Page 18 of Three Scandals for the Wild Duke

“Oh, I do not have such interests,” Emma protested, feeling her cheeks grow warmer still under the scrutinizing gaze of her host.

“If you say so,” Lady Amberton winked, her skepticism couldn’t be more apparent. Emma opened her mouth to make another attempt at convincing her, but just then, the housekeeper appeared and sought Lady Amberton’s attention. Emma was left alone, her thoughts swirling.

As she took another card to write on, she suddenly spied her name on one of the cards Lady Amberton had been working on. Emma succumbed to her curiosity and went through the cards,her heart skipping a beat when she saw that she had been paired with Seymore. And she didn’t think it a coincidence. No doubts Lady Amberton was trying to match her with the Duke now.

She quickly shuffled the cards and switched them, pairing herself with Firman instead. Besides, she didn’t think she could countenance an entire hunt in the company of the infuriating Duke. As her partner no less.

No sooner had she returned to her cushion than Lady Amberton reappeared. “Oh, we must hurry and finish these,” the woman sounded breathless. And as Emma watched her shuffle through the cards, guilt suddenly came over her. What had she been thinking? She found herself wishing Lady Amberton would get called out again so she could return the names as they’d been.

Alas, they finished working on the cards without the opportunity to right her wrong. Lady Amberton called a footman and gave him the cards with instructions to have them delivered to the guests. She turned to Emma and handed her hers somewhat abstractedly as she went through the few cards that were left on the table, her mind clearly elsewhere. Emma held the card in her hand, her stomach twisting with the weight of her impulsive decision.

“The afternoon looks promising already,” Jane anticipated.

Emma felt too guilty to look forward to anything. If only she could change the cards again.

The treasure hunt was set on the expansive grounds of the manor. Emma saw the Earl approaching and braced herself, only for him to nod and smile cordially at her before walking past. Confused, she swiveled and saw a young lady from the guests placing her hand on his arm before he led her away. They appeared to have been paired.

“You look as if you just lost a good sum in a horrid wager, Miss Lovell,” a voice came from beside her. Emma wanted to groan out loud. She raised her gaze to see Seymore, whose expression was filled with a sense of satisfaction.

“What did you do?” She cut straight to the point.

“The footman gave me my card and Firman’s. I saw the names, and switched them,” he shrugged nonchalantly.

Emma supposed she ought to be glad. She’d wanted to right things after all. But this only infuriated her more. “Besides, I think you will enjoy my company more than Firman’s,” he grinned, clearly pleased with his meddling.

“How dare you?”

“How dare I not?” He tossed back, his tone playful yet challenging.

“You are insufferable,” she accused, her frustration mounting.

“And yet here you are,” he pointed out, a sly smile on his lips.

“Because you switched the cards,” she returned sharply. “And don’t you dare tell me that you’re giving me a choice right now. Because this is holding me hostage,” she added, her words fierce.

“Hostage?” he echoed, amusement evident in his voice.

“Quite so,” she jutted her chin out in defiance.

“I suppose Firman would be willing to pay a fine sum in exchange for you,” he laughed, his humor not quite reaching her.

“How is that for a deal?” He added as she began to walk away. Their first clue was to look around the hedges, presumably for their second clue…

“Not nearly fair,” she complained.

“Allow me,” he stopped her when she crouched by the hedges to look around.

“I didn’t realize you had a chivalrous bone in you, Your Grace,” she couldn’t help but tease, a slight smirk touching her lips. “Look at you, all ready to do the dirty work,” she added.

“Is that how you show your gratitude?” He straightened, bearing a small card now.

“What’s it say?” she asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself.

“That’ll cost Firman extra if I tell you.” He held the card out of her reach when she tried to snatch it away.

“How is that fair?” she cried. “We were paired to be a team!” She added, her tone a mix of exasperation and challenge.

“Were we?” He quirked a sly brow.

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