Page 33 of The Earl's Hired Bride
“I know!” Emily interrupted her in despair. “There’s no way forward for us—and that isn’t even the worst part. There is a wicked girl . . .” She told her mother everything, then and, looking up, watched her grow whiter as the story went on.
“Good heavens, this is much more complicated than I could have imagined.” She stood and pulled Emily to her feet too. “I think perhaps we should put an end to this.”
“No! I cannot leave yet. I will not let Miss Paxton hurt him.”
“Have you warned him?”
“I sent him an urgent message, but he is in Richmond interviewing a land agent and will not likely see it until tonight. I have to warn him—and I know you are right. I have to finish this. But, oh—I don’t want to! That horrid girl has stolen my last days with him.” A sob broke through. “Mama, what am I going to do?”
Before her mother could answer, the curtain was swept open. Emily turned in horror to find Miss Paxton standing there in terrible triumph. “Mama!” she repeated. “Your mother?” She stared between the two of them. “I knew it! I knew there was something wrong about you! You’re afraud!”
Emily stepped forward to shield her mother. “And what do you think you are?” she asked the girl.
Miss Paxton looked surprised, but then she gave them an ugly grin. “I think I am the winner, you tart!”
“Katharine! Do hurry!” It was Mrs. Paxton calling. “I told you we did not have time to stop in.”
“I’m coming, Mother,” she answered, never taking her gaze off of Emily. She moved forward and grabbed Emily’s wrist. “I have you now,” she said, low and harsh. “Don’t think you can wiggle out of it. You will meet me tomorrow at Lady Feltham’s ball and I will have instructions for you. Do not think to warn Lord Hartford. Iwillknow. I have eyes on you, Miss Latham . . . or whatever your real name is. How do you think I knew where to find you just now? If I see any attempt to contact the earl, I will go straight to the papers with this story and ruin you all. Do you understand me?”
Emily’s mother stepped forward and pulled her away. “Take your hands off of my daughter.”
“Katharine!”
“Coming!”
She sneered at them. “You will leave now, as well, so that I know you are not conspiring.” Holding the curtain aside, she said, “Let us go.”
Emily glared at her, then turned and gave her mother a hug. “Send Jasper,” she whispered. Then, with a nod, she followed the evil girl out.
* * *
The hour had grown latewhen Hart returned from Richmond. His tread slowed as he climbed the stairs to his rooms, but he felt good about the man he’d hired to oversee his property in Shropshire. The land had been his own, inherited from an uncle long before John had died and the earldom had been thrust upon him. He’d relocated some of his experiments to Hartsworth and hoped to recreate some of the customizations he’d made on his green houses, but a few of his projects were tied to the land and he hoped he’d found someone to carry them on and keep him—
“Excuse me, sir.”
A boy sat on the threshold of his apartment.
“I come from Miss Spencer—and no one is supposed to know.”
Hart fished out his key. “Then come in and quickly.” He ushered the boy in. “Did anyone see you?”
“No.” The boy yawned. “I been waiting in the servant’s stair a while, but then I started to fall asleep and I was afraid I’d miss you.”
“Good man—you haven’t missed me.” Hart grinned. “Now, what is it that Miss Spencer needs?”
“Read this.” He thrust over a piece of parchment, folded small, and Hart snatched it up. A cold mass of anger and worry formed in his stomach as he read it over.
“It’s all true,” the boy offered up. “Especially the part about them that’s watching her. I seen ‘em myself. I pretended to deliver gloves to the lady countess and a pair of roughs stopped and searched me on the way in.”
“You are Jasper, I presume?” He lifted the note. “She mentions you.”
“Aye. They tried to peach me on the way out too, but Em gave me a scone to munch on and I folded it small and stuck it inside. They didn’t think nothin’ of me holding on to it.”
“That explains the stickiness—and the scent of lemon.” Hart sat a moment, thinking. Their situation had been difficult before. Now it was perilous indeed. He stilled, remembering Emily’s words when they had first made their bargain. She’d been sweet and unworldly enough to think to protect him—but he would be damned before he allowed someone like Miss Paxton to harm the girl he loved.
And love her, he did. How could he not? Look at how she responded to this threat—any of those girls who had thrown themselves at him would have collapsed in terror and tears. Not his Emily. She was thwarting the enemy. He’d wager she was planning on sacrificing herself to save him, too.
He shook his head. He would make sure it wasn’t necessary.
