Page 5 of Choosing Her Earl at Last
Her heart raced in excited trepidation as others began to bid as well. As the bids went higher, slowly but surely, people began to fall out of the competition until only Emmeline and one other person toward the front of the room remained.
Emmeline strained to see who was still bidding against her, but was unable to make out more than the back of a man’s head. Her father had left her some money with the intention of it being for just such artistic pursuits, and she had not touched it until now, and yet the price was rapidly climbing toward her limit.
At just the moment when she thought that she might lose, the man bidding against her in the front row turned around in search of his competitor. Emmeline’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the piercing hazel eyes of Michael Egerton, the Earl of Ravenshollow.
The auctioneer looked from the earl to Emmeline, then back and forth, confusion and uncertainty on his face as he attempted to get the earl to bid once more without success. Emmeline had no notion as to how long they sat there staring at each other before Michael turned back around and shook his head.
“Sold!” cried the auctioneer, slamming his gavel down upon the podium.
The auction continued on until every last piece was sold, but Emmeline saw none of it, lost in her own thoughts and memories of the man she had loved her entire life.
It had broken her heart when her parents had married her off to a complete stranger for his title and social standing, instead of to the boy she loved next door.
To make matters worse, her husband had never allowed her to return to England, preferring to keep her at his summer estate, far away in Scotland, even though he had an English estate in Leicestershire that would have made more sense for a lady of her standing.
The last time that she had seen Michael was the day that she had left for Scotland with her parents on holiday; by the end of their trip, Emmeline had been married. She had never even been allowed to say goodbye.
When the auction ended, Emmeline went to pay for her purchase and arrange for its delivery to her family’s townhouse. As she and Rebecca exited the auction house, she saw Michael walking ahead of them toward a carriage. Emmeline grabbed Rebecca’s arm and hurried after him. “Michael,” she called after him tentatively.
Michael stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around to face her. Emmeline’s heart stuttered in her chest at the cold, reserved look in his eyes.
Every other aspect looked the same as the last time that she had seen him. He was older, less light and free in his expression, but mostly the same. The way he looked at her, devoid of love, was the main difference in his countenance, and it was more than her heart could bear.
“My lady,” he greeted somberly, inclining his head in the proper respect due a marchioness. “My condolences for your loss.”
Emmeline was not certain whether he meant the loss of her husband or her father, but she supposed that it did not matter. She inclined her head in acceptance of his sympathies. “Is that why you surrendered the Da Vinci? I have never known you to back down from a work of art that you truly desired.”
“It was in respect to your late father,” Michael acknowledged. His eyes swept over her half-mourning attire. “He was a good man. He is missed.”
Emmeline nodded in acceptance of the compliment to her late father’s memory. “I am pleased to hear that it was not out of pity.”
“Never,” he affirmed. In truth, his eyes held no pity at all, only a cold anger.
“How are you? How have you been? It has been some time since we last spoke.” She offered him a tentative smile in an effort to thaw the ice between them.
“I am perfectly adequate. I thank you for your inquiry, my lady.”
Anger flared in Emmeline’s chest at the distance between them, but she knew that it was not his fault.
He has every right to be angry. We loved one another, planned to spend the rest of our lives together, and then I was gone and wed to another. He has no way of knowing the truth of the matter, that it was all against my will.Emmeline’s heart ached for what might have been.
“If you will pardon me, my lady, I must bid you ado. I have pressing estate business to attend to. The auction was but a brief respite. Alas, I must return empty-handed.” Michael bowed and turned to leave.
In spite of herself, Emmeline could not stop the next words that left her mouth. “It is not like you to surrender so easily.”
They both knew that she meant more than the artwork.
“I learned long ago when it is time to concede that which I desire,” Michael retorted without turning back around and stepped into his carriage, commanding his driver to go.
Rebecca stood by Emmeline with a look of utter consternation. “Well, that was rude,” Rebecca huffed. “I remember Michael being more charming than that. He did not even acknowledge my presence. In point of fact, he only had eyes for you, angry asthey were. What happened between the two of you? You used to be so close when we were children.”
Emmeline shook her head. “I do not wish to discuss the matter.”
Rebecca studied her sister’s face, sudden realization dawning as her eyes grew wide in understanding. “There was love betwixt the two of you. What happened?”
“Father and Mother married me off to the highest bidder,” Emmeline bit out bitterly, and turned to walk back toward the family townhouse.
Rececca hurried to catch up with her, but did not press her for details, allowing Emmeline the solace of silence.
