The Reluctant Duke (A Seabrook Family Saga) Read Online Free PDF Page A

don’t lower our expectations.”

CHAPTER
FOUR
     
    Emma ran her
hands down her black dress to smooth out the creases. Her hair was tied back
with a matching silk ribbon, leaving her wavy strawberry-blond tresses
cascading down her back. She’d been curled up in a chair in the library reading
when she received her summons from the headmistress to come to the receiving
room posthaste.
    And with haste
was how she arrived. Emma ran most of the way, but, right before anyone in the
receiving room could get a glimpse of her, she halted. Her lungs dragged in
much-needed air, and she tried to slow the heart pounding wildly inside her rib
cage. That was not so much from physical exertion but rather because she was
nervous to meet her visitor. She knew this unnamed visitor could be none other
than the duke.
    Miss Beauregard
had received a missive just that morning clarifying the duke’s arrival in
Boston. And Emma had planned several proper receiving speeches in her head,
because according to Miss Beauregard, Emma often spoke without thinking. Something
proper ladies did not do.
    Papa had not
seen anything wrong with her voicing her opinions.
    Suddenly her
body trembled, and she could not remember any of her practiced speeches. Would
the duke find fault with her running or any other less-than-ladylike behavior?
She huffed. Would she ever be free again to live life as she pleased?
    Would the duke
take her back to England now, or would she get to finish out her final year
here? She needed the year because how could she just up and leave Amy to the
spoiled, mean girls attending here? Penelope, Emma’s friend, could only do so
much to protect Amy. Amy still needed Emma.
    During Emma’s
final year, she planned to right all the evil done to Amy. Help Amy build up
her self-esteem and boost her confidence and help her learn to stick up for
herself. Even if she traveled to England, Emma planned to come back for Amy as
soon as she could. Amy was like her little sister. They needed each other.
    “There you are,
child.” Miss Beauregard’s annoying voice traveled out into the foyer. “Stop
fidgeting and come forward to meet His Grace.”
    Stop
fidgeting . Would the woman ever stop insulting her at every opportunity?
Emma swallowed her anger and lowered her head in feigned obedience.
    “Yes,
Headmistress.” With that being mumbled, she passed through the open double
doors and lifted her face in expectation.
    Her jaw
dropped. Thank God she had the good sense to close it quickly.
    The well turned
out man standing in front of her with a devilish grin plastered on his face and
sparkling emerald-green eyes was not repulsive, wrinkled, or old. For some odd
reason her pulse sped up as she demurely eyed his slightly long auburn hair
hitting his jacket collar. And then he bowed a perfect flourish of gentlemanly
charm.
    “It is a
pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Hamilton. I am Lord Norwich, and the
gentleman across the room is His Grace, the Duke of Wentworth.”
    Every speck of
air left her lungs. Of course this gentleman was not the duke. He was . . . he
was . . . handsome and young. Emma swallowed past the lump in her throat,
afraid to look in the direction of the other gentleman in the room. The one she
had not even known was present.
    “Please forgive
my manners.” Miss Beauregard came forward, her voice pitched slightly higher
than the norm. “Your Grace, may I present Miss Hamilton, your ward?”
    Then the
headmistress added, “Emma, this is your guardian, the Duke of
Wentworth.”
    The scalding
hot vibration started in Emma’s toes and spread until it encompassed her brain.
She nearly stumbled forward during her curtsy. “It is a great pleasure to make
your acquaintance, Your Grace.”
    He bowed at the
waist, never taking his sparkling blue eyes from hers, and if Emma wasn’t
mistaken, he found some amusement with her situation.
    “The pleasure
is all mine. I do hope this visit finds you well,” said the duke.
     If Emma