Page 45 of Never a Bride
“Help me?” she repeated, her teeth clenched.
“Why, of course. Allow me to amuse the ladies while you see to Willoughby’s flowers.”
He sent her a positively wicked grin, then walked into the midst of four scandalized girls. Emmeline was certain they were counting their blessings that their mothers weren’t there to keep them away from the notorious knight. She stood beside Maxwell and watched Alex sit between two girls on the settle, then spread his long arms on the wooden back behind them.
Rolling her eyes, Emmeline turned back to Maxwell, who looked about as wilted as his flowers would soon be.
“Maxwell, let me find a vase.”
He gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you. I guess many of us had the same idea, eh?”
“It was very kind of both of you, I’m sure,” she murmured, beckoning to the maidservant standing near the door. She gave instructions to the girl, handed her the flowers, and watched her go. Emmeline wished she could go, too. She’d planned to relax with a new book while Blythe slept.
Perhaps, as he’d suggested, Alex could do her entertaining for her. She watched in dismay at how easily he charmed the young ladies. He even included Maxwell, who sat rather awkwardly in their midst, with little to say. If only Maxwell had a small portion of the confidence Alex had, she was certain Blythe would be interested in him. She wondered if there was any way to teach such a thing.
Within the next half-hour, she fended off a visit from a bored Blythe, served the ladies wine punch, and spoke quiet words of encouragement to Maxwell. Alex continued to interrupt, obviously including them in his circle of admirers. As if he needed any more, she thought, smiling grudgingly.
“Lady Emmeline,” he finally said, “come to the window, please. I have something to show you. I know how interested in horseflesh you are. The rest of you sweet ladies will have to question Lord Willoughby about his winery. He grows his own grapes, you know.”
As Alex took her arm and led her away, she looked over her shoulder apologetically at Maxwell, whose eyes had gone wide as all four lovely women turned as one to look at him.
At the window she shook off Alex’s hand, but didn’t look into his face. “That was hardly necessary. Where is your horse, so I can return to my guests?”
“Actually, you can’t see him from here,” he said.
The amusement in his voice made her groan and turn to leave, until he caught her hand.
“Lady Emmeline, is it so horrible that I’d like a moment alone with you?”
“Alex, this is not the time—”
“Won’t you even look at me? Turning cowardly so soon?”
He already knew her too well, she thought, lifting her gaze to the challenge. He stared down at her with those dark, knowing eyes, as the sun bathed him and glistened in his black hair. Where their hands touched, heat blossomed.
“It is hardly cowardly to return to my guests,” she said.
“You are working much too hard, Emmeline.”
“And you had to come and give me even more to do?”
“I?”
He was so good at pretending innocence. Yet she didn’t remove her hand from his.
“How could I be a bother?” he continued. “I’ve beenhelpingyou. I’ve been amusing those silly young girls with my outlandish stories, refilling their goblets—”
“Practically feeding them with your own fingers, weren’t you?” she said, knowing that her smile was no longer hidden.
“You noticed! All my hard work is not going to waste.”
Emmeline sighed and shook her head. “Go home, Alex. You won’t see Blythe today.”
“Perhaps I didn’t come to see her,” he said in a lower voice.
She stared at him, trying to remove her hand even as he held her tighter. “These games don’t help, so cease them. I’ve already told you that your pursuit of Blythe is useless. Please don’t make me involve my brothers.”
“Why, Em, have you reached a situation you cannot handle alone?”
