Page 5 of The Marquess's Scandalous Game
This must be a mistake!
But what if she was wrong? What if it was as the ladies described? She had only seen him for a short time. Her heart was racing. Her father would not be amused if she found herself the butt of these ladies’ sharp tongues. It was fortunate for her that she left the garden when she did otherwise … Emma could not have saved herself from the scandal. She lifted her gaze to find the marquess almost upon her with Lord Livingston at his side. She had shifted her gaze from Lord Adlington and was so lost in her thoughts that she did not see him approach.
Good heavens!What was she to do now?
Emma’s mind raced; she wanted to flee, but her feet were too heavy. She stood rooted in the spot.
Please, please, please do not speak to me. I beg of you.
Emma caught herself just in time, so she did not speak the words aloud. Though she had no wish to marry, she did not want to associate with someone so dastardly. Her sisters would eventually need to make good matches, and the stain on one’s reputation could negatively impact her entire family. A worse possibility is that their encounter in the gardens might have sparked his interest. Why else would he approach her sopublicly? She tried to plead with her eyes, but it was to no avail. Lord Adlington stopped in front of her.
This was Emma’s first chance to study his features in good lighting. She had already distinguished his broad shoulders, towering height, and sleek hair. Now, she could discern his angular jaw, high cheekbones, full lips, and gray eyes. Eyes that were pinning her at this very moment.
Emma quickly glanced away and said naught. Perhaps if she pretended he was not there, he would leave. She had no such luck. Lord Adlington did not move on. She was acutely aware that the ladies behind her were not the only ones who had gone silent. Everyone in earshot and beyond was straining their ears and eyes.
“Lord Leopold Newton, Marquess of Adlington, may I present Miss Corbett,” Lord Livingston said.
“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, my lord.” Her heart slammed against her ribcage.
Lord Adlington pretended he had not seen her in the garden.Thank goodness for small mercies.
His eyes held a hint of mockery. “Miss Corbett, would you permit me the next dance?”
Emma tilted her chin and pinned him with a cold gaze so that he would not mistake her intent.
“I am sorry, my lord. I have the most horrid headache and must retire for the evening. I shall be leaving the ball,” Emma replied, dipping into a quick curtsy.
A few gasps sounded, but she ignored them, hating that her cheeks flushed. It was ruinous to turn down a gentleman who asked her to dance, but surely, she would not be condemned given Lord Adlington’s reputation.
Emma spun around and gave Lord Adlington her back as she hurriedly exited the room. She saw the look of shock on the ladies’ faces and the amusement of the gentlemen. She did notlook back. She did not doubt that Lord Adlington was astonished by her rudeness. He would be deeply insulted, and thehaut tonwould be in a titter for sennights to come. Emma felt she had no choice. She had to rebuff his attention. She handed her wine glass to a passing servant and decided not to wait for her father.
As Emma fled the Livingstons, she approached the steps leading to the street. She held on to the banister to steady herself. Emma was weak in the knees and shaking. She was consumed by guilt when she remembered her initial favorable impression of Lord Adlington. He’d also seemed like a tortured soul. Emma had just made the marquess’s pain much worse by humiliating him publicly.
Emma was bewildered by her concern. She did not know him, and if there was any truth to the gossip, she did not want to. She could have danced with him, but she was not prepared to ruin her reputation on a whim. She may be feeling some sympathy for him, but what of the lady that he had ruined? The poor lady had to wed someone she did not want. Emma could not imagine being forced to marry a gentleman merely because he was her only option. A dastardly thought.
Scattered thoughts filled her mind, and she felt torn. She did not like to be unkind. She loved to help others. Her mouth was dry, and her stomach churned as she waited for her equipage. She prayed Lord Adlington would not follow her. Relief washed over her when the equipage was brought around, and she quickly glanced back at the townhouse.
Thank heavens she did not see the marquess. Emma settled herself in the carriage and placed a hand on her heart, which was beating wildly in her chest. She needed to calm herself. It was not as if he chased her. Emma moved the curtain aside, gazed through the equipage window, and watched the row of townhouses go by in a blur. As the carriage rolled on, Emma wondered if she would ever see Lord Adlington again.
CHAPTER 3
Adlington townhouse, London
Leopold left the premises via the garden through the side entrance. Not that it mattered much, for all eyes were on him before he departed the ballroom. He made his way home and sat in the drawing room with a glass of whisky. He ruefully admitted he was stung by Miss Corbett’s rejection. Lord Livingston had followed him onto the terrace and apologized. Leopold smarted when he remembered her haughty manner as she left him in the ballroom without a backward glance. It was not only that she insulted him but that she made it spectacularly public. She sought to put him in his place.
How dare she?
Miss Corbett was the daughter of a baron who had only recently had his title conferred, while Leopold’s family had served kings, and his family’s wealth was earned a century or two earlier. Yet, she was condescending to him. Leopold’s title was old, having been in his family for generations. The thought of his family sent a stabbing pain through his heart.
He stood abruptly, pushing his armchair back across the floor. Leopold went down the hallway to the rear of the house, where he could enter the garden. As soon as the door opened, he spilled into the open and drew deep breaths. Finally, the pain in his chest subsided. He looked down at his hand. He was still holding his glass so he took a healthy swig to help him calm his nerves.
Leopold sighed heavily. Gut-wrenching pain and despair would forever be associated with those he loved. He remembered standing by their graves on that bleak afternoon when he returned from Europe. The damp smell of earth had filled his nostrils. Leopold had been much too late to say goodbye to his mother, father, Eugene, and Estelle. It filled him with sadness. On his journey home, he prayed that they were not truly dead and that it had all been a terrible mistake.
At first, Leopold did not want to accept they were gone, even as he stood at their graves. His denial turned to anger. Soon, anger gave way to rage, bitterness, and resentment. It consumed him and ate at him from the inside out. He would lay in his bed at night, yet sleep would escape him until the early hours. When he awoke on these mornings, he did not wish to face the world and refused to see anyone. He lay abed for days, having neither food nor drink. He pondered why it was that he survived. Why was he not taken from the earth?
The pain had been deep and wounding. He often had the urge to scream and rail in frustration. He was unable to talk to anyone about his feelings.
With whom could he share his heartache?Who would understand his pain?
