Page 50 of An Arranged Marriage with a Cruel Earl
The room was a parlour, a small one, decorated with white flocked silk wallpaper and rose-pink velvet curtains. The furniture was upholstered with a rose-coloured brocade and the furniture was dark wood and elegant. A shelf of books was on one wall and the white marble mantelpiece held a few porcelain vases and statuettes. She gazed around in delight. The rest of the manor was either neglected or barren, but this part of it seemed filled with life. A thick layer of dust covered everything, but aside from that it was beautiful.
“It’s stunning,” she whispered.
“It was my mother’s.” Andrew’s voice was tight. “I thought that you should have it.”
“Andrew,” she breathed. She did not know what to say. He had found it hard to touch his mother’s poetry collection, had not done so for years, and yet here he was opening his mother’s private parlour for her.
“I thought you could use it,” he said with an attempt at lightness. “It seemed like something you would like.”
“I love it,” Emmeline murmured. She gazed up at him and he looked into her eyes. A shiver ran up her spine even as she approved of Lady Rilendale’s friendliness towards herself. Gently, he rested his hand on her cheek. His touch made chills flood her body.
“I am glad you are here,” he said softly.
Emmeline’s heart twisted. His expression was gentle, and his words sincerely meant. His voice was low and resonant, and it seemed to vibrate through every part of her.
“Thank you for giving me such a wonderful gift,” she said softly.
He said nothing, but his eyes lit briefly. He looked away.
“We should go to the drawing room,” he said coolly. “Ambrose and Lydia will be back any moment and we shall have no chance of a spot of tea on our own.”
Emmeline’s heart had sunken with the sudden return of his coldness, but at his comment about the tea she grinned.
“Good idea,” she said at once. She had not realised that their watchful presence disturbed him too. She giggled and he smiled.
Andrew locked up the room again and handed her the key. She held it tightly, the iron cool against her hand, and then they hurried up the hallway towards the drawing room.
