Chapter 4

Chapter Four

“ I should never have agreed to this ridiculous plan.” Luke muttered to himself as he paced around the library.

He had intended on going for a walk to clear his head, but the rain had forced him back indoors. He scowled at the droplets colliding with the windows as if that would drive them away.

“If it were not for propriety, I would leave this instant and force my fool of a brother to return with me.” Luke sighed as he idly traced his hands along the book titles. “But we agreed to be here for the week, and leaving any sooner would be a snub.”

He made a disgusted noise. “All I wanted was to do the right thing for the estate, and to keep my brother out of trouble. Is that too much to ask?”

“It is my experience that attempting to keep one’s siblings out of trouble is a somewhat fruitless endeavour.” A voice said from behind him.

Luke whirled around, and found himself face-to-face with Duke Emberly, Alexander Rokesby. The man raised an eye brow at him, holding up it his hands in a placating gesture.

“My apologies, Duke Warren, I did not mean to startle you.” Duke Emberly inclined his head towards him.

Luke inclined his head back. “That is quite all right, Duke. This is your home, it is hardly unexpected to find you in it.”

“That is true, although it must be said that the sight of me in these halls was rather rare until Rose and I were married.” Duke Emberly laughed softly.

“I had heard that you did not spend much time at the castle. I thought it was simply rumour.” Luke surveyed the man, trying to understand if he was simply pulling his leg. “I try not to pay too much attention to rumour and hearsay.”

If I had, then I would never have agreed to this ridiculous scheme. Luke supressed a sigh, trying to keep his face neutral.

“That is good. The ton love nothing more than a salacious rumour, and very few of them have even a kernel of truth about them.” Duke Emberly shook his head, a disgusted look on his face. “While many of the rumours about me and my family were exaggerated, there was some truth to some of them. I might not have eaten babies or whatever heinous thing the ton accused me of, but I did spend most of my days in London.”

Duke Emberly clenched his fist, a flash of anger stealing across his face followed by a look of melancholy.

Luke swallowed but did not balk in the face of the man’s anger. “I imagine you had a good reason.”

“I thought I did, at least at the time. I told myself I was protecting my family.” Duke Emberly looked pensive as he said it.

“To protect one’s family is a most honourable thing.” Luke said. “It is the proper thing to do.”

“Perhaps, but it would only be the proper thing if my absence had protected them. It did not.” Duke Emberly moved to the decanter and glasses on a nearby table, pouring himself a measure of whiskey and then offering one to Luke. “My four siblings needed me, and though my sister Olivia tried to make me see that, it was not until Rose that I realised how much my absence had hurt the others.”

“You are close to your siblings then?” Luke asked as he took the drink from Duke Emberly, taking a small sip. Alcohol had a tendency to cloud one’s judgement, and if Luke was honest, he preferred wine to whiskey.

“As close as one can be. Olivia and I are closest in age, and she remembers something of our father. Marie is next, but she was young when he died. The twins, Peter and Natalie, were only babes. I did my best to fill his shoes for them.” Duke Emberly pursed his lips thoughtfully.

Something stirred inside of Luke, and he found himself imagining a hall full of children, the young Duke Emberly doing his best to care for them.

“I understand something of that. Though my family is smaller, just my brother and myself, when our parents died, he became my responsibility.” Luke could picture the fear and the uncertainty on Rodger’s face when he had told him that their parents had died. It broke my heart.

Duke Emberly nodded in understanding, gesturing for Luke to sit opposite him. “It is hard to go from brother to father overnight.”

“I am the only family my brother has left. I have spent most of our lives looking after him. He… He has a rather optimistic outlook on life.” Luke admitted as he sat down.

“And you do not share this outlook?” Duke Emberly canted his head towards him.

“I do not.” Luke said. “Not when optimism leaves you blind to the other half of the world. I understand what needs to be done, and I am determined to protect him.”

“And what do you think he needs protecting from?” Duke Emberly asked, a knowing look in his eyes.

Luke hesitated. He could hardly say the truth, after all, Miss Pembleton was Duke Emberly’s sister-in-law. It would be rude for Luke to speak ill of her and would no doubt cause great offence and hint at a great deal he had no wish to imply.

“I take it you have encountered the fiery nature of the Pembletons then?” Duke Emberly asked, smiling.

“You could say that, I suppose.” Luke replied hesitantly. “You say it as though it is a family trait.”

“Oh, it is. Rose may not seem like it, but she is wholly unafraid to speak her mind. Both a blessing and a curse, especially when more often than not she is right.” Duke Emberly shook his head ruefully. “And I have seen the fiery side of Jane’s temper on more than one occasion.”

Luke swallowed. That was not at all like the kind of woman his parents would have picked for their sons. A family of women willing to show such impropriety did not instil him with confidence in the match.

“It sounds like they are a family of rather unusual women.” Luke did his best to keep his voice neutral, not wanting to offend the other Duke, especially as they were speaking of his wife and her family.

“They are. They are the kind of woman who will change your life just by knowing them.” Duke Emberly replied. “They see through to the heart of things, and are unafraid to speak their minds. They are fiery, but that fire is rarely misdirected.”

“My brother… He is not really a fiery sort of man. He is bookish and prefers quiet and his own company.” Luke explained, keeping his voice even and emotionless. “He can often find social situations somewhat draining and needs time to recover.”

“And you worry that Miss Pembleton would not allow him that?” Duke Emberly canted his head towards Luke.

“Not exactly. I just… I fear their temperaments would not match. I wish for him to be happy, more than anything else,” Luke rubbed the back of his neck absently.

The Duke clearly thought highly of the Pembletons and even seemed to admire their fighting spirit. But by the man’s own admission, he was hardly a usual sort of fellow. What would he understand of the importance of propriety?

Luke had no desire to cause offence, but Duke Emberly’s description of the Pembleton’s only served to prove that the match would be a disaster. The last thing the duchy needed was to be inherited by someone with a fiery temper who thought that order was unimportant.

They wanted everything to be perfect, and Rodger will be the one to ensure the standards my parents held will be achieved.

“He and Miss Pembleton seemed to enjoy one another’s company on the walk.” Duke Emberly pointed out.

“Enjoying one another’s company on a walk is one thing, but it is hardly the same as a lifetime together.” Luke replied.

“That is true.” Duke Emberly agreed pouring himself another measure of whiskey. “And I suppose you do know your brother best. But I know Miss Pembleton, and she may yet surprise you.”

That is what I am afraid of. He had no wish to be surprised. He did not want things to be unpredictable or disordered, and Miss Pembleton seemed to be both.

“Perhaps she will.” Luke said as diplomatically as he could.

“I have no doubt that you would not wish to stand in the way of your brother’s happiness,?” Duke Emberly mused.

“No.” Though I doubt Miss Pembleton would make him happy – no I imagine any husband she had would be miserable.

“All we can do is give them time. Trust me, the harder you try and control things, the worse it will be for you.” Duke Emberly said. “Once the Pembletons have decided on a match, there is very little that will stand in their way.”

“What do you mean?” Luke canted his head towards the other duke.

“Well, it was Rose’s mother who orchestrated our own match. Granted, she did so with the help of my own mother. But she also orchestrated my sister Olivia’s marriage.” Duke Emberly shook his head ruefully.

Luke nodded; he had heard rumours of the Viscountess of Cotswalts match making prowess. At least she is not here, I will not have to worry about her machinations. “And I assume it was she who arranged the match between Duke Caden and her daughter?”

“Actually, that was Emily. My mother-in-law was set quite firmly against the match, but Emily was determined to bring Jane and the Duke together.” Duke Emberly gave Luke a curious look

“Miss Pembleton was the one who orchestrated her sister’s match? And her sister had no objections?” Luke’s eyes widened.

Duke Emberly nodded. “In truth, her sister did not realise what Emily was doing until after the fact. She can be quite a subtle creature when the need arises.”

“How did she do it?” Luke asked, his curiosity piqued.

“She has quite a knack for understanding people, and was able to orchestrate several instances that brought Duke Caden and Jane together.” Duke Emberly’s brow furrowed as he tried to recall the details. “She used her musical skills to encourage them to dance together, contrived a way to make the two of them happen into each other’s path.”

“The most impressive thing about it, is the two of them fought like cats and dogs. Most people thought they disliked each other, but Emily saw through it.” Duke Emberly explained. “She took some time to get to know the Duke and she gently guided him and Jane to one another.”

“Like a puppet master pulling on the strings of a marionette.” Luke could not help the note of admiration that stole into his voice.

“You sound impressed.”

“I suppose I am.” She clearly has a mind for people, it is a pity she cannot apply that focus to propriety. Luke felt a prickle of unease stir within him.

The Pembletons were a family of matchmakers, and he was here with his brother to make a match with one of them. Miss Pembleton herself was clearly accomplished in that regard, would he be able to stop the match?

“You think I should give Miss Pembleton more time.” Luke said. “To see if this match will bloom into something.”

“Ultimately, it will be for your brother to decide. It is he who is looking for a wife, and not you.” Duke Emberly stood, and Luke followed suit. “What will be will be. The more you try to control things… Well, the more likely you are to bring in the unexpected.”

“I have no wish to control anything.” Luke said.

“Of course you do not.” Duke Emberly shook his head. “Well, I have some business to attend to, but I hope you will think on what I have said.”

“Of course, Sir.”

“Good.” Duke Emberly smiled at him. “I think you will be pleasantly surprised by your time here, Sir.”

“I am sure I will be.” Luke inclined his head and watched as the Duke left.

He knew that the man had been trying to assuage his fears, to mollify his concerns, but the encounter had only made him more determined than ever to stop the match.

There was absolutely no way he could allow his brother to marry a woman like Miss Pembleton. He would not leave his duchy in the hands of her children. And thanks to the Duke, he knew exactly how he was going to get his brother to see reason.