited to once he paid a call at Rothergate. He soon took his leave as well, mentioning that he had to travel to London immediately, but he would be returning the next day. His departure left the duke and Lady Smithfield by themselves.

“Well. It was quite a morning for surprises,” said Lady Smithfield.

“Yes, indeed,” the duke agreed. “I hope you were not discomposed by the announcements.”

“Well, I must admit, I was a little peeved just at first. I daresay it slipped your mind, but you assured me only yesterday that your son was in love with my daughter.”

“And so he is,” the duke said affably.

Lady Smithfield looked at him in wonder, thinking perhaps he was as mad as old King George. “You just made an announcement to the opposite.”

“Lady Smithfield,” the duke said, quite gently, “you do, I believe, have two daughters?”

It took Lady Smithfield a moment to grasp the significance of this statement, and, when she had, she was beside herself. “My dear duke, you mean he loves Emily? Why, I never once suspected. But, then, she was not herself yesterday, and I did wonder when you said that about young girls in love, with whom Emily could be in love. Oh, my, I cannot take it in. Both my daughters married! And I will no longer have to fear what Lady Abernathy has to say. As if your son could be the least interested in that cold niece of hers! I knew it was a falsehood from the very start.” Lady Smithfield’s exclamations and rhapsodizing went on for a good five minutes, until the duke interrupted her to tell her there was nothing settled as of yet, and she was not to mention it to Emily, or anyone else.

“Not mention it? What do you mean?”

“Well, my son had this notion of testing her love for him, and so proposed to her while he was still in the guise of a curate. Emily refused, for whatever reason, but now he’s convinced she acted from mercenary motives. I think it will take him a little while to cool off and approach her again.”

Lady Smithfield could not quite comprehend what the duke was saying. Of course Emily had refused a curate. She was surprised her daughter had acted with such good sense. It was unfortunate, of course, that the young man had later turned out to be a marquess, but Emily could not have known such a thing at the time. Why Lord Wesleigh would hold such a thing against her daughter was something she could not understand. However, the duke reminded her that she had promised to let the young couple pursue their courtship without interference, so she agreed to be patient for a little while longer.

Lydia sought Emily out after Sedgewick had left, eager to tell her all the details of his proposal and her acceptance. Emily, despite her own unhappiness, managed to show her genuine joy at her sister’s engagement, and listened unselfishly to every minute detail. She was sure Sedgewick was happy as well, but suspected he would have been happier if he had had to overcome further obstacles in his pursuit of Lydia. Emily was beginning to think he enjoyed being the object of a tragic love affair far more than a happy one.

Lydia was so preoccupied with her own happiness that it was some time before she realized that there was something troubling her sister. Gradually, however, as the first rush of confidences subsided, she began to notice that her sister was quieter than usual, and that her smiles, while sincere, had a wistful quality about them. Emily was relieved to be asked what was troubling her, and described the whole sorry business from start to finish.

“So, that is that,” she finished, with resignation. “He will have nothing more to do with me, and how can I blame him? He thinks me another Lady Cynthia.”

“But, Emily, I am sure if you just explained why you refused him—”

“How would he ever believe me? No, the time to tell him was the night of my rescue. I hesitated, and now I am lost.”

“I cannot believe that he has ceased to love you. I am sure he would be relieved to hear your explanation.”

“Perhaps. I feel, however, that I have lost him irrevocably. There is no warmth in his regard any longer, not like there was. And then, after my foolish behavior in traveling unaccompanied after dark, he probably thinks my actions completely inexplicable. Certainly they were lacking in the decorum one looks for in the wife of a marquess, not to mention a future duchess. No, I must forget him,” Emily announced resolutely, and when Lydia looked disbelieving, Emily just smiled. “You do not believe me, I see. Well, I am determined. I am only nineteen after all, and Lord Wesleigh is not the only gentleman in the world. I am going to a ball on Wednesday, where I am sure to meet a number of nice gentlemen. I refuse to let Lord Wesleigh destroy my pleasure in the ball. I just hope my bruise has faded by then.” This effectively turned the subject to that of cosmetics that could be discreetly applied to disguise Emily’s bruise, if necessary, followed by a serious discussion of how each of them should arrange her hair.

Lydia, however, could not be happy when her sister suffered so miserably. She resolved to do something about it, and consulted Sedgewick at the earliest opportunity. He was happy at the prospect of interfering in his friend’s romance as thoroughly as Wesleigh had interfered with his own, and he and Lydia soon decided the most effective way of inciting Wesleigh to passion was to make him jealous.

“But of whom?” Lydia asked, once this course was decided upon.

“There are sure to be quite a few gentlemen at the ball.”

“Yes, but I know of no one in particular who admires Emily.”

“Wesleigh does not know that. We just have to pick out one of her partners, and I will mention to Wesleigh that he has told me how greatly he admires Emily.”

“Jonathan,” Lydia exclaimed, admiration shining in her eyes, “you are brilliant.”

This statement was bound to make Sedgewick forget his friend’s ill-fated romance completely, and the conversation was effectively over.

It was not to be imagined, however, that the two unfortunate lovers were not thrown together often before the ball on Wednesday evening. The duke was still Lady Smithfield’s guest, Alexander was now acknowledged as his son, and Sedgewick was engaged to one of the daughters of the house. This made for many unpleasant meetings between Emily and Alexander. Added to this were the obvious matchmaking efforts of Lydia and Sedgewick, and the less obvious efforts of Lady Smithfield and the duke. Sir Marcus was the only person who had no interest in seeing Emily and Wesleigh get together.