never showed any interest until he
saw you.” The countess wrapped on the roof of the carriage and immediately a
groom appeared at the door to help her down. Emma stepped from the carriage.
Could it be true? Was it possible that John, who had shown no interest in
marriage before, had taken one look at her and changed his mind? It sounded
similar to a plot out of a fairy tale and not at all something that could
happen in her life.
In spite of the lateness of the hour, Emma knew sleep would
be impossible. She was far too restless to retire. She kept waiting for her
normal, reasonable, rational mind to reassert itself, but she began to wonder
if it ever would. From the moment she made the logical decision to run to her
aunt, her life had become a series of unbelievable events.
Evidently John was not ready for bed either. She followed
him into the library.
“You know my uncle won’t give up that easily.” Emma made her
way across the room to an overstuffed chaise.
“Don’t worry so, my dear. He can do little else.”
“I think it was a bad idea to confront Uncle Drake tonight.”
She shuddered at the memory of the scene her uncle had made. But part of her
enjoyed seeing him brought low by John. Her uncle had bullied her for a year.
It was good to see him on the side, being the weaker party.
John poured two small glasses of brandy, handed one to her
and sat down on the chaise with his hip pressed against her leg. “It’s not as
if he gave us any choice, Emma. Would you have rather I let him strike you? It
was important to begin to be seen together in public. While the events of the
evening were regrettable, we certainly were seen together. No one in our circle
will doubt my feelings for you.”
Perhaps the ton wouldn’t, but Emma still wondered
about how John felt. Could a man go to all of this trouble out of a sense of
duty? Did he truly love her? He said he did. She shook her head and tried to be
practical. “I’m still worried about Oliver. I’m certain Uncle Drake will not be
denied so easily.”
“I have placed two footmen at every entrance to the house.
Several others will patrol the gardens. I have even hired a Bow Street runner
to keep an eye on your uncle. Oliver will be safe, Emma.” He leaned forward and
kissed her cheek.
“Thank you, John. I’m sure you’re right.” Her stomach
flipped. Breathing deeply, she tried to calm her nerves.
“There is one other matter to discuss.” He never took his
gaze away from her.
She did not pretend to be ignorant of the subject. “I
suppose you would like to know if I will marry you.”
A crooked smile pulled at his mouth. “The date is set. It
would be nice to know if there will be a bride.”
His manner was lighthearted, but she could see the worry in
the set of his jaw.
“I have thought of little else since our dance.” She leaned
away from him, resting on the back of the chaise.
“Have you concluded anything?”
Her hands trembled slightly when she put her glass on a side
table. John immediately took them in his. He steadied her. Here she was,
perhaps about to end their engagement, and he still tried to lend his support.
Her heart filled her chest so thoroughly, she felt it might burst. Was this
love? He’d promised to help her with or without the marriage. John would never
break his word, she was sure of that. The only question that remained was, did
she wish to marry John?
“In my foolishness, I thwarted several fine marriage offers.
If I had been sensible, the events of the last year would not have taken place.
I would have had a husband and we would have taken control of Oliver’s
interests before Uncle Drake could get his hands on them or us. I was young.
That is my only excuse.” The suffering she had caused her little brother pained
her. She’d beaten herself up since it became obvious that her father would not
survive. But by then, it was too late. She didn’t have time to find a husband
and the men who had offered for her a
saw you.” The countess wrapped on the roof of the carriage and immediately a
groom appeared at the door to help her down. Emma stepped from the carriage.
Could it be true? Was it possible that John, who had shown no interest in
marriage before, had taken one look at her and changed his mind? It sounded
similar to a plot out of a fairy tale and not at all something that could
happen in her life.
In spite of the lateness of the hour, Emma knew sleep would
be impossible. She was far too restless to retire. She kept waiting for her
normal, reasonable, rational mind to reassert itself, but she began to wonder
if it ever would. From the moment she made the logical decision to run to her
aunt, her life had become a series of unbelievable events.
Evidently John was not ready for bed either. She followed
him into the library.
“You know my uncle won’t give up that easily.” Emma made her
way across the room to an overstuffed chaise.
“Don’t worry so, my dear. He can do little else.”
“I think it was a bad idea to confront Uncle Drake tonight.”
She shuddered at the memory of the scene her uncle had made. But part of her
enjoyed seeing him brought low by John. Her uncle had bullied her for a year.
It was good to see him on the side, being the weaker party.
John poured two small glasses of brandy, handed one to her
and sat down on the chaise with his hip pressed against her leg. “It’s not as
if he gave us any choice, Emma. Would you have rather I let him strike you? It
was important to begin to be seen together in public. While the events of the
evening were regrettable, we certainly were seen together. No one in our circle
will doubt my feelings for you.”
Perhaps the ton wouldn’t, but Emma still wondered
about how John felt. Could a man go to all of this trouble out of a sense of
duty? Did he truly love her? He said he did. She shook her head and tried to be
practical. “I’m still worried about Oliver. I’m certain Uncle Drake will not be
denied so easily.”
“I have placed two footmen at every entrance to the house.
Several others will patrol the gardens. I have even hired a Bow Street runner
to keep an eye on your uncle. Oliver will be safe, Emma.” He leaned forward and
kissed her cheek.
“Thank you, John. I’m sure you’re right.” Her stomach
flipped. Breathing deeply, she tried to calm her nerves.
“There is one other matter to discuss.” He never took his
gaze away from her.
She did not pretend to be ignorant of the subject. “I
suppose you would like to know if I will marry you.”
A crooked smile pulled at his mouth. “The date is set. It
would be nice to know if there will be a bride.”
His manner was lighthearted, but she could see the worry in
the set of his jaw.
“I have thought of little else since our dance.” She leaned
away from him, resting on the back of the chaise.
“Have you concluded anything?”
Her hands trembled slightly when she put her glass on a side
table. John immediately took them in his. He steadied her. Here she was,
perhaps about to end their engagement, and he still tried to lend his support.
Her heart filled her chest so thoroughly, she felt it might burst. Was this
love? He’d promised to help her with or without the marriage. John would never
break his word, she was sure of that. The only question that remained was, did
she wish to marry John?
“In my foolishness, I thwarted several fine marriage offers.
If I had been sensible, the events of the last year would not have taken place.
I would have had a husband and we would have taken control of Oliver’s
interests before Uncle Drake could get his hands on them or us. I was young.
That is my only excuse.” The suffering she had caused her little brother pained
her. She’d beaten herself up since it became obvious that her father would not
survive. But by then, it was too late. She didn’t have time to find a husband
and the men who had offered for her a
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