Page 106 of The Girl Out of Time
“Not at all,” Sebastian said. “But Wescott never holds dinners, which means this will be a special occasion. We simply cannot miss the drama.”
“Maybe he’s grown tired of his daughter’s indecisiveness,” Louisa mused. “He’ll line up all the suitors and she’ll have to pick one.”
“So, we’re going to that one?” Emmeline asked. When Sebastian nodded, she turned to Louisa.
“Papa is still not moving from his study, I’m sure Daniel won’t wish to come, and I believe Mama also said no. But if you’re going, I’ll be there,” Louisa said.
“Even with my company included?” Sebastian asked.
“Even with yours.” Louisa sounded almost amicable, until—“It is the hunting season for us all.”
Sebastian leaned on the armrest of the sofa and crossed his ankle over his knee. “I’ve always found the season silly. Don’t get me wrong—drama, that’s fun. Who’s cheating on whom, who lost their money at cards, who’s pretending to be someone else …” He winked at Emmeline. “Thoroughly entertaining. But this excessive hunt for a partner—really, one ought to simply go to the other person and tell them how they feel.”
“You’re saying this to make me disagree,” Louisa said.
“I suppose the worldwouldend if we agreed for once.”
Emmeline looked from one to the other. “I need to get some things … to write the invitations down,” she mumbled and hurried out of the parlor, leaving the door open for propriety. She leaned on the wall outside and perked her ears.
“… but if you liked the Greek room, you should wait until Lord Elgin’s marble collection is moved there,” Sebastian said.
“I’ve heard of those. Weren’t they his private property?”
“Let’s say a little bird in the Parliament told me they might not be for much longer.”
“Miss?” Rafferty was standing at the foot of the staircase. “Do you require—”
Emmeline put a finger to her mouth and wildly gestured to the parlor.
The butler paused at the wall next to her and asked, quieter, “What are we doing?”
“We’re making the scene fromDark and Stormyhappen.”
He had no further inquiries to that, and Emmeline returned to her eavesdropping.
“If you wish, I’ll procure you an invitation,” Sebastian said.
“You would?”
She had no idea what the current topic was—something science-related, surely—but she’d never heard Louisa this amicable toward Sebastian.
“Assuming you don’t shoot me first.” Even from this far away, the amusement in Sebastian’s voice was clear.
“I don’t believe duels between the two sexes are allowed.”
“Then what have we been doing?”
And Louisa, of all things,laughed.
“Miss, I don’t think it is proper for His Lordship—”
“Oh, fine,” Emmeline grunted at Rafferty, loudly cleared her throat, and entered the parlor.
Louisa and Sebastian were where she’d left them, although they were leaning ever so slightly across the table, toward each other. Emmeline clenched her teeth to prevent herself from grinning like an idiot and resumed her place on the sofa.
“You didn’t bring your diary, or whatever you were seeking?” Louisa asked.
Oops.
