Page 52 of His Scandal
Was he imagining it, or did Edmund look pale? “We could call it a draw.”
“And why would you want to do that, old friend?”
Alex shrugged, even as he looked at Emmeline. She laughed in response to something Willoughby said, and he watched her fine figure as she leaned back in the chair. She wore lighter colors this day, and she seemed as young and carefree as the girls she entertained. Did Willoughby bring about such ease in her?
“Is it Lady Emmeline?” Edmund asked.
“She is…more of a challenge, I admit.”
“Very well. We’ll discuss the wager when I return. I’ll be off to pack. Come soon and write out a letter to your steward for me.”
“You’re going now?” he asked curiously. “You just arrived.”
Edmund didn’t meet his eyes. “I see no reason to wait. You can explain my departure to the ladies. I’ll see you at the tavern.”
As Edmund walked away, Alex stared after him, feeling uneasy. It wasn’t like his friend to abandon a challenge, especially one involving money. Edmund had been distracted lately, hardly himself. What was going on?
He glanced at Emmeline as she approached, and felt something ease inside him.
“Your friend left rather abruptly,” she said.
“I know. He asked me to beg your forgiveness.”
“He had a pressing errand, I take it?”
“I guess so,” Alex said speculatively. Then he smiled down at her. “But I don’t. I could keep you amused for the rest of the afternoon.”
She sighed, and suddenly he saw her weariness.
“Ah, we are a burden,” he said, before she could answer. “I’ll take all your guests away and let you rest.”
Scrutinizing him, she asked, “You would do that?”
“I would—and I can. Just watch me.”
“Ever one for a challenge, aren’t you?”
“Makes a dull life interesting.”
Her regard intensified. “Your life is so dull, then? Perhaps parties do not satisfy you, after all.”
He leaned down toward her, inhaling the sweet scent of her, enjoying the way her breath caught in a soft gasp. “The parties are only a preliminary, love. It’s what comes later, in the dark of the night, that makes it all worthwhile. Ihaveoffered to be your guide in such pleasures.”
For a brief moment, he savored the memory of a firelit night in this parlor, when he held her tightly to him. He knew she felt it, too, this awareness, this need.
He thought for certain she would blush to her toes and leave him, but Emmeline was obviously made of sterner stuff. She lifted her chin and eyed him with a cool superiority.
“’Tis a shame that only in darkness do you feel at ease. Why is that? What is wrong with showing the world the real Alex Thornton?”
“You think I hide myself?”
“Do you?”
He touched her chin. “You’ll just have to find out, Em. Now, off I go to amuse your guests.”
He was true to his word. Within minutes, he was taking all the ladies—and Maxwell—out for a walk in the parks of her father’s estate. Emmeline sat before the fire with her book, enjoying the solitude. Only when she noticed how dark it was getting did she realize Alex must have made sure they all left without returning to the house.
She was grateful.
