Page 46 of The Forbidden Lord
He raked his fingers through his hair in distraction. “When I visited yesterday—while you and Lady Dundee were out—the servants wouldn’t even let me see her. What kind of illness could be so awful that visitors aren’t allowed?”
His obviously genuine concern was touching. What if hehadbeen the one? And what if he truly were in love with Sophie? Would it be so terrible to let them be together? Lord St. Clair didn’t seem a bad sort, no matter what Lord Nesfield thought.
“It’s not the nature of her illness that keeps visitors from her, but simple female vanity, I assure you,” Emily lied. “What young woman wishes her friends to see her when she looks pale and sickly and cannot dress in her best gowns?”
His mouth tightened into a thin line. “That doesn’t sound like Lady Sophie. She never struck me as vain. Indeed, I’ve never met a more straightforward, simple girl. That’s why I chose to offer her my attentions.”
Chose to offer her my attentions? That was more the language of a man picking out a prize cow than the language of love. Perhaps she’d been too hasty in her assessment of Lord St. Clair’s feelings.
“Besides,” he went on, “I don’t trust the lady’s father. I think he might keep her closeted away from visitors to prevent her from making an unwise match.”
Emily’s heart pounded. His words were too near the truth to be accidental. What should she tell him? How could she get him to say more? She must be certain of him before Lord Nesfield could risk accusing him.
She tried a more direct approach. “Are you saying that matters had progressed so far between you and my cousin that her father wouldneedto use such tactics?”
He clenched his jaw, his eyes still fixed on the statue. Goodness gracious, how could she tell anything when shecouldn’t see his eyes? She held her breath, waiting for his answer.
Suddenly, he sighed wearily. “I don’t know what I’m saying. The last time I saw her, she and I came very near to discussing marriage. Then her father interrupted the discussion, and I haven’t seen her since. I don’t know what to make of it.”
Dear heavens, hehadto be the one! Relief coursed through her. She would no longer need to fear exposure; she could put an end to the dreadful lies.
But maybe she was being too hasty. She needed more evidence.
“Have you approached Uncle Randolph with an offer?”
“I don’t wish to do so until I’m sure of her feelings. This silence from her makes me wonder if I was wrong about the way she felt. If she hasn’t even toldyou, her own cousin, about me?—”
“Oh, but she has!” He mustn’t become too discouraged or she’d never find out for certain if he was the one. “We talked about you at length after my first ball.”
“What did she say?”
“Um … well, I can’t tell you that.” Thinking fast, she shot him a coy smile. “Sophie would never forgive me if I told all her secrets.”
His gaze swung to her, and in the depths of his black eyes, she saw suspicion. “Are you playing games with me, Lady Emma?”
A shiver passed over her. This was the side of him she’d suspected lay dormant. The dangerous side. “Not at all. But if you’re not even willing to approach my uncle with an offer, I don’t see why I should tell you everything about my cousin. It wouldn’t be fair, especially when he doesn’t approve of you.”
He stared at her as if debating something. “I have a confession to make.” When he paused, she held her breath. “You see?—”
“Sothereyou are,” boomed a loud, feminine voice as Lady Dundee swept into the room, followed closely by Jordan. “We thought we had lost you.”
Emily cast the countess a withering glance. She’d been so close, curse it all! He’d been on the verge of telling her about the elopement—she was sure of it! And now, thanks to Lady Dundee’s over-protective instincts, Emily would have to try again. It was enough to make her cry, for goodness sakes!
Lady Dundee seemed oblivious to Emily’s distress, or to Lord St. Clair’s, for that matter. She strode up to them, waving her arm as if to indicate the entire building. “It’s all so fabulous, don’t you think? I’m quite pleased you invited us, St. Clair.” She flashed a smile at Emily. “Isn’t it lovely, my dear?”
“Yes, Mama, it is.”
Lady Dundee sighed. “But all this walking has tired me enormously.”
“Perhaps you should rest a moment before we go on,” Lord St. Clair said quickly, once more his amiable, courteous self. He offered the countess his arm. “I believe there are benches in the next room.”
Hooking her hand in his bent elbow, Lady Dundee paused to look around, then made a face. “Good Lord, I must have left my shawl in one of those other rooms. I have no idea where. Would you mind looking for it, Emma?”
“Not at all, Mama.”
“And take Lord Blackmore with you. He knows his way around here.”
With a smug smile, Jordan offered her his arm. Emily couldn’t even protest, not when her “mama” had sanctioned the encounter. Lady Dundee was certainly in great form today, managing to allow not one, but two private meetings so that Emily could do her work.
