The Haunting of a Duke(9)

It was a pleasant thought, to no longer be whispered about. As a duke, there were few who were brave enough to give him the cut direct or to shun him openly. Notoriety was not something he had ever longed for, and having it thrust upon him by what he viewed as his late wife's selfishness had been a blow.

"It is a fine idea Mother, assuming that Miss Walters has the ability to commune with the dead, assuming that Elise is still hear to be communed with, and assuming that Elise's hatred of me doesn't remain strong enough even in death that she would corrupt the truth to further ruin me.” He rose, his figure tall and imposing. “I do not like assumptions Mother. I dislike leaving such things to chance, or worse, leaving such things to the hysterical notions of some green girl."

Phyllis sighed heavily. “I will speak with Miss Walters and determine what course of action she will take, and how we will proceed."

"I do not want another scandal. I will not have the future of this family destroyed by the wanton selfishness of a dead woman, or resting upon the delusions of a living one. We cannot afford more whispers."

Phyllis nodded and Eleanor said, “I will see to it, Rhys. I tried to convince your mother not to invite her, but she was set on it. Given her social standing Miss Walters has nothing to gain by earning our enmity, and everything to gain by currying our favor. I believe this will all work out for the best. Phyllis and I will see to it."

She would blackmail the girl into lying, he thought. His mother was not so ruthless, but Eleanor certainly was. She had ever been single-minded and devoted to the family.

"You made a very similar statement to me when I was informed that I would marry Elise in my late brother's stead.” It was coldly stated, reflecting his resentment over having been put in such a position far more accurately than he might have wished.

He had never wanted to marry Elise. When Jeremy, the heir apparent, had first become entangled with her she had made attempts to seduce him beneath his brother's nose. That had been one of the reasons he had joined the army. He had tried to warn Jeremy, to tell him what Elise truly was, but they had argued dreadfully. He had left soon after, unable to stop his brother from making a mistake, and unable to watch helplessly as he did so.

Rhys left the room, aware that both Eleanor and his mother would no doubt be discussing him long afterward. That knowledge did nothing to abate his anger. Everything he had done had been for the sake of his family and their reputation.

He'd married a woman who had claimed, more than likely falsely, to be carrying his brother's child and he had endured years of misery with her vagary of moods and erratic behavior. He had sacrificed his own happiness at every turn.

The one thing Rhys had learned was that duty was cold comfort. Pursuing Emme as his mistress would defy every moral edict he possessed and pursuing her as anything more would defy every social edict he had strived to adhere to. Disgusted with himself, society and his meddling relatives, he stalked down the corridor to his study.

Solitude would provide little enough peace as it was his own overactive libido and wayward thoughts that disturbed him.

Emme returned to her room after breakfast only to find her aunt, Lady Isabella, awaiting her in her room. Upon seeing her aunt her mood plummeted even further. Lady Isabella never took an interest in her that was even remotely positive. She braced herself for a lecture on decorum. It came after a lengthy silence and the icy stare that her aunt was so famous for.

"I see you are already making an impression on the household, my dear."

The words were mild, but there was steel beneath them.

"I am sure I don't know what you mean, Aunt Isabella."

Her aunt's gaze hardened perceptibly. The tightness around her mouth gave her a very pinched expression, and though many had once considered Lady Isabella to be quite beautiful, she looked every inch the virago at that moment.

"Servants talk, and I pay mine well to keep me informed of all that goes on. I will speak plainly. I know why Lady Phyllis asked you here. In spite of her beliefs, we both know this is just nonsense! You will humor her, but you will not in any way embarrass me or bring any more disastrous gossip down on the family! I will not have it, and if I have to pack you back to London and drop you with that monstrous oaf your mother married, then so be it!"

Following that tirade Lady Isabella swept from the room, the heels of her slippers striking the floor like the fall of a hammer. By dinner, Emme was sure that she and her aunt would return to mutually avoiding one another, as was their custom. Craving solitude after the blistering and utterly undeserved set down, Emme made the decision to put the day to good use.

Rather than endure her aunt's cold and disapproving stares during the round of afternoon games, she spent the day exploring the Hall. She had numerous reasons for learning her surroundings so well, not the least of which was learning how to find her way back to her room from nearly any area of the house. The last thing she wanted was to find herself at the mercy of her host again, or worse, at the mercy of someone who was less trustworthy.