Page 82 of His Scandal
“Congratulations on the birth of your child, Lord Thornton. I understand it was a boy? And your wife is well?”
“Thank you, yes. She was not up to traveling yet, but I’m sure she can’t wait to meet you.”
Emmeline tried not to frown. “But…why? I am merely a friend of your broth—mother.”
“I guess it was because of the message my brother asked me to relay to you.” His smile was full of chagrin. “Regretfully I cannot say it in so public a place. It is a rather private request.”
She didn’t know what to say as Lord Thornton took her arm. What could Alex have said to him?
Before she knew it they were in a small library, where a fire was rapidly becoming only embers. She turned in confusion to Lord Thornton, and found him closing the door. He leaned back against it, watching her.
“My lord,” she began cautiously, “what could Alex have needed to say that he could not say himself?”
Instead of speaking, he reached for both her hands. He suddenly yanked her against him, and wicked amusement spilled from his eyes. She only had a moment to breathe, “Alex,” before he kissed her.
As always, his passion threatened to overwhelm her, but Emmeline fought the pleasure stealing over her by pushing him away.
“Alex Thornton!” she gasped.
The courtly bow he gave her was exaggerated with a flourish. “My lady.”
“I didn’t even guess—I didn’t see—”
“No one ever does,” he said, still laughing.
But she was uneasy at his laughter, at…something.
“I have not met your brother, but you were very successful at not portraying yourself. I can see why you fooled so many people.”
“Not just ‘so many people.’ I fool everyone.”
“Even your mother?”
“Well, no. But you, Em, you believed it.”
And though he smiled at her, made a joke of it all, she felt a sympathetic chill move through her. Somehow, she knew he had wanted hernotto be fooled, to know him anywhere. And she’d failed.
She didn’t think that he even knew it had been some sort of a test. She suddenly realized that Alex used laughter when anything cut too deep to his emotions. So many things made sense now.
Emmeline forced a smile, but all she felt was sadness. Living as his brother must have changed him in ways he didn’t want to face. Instead of seeing himself as but a man doing a job, he must have thought of himself as somehow less than Spencer. Had such feelings always been a part of him?
She wanted to reassure him, to tell him she knew everything, but it was not her place. Such rights belonged to a wife, not the current object of his fancy. So she had to distract him, while inside her throat ached with unshed tears.
“Alex, I need to ask your forbearance.”
“Over what?”
“Maxwell and Blythe. I know you’ve claimed that you are finished courting her—”
“I nevercourtedher.”
“—but please, give them this chance at happiness. They are perfect for each other. You’ve helped Maxwell, and forgive me for not telling you the full truth, but I thought you would feel I was pushing you out of Blythe’s life.”
Alex knew he stared foolishly down at her, his mouth open, but for once he was at a loss. He blurted, “But I thought you wanted Max for yourself.”
Her eyes went wide. “For myself? Maxwell is a dear friend, that is all. No, it isBlytheI am concerned for.”
Alex could neither understand nor explain his relief, and he had never thought to feel such confusion. “But…what about your dreams for yourself, Em? What aboutyourlife?”
