Page 38 of A Murder, a Marquess, and Miss Mifford
He scowled, as his gaze swept over every person on the footpath, trying to spot Emily amongst the crowds. Finally, having circled the square thrice, he sighted her, strolling along without a care in the world.
"Pull up here," Freddie called, rapping on the roof of the carriage with his cane.
As the carriage drew to a halt beside the footpath, Freddie snapped up the screen on the window, cast Miss Mifford a glare--so she would understand just how much trouble she was in--before reaching over to open the door.
Miss Mifford scrambled in without his assistance--for Freddie did not wish to cause a scandal, by risking being seen bundling a young woman into his vehicle--and sat herself primly on the bench opposite him.
"I know you said--" she began, but Freddie had no patience for excuses.
"Do you know how much danger you put yourself in?" he growled, "This is not the Cotswolds; London is filled with villains, thieves, and footpads. You could have been assaulted, or robbed, or kidnapped."
"Yet none of these things occurred," Emily answered, with a forced mildness to her tone, "What I do is none of your concern, my lord. Besides--"
Again, Freddie did not wait to hear her excuses before interrupting her, such was his anger.
"Your safetyismy concern," he retorted, scowling across at her.
She opened her mouth to protest again, and Freddie's willpower snapped at the sight of her plump mouth, petulant and sulky.
He moved swiftly, crossing the carriage to sit beside her, before drawing her into his lap, and covering her mutinous lips with his own. She gave a slight gasp, and he braced himself for a slap, but none was forthcoming.
Instead, Emily melted against him, wrapping her arms around his neck to steady herself, and giving a quiet mewl of pleasure as Freddie kissed her thoroughly.
His senses were assaulted by her; her soft lips, her warm curves against his body, her sweet floral scent. His hands on her back pulled her closer against him, as Freddie was filled with a deep longing for her--for all of her.
It was only when the carriage hit a pot-hole and jolted them apart, that Miss Mifford was saved from being thoroughly ravished in a moving vehicle.
"Forgive me," Freddie said, as she glanced up at him with nervous eyes, "I seem to have left myself off the list of those things that are dangerous to you..."
"You're not dangerous," she replied, and Freddie was touched by how much she trusted him.
The carriage turned, and Freddie realised that his driver was headed towards Pall Mall. Miss Mifford might trust him, but even Freddie knew better than to bring her within a furlong of his home and bedchamber.
"St James' Square," he called, rapping on the roof.
"Oh, we're nearly there," Emily blinked, still a little stupefied from the passion of their embrace, "My lord, I must tell you--"
"Freddie."
"Freddie," she corrected herself, leaving Freddie to marvel at how sweet his name sounded upon her lips--like a heavenly chorus of angels.
"I know you did not wish me to spy on Ethel," she continued, "But I'm very glad I did. You see, I followed her from Berkley Square to the graveyard beside St George's."
Freddie bit his lip to keep from growling with displeasure at the news that Emily had spent all morning traipsing across the whole of London alone, and not just Berkley Square.
"And you'll never guess who she went there to meet--Sir Cadogan," she revealed, not giving him a chance to guess.
"You're certain?" Freddie squawked, startled into gaucheness by the news.
"Most certain," she nodded, her eyes gleaming, "And, she wants to marry him, but Sir Cadogan is insistent they wait, for it would look most suspect."
"He said that?" Freddie breathed, for it was tantamount to a confession of guilt.
"He mentioned that you had accused him of having played a hand in Lady Hardthistle's death," she explained, "And that to marry so soon, might draw further attention upon him."
Not an exact confession, Freddie conceded, but near enough.
"I think we must confront him," Emily added, her eyes sidling to his to assess how he felt about this.
