Colors of a Lady Read Online Free PDF

form,” she told her
earnestly. Emma shook her head in frank denial.
    “That is hardly the case, I am afraid. My
mother does not allow such romantic notions in me and set me quite
straight on the nature of our union.” She straightened her posture,
hoping it would instill her with some reserve. “His father, the
Duke, believes we make a lovely couple. He saw us dance at my ball
and was moved and so he decided to have us wed. He has always been
quite fond of me. He even procured a special license. Though my
mother pressed Caroline on him, he held tenaciously to his belief
that I would make a better bride for Lord Hartwell than her.” She
laughed suddenly. The ton would certainly eat this story up. She,
Lady Emma Wren, is betrothed the morning after her coming out ball.
Surely the gossip rags would try to come up with some scintillating
reasons for this.
    “I do not know Lord Hartwell's feelings on
this, but I imagine he is far from pleased. I am sure he intended
on marrying my sister. He has been courting her for some time. It
is odd to me that he would not have offered for her sooner. In any
case, he is to call upon me for us to drive in Hyde Park today.”
She buried her face in her hands.
    “This is absolutely dreadful.” Ever the one
to stress easily, Emma hated this current predicament of hers.
    “It seems there is simply no way out of
this,” observed Helena. “Your father, no matter how apathetic he
may seem, will not let this marriage get away. Not only is it good
for you, but also they are also good friends. I do not know why you
are so surprised at this. Either Caroline or you were always going
to marry Lord Hartwell. I am sure your fathers have been planning
this for years.”
    If Emma was being honest, she had surmised
at a young age that her father was intent on joining his house with
that of Duke Kellaway. She had always found Lord Hartwell handsome
and dreamy in the way that young girls muse about a Prince
Charming. He had all the brilliant qualities that assured Emma he
would proudly rescue a maiden from a dragon. He could probably
rescue them both at the same time. But he was reserved for someone
who would match his brightness and beauty. That had always meant
Caroline in her childish mind.
    “Your best option is to appear like the
smitten blushing bride and hope he appears like a doting fiancé.
With any luck, the ton will move on with their lives to the next
great scandal. You two can sort out your differences later when you
retire to the country after the Season ends.” Her serious tone was
quite a departure from her boisterous laughs and hare-brained
schemes. But that was just like Helena. She could be counted on to
take emotions out of any discussion. This trait was lost on Emma,
the worrywart, and Lettice, the dreamer.
    “Oh, you two,” Emma smiled gratefully at
them. They were always supportive, albeit in different ways. “I
shall have you over all the time once I am married.”
    “We shall be most happy to stay at the home
of a future Duchess,” agreed Helena. She enjoyed visiting different
country manors to see the architecture, especially the grand
expanse that was sure to be a Duke’s ancestral home.
    “I may just be your live-in governess if
this marriage market does not bode well for me,” Lettice considered
carefully. To her, all the men of the ton were just oh so boring
with their horse talk and their clubs. She wanted a man with
passion. The sort that burned in the eyes of the men who attended
her church. Those men were warriors, desperately spreading the
truth of God. Alas, they were the closest to pirates a lady could
find anymore. If only she had been alive to walk the streets with
the English conquerors of old who colonized new lands and saved the
souls of the helpless savages.
    “I would be happy to have you,” assured
Emma.
    “Have you thought more of the wedding? Shall
it be in London and invite the whole ton or shall it be in the
country and invite a select group