Free The Companion of Lady Holmeshire by Debra Brown Page A

He covered his mouth with his fingers, but then threw his hands upward. “Pardon my...misinterpretation of tea time, ladies. I realize it is not only politics that need to be bantered about. My wife is so very clear about that. What would London do, should one hand not know what the other was doing, after all? But, Lord Holmeshire, tea tables would be happier places if you fulfilled your obligations to womankind.”
    “ Are there a lack of balls and dinners?” Wills admirably kept himself from fuming. “Are people in want of reasons to wear white vests or diamonds, or is it that the Abbey sits empty without more weddings? I simply cannot fathom the rush everyone is in to have me married. Must one marry in their early twenties? Emma, what do you think of it?”
    The poor girl was in horror! Her heart raced as she looked to Winnie, who replied with a sympathetic nod, and back at Wills. “My Lord, I cannot dare to voice my thoughts over these noble people!”
    “ At least she knows her place,” muttered the hefty Lady Embry, reaching for her bread and glittering far more than the crystal.
    Wills ignored her and continued to address Emma. “Ah, so you do have thoughts on the subject! I am glad to hear that! I shall come to you for counsel when it will not dismay you so.” Emma took a deep breath and tended to her plate. “The Duke has voiced his delight in having Emma to dinner, my friends; have you not, Your Grace?” Wills took after his mother in his disdain for the rigidity of society. “She was a Squire’s ward, you know.”
    “ A Squire. I’m sure she is proud of that!” Lady Embry snorted. “And just how many squires does England have?”
    “ I pray, Madam, allow me my guests,” the Duke retorted. “Emma, will you join us tomorrow again?”
    “ Your Highness, thank you, I shall hope to,” she sighed.
    “ I should not inquire, then, being a squire’s ward, who her parents are, or pardon me, who they were , should I? Or when she was presented at court?” The lady stabbed her partridge.
    “ Lady Embry, you are the first to remind people of their social graces. Can you not practice yours?” the Duchess countered. “You must consider your example! Eminence is enhanced by civility and charm.”
    The dashing Mr. Gabriel Hughes, having observed Emma thoughtfully through the meal and having admired her greatly, spoke up from several seats down the table. “How I wish I were to visit tomorrow myself. Alas, I cannot dine with Miss Carrington. I shall be fighting for the Crown in court and then be elsewhere.” He had been introduced to her earlier as the most successful and impressive barrister in the land.
    “ The Crown is very much in need of you, my learned friend. Here we can make do with just the few of us and enjoy your company another night,” uttered His Grace, his admiration for the barrister evident.
    “ I fear there will be very few of us, indeed, my dear, as we and our guests are to dine at Handerton House,” Helena interjected. “It will be the servants alone here tomorrow!”
    “ And which party will Miss Carrington be with?” Lady Embry oh-so-sweetly inquired. Her query was ignored, while the poor, mortified Emma longed to melt off her chair and down underneath the table, never to resurface. Could she bear any more of this dinner? Wills considered raising a toast to her for courage in the face of adversity, but feared that it would distress her for not being well received in certain seats.
    “ We shan’t be having such conversations at Holmeshire Hall,” he commented pleasantly, hinting at who might and who might not receive invitations under his jurisdiction, “nor at my London home, should I be forced to produce one as a single gentleman.”
    “ I understand that Lady Genevieve is well acquainted with the proper ways of society,” intimated the glistening, overly perfumed personage, taking advantage of his nearly having brought up the subject himself.
    “ I understand that