Page 17 of Pursuing a Duke
“As am I.” And she was. Seeing Claire now brought back all the memories of spending time together as children and during their first Season. It was a time worth remembering.
“Jacobson.” Claire waved over a footman. “Will you escort Mrs. Fitzpatrick and Baroness Connolly to their rooms?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Before Emmeline followed the footman up the staircase, she glanced over her shoulder at Andrew as he greeted their hostess.Breathe.Just because Andrew was here didn’t mean he was here for her. Jacobson stopped at the first door on the right, three floors up. “Baroness, this is your room. Your things will be up shortly.”
Mother turned to her and kissed her cheek. “I will see you soon. Please relax and enjoy yourself, and let nature take its course with Andrew. You two belong together. Any fool can see that.”
Was her mother calling her and Andrew fools?
“This is your room, Mrs. Fitzpatrick,” Jacobson said as he opened another door for her to enter.
“Thank you.” Emmeline took in the lovely room, decorated in pale yellow and cream with subtle touches of blue. There was a large mahogany four-poster bed, a dressing table, a wardrobe, and a stone fireplace. Off to the side was a screen for privacy. It was a modest-sized room, and Emmeline knew she would be comfortable here for the next two weeks. Her hand flew to her stomach. Two whole weeks in the company of Andrew. If she couldn’t get a marriage proposal during that time, she would have to give up on him and look elsewhere for a husband, even if the only husband she wanted was Andrew. She already knew she wanted children, so if she couldn’t have Andrew, she would have to marry someone to give her those children even though it would break her heart for it to be anyone else.
She needed to come up with a plan. Perhaps Claire and Catherine could help her. They had married young, just as she had. But how had they gotten their husbands to propose? People got betrothed all the time. How hard could it be?
It’s hard to know if Emmeline’s five years of waiting—after her year of mourning—proved anything about the difficulty or ease of finding a husband. Once her mourning was over, she hadn’t exactly entered Society looking for a husband, or much at all. Of course, during most of the six years since Aiden’s death, Andrew had been in a dark place and then out of the country. She hadn’t truly had the heart to seek a husband then since what remained of her battered heart belonged to Andrew, and wasn’t transferable. But the time had come. Andrew was back and either they would have their chance or they wouldn’t, but she couldn’t wait any longer for the family she hoped to have.
Just then, Amanda entered the room with her trunks. “Nothing is planned until this afternoon,” Amanda said as she unpacked her things and smoothed out all the dresses and ball gowns before hanging them in the wardrobe. “Would you care to rest?”
Now that Amanda mentioned resting, Emmeline realized she was tired after the long three-day journey. “I would like that.” Stripped down to her chemise, she climbed beneath the counterpane and rested her head on a soft, fluffy pillow. It wasn’t long before sleep descended.
“Emmeline, my love,” Andrew said one afternoon in her parents’ London townhouse gardens. “I have a question to ask.” His face was flush, and sweat beaded his upper lip. It was warm in the gardens, but she believed the sweat was from nerves. “Will you marry me?”
Her heart stopped beating right then and there. She had dreamed of hearing those words from him, and nothing wouldmake her happier. Except she also loved Aiden. She had thinking and soul-searching to do before she could reply. In her eyes, they were both perfect for her. She loved them both. As far as her heart was concerned, she loved them equally. Though her brain may be another matter. She’d already listed their good and bad qualities, hoping that would help her if it came to that.
Granted, only Andrew had proposed. However, she knew Aiden would propose, too, once he caught wind of this. She had never intended for two gentlemen to fall in love with her. Nor had she planned to fall in love with both of them. It broke her heart to know one of them would be hurt, that by her actions, one of them would be rejected. She would do anything not to hurt either of them.
Tears pooled in her eyes, and she dabbed them away. She couldn’t decide now, no matter how it might hurt Andrew. Forcing herself to look him in the eye, she gasped at the love shining from those soft green orbs with hope and worry. It was all there for her to witness. If only she could put him out of his misery and whisper yes. “How I’ve dreamed of hearing you ask those words.” She took his hands in hers and squeezed them. “Can I have some time to make my decision?”
Disappointment flashed in his eyes and on his features before he masked them. “Take all the time you need.” He brought both her hands to his mouth and kissed each of them. “Please remember that I love you and have loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you. Your expressive blue eyes, unguarded features, grace, and beauty spoke to my soul. There will never be another for me. You own me. All of me.”
Before she could respond, Andrew bowed gracefully and walked away, his shoulders back, and his head held high. The sadness and uncertainty she’d glimpsed in his eyes told her it took a strong will to walk away from her.
If only she could have said yes to ease his burden. When she’d prepared for her first Season, the most important thing on her mind was not having an attack of nerves from the crush of people attending all the events. She hadn’t wanted to embarrass herself by covering her ears and humming to drown out the voices of hundreds of people, all crowding together. She was excited to try to find a husband, someone to love and be loved by, but she hadn’t worried overly much about that. Now she worried about the man she would leave behind.
The next afternoon, Aiden called upon her, seemingly determined to have a private word with her without her mother chaperoning.
“May I escort Miss Emmeline for a stroll through the gardens?” Aiden asked her mother, looking rather shy.
“You may.”
For the second day in a row, Emmeline sat on the same bench in the same spot in the formal gardens, glancing into the eyes of a man she loved.
“Emmeline, my love. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?” Aiden grinned, and his brown eyes softened. “I know I am not the first to ask for your hand. I only ask that you consider my offer.” He dropped to his knees and took her hands in his. She swallowed the lump in her throat as tears pooled in her eyes. “I love you more than life itself. I don’t possess a title, nor will I ever, but I can make you happy and care for you. Neither you, nor the children we have, will want for anything. I don’t expect an answer now, but please say yes when you do.”
And as she had yesterday, she found herself alone in the garden, crying tears of love, joy, and heartbreak.
