Beatrice obliged and at the end of the ball. Emily now knew the names, the Duke of Bedford, Robert Masters, and Charles Carrington.
The Duke of Bedford's carriage pulled up outside Priory Manor. A footman opened the door. As the Duke climbed out, he looked up at the house. It was very large, indeed. He estimated, at least, fifty rooms. The front of the house had a stone staircase leading up the front door. The large windows were arranged symmetrically and the he noticed the clock in the facade. It was three pm.
The Duke of Bedford is here to see you, Miss Emily, the butler announced.
Thank you, Jennings, please show him in.
Miss Emily, I was most surprised to receive your note yesterday. Pleasantly surprised, I might add. I do get a lot of invitations from young ladies but seldom from one as beautiful as your good self.
It is kind of you to say so. Please be seated, Emily pointed to a French sofa opposite her. A maid poured tea, and they studied each other.
I do hope you don't think it forward of me to ask you to tea.
Not at all. I am, after all, a Duke. I assume it is not often that you have the privilege of entertaining such a titled man.
Emily disliked the conceit of his answer. I will come to the point, my Lord. I much enjoyed our dance the other evening. It is not for a lady to ask, but I would like to know you better. Do you think me too forward?
Miss Emily, I am honored that you asked me. I am of course much in demand with young ladies throughout the whole country. It seems I only have to dance with one of them, and I am invited for tea very soon afterward. I have a title, and that is an attractive proposition for any woman. However, I must say, I am in awe of your beauty, and I would be delighted to give you the chance to know me better.
Splendid, that's settled. Tell me, my Lord, do you live alone?
Yes. I am the youngest Duke in the country. My unfortunate parents died two years ago in a boating accident at Newby Hall. I live alone in Aldborough Hall.
Then may I ask you to invite me, how shall I put it, to stay with you. For the sake of modesty perhaps you could invite me to a dinner party where there are other guests. It would be indiscreet to come to your house alone. I would please like to stay the evening in one of your rooms. A journey home so late in the evening would be ill advised for a young woman, on her own.
I would be delighted if you stayed, Emily noticed the glint in the Duke's eye.
Mr. Robert Masters to see you, Miss Emily.
Mr. Masters, please come in and sit down. How was your journey? Emily had seen him at the ball, but she hadn't been close enough to see how handsome he really was. He was tall and thin, with blonde hair and green-brown eyes. He had a Viking roughness to him that women found very attractive. His eyes made her feel he was undressing her and in his mind he already was.
Masters sat on the same sofa the Duke of Bedford has used two days earlier. Fine, thank you. I must say I was pleasantly surprised to receive your invitation to tea, Miss Emily.
I have heard so much about you, I wanted to ask you here, to see for myself if what they say is true. I do hope you don't find me forward in doing so?
Masters looked longingly at Emily's décolleté. Forward? No, not in the slightest. Pray, what have you heard about me?
I have heard that you are a ladies’ man. I like confident men. Someone who knows how to speak to a woman. Is that the case Mr. Masters?
Well....it could be said that I enjoy the company of women, yes.
And how many conquests have you had in your short life, may I inquire, Emily asked.
Quite a number.
I will come to the point if I may. The reason I extended this invitation to you is this: I admire you, and I would very much like to know you better. Would that be agreeable to you?
Masters looked at her breasts again before looking her straight in the eye. That would be very agreeable.
I want you, to invite me to your home. It is, of course, a little indelicate for me to come unaccompanied to the house of a single man, especially one as experienced in the ways of the world as you. Perhaps you can invite me to dinner. Make sure there are other guests there. But I would like to stay the night if I may. It is ill advised for a woman to travel alone in the evening.
Of course. I will arrange it. I will prepare your bed chamber myself, he smirked.
Mr. Charles Carrington to see you, Miss Emily.
Mr. Carrington, what a pleasure it is to meet you, Emily said.
Miss Emily. Thank you so much for the kind invitation to your splendid home. I must say I was surprised to receive it.
Please take a seat. As the Duke and Masters had done before him, Carrington sat on the French sofa. He looked at Emily and was struck by her blue eyes. Mr. Masters, I am so pleased you could come today. You may think it forward of me, but I noticed you at the ball, and I must say, I decided I would like to get to know you better.