And all that she had learned ofThe Devil Lordover the years made her tremble. So badly, in fact, she had to hide her gloved hands in the folds of her crimson skirts.
“What if something should go wrong? What should I tell Mama and Papa?”
Emmaline's stomach twisted. Her father was in no fit state for anything to go wrong. He had been carried off to his bed as soon as Doctor Fields had examined him and ordered not to leave it until he had been checked over again the next morning.
Having stopped in to see him after returning from her meeting with Lord Westmarch, Emmaline feared he would be in no fit state to leave his bed the next morning even if he wanted to. And seeing him in such a state only made her more determined for what she was about to do.
“Do I look the part?” Emmaline asked in an attempt to change the subject.
“What part is that exactly?” Jane asked, adjusting one final ruby hairpin in Emmaline's hair.
“Do I look fierce enough to take on the devil himself?”
Emmaline looked in her mirror. She wasn't sure she had ever felt more beautiful with rubies in her hair, a black ribbon choker necklace encrusted with rubies around her neck and a crimson gown decorated with black lace upon the neckline, sleeves and hem. It was a gown that had once belonged to her mother, one she had never been permitted to wear. But she had known where it was stored, and she had braved the risk of fetching it for the simple fact she needed her mother's courage now.
Closing her eyes, she thought,Mama, if you can hear me, please give me the strength to do what I must this evening.
“Emmaline, I fear there is not a man on this earth that can stand against you when you set your mind to something,” Jane said, gripping Emmaline by the upper arms. The sisters stared at each other through the mirror of the vanity table.
Emmaline gripped her sister's hand on her shoulder and smiled. “I hope you are right, or I shall never be able to fix this.”
Jane scowled at that and squeezed Emmaline's shoulders. “Mama was just upset. She didn't mean what she said to you. None of this is your fault.”
Emmaline cringed and closed her eyes. “If only that were true.”
Jane grabbed the nearest spare stool and pulled it close to Emmaline's. Gripping hold of her hands, Jane looked her in the eye and said, “I wish I were as brave as you.”
Emmaline scoffed at that. She didn't feel brave at all. She felt as if she might vomit if she allowed her mind to dwell on what she intended.
“I may not be able to even get past the servants,” Emmaline pointed out, squeezing Jane’s fingers.
“You're jesting, aren’t you?” Jane laughed. “Those that aren't pandering to Mama and Papa are too exhausted from all that's gone on today to even notice you slip out the back door.”
Emmaline prayed her sister was right.
“And Mama hasn’t left Papa’s side since he fell ill,” Jane said as if she sensed Emmaline's other worries also.
Emmaline opened her mouth to speak but before she could, her sister said, “And should anyone ask, I shall say you retired early with one of your headaches from reading too much.”
Emmaline laughed. That certainly sounded like her.
She pulled Jane into a tight embrace. “I'm sorry to put you through this, Jane, but I have to do this.”
Jane squeezed her in return and whispered, “I know.”
The grandfather clock down the hall chimed the hour and Emmaline pulled back. Glancing at the clock on her mantelpiece, she gasped, “Gosh, is that the time? I had best go.”
The two sisters jumped up together, Emmaline rearing to go, but Jane gripped her wrist before she could.
When she tugged gently, Emmaline turned back to look at her.
“Are you quite certain of this?” Jane asked, “Are you sure this is the only way?”
Emmaline did not answer her sister in words. Instead, she gripped her face in both her hands and tilted her head down so that she could kiss her forehead.
“To bed with you dear sister,” she instructed happily, forcing a smile, “I shall be perfectly fine.”
Though inside she was reeling.
