Conversation hummed all about the table as they dined on roasted pheasant and carp. The finest Wedgewood was used and the best bottle of Bordeaux filled their glasses.
Emily had Godric and Charles as her partners for table conversation. Godric said little, his eyes lingering on her only briefly before they danced along the table to the other guests.
Charles however was in his element as he regaled Emily with humorous tales of other adventures. He set his fork down and reached for a glass of wine. “Have you visited Vauxhall Gardens yet?”
“Not yet. My coming out was cut short. You may have heard.” She raised a sardonic brow.
“Well, I shall take you, my dear. It is quite the sight! Fireworks, galas, and they have the best arrack-punch—”
A low chuckle interrupted Charles. Godric speared a piece of pheasant. “There is nothing in this world that could convince me to let you take Emily to those gardens alone. Don’t forget I was present the last time you had too much arrack-punch.”
“You’re ruining my fun.” Charles wore a smile, but a low edge sharpened his words. A challenge. “Emily would have a wonderful time with me. Wouldn’t you, Emily?”
“I imagine so, Charles, assuming you remained a gentleman.”
“For you, I would endeavor to be the perfect gentleman. I might even succeed.”
Emily blushed and tried to change the subject. “You flatter me, Charles. Now, do tell me what happened when you had too much arrack-punch?”
Godric answered her. “I believe Charles left more than one disappointed young lady alone that night under the delusion they would soon be wed to an earl.”
Charles set his wine glass down. “It’s not my fault I become overly romantic when I am a bit foxed. Every woman looks prettier, tastes sweeter, and even the dreaded prospect of marriage doesn’t sound as awful as usual.”
Godric laughed. “I’d love to meet a woman who could last one day married to you.”
Charles theatrically mimicked being stabbed in the heart. “That hurt, Godric!” He moaned, and feigned death.
Emily bit her lower lip to stifle a giggle. “You’ve never felt enough affection for a woman to want to marry her?”
Instantly resurrected, Charles said, “I’m an active man, my dear. I need a woman who could keep up with the fast pace of my life and as of yet, I’ve never encountered such a woman. I’d only marry a woman if she could understand that I, in all truth, can’t settle down.”
“I’ll find you a woman, Charles,” Emily promised. In brief moments she had glimpsed a startling melancholy in his expression.
“I thank you, Emily, but I’d much rather steal you away from that odious duke there.” Charles nodded his head in Godric’s direction.
Under the cover of the table Godric’s right hand settled on Emily’s knee. The heat of his large palm warmed her skin through the thin silk, but his hand merely patted her knee before vanishing again. It took all of her self-control to prevent a sigh upon being robbed of his caress, the warmth of his touch.
After dinner the party retired to the drawing room where the men poured glasses of port. Choosing then to retire, Emily made her excuses and left the men to drink.
Emily had reached the stairs when a whisper of silk on wood froze her in her steps.
Evangeline emerged from the shadows behind the staircase. “Tell me. How do you find your stay here? Your captor treats you well?”
Emily, unprepared for this remark, blanched. “Pardon?”
“Don’t look so surprised. I know Godric and his friends have abducted you.”
Emily recovered quickly. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Lying does not become you, Miss Parr.” Evangeline smiled, and Emily knew that the fear in her chest reflected in her features.
“I’m here of my own free will.”
“Of course. No doubt you are enjoying the warmth of Godric’s bed. You would not be the first. He does love to seduce innocent little creatures. It fans hispride, you see.” Evangeline’s words dug under Emily’s skin.
“You’re wrong about him,” Emily said, but the words felt thick and heavy on her tongue.
“May I offer some advice, Miss Parr? Leave here and return to London. Godric will only break that delicate little heart of yours, or leave you with child. Even if he did care about you…I fear that would not stopMonsieurBlankenship from pursuing you. He is a very dedicated man.”
