“There will be plenty of time for him to learn the ways of the world, and I have no doubt we will meet again.”
“Of course. Thank you for returning him to me, Your Grace.” Lady Kensington curtsied.
“I am happy to have been of assistance.” Blake bowed to Lady Kensington and began to walk away.
To his surprise, Emily matched his stride, falling into step with him. He turned to her, wondering if she too would be hostile to him.
“You are quite a surprising man,” she said, catching him off guard.
“What do you mean?” Blake raised an eyebrow at her.
Emily gave him a frank look. “Plenty of men, especially those with a rank like yours, would have been furious with the boy. At best, they might have handed him to a servant to help find his mother, but few would have personally accompanied him.”
“I saw no reason not to. Besides, I wanted to make sure he was safe.” Blake waved a hand nonchalantly.
Emily nodded, surveying him with a look he could not quite place. “That much is clear. You stepped in and probably prevented him from receiving quite the scolding.”
“I certainly hope so. He does not deserve to be punished for a harmless encounter. He is only a child.” Blake forced himself not to clench his fists, suppressing the anger that threatened to overcome him.
In his mind’s eye, he saw his father’s face. Saw the way his jaw tightened, the disapproval in his eyes.
I will not think of that now.
“Plenty of people think that even children should understand the proper way of doing things. Indeed, there are some who feel children should be seen and not heard. Or not seen or heard at all.” Emily gave Blake a look, and he had the curious feeling she was searching for an answer to some question he did not know.
“People who think that should not have children.” Blake turned away from her.
“They should not.” Emily frowned. “For a rake, you do seem to have quite the paternal instinct.”
“Perhaps it is all an act.” Blake laughed softly.
“The rake or caring about the well-being of others?” Emily countered.
The statement took him by surprise. “I am surprised your sister has not warned you to stay away from me.”
“She may have suggested I keep my distance, but Jane trusts my judgment. And she is my sister, not my keeper.”
“Does she know this?” Blake teased.
“Why do you seem so determined to think of my sister as some kind of controlling witch?” Emily frowned at him.
“I do not think of her that way. She just seems rather protective of the people around her.” Blake gestured vaguely around him.
“She is. Are you not also protective, though? Is that not what I saw with Quentin just now?” Emily pointed out.
“Yes, but that was different—he is a child,” Blake replied.
“So you would not be protective of your friends?” Emily canted her head.
“Of course I would, but…” Blake trailed off, unsure when he had lost the thread of their exchange.
“But what? Protectiveness is not a bad thing.” Emily smiled at him.
“No, I suppose it is not,” Blake agreed.
“So, you think Jane is protective. What else do you think of her?” Emily raised an eyebrow at him.
“Perhaps I do not think of her at all.”
