Page 47 of The Forbidden Lord
Oh, if only Lady Dundee knew what she’d done.
With a sense of impending doom, Emily allowed Jordan to lead her into the other room. What was she to do now? How was she to fool him?
As soon as the others were out of sight, she tried to take her hand from his arm, but he wouldn’t let her, clamping his other hand over it forcefully. “I do believe I’m growing fond of your mother,” he bent to whisper in her ear. “Clearly, she knows what’s best for you. Or should I say, she knowswho’sbest for you?”
Curse the wretch! Tossing her head back, she fixed him with a cool smile. “Don’t flatter yourself, Lord Blackmore. Mama might have set her sights on you, but I have not.”
“Haven’t you? You didn’t have to come on this outing. I almost thought you weren’t going to—that nonsense with the headache and all.”
“Oh, it wasn’t nonsense, I assure you,” she said sweetly. “The sight of you always gives me a headache.”
As they passed quickly through the room, Emily looked for the shawl. He clearly did not.
“We both know why I give you headaches,” he murmured.
“Because you’re a nuisance and an arrogant, insufferable bore?”
He laughed at the outrageous lie, then stroked her hand, beginning with the edge of her short glove before trailing his fingers down to the tips in a caress that made her catch her breath. “I give you headaches for the same reason I made you shiver in the carriage earlier.” He paused. “Because it makes youremember.”
“Remember what?” She jerked her hand from his arm as she faced him. “The way you pawed me at the ball two nights ago?”
Their gazes met, and he held the look, his eyes darkening. “No. Not then.”
Curse him for all his suspicions and hidden meanings! She should never have allowed this! Whirling away, she stalked off toward the entrance to another of the rooms. “I shan’t stand here and listen to your nonsense.I’mgoing to look for Mama’s shawl!”
He caught her arm, then steered her in another direction, that infernal smile on his face again. “Then you’re headed the wrong way. Lady Dundee and I didn’t go in that room. Try this one over here.”
The doorway he steered her toward was smaller than the others, and the door to it was closed. Perhaps if she hadn’t been so furious, she would have noticed the guard and the fact that he bowed deferentially to Jordan. She might even have paused to wonder why he had to unlock the door as they approached.
But as soon as she stepped inside the cavernous room and the door was shut behind them, she knew she’d made an enormous error. There was no one else inside.
They were completely alone.
Chapter Ten
Though we may dread the lips we once believed,
And know their falsehood shadows all our days;
Who would not rather trust and be deceived,
Than own the mean, cold spirit that betrays?
— ELIZA COOK, ENGLISH POET, “LOVE ON”
Excellent, Jordan thought as the door clicked shut. His plan had worked perfectly. Thanks to Lady Dundee and her inexplicable help, it had worked more than perfectly, saving him the trouble of using an elaborate story to get Emily in here. She’d followed him without a protest.
Her acquiescence wouldn’t last, however. Already, she’d whirled toward the door. When she heard the guard lock it, her lovely eyes went big as saucers, and she rounded on him in a fury. “What do you think you’re doing! Are you insane? Tell him to unlock the door! Tell him at once!”
“Calm down. It’s not what you think. This room isn’t open to the regular museum visitors, so the door must remain locked as long as we’re in here. He’ll open it when we’re ready to leave. All we have to do is knock on it.”
“I’m ready to leave now!”
She darted for the door, but he caught her before she reached it. “You can’t go before you see this.” He gestured behind her, and with a scowl, she pivoted in that direction.
Then she froze, her mouth dropping open. “Goodness gracious.” Awe filled her face as she fixed her wide eyes on the great stone sitting atop the scarred wooden work table before her and propped against the wall. “Why, it’s … it’s?—”
“A centaur,” he finished for her. “It’s carved in what is called a metope.”
