Page 71 of His Scandal
Chapter 19
Whatever Emmeline imagined made her suddenly push Alex away. There would be no kiss this night, no temptation of her body pressed to his. He was aroused enough that he almost took it from her anyway.
“Alex, this is not amusing. I have requested a favor. Will you help me?”
He hesitated just enough to make her nervous. “I shall help you—but only because you’ve asked me so nicely. When shall we begin? Shall I talk to Willoughby tonight?”
“Oh, no, I haven’t even asked him yet.”
“He doesn’t know you’ve come to me for help?”
“I could hardly put such a thought in his mind, and then have you refuse us.”
He hated the way she said “us.” “Very well, let me know what the two of you decide.”237
She nodded and slowly backed away.
He forced himself to grin. “You’d better watch what you’re doing Em, before you trip.”
With a little side step, she just missed a bench, but still she didn’t look away from him, as if she were afraid he’d chase her. So he just stared after her until he finally saw her illuminated by the torches near the palace. Then she slipped inside, leaving him to decide how best to work this to his advantage.
Emmeline knew that persuading Maxwell Willoughby to accept help would be almost as difficult as persuading Alex to help. She sent a missive to Maxwell, asking him to come see her on a day when Blythe was out visiting friends. When she finally had him alone, she explained her idea, and though he was mildly offended, he did not summarily dismiss her plan. He admitted that he rather admired Alex’s easy ability with women.
So it was settled. Her father left for Kent, and it was almost too simple to persuade Blythe to accompany him to visit friends back home. Except for the servants, Emmeline had the mansion to herself. She immediately issued invitations to both Alex and Maxwell for dinner the following day, a Friday.
Alex was early by half an hour. Emmeline wasinformed of his arrival while in the kitchen overseeing preparations for their meal. The steward beamed as he delivered the news, then disappeared back into the front of the mansion. Bless him, he was always assuming there was still a man out there for her.
Well, Alex would just have to wait. She was not about to have her plans turned inside out because of him. She didn’t want to make small talk, all the while remembering the things they’d done together. Just as she was about to escape up to her chamber by the back staircase, Alex appeared in the kitchen door.
“Lady Emmeline?” he called.
The maids all let out giggling gasps, while Mr. Horatio, the cook, glowered at them. But even he, ever one in control of his domain, had an encouraging smile for her.
“You see to your guests, my lady,” Mr. Horatio said, ushering her forward, ignoring the fact that she was quite unwilling.
Alex grinned at all the women before eyeing Emmeline herself. “I knew I’d find you here. Always working too hard, isn’t she, ladies?”
They all bobbed their heads in agreement, and she was forced into a stiff smile. “Sir Alexander, please wait in the parlor. As soon as I finish, I’ll—”
But he swept into the room, towering over the servants, smiling so charmingly that Emmelinecould see the girls sigh as they gazed up at him.
“Ladies, might I steal Lady Emmeline from you?”
There was really no help for it. She was almost pushed out the door by the cheerful kitchen servants, and then Alex was pulling her to the parlor. When she heard the door close, she whirled to face him.
“Alex, please open the door.”
Slowly he walked toward her and she held her ground.
“Now, Em, your father and your sister are gone, am I right?”
“How did you know that?” she demanded, feeling giddiness flutter in her stomach and up into her throat. “Have you been spying on us?”
“Your steward told me when I came in.”
“Please don’t ask my servants personal questions.”
“He volunteered the information.”
