Emma leaned her head into Reeves’ hip for just a moment, then turned and scurried off in the direction of the stairs.
“Is she all right?” Norman asked, watching her go.
“I think she’s just had enough, that’s all,” Reeves said. “This has been a very hectic evening. Maybe I made a mistake by having her present at the ball. Maybe she wasn’t ready for that.”
“I think it was good for people to see her well, if nothing else,” Norman said. “Do you want to go speak with her?”
“I really shouldn’t. Not while so many guests are still here.”
“There aren’t that many. I can bid the rest of them good evening on your behalf,” Norman assured him.
“Are you sure? I don’t know that I can ask you to do such a thing—it really isn’t your responsibility.”
“I’m happy to do it,” Norman said. “And everyone will understand. They know you just got her back. Of course, you want to make sure she’s doing all right after a night like this. Infact, I think people will respect it. It shows a new side of you—a tenderness people haven’t had the chance to see.”
“Not exactly what I’m trying to put on display,” Reeves grumbled.Tenderness?
But even so, he wasn’t about to pass up on an opportunity to put this ball behind him and go spend time with his daughter. “Thank you,” he said to Norman. “Please give everyone my thanks for being here tonight.”
“Of course,” Norman nodded. “And give Emma my love.”
As Reeves left the foyer, he glanced into the ballroom, where the last few stragglers were still standing around and discussing the night’s events. Bridget was there, standing by the door that led out to the patio. She was facing away from him, so she didn’t see him linger for a moment, his eyes tracing over the curve of her neck and the way her dress narrowed at her waist before flaring out again. She would have no way of knowing about the heat that rose in his stomach, in his chest, at the mere sight of her.
He hurried onward. It wouldn’t be a good thing if she caught him standing here and staring.
Up in the bedroom, he found that Emma had already changed into her nightgown. She sat at the foot of her bed with her legs crossed and the book in her lap.
Reeves went over and sat down beside her on the bed. “Well,” he said, “tonight was a bit of an adventure, wasn’t it?”
She hung her head.
“Did you enjoy yourself at all?” he asked her quietly.
She looked up and met his eyes.
“Yes,” she whispered.
It was barely audible, but even so, the sound of her voice floored him.She finally spoke. He wanted to grab her in an embrace and dance her all around the room. He wanted to ask her right here and now what she could tell him about her kidnapping.
But he couldn’t. Bridget’s voice sounded in his head.If you push her, she’ll only withdraw again. Make her feel safe.
He put an arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him.
“What did you like?” he asked her.
A long pause, and he thought she might not answer, but then she spoke again. “When you danced with Bridget.”
He looked down at her. “You saw that? I thought you were in the library when we danced.”
A mischievous smile crossed her face. She shook her head.
“You snuck back out and watched?”
She nodded, grinning broadly now.
“Well, I suppose that makes sense,” Reeves said. “I’m glad you were out enjoying the ball, even if you didn’t feel like socializing with our guests.
A worried expression crossed Emma’s face like a shadow.
