Page 110 of Ten Lords for the Holidays

Danby was certainly prepared. Heath would have been afraid of throwing his lot in with the Whittons if he hadn’t known them the better part of his life and if he wasn’t so anxious to make Emma his.

* * *

Emma tried to focus on what Cousin Louisa and Clara Mason were discussing. Something about the necessity of mistletoe at the castle, but giving them her complete attention was more than difficult when all she could think about was how very long Heath had been gone. What was Grandpapa saying to him? Had her father called him out? No. That couldn’t be. After Papa had stumbled upon Heath and Emma, he’d been adamant that they would marry as soon as possible. So where was Heath?

“Is Isabel feeling well?” Louisa asked, temporarily drawing Emma back into the conversation.

Emma shrugged. Even though she was concerned about Izzy herself, she didn’t feel right discussing her twin with the others. “You know she enjoys her solitude.”

“She just seemed—” Louisa stopped mid-sentence and her eyes took on an almost dreamy expression. “Lord Heathfield is terribly handsome, isn’t he?”

And then some. Emma’s eyes flashed back to the doorway to find Heath surrounded by her father, uncle, and grandfather. Thank heavens he was unscathed! She abandoned her cousin and guest, quickly closing the distance between herself and her intended.

Heath smiled down at her, his dark eyes promising he was unharmed. Then he reached a hand out to her and pulled her to his side, where she’d stand evermore.

A few feet away Papa clinked a small spoon to the side of a wine glass, capturing the room’s attention. “Everyone, please raise your glasses,” he said. “To celebrate my daughter’s betrothal to Lord Heathfield!”

Mama clasped her hands in glee and Cousin Louisa flushed crimson while Clara Mason looked as though she might be ill. Uncle Henry, Grandpapa, and the others all chanted, “Here, here!”

Emma had never been so happy, or she would have been if Isabel’s question about love wasn’t still niggling about in her mind. Did Heath love her? His kisses were truly amazing, but that didn’t necessarily mean he loved her. She had loved him as long as she could remember, but what if he didn’t really return the sentiment?

“Where is your sister?” Mama asked, breaking Emma from her reverie.

“She’s gone to bed, Mother,” Emma replied, realizing that she and Heath were surrounded by her family and their guests.

“Many felicitations, my friend.” Mr. Lockwell shook Heath’s hand. Then he glanced at Emma. “I shall pray for you.”

What a perfectly ridiculous thing to say. Emma giggled, and Heath just smiled and shook his head at his friend.

“I think,” Mr. Lockwell continued, “I shall take your sister’s lead and turn in myself.”

“You won’t stay for a drink, Lockwell?” Heath asked.

But his friend glanced towards the doorway behind them. “I’ve had enough,” he said, and then took his leave before anyone could stop him.

“Is he all right?” Emma asked, looking up again at her soon-to-be husband.

A crooked smile settled on Heath’s lips. “Don’t concern yourself with him, sunshine. Lockwell always takes care of himself. Besides—” he squeezed her hand— “I want all of your attention for myself.”

That was a good sign wasn’t it? Emma bit her lip. She should just come right out and ask Heath if he loved her. At least she’d know the answer that way, and she wouldn’t torture herself wondering. But what if he said ‘no’? How could she walk down the aisle of the small chapel on Danby grounds tomorrow if he said ‘no’? She’d be a puddle of tears, unable to move as far as an inch.

“Sunshine.” He frowned at her. “You look so sad. Did something happen while I was gone?”

Emma forced a smile to her face and shook her head.

Heath’s frown deepened. “Come now. I can’t be put off that easily, Emma.” He slowly directed her through the throng of their well-wishers to a secluded corner. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

He looked truly concerned and Emma stared up at him. She still couldn’t make the words leave her tongue, so she said, “It’s Izzy,” instead.

“You said she’d gone to bed. Is she feeling all right?”

If Emma had to guess, she didn’t think her sister was feeling all right. Was it just sisterly concern over the situation Emma had gotten herself into that had Isabel out of sorts? Emma gulped. “She isn’t certain you love me,” she blurted out before she lost her courage. There was no taking it back now, was there?

Heath’s mouth dropped open. “She said that?”

Emma nodded.

“And what do you think?”

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