[Demelza Quartermaine (Vikki)]

A more firm mother figure?! Well, of course Demelza knew that Winifred was far from strict with her charges... everyone knew that... but really! To point it out in front of company was rather rude, not to mention the fact that Emerson was conveniently ridding himself of responsibility there. She raised an eyebrow disapprovingly and countered in defence of her friend, "If they are in need of a more firm mother figure, a firmer father figure might not go amiss either. It takes two to raise a child successfully, not one." Good heavens. Winifred must have saintly levels of tolerance not to react to the allegation that her upbringing of the girls was at fault!

She subsided at Blake's question, however. "The Duke of Leighton? Well, Elise is making a mark!" she remarked with surprise. Snaring a duke before her official debut, indeed, and after just one appearance at a ball. It was a remarkable and exceedingly swift climb for a Miss, even one with such connections. Very impressive. Admittedly she did have that blonde-haired, blue-eyed doll look that seemed so much in vogue lately, a fragility that probably incited a protective instinct in men, and always appeared quite docile. A nice, sweet, biddable potential wife, Demelza supposed was how people would see it. She probably ought to be more charitable, but considering she had a niece of her own to marry off, it was difficult. Still, good luck to her. Gaining a dance with a duke for one's debut was a far cry from standing at the altar with him.

"He is very respectable, I can see no objections to him. Unlike his brother. Very tragic about his first wife, but these things happen unfortunately. Not much of a ladies' man, and rather serious. High time he re-married, I would say."

[Blake Pritchard (Lin)]

Blake replied with a grunt. It seemed everyone only had good things to say about Leighton. And they looked at him odd when he didn't! When did they understand that that was how brothers were supposed to be? He was having a discussion with Gabriel just on this matter, and quite rightly, both came to the same unhesitating conclusion. There would be no one good enough, until proven so. So unless Leighton intended to walk on water anytime soon...

"You mistaken. My mother has been impeccable in bringing up Elise and Charity, and you are right in saying they need a firm father figure. I have been remiss in my duties." Only Blake could could say such a line without even blinking. Agreeing yet at the same time disagreeing.

"Do I look forward to seeing you at the Emerson Ball?" He asked Mrs. Quartermaine.

[Demelza Quartermaine (Vikki)]

The grunt (grunt! couldn't a Marquess find it in him to respond like a civilised man, not a heathen savage?) sounded disbelieving to Demelza's ears. Well. All she'd said was that the man was respectable, serious and that she knew of no objections to him. Which he was, and all of society knew it. He was also wealthy and a duke, not to mention patient and with a kind personality. Yet this was insufficient for Lord Emerson. If he was going to be like that with even the best suitors for Elise (an untitled orphan snaring a young, pleasant, wealthy duke was almost unheard of after all), he would never get the girl married. Poor Elise. If Emerson kept this up, she would end up a spinster dependent on his charity, her position in the household usurped by his eventual wife.

But she was getting carried away. That was some time in the future yet, and Emerson might come to realise how ridiculously over-protective he was being. Certainly he seemed to have realised how ridiculously lax he had been with the girls, although Demelza wasn't convinced by his assurances that she had misunderstood and he had not in fact criticised his mother's raising of them. 'They need a firmer mother-figure' was perfectly clear and straightforward. One could not in any way interpret that to mean 'I have been too lenient and my mother has raised them perfectly'. Still, she had no interest in arguing with him. "Remember, Emerson, that you are their guardian, and ten years older than them, not an indulgent brother a mere two years their senior. They need your guidance, especially now they are entering society." She only hoped this advice would not make him even more critical of any suitor who came knocking. One did not get a lady married by setting impossible ideals.

Setting her empty cup down, she smiled. "You do indeed. However, I must make my excuses now. I have a few more calls to make and hoped to be home before Felicity returns from her picnic. Winifred, it has been a delightful chat, as always. Lord Emerson," she curtsied politely and made her exit.