Page 59 of His Scandal
Chapter 16
“Emmeline.”
Alex breathed into her mouth, his teeth nipping at her lower lip, his hand spreading across her ribs. The tips of his fingers brushed the underside of her breast, making her shudder. She wanted him to touch her higher, to ease the ache he’d caused.
“Let us find some place more private,” he murmured. “I want to see my ribbon adorn your nakedness.”
She was stunned at her own behavior. She was nothing to him but an afternoon’s enjoyment, and she was only using him to forget.
Emmeline tore her mouth away from his hypnotic kiss and turned her head. “Alex, stop!”
He pressed his mouth against her cheek, his breathing harsh in her ear. “Why is it so easy toforget myself when I’m holding you, Em? Surely ’tis magic you weave about me.”
She pushed him away and covered her hot cheeks with her hands. “No magic, but lust, pure and simple. My sister is ignoring you, so I’m convenient, aren’t I?”
“That’s not true. And I don’t care if Blythe ignores me.”
His palm flattened against her neck, sliding lower, burning wherever it touched. With the last of her strength, she ducked beneath the tree branch and headed back for the tavern. How could she keep him away from her sister, when she couldn’t even stopherselffrom seeing him?
“Well you won’t have her, Alex! Playing your games on me will get you nothing.”
“Emmeline!”
She opened the door to the tavern and went inside. She found Clifford and his wife gathering up their children.
Clifford smiled at them. “There you are! Lady Emmeline, are you feeling better?”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“My wife is taking the children to her sister’s to rest. I’ll show you where the best jongleurs will be singing, and then we’ll see the play being performed by the traveling theater troop. There is still so much to do at our little fair!”
Blythe slid her arm through Emmeline’s. “Feeling better?”
“Yes.”
“I’m glad Alex went out with you. A fair does attract a dangerous sort of man.”
She was tempted to let loose with an unladylike snort. Instead, she said, “So tell me, did Maxwell keep you company?”
“Maxwell? Oh, well I mostly talked to Clifford’s wife. I must admit, Maxwell is easy to forget. He says so little! I think he misses you when you’re gone.”
Emmeline rolled her eyes. “What a silly thing to say, Blythe! The man worships you.”
“Worships me?” Her eyes widened with shock. “I think you must be mistaken.”
“He only talks to me because we’re friends, nothing more.”
“Maybe hewantsmore.”
“Not from me, he doesn’t. Give him a chance.”
“I give everyone a chance, Emmy. But I can’t be the only one working at it.”
The afternoon lengthened and Emmeline watched with increasing amazement as Clifford and Alex somehow became—friends. Before she knew it, she was munching meat pasties purchased at a booth, listening to the two of them go on and on about the best ways to rotate crops. She didn’t know whether to be offended or merely stunned.
Soon the two men trooped to the next tavern,where they ignored her protestations on the lateness of the day, and proceeded to become inebriated. Even Maxwell seemed amused by them, and joined in with the drinking, if not the conversation—until they started discussing grapes, and Maxwell was blissfully swept away.
Emmeline heard Blythe sigh. “Dearest, I am sorry this is not enjoyable for you.”
