Page 50 of A Murder, a Marquess, and Miss Mifford
Emily could not help but feel a curl of pleasure at his words; Lord Chambers had not forgotten her, after all.
"Now," Lord Delaney turned his attentions to Eudora, his brown eyes alight with interest, "Tell me, how is it that we have never met?"
"We have," Eudora was dry, "We were introduced at Lady Albermay's ball."
"An impossibility; I would not have forgotten a lady as charming as you."
Emily stifled a smile; Eudora looked far more charming this evening, without a mob cap and spectacles to hide her beauty. The only thing which marred her otherwise becoming appearance was the frown which furrowed her brow as she glared at Lord Delaney. She was clearly not as taken by him, as he of she.
Lord Delaney was not deterred, however, and he held out his arm to Eudora, "Perhaps you will agree to step up with me for the next dance, and we can become reacquainted?"
For a moment, Eudora looked as though she would refuse him, but then she glanced at Emily and Freddie, and seemed to decide they needed a moment alone.
"Very well," Eudora sighed, as though she was agreeing to walk to the gallows.
She placed her hand on Lord Delaney's arm and allowed him to lead her away, leaving Emily and Freddie alone.
"Sir Cadogan is here," Emily whispered, with a discreet nod in the squire's direction, "And Ethel too. How do you propose we confront them?"
"You are all business," Freddie replied, sounding faintly disappointed.
Irritation flared within, which Emily did not even attempt to quash. He had kissed her and abandoned her, and now he had the temerity to complain that she was cold?
"Your prolonged, unexplained absence left me in no doubt as to where I stand with you," Emily sniffed, tilting her chin stubbornly.
Lord Chambers' face clouded over with confusion, before understanding dawned.
"Oh," for the first time since Emily had met him, the marquess appeared flustered, "Goodness, I didn't consider the optics when I..."
"When you..?" Emily challenged him, placing her hands on her hips, "When you seduced me in a carriage and disappeared for days after?"
Lord Chambers' face was pale and he shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
"I did not think that it would look like that," he answered, "Though now that you have said it, I feel that I was rather stupid to take off without first calling upon you to explain myself."
He did look rather contrite, Emily conceded, though before she had a chance to ask him what exactly he had been up to, they were interrupted.
"There you are, Emily," Mrs Mifford cried, before turning to Lord Chambers as though astonished to see him--though her acting skills were somewhat wanting, "Why, Lord Chambers, I did not see you there. Might I introduce you to Mrs Canards and Mrs Wickling--both up from Plumpton to see how the other half live. Ladies, this is the Marquess of Highfield--aparticularfriend of Emily."
Mrs Mifford could not contain her air of smugness, as she smiled triumphantly at her guests. Mrs Canards, however, looked far from cowed, instead, her lips curled into an unpleasant smile.
"Lord Chambers and I have already met," Mrs Canards replied, much to Mrs Mifford's chagrin, "At Lady Hardthistle's funeral. Tell me, Miss Mifford, did they ever find the true culprit of the baroness' horrendous murder, or does the finger of blame still point atyou? I must say, trouble does tend to follow you Mifford girls about."
Emily found herself stunned into silence by such an audacious remark, but there was someone on hand to defend her.
"Miss Mifford is innocent," Lord Chambers answered, his voice even, though his eyes flashed with anger, "She did not kill Lady Hardthistle."
"Oh no?" Mrs Canards made no effort to keep her voice down, and was drawing the attention of some of the other guests, who inched closer to watch the entertainment--including Ethel and Sir Cadogan, "Then tell me, if not she,whokilled Lady Hardthistle?"
"Yes, who?" Ethel joined in, casting a glare Emily's way.
When they had discussed confronting Sir Cadogan, Emily had not imagined that they would be doing so in front of a hostile audience. From the rather uncomfortable look on Freddie's face, she guessed that he had not either.
Still, he squared his shoulders, glanced coolly at Ethel, and replied.
"I believe it was Sir Cadogan."
Those guests who were watching gasped, and began to whisper amongst themselves, which attracted even more attention from those who had not noticed the ensuing fracas.
