Chapter Six - Reunited.

 


Emilia steeled herself when she heard the dull thud of the knock on the front door.

Even from her vantage point in the sitting room, it seemed to echo as loudly as it would were she sitting in the foyer of the Beacon town home.

Only one person was to call today, Lydia had ensured that their esteemed butler Stevens knew that they were not entertaining any other guests, and their admission would be strictly disallowed.

Emilia had decided she was quite prepared to meet with the Duke, though she had not realised that the visit would occur so soon. Her sister was exceedingly eager to facilitate their meeting again though, and had decided the very day after Emilia had confided in her to be just the day for such a visit.

 

Emilia found she could not fault her sister at all and though Emilia's nerves were wavering in anticipation of their guest, she was looking forward immensely to once again being in his presence. 

It seemed everything was working out for her now, Laurent had been caught by his commanding officer and removed to the hulks to await the court martial hearing for his desertion. 

 

Emilia had heard nothing of Ginny, and she supposed her friend felt that her revenge was complete.

Lastly, Beacon had come home two days after his argument with Lydia and, as Rosa guessed, had grovelled for her forgiveness.

 

The Duke was the final loose end that Emilia had yet to tie up.

 

All too soon it seemed, the subject of her reverie stepped through the threshold of the room Emilia was sitting in with determination.

Her sister had escorted him there and would stay throughout the visit, but Emilia knew she would not intervene or intrude on their conversation.

 

He seemed adorably confused at having been summoned by his best friend, only to be pushed into the lady's company – particularly Emilia's as she had been avoiding his company for over a month's time now.

Emilia offered him a small smile hoping to ease his obvious discomfort, but it seemed to only confuse him still more.

 

The Duke made his way over to the couch where Emilia had sat and bowed his head.

 

“Miss Wharburton,” he greeted her and sat beside her. Only two words had been spoken but the tension in the air seemed to break. “You are looking very well as always.”

She looked up into his face hoping to convey all that she could not say, the apologies she could not voice.

“Thank you, Your Grace. I feel better than I have in over a month I daresay.”

 

He looked at her imploringly, trying to gleam answers from her face.

“I, that is to say we, everyone who knows you I suppose... have missed your presence these many weeks,” he smiled at her gallantly. “I don't believe I have been able to enjoy any performance, Simspeare or not, in your absence.”

Emilia smiled brightly. He was clearly offering her the proverbial olive branch.

“I am sure my constant commentary was not missed, Sir, you must jest,” she demurred.

 

A quick glance at her eldest sister told Emilia that she was listening to the couple make up as only they could, Lydia's feigned reading belied by the sly smile that graced her lips.

 

“I suppose, Miss Wharburton, that we must speak of that we wish to ignore.”

Emilia frowned. Must they really?

“I would wish to clear the air you see...before I, before we, that is; I do desire to be your friend once more.” He spoke softly, intimately to her bowed head.

Her friend? He desired to be her friend again? She looked up sharply.

His face lacked it's usual mask. The man looked utterly dejected at her look, but continued forth.

 

“I had hopes once that perhaps friends was not the only relationship with you to which I could aspire,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. “but I must admit that belief has been shaken this past month and my fortitude tested.”

She blinked owlishly at him.

 

“That is not the impression I had wished to impart,” she blurted nervously. “I did not want to give anyone cause to think you had behaved as less than a perfect gentleman, I had hoped the rumours would go away in our time apart.”

She wrung her hands with nervous energy and stood up.

“It has been... unpleasant without your company Sir, but I must inform you that it is my fault we were ever found in this situation.”

 

Emilia looked over at Lydia who was smiling her encouragement at the younger girl.

Emilia knew she had to continue, nothing could ever happen between them if she kept this secret.

 

“Lady Ginevra, Marquess Simmington's sister and my once close friend, spread these rumours about the both of us.”

 

She paused to make sure he was following her words, and smiled when she found that she had his whole attention.

“She wanted to ruin my reputation, I believe. So you see it was completely my fault that your name has been dragged through the mud.”

 

The Duke grinned at her.

“The Marquess himself has told me of his sister's actions. I believe it was her last hurrah to visit you and importune you as she did. He has sent her off to North Simconshire to live with their aunt for the time being.”

 

Emilia let out a nervous giggle.

“Oh she will hate that. Her aunt Stratton is a bluestocking!”

 

They shared a smile.

“You can't hold yourself to blame for the actions of others, Emilia.”

 

A rosy pink blush spread over her fair cheeks at his use of her maiden name, as a snort from the opposite corner of the room was heard.

“Oh, dear Emilia I believe I can hear my Beacon calling for me I won't be but a moment.”

Lydia directed the comment at her sister, but was staring directly in the Duke's eyes as she spoke.

 

The Duke looked slightly abashed as she left the room and Emilia's blush would not let up.

“I had hoped to court you properly you know.”

Emilia found that every other object in the room grabbed her attention over his face at the moment.

 

“Will you not look at me, dearest Emilia?”

She did and he smiled at her, looking at her as though she were his whole world.

 

“I cannot court you now,” he said, to a gasp from Emilia. “I don't want to lose you again, not even for only a month. Will you marry me, dearest, loveliest Emilia?”

 

Her eyes widened to the size of Lydia's Royal Simcester dinner plates.

“I -” she started anxiously, “I had not....”

 

“You do not have to answer now, if your answer is in the negative but I will not rest until I have secured your good opinion and your hand.”

 

She grabbed his hand.

“You did not let me finish, your Grace,” Emilia said with a tremor to her voice. “I had not thought you would still want me after my actions this past month, and what Ginny has done to us both.”

 

They spent a moment lost in one another.

“May I hope that is a yes?” The Duke finally broke the spell of silence between them.

“Of course it's a yes!”

 

He took her hand and they moved to stand in the middle of Lydia's sitting room away from prying eyes on the street outside and finally, finally the Duke kissed Emilia soundly.