Emma, on the other hand, was all about responsibility. Being the eldest daughter meant she felt it was her duty to look after her two younger sisters, Cecilia and Dorothy, as well as her ten-year-old brother. Though she often appeared serious, Emma had a sharp sense of humor that always lifted Alice’s mood.
On most days, spending time with them distracted Alice from the fact that she was still unmarried. Being a wallflower had its advantages. It offered a sanctuary from the looming shadow of her father's expectations.
"Who even is the Duke of Ravenmoor?" Lavinia asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. The three of them were squatted by the pond’s edge, watching the water.
"The Duke of Ravenmoor," Emma answered. "He’s quite a known figure in society, but his reputation precedes him, I’m afraid."
"What reputation?" Lavinia asked again.
"You see, if you didn’t have your head buried in books all day, you would know," Emma said. "The Duke is more beast than man, according to the rumors. No one dares speak well of him.They say he is not just rude but brutal, with a temper that borders on madness. He avoids society not out of preference, but because people fear him. His tongue is as sharp as a blade, cutting down anyone who dares cross him, and there are whispers… whispers that he’s even taken a life in a fit of rage."
Lavinia shuddered. "Surely, that can’t be true."
"I wouldn’t be so sure," Emma replied grimly. "These rumors cannot emerge from thin air."
Lavinia shivered slightly at Emma’s words. "I cannot imagine being married to someone like that. It sounds utterly dreadful."
Alice gave Lavinia a quizzical look. "You do realize that I might end up marrying someone exactly like that, and it’s for this reason, I am currently losing my grip on my mind?"
Lavinia stifled a laugh. "Sorry," she whispered. "But look on the bright side. He is a duke. He has the title and the wealth. Your papa always compares you to Catherine, and she is married to an Earl. If you marry the Duke, you’ll finally silence him once and for all."
"That’s not exactly the kind of motivation I need, Lavinia," Alice said.
"Titles and wealth do not guarantee a happy life," Emma explained. "You deserve someone who treats you with kindness and respect, not someone who will make you feel small."
"I don’t know why this feels so different," Alice said lowly. "In a way, it scares me. For instance, the other suitors Papa had presented to me were respectable gentlemen. People knew them, they were part of society, well-connected and reliable. But the Duke seems… like a dark alley. He has no relatives here in London, no one can vouch for his character, and the rumors that swirl around him have never been debunked. If I end up marrying him, I would be stepping into the unknown. I am beyond terrified. What if he attempts to kill me in a fit of rage?"
Emma patted Alice on the back. "I understand your frustration, my friend," she said. "I would be worried too if I were in your shoes."
"I don’t think she should be worried," Lavinia said.
"Why not?" Emma and Alice chorused.
"Because she is not marrying the Duke," Lavinia said. "Your papa is bluffing."
Alice scoffed. "My papa is not one to bluff. He is a strict man who cares more about climbing the social ladder than about the happiness of his daughters. His ambition blinds him to what truly matters, and I fear I am simply a pawn in his quest for status."
"Hear me out," Lavinia asked. "What does your papa care about the most?"
Alice arched her eyebrows. "Status?"
"What else?"
Alice shrugged her shoulders. "Our family’s reputation?"
"Exactly!" Lavinia said with widened eyes. "He cares deeply about your family’s reputation. He won’t do anything to tarnish it. This rush to marry you off stems from the Earl’sactions. He’s trying to repair the damage his elopement caused, and he believes pairing you quickly will cause the backlash to die down."
Alice slowly shook her head. "I don’t think I understand?—"
"Marrying the Duke will tarnish your family’s reputation," Lavinia said. "Especially if the rumors about him are true."
Emma gasped. "Lavinia makes a valid point. Alice, you must convince your papa that a match with the Duke could be disastrous. If you get him to see things from that perspective, he will rethink his decision and arrange for other engagements."
Alice nodded slowly, feeling a flicker of hope ease her worry. "You are right. I could do that."
"Can your mama help?" Emma asked.
Alice dropped her shoulders before shaking her head. "My mama is only concerned about the Duke’s status. She will onlychoose to see the good that comes with marrying a man of such rank. In her eyes, it’s all about securing our place in society, not the potential disaster that might come with marrying a man surrounded by such rumors."
