Page 44 of Three Scandals for the Wild Duke

“Shall we?” He offered his arm in a gentlemanly gesture, his smile reassuring.

Emma followed him, each step measured and heavy as he led the way out of the labyrinthine maze. With every step, her heart threatened to beat its way out of her chest, her anxiety mounting as they moved closer to the exit.

As they neared the edge of the maze, voices and laughter from outside the hedges reached their ears, signaling the presence of other guests just beyond the green barrier. Emma’s steps faltered, her resolve crumbling under the weight of what she was about to do.

She couldn’t do this, she realized with sudden clarity. It was too immoral, too deceitful. And Alexander—he had been nothing but kind to her. Throughout the house party, they had forged a genuine friendship; she had grown to like and respect him deeply. How could she betray him like this? No matter howdesperate her situation, she couldn’t bear the thought of living with such guilt.

And it wasn’t just Alexander she would be betraying if she went through with her parents’ plan. It would be a betrayal of all the friends she had made here, the people who had come to hold her in high esteem and cared for her. Emma had never truly had her parents’ love and respect, but here, amidst these new friends, she had found a sense of worth and acceptance.

She couldn’t—sherefused—to betray that. No matter the cost, she would not tarnish these newfound bonds. Emma realized now, more than ever, that some lines simply could not be crossed, not even at the behest of her own parents.

“Is everything all right?” Alexander asked, concern etching his features as he noticed Emma had stopped following him.

“I just realized I left my reticule at the other side,” she lied hastily, feeling a twist of guilt for the deceit. “We have come far enough. I think I can find my way out now once I retrieve it,” she added, hoping her voice sounded more convincing than she felt. With a polite nod, she quickly turned to make her retreat.

In her anxious frenzy to part with him before anyone saw them together and misconstrued their encounter, Emma’s foot caught on the hem of her skirts. Her balance faltered, and she stumbled forward.

Alexander, reacting instinctively to her sudden movement, reached out to catch her. However, he was a little too far away tosecure a proper grip, and his attempt only slightly altered their course. They both ended up tumbling to the ground.

He landed atop her.

CHAPTER 18

“What is that sound?” One of the voices they’d heard outside the hedges inquired.

“I think it came from within the maze. Let us see what it is,” another lady suggested, her words carrying a hint of excitement at the prospect of uncovering a mystery.

“Heavens!” Alexander mumbled as he clumsily struggled to get off Emma. “Forgive me.” His movements were awkward and hurried. Panic gripped Emma from every direction, her mind racing with the implications of their accidental pose being discovered.

Just then, she saw another shadow loom over them before a pair of strong hands grabbed Alexander by the jacket and lifted him effortlessly from her. Emma gasped softly as she sat up, brushing off her skirts, only to meet George’s fuming gaze.

His glare was such that it made her heart sink further into the pit of her stomach before turning his attention to Alexander. “We should leave before people find us and misunderstand,” he said sternly, his voice low but filled with an urgency that brooked no argument.

Alexander appeared fleetingly perplexed as he glanced between Emma and George. Then, as realization dawned on him, he nodded, a flush of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. “I–I apologize for my clumsiness, Emma. I truly am.”

George, without waiting for any further discussion, practically dragged Alexander away by the sleeve. They quickly turned and disappeared back into the maze, leaving Emma alone with her thoughts.

It is I who ought to apologize.She gained her feet, brushing off the remnants of grass and leaves from her dress. She was as relieved as she was miserable.I did what was right, she reassured herself as she hastily patted her hair, trying to regain some semblance of composure.

The ladies they had heard outside the maze appeared at the entrance. Their expressions were a mixture of curiosity and concern as they scanned the scene.

“Oh, Miss Lovell,” one of them exclaimed in surprise, her eyes wide as they landed on Emma standing alone, her attire slightly disheveled.

“We heard a sound…” the other lady added, her voice trailing off as she looked around, expecting perhaps to find more than just Emma.

“What sound?” Emma asked, feigning ignorance with as much innocence as she could muster under the circumstances. Her heart was still pounding, but she held the ladies’ gazes steadily.

“You’re hearing things now it seems, Agatha,” the first lady teased, chuckling softly as she observed no immediate sign of the drama that Agatha had anticipated.

“No, I’m not,” Agatha returned defensively, her brows knitting as though she doubted her own assertion as the scene before her seemed entirely benign.

With the ladies’ attention diverted into mild bickering and reassured by Emma’s composed demeanor, they soon turned to leave, their curiosity unsatisfied. Emma watched them go, her breath easing out in a quiet sigh. She looked down at her frock and noticed a slight tear on the side near her waist. She held her arms closer to her body to conceal it.

Taking advantage of their departure, Emma found her way out of the maze. Once she was within the castle walls, she gathered her skirts and ran up the stairs at the rear. As she swung shut her bedchamber door, the weight of the afternoon’s events descended upon her, and she slumped against the door.

Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she refused to allow them to fall. She gathered herself and mindlessly paced thelength of her bedchamber, each step echoing the pounding of her heart.

I did what is right, she told herself repeatedly.I did not wrong Alexander, nor myself, nor George…

---