Page 22 of An Arranged Marriage with a Cruel Earl
“I need to take Grandma back to the house,” he told Neville. Neville’s eyes widened.
“You can’t just run off,” he reminded Andrew. Andrew stifled the urge to swear.
“Grandma needs to rest,” he said tightly. “The guests may return to the house as they desire.”
He turned and started to walk back to the house. In truth, he would have loved to walk back with Emmeline, mayhap show her the garden a little—the pieces that were still reasonably tidy—and show her the house. He was delighted about having her at his home, but to show it to her would, to some extent, require sharing his heart. And he could not.
As he walked towards the back of the group, he became aware that Emmeline was walking beside him. He drew in a breath, sensing the floral scent of her. It was dangerous, drawing him in like a siren’s call.
He looked at Grandma and focused on her, walking towards the garden where she was just reaching the path that led into the woods.
“Grandma,” he said gently, reaching out to rest a hand on her arm. “Let us go back to the house. You should not be walking so far yet. You still need to recoup your strength.”
“Oh, Grandson,” she demurred, smiling. She walked with him to the house, though, and let him help her walk up the stairs towards the drawing room.
“Grandma, you should rest,” he said gently as they reached the top of the steps. He knew that Emmeline had followed him indoors, and he could hear the other guests walking into the entranceway. He tensed. He longed to have some time alone with Emmeline, but her family would only return to London the following day.
“I think I will take some weight off my feet,” Grandma agreed. “If you could express my apologies to the guests?”
“At once.”
He watched her go down the hallway to her room, and then turned, going down to find the other guests. Emmeline followed him downstairs.She tripped on the staircase where the mat was scuffed and he shot out a hand, steadying her.
“Easy, there,” he said softly. “It’s rather worn.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Her gaze held his and he realised his fingers were gripping her slender arm firmly near the wrist. Her skin was like satin, so cool and soft. He let go at once, afraid of the powerful response that surged through him. He looked away.
“I must convey my grandmother’s apologies to our guests,” he said gently. “She needs to sleep.”
“Of course,” Emmeline agreed.
Andrew went swiftly downstairs and met the guests in the hallway. He cleared his throat.
“My grandmother regrets to inform you that she needs to rest before dinner. She has retired to her chambers for an hour or two.”
The guests murmured their concern for Grandma, and he tried to answer as best he could.
“Perhaps we should all retire and rest?” Lord Bradwood suggested. Andrew let out a sigh.
“A fine idea, my lord.”
The guests found their way to the quarters he had made ready for them. The guest quarters were not well-maintained, and the butler had decided to put the furniture from the two guest suites into another set of rooms near the library. Andrew was glad that they had managed to do so.
As he walked up the hallway to his own chamber, he became aware of Emmeline walking uncertainly by his side. Her big green eyes were wide with what he could only imagine was terror.
“You need have no fear of me,” he said awkwardly as they reached the door to his room. “I expect nothing of you. This is an arrangement of mutual convenience. I will retire to another chamber, and you may rest here without...expectations.” His face was hot, and he hoped no blush would show on his cheeks.
“Oh.” Emmeline gazed up at him and for a moment, he thought he saw something like disappointment in her eyes. Then she turned to the door. “I shall see you at dinner,” she said softly.
“Yes. You shall,” he agreed. He mumbled the words, too embarrassed to look up. He had never had to be so frank with anyone before and it was not easy. He bowed briefly in acknowledgement and because it was polite,and then hurried up the hallway to where his manservant had taken most of his belongings.
He opened the door, went in and sat down on the small, neat bed with relief. Here he was away from the guests, from demands and from having to be polite—and he was also far away from the tantalising scent and alluring looks of Emmeline and all the wonder and confoundment they brought.
He hoped he could sleep before dinner, but he knew that thoughts of her would plague him, and he would not be able to rest.
