Page 14 of The Marquess's Scandalous Game
“Perhaps I am,” she said softly, yet her gaze sparked with a rebellious light.
“Sherwood was a bit of a rebel, and I wonder if you see yourself as one too,” Leopold murmured.
She snapped her gaze to his, and he held it. “I daresay everyone has a bit of rebel inside.” Miss Corbett smiled, and laughter twinkled in her eyes. “However, I would argue Sherwood was not a rebel. He became popular because of his generosity to the poor and downtrodden, and his hatred of the sheriff and his verderers who enforced the oppressive forestlaws. He robbed the wealthy to feed the peasants. That makes him a … hero, though some would say a villain.”
Leopold smiled, liking her depth of knowledge. “Ballads calling him a hero have been resurrected since the publication ofIvanhoe.”
Her smile brightened. “I have readKing of Outlaws, and Prince of Good Fellows. Scott portrayed Sherwood as an honorable Englishman loyal to the absent King Richard. I liked this characterization which is much more palatable than seeing him as a thief and murderer.”
“I gather you enjoy reading.”
“I do,” she replied.
“Why?” He was curious to know.
“I love to learn, gain knowledge, and discover things. Women are not often given the opportunity to be educated, so we learn quite a lot from books,” she said with excited energy, her eyes sparkling.
Leopold had to clench his fingers to prevent himself from reaching for her … and kissing her until she asked for more. “That is understandable. Is there another reason?”
Perhaps he stared too intently for she flushed. “I … I get pleasure from escaping reality, becoming immersed in another world, and the enjoyment from using my imagination.”
I get pleasure. His gaze dropped to her lips, and a smile took possession of it just the way that he wanted to.Immersed, he wanted to immerse his cock into her wet softness, and she would not need to use her imagination for herenjoyment.
Her lips quivered slightly as she continued, “Reading is quite relaxing, and I can do it when I feel the need to be alone. I sometimes have that need.”
He wrenched his thoughts from the wanton paths they wanted to traverse. “I can understand that.” Leopold read rather widely himself.
He looked away from her. Leopold could hardly concentrate, and he was pleased when the equipage finally arrived at the Buckden townhouse. He practically jumped from it and escorted Emma to her door. As the carriage rolled away, he noted with interest that Miss Corbett had not responded to his question about whether she was a bit of a rebel, only making a generalization. Interesting. She had strong opinions, and while she was not shouting them for all to hear, she certainly was not afraid to express them.
Her interests made her different and set her apart from the crowd. She had not lived the same restricted life as most young ladies, not if she practiced as a healer. Miss Corbett did not march to the beat of everyone’s drum. She was far from boring and dull; rather, she stimulated his interest and curiosity and his lust. Miss Corbett had certainly captured his attention, and he would not let her slip from him.
CHAPTER 7
Later that night, Emma lay in bed thinking about the day’s events. Well, not all of it. Her thoughts were on Lord Adlington’s arms around her when she stumbled. She felt disoriented by her conflicting emotions. Emma knew he was the wrong man to marry, yet being with him made her feel … different. All her objections to marriage melted away when he was close, even when she knew better.
Her bearing was stiff and proud when she had righted herself after stumbling, but her spirit had been in absolute chaos. She had welcomed the confusion because it had given her a moment to breathe. That was until she had raised her gaze and their eyes had locked.She desired him.
She tried weighing the whole structure of events. She had to unpick them, for she needed to understand. She had agreed to receive Lord Adlington because she must, but having spent time with him, she found him congenial, and she looked forward to whatever outing he had planned. He was not one of those loutish men who constantly prattled about themselves. The marquess was genuinely interested in her, in her pursuits and her opinions.
It made her feel seen … and oddly cherished. Emma did not care where they went or what they did so long as she was in his company. She understood that today, things were a bit different. When he held her, she felt his strength, and strange, disquieting thoughts began to race through her mind. He was strong and capable. His innocent touch conjured feelings of comfort and calm. Emma’s mind reeled because she was unsure what to make of it all. She closed her eyes and willed herself to rest, for she dared not look haggard when he came to fetch her on the morrow.
The following day, when Emma dressed for archery, she chose her garments carefully. A dress composed of green Italian silk, trimmed with white. The corsage was below the throat, fastened in front by a row of gold buttons. The upper part of the sleeve was formed in a double bouffant but much smaller than is usually worn. She did not wish to cut it into pieces when she drew her bow. The remainder of the sleeve sat close to the arm. A lace collar of the pelerine shape fell over the upper part of the bust.
She chose a hat with a round and rather large brim, edged with a green rouleau, and turned up by a gold button and loop. A plume of white ostrich feathers was attached by a knot of green ribbon to the front of the crown. The feathers drooped in different directions over the brim. The half boots were of green silk, tipped with black.
Emma had impeccable timing, for she was admiring her reflection when one of the maids informed her Lord Adlington had arrived. When she entered the drawing room, he stood, and she saw the admiration in his eyes. And was there something else she could not decipher? Emma felt warm all over and admitted she had taken such care with her appearance to see that very look in his gaze.
“You look quite dazzling, Miss Corbett.”
“Thank you, my lord. You look quite dashing yourself.”
Lord Adlington smiled at her compliment. He gave her a nod, and she put her arm in the crook of his. Her lady’s maid decided to take something to occupy her time. She was trained in dressmaking and millinery, so she was always looking for something to mend or embroider.
They departed the townhouse and shortly arrived at the archery society in Regent’s Park. They proceeded to the archery grounds, where the marquess explained the principles of the sport. Emma remarked upon the difficulty of conveying by verbal description so accurate a representation of an archer drawing his bow. It was a model of gracefulness that she needed to learn, and he was only too happy to teach her.
“Your heels should be about six or eight inches apart. Your feet must be flat and firm on the ground, equally inclining outwards from the heels.”
Lord Adlington demonstrated and Emma followed.
