Page 24 of Caught By the Ruthless Duke
Instead, she smiled. “Lord Emerton. How kind.”
He possessed conventional handsomeness: golden hair arranged just so, blue eyes empty of depth. Within thirty seconds, he’d bored her to tears.
“I was just telling your father about my new curricle. Cost a fortune, naturally, but one must have the finest equipage. The matched bays cost nearly as much, but are worth every penny for the impression they make.”
They discussed the rest of her life as casually as livestock prices. She felt suffocation creeping up her throat.
“Lord Emerton adores the opera,” Lady Bardwell interjected.
“Oh yes. Though truthfully, I attend more to be seen than to listen. All that caterwauling in Italian. Can’t understand a word, but appearances must be maintained.”
“Cressida!” Lady Norwell’s voice cut through her rising panic.
Her grandmother swept toward them with formidable determination, sharp eyes assessing Emerton with barely concealed disdain.
“I require your assistance, child. I need air,” she said.
“Oh, Mama, I can escort you,” Lady Bardwell offered quickly.
“Nonsense. I specifically want Cressida. You’d only prattle about fashion, Jane.” Lady Norwell’s gaze landed on Emerton. “No offense intended to present company.”
The dismissal suggested considerable offense was intended.
They escaped to the gardens, torchlight casting dancing shadows.
“Thank you,” Cressida breathed.
“That insufferable dandy? Good God, what was your father thinking?”
They walked in companionable silence before Lady Norwell spoke again.
“So, how was your extended visit? I do hope that dreadful aunt of yours didn’t make you too miserable. Though knowing Agatha, she probably had you scrubbing floors while lecturing you about propriety and gratitude.”
Despite everything, Cressida laughed. “Aunt Agatha remains unchanged in her delightful temperament.”
“Did you get up to anything naughty while away?”
Heat flooded her cheeks. “Perhaps. Slightly.”
Her grandmother’s delighted laugh rang out. “Excellent.”
They paused beside a fountain.
“Now explain how you’ve ended up engaged to that peacock Emerton.”
The story spilled out. Lady Norwell listened with a thunderous expression.
“Unconscionable. I’ll speak to your father immediately.”
“It won’t help.”
“Now, what else happened during these eventful weeks? You have quite an intriguing look about you.”
Cressida’s thoughts flew to Theodore. “There was a storm. I took shelter at a duke’s estate.”
Her grandmother, at least, could be trusted to keep her secret. Besides familial tenderness, Lady Norwell would keep silent out of sheer delight at knowing something no one else did.
“Which duke?”
