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the red velvet ribbon, lifted the lid, and gasped.
“Good heavens!”
    Sitting
in the nearest chair, she extracted the loveliest gown of silk and muslin in
the prettiest pink she had ever seen. The sudden need to weep overwhelmed her. “It
is…beautiful, Mama!”
    She
pressed the dress to her chest as the remainder of the delicate fabric swept
across the floor. Its coloring complimented her pale flesh and would go
perfectly with the drop pearl necklace her papa had given her a year prior to
his passing. Perhaps the ball was not so much a bad idea. If the duke had gone
to such lengths to ensure she dressed properly, it could only be a sign of
future thoughtfulness.
    “What
time is the ball tonight?”
    “His
grace informed me seven o’clock sharp. Dear, it appears in your frazzled state,
you dropped a card.”
    Butterflies
fluttered about in her belly, and she shook from excitement. Emily bent down to
pick up the vellum.
     
    My dearest Emily,
I apologize for not having consulted you before picking out the gown. I was
assured by the modiste that it is very much the
fashion, and I am profoundly confident that you will look ravishing.
     
    She
should have been content with his gift, but was ravishing a word to use on a
girl who is new to society? He could have at least tried to woo me with
something poetic, but a duke really doesn’t have time for that, does he? He is
too busy with managing his duchy. Nevertheless, how could he say something so
crass? So insensitive…
    Emily
looked over at the time, wondering how much of it she had wasted on trying to
decipher what the duke had meant by his note. Perfect. She
had time to compose herself and check the state of her hair. What will
he be like?
    Emily
sincerely hoped her brother and sister in-law would make an appearance, yet
doubted the marquess would be inclined to have his
wife in the same room with the duke. She doubted the duke would even invite her
brother after their trouble.
    Never
in her twenty years had she ever considered herself marriage material, much
less a duchess. Her belly sank with fear. She did not know the first thing
about running a household, nor had she been permitted to attend such formal
parties. If she had to accompany the duke on matters of business, what would be
the expectations? Her head swam and drowned with possible scenarios and terrible
outcomes.
    Emily
lifted the garment from the box and passed it to their butler. “Alfred, please
have my maid prepare a bath, and I would like some tea and biscuits brought up.
There is too much to do and such little time to prepare for this ball. I doubt I
will have time to dine before we leave.”
    Alfred
bowed then quickly turned and left the parlor. Tonight can’t come soon
enough .
     
    * * * *
     
    The
Earl of Bridgeton cringed at the sight of young ladies eyeing him. They
fluttered their fans and giggled as he passed, their chaperones scowling at
him. Normalcy. So this was how the season would begin. His inheritance made him
such a high prize. Unfortunately, what the ton did not know is that marriage
was the furthest thing from his mind. Though that will never stop Mother
from encouraging this farce.
    Emily
had invaded his thoughts these last few days, as well as her impending
betrothal to that scathing arse Downsbury .
Since that nasty business with her brother, the thought of the duke laying his
hands on that innocent, yet devilish chit incited his fury. From the moment he had
caught her, swooning, in the marquess’s parlor, her
softness had appealed to him in the most primal way. Simply put, she made his
cock twitch.
    Her
youthful and creamy complexion was most desirable, and the fact that she was
new to the seasons of London meant she was not corrupted by its indecency. The
one thing he detested the most was an over-confident girl who possessed the
intelligence of a fly. A mule had more sensibility than half the women in front
of him.
    Out
of the corner of his eye, he spied Emily standing at the