The Duchess reached out her hands which Emilytook.
“Miss Emily, that was most delightful. This is the second time I have heard you perform and--without a doubt--you are a major talent. Thank you for making this such a pleasant musicalevening.”
“And it is entirely my pleasure, YourGrace.”
Silas interrupted by leaning over and giving the Duchess a kiss on the cheek. She winced slightly and looked up athim.
“Silas, I have not seen you for ages. Have you been avoiding me?” the Duchessasked.
“And why would I do that?” he asked. “I lavish attention upon you whenever I am visiting. But I have been busy organizing a tour of the south of England for Miss Emily’s sisters. How I am taxed,” he said, as he feignedexhaustion.
“Get away with you, tiresome man. You are never sincere with me. And tomorrow,Iam to be taxed by the floral competition at the county fair. Two of my most prized entries are to be judged and I know I shall have a sleepless night until the competition is decided. And only Miss Emily has shown any sympathetic interest in myplight.”
Silas perked up at that. “Then allow me to escort the two of you to the fair and we shall relish your triumphal wintogether.”
Emily did not like the sound of that proposal, but the conversation was interrupted by Mark coming over and engagingEmily.
He gave Emily a big grin. “You have had an excellent and positive response from the gentlemen I invited to see your concert. Now is not the time, but I have proposed we meet tomorrow morning to discuss your future. There have been a number of suggestions and we need to explore them together. Might you be able to attend thatmeeting?”
Emily immediately remembered she had promised the Duchess to accompany her to the fair, but she smiled inwardly as she realized Silas had just committed himself to accompany her—but now without her presence. He would not likethat.
“Certainly. I shall be happy to attend.” She turned to the Duchess, “I am so sorry, Your Grace, but I must attend this meeting and will be unable to accompany you to thefair.”
Silas’s expressionsoured.
“I understand,” the Duchess said with a sigh. And then she turned to Silas, “But I shall gladly accept your offer to accompany me. I shall be leaving at nine-thirty. Please be ready by nine. We shall go in mycarriage.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Silas said glumly, as Emilysmiled.
Chapter 21
Mark was taking a morning constitutional walk before breakfast. With the crowd of guests, he had not had a moment alone for several days. He was walking along the edge of the lake. He thought about going to his fishing spot but there really was not enough time before the guests would start arising and besiege the breakfast room for their morning meal. He would need to be there quite soon, so he turned around and headed back toward thehall.
He spotted a figure walking toward him up ahead. Who, besides him, would be up at this hour? He shaded his eyes from the rising sun and squinted to see who it mightbe.
As the figure got closer he realized it wasEmily.
“Good morning. I thought I was the only one up this early,” hesaid.
As Emily approached, she grinned and said, “Oh, no. I love the early morning and, on such a fresh summerlike day, I could not resist stretching my legs. I have been practicing so very much these past few weeks, I have taken no exercise at all and it is veryrefreshing.”
“That it is. Please continue on with your walk undisturbed, as I know of no one else up at this hour. Unless you would care to accompany me back to the house forbreakfast.”
“Yes, I should likethat.”
She turned and followed along with him. They were both silent for a few moments as they drank in the beauty of the morning. The sun was rising through the trees that lined the lake. The birds were singing their morning songs and a number flitted across the lake, dipping to skim across the surface, before landing on the shore to gather nestingmaterial.
Thin clouds scudded across the sky catching the light from the rising sun and glowing orange, pink, and yellow. A soft breeze blew the scent of newly mown grass that the groundskeepers had recently cut in preparation for the guests’arrivals.
Mark glanced at Emily before he asked, “You are quite near Hyde Park. Do you enjoy taking your exercisethere?”
She looked up at him. “I do—when I can. However, my sisters are generally useless at accompanying me, and my father leaves early for the shop each morning, so I mostly leave the housealone.”
“Is it quite safe or proper for a young lady to walk unaccompanied early in the morning?” heasked.
“Oh no. I walk with my friend, Fanny, who also is an earlyriser.”
“If I were in London I would love to walk withyou.”
