Page 27 of The Duke's Bride in Disguise
"It is rather strange," Raff commented lightly to Emily, as they emerged onto a busier stretch of the Row; "Lady Darlington has been something of a recluse since her daughter disappeared twenty years ago. I wonder how and where McCasey managed to annoy her so."
"I couldn't say," Lady Emily kept her eyes forward, but from the tilt of her head, Raff could tell that she was mulling over his words.
Any further discussion of Lady Darlington was soon ended as, once again, Raff and Emily became the object of much scrutiny. They were just nearing Alexandra Gate which, despite being less busy than where they had entered at Hyde Park Corner, was filled exclusively with those of theton—and the members of thetonwere, of course, always up to date on the latest scandal and gossip.
"Do you think they read that awful article?" Lady Emily asked him nervously, as the passengers of the carriage before them twisted in their seats to get a good glimpse of the pair.
"Probably," Raff shrugged easily; as a duke he was quite used to being an object of interest; "And if they have, so what? They have seen us now, riding happily together; they will soon spread the news that we are not at war."
"Is that why you were so insistent upon The Row for our outing?" Lady Emily asked, "Did you wish us to be seen in public, so as to quash any gossip?"
"I wished to take you here because it allows me more time alone with you, than any other place," Raff replied earnestly. He turned his eyes toward Lady Emily, catching her green eyed gaze and holding it. Deftly, he released the reins from his right hand—whilst holding tight with his left—and reached out to brush Emily's cheek.
"I want nothing more than to be alone with you always," he said in a throaty whisper. It was true; he was completely bewitched by her ethereal beauty, but it was not only that. There was a softness to Lady Emily that he had not seen before; she seemed to look at life with wide eyed wonder—so refreshing when compared to how jaded other ladies of her ilk could be. With his gloved hand, Raff tenderly rubbed his thumb along the softness of her cheek and probably would have leaned in for a kiss, were it not for Laura.
"Ahem," the dowager duchess called from the seat behind, "Would it be too much to ask you to keep both hands on the reins, Raff? Georgiana has already lost her father, let's not make her an orphan."
Raff instantly dropped his hand from Emily's cheek, grateful that Laura had reminded him that, no matter how much he wished it, he was not actually alone with Emily, he was in the middle of ruddy Hyde Park! Imagine the papers if I had kissed her, he thought with a wry grin; though any amount of gossip and scandal would have been worth it for just one kiss, he decided.
Laura, who seemed to feel that Raff could no longer be trusted, rescinded her role of silent chaperone, and chattered loudly to Emily for the remainder of the ride. From Alexandra Gate, all the way down to Piccadilly, and across to Grosvenor Square, Laura chattered inanely, leaving Raff and Emily unable to get a word in themselves.
"Well," Emily said with obvious relief, as they turned the corner onto the square, "Thank you ever so much for your company, Your Graces. It was simply splendid."
"Indeed," Raff replied, and from behind him Laura murmured in agreement.
"You must come to my musicale on Friday," Laura called, as Raff assisted Lady Emily from the carriage, "I won't take no for an answer."
"What musicale is this?" Raff questioned, once he had deposited Emily safely inside and had returned to the carriage.
"The one I just decided to hold," Laura said mischievously, leaning forward in her seat to cast Raff a disparaging look. "Really, Raff. I thought I was going to have to beat you off poor Lady Emily with my parasol. If you're so intent on kissing the girl, don't ruddy well do it in Hyde Park--sneak off into a dark corner like everyone else."
Touché, Raff thought, I've been doing this all wrong; sedate drives in the park would not be enough to woo Lady Emily, but a passionate kiss, in a quiet corner of Kilbride House, might just do the trick.
