Chapter 5
Emma should not be standing here,outside of Lady Sophia’s door. Nonetheless, she had to pass the girls bedchamber in order to reach her own. When she heard the girl’s question, she could not stop herself from pausing to listen. Now her heart ached for Sophia and the pain she understood all too wellherself.
What she would not give to heal the wound Sophia’s mother created with her selfish actions. She hopped the woman passed away feeling some measure of guilt and regret for she deserved noless.
Emma took a couple of steps toward her chamber then froze at the girls next words,‘I should rather like for Miss Emma to be my mama’. Bless her little soul. Tears formed in Emma’s eyes and she squeezed them shut in an effort to keep from crying. No child should have to grow up without parents to cherish and spoilthem.
Opening her eyes, Emma resolved to be as much like a mother to Lady Sophia as her position would allow. She drew a deep breath knowing she would never be able to erase the girls hurt, but perhaps she could ease it a bit. Regardless, she would do all shecould.
The door to Sophia’s room pushed opened, the duke stepping out into thehall.
Emma jumped, her heart skipping a beat. Drat! She’d been so distracted in her thoughts that she’d not heard the duke’s footfalls. “I did not mean to eavesdrop. It is just…well I was—” Good heaven’s her faceburned.
“She is young and knows not what she says.” He averted his gaze to the plush carpeting they stoodupon.
“Do accept my apologies. It was not my intent to spy on your private moment.” She started down the hall, wishing she could sink into the carpet anddisappear.
He reached for her, capturing her elbow. “I do not wish for there to be awkwardness betweenus.”
Emma met his stare, offering a warm smile. “Lady Sophia is a lovely child. Any woman should be pleased to call her theirdaughter.”
Before she could react, his Grace pulled her against him, brining their lipstogether.
Her stomach fluttered as passion spread through her. When his tongue met hers, she melted in his arms, giving herselffully.
He eased back, breaking their kiss but not releasingher.
Emma’s heart beat in a rough staccato, every bit of her fighting a craving the likes of which she’d never experienced. She licked her lower lip, staring at him. Waiting to discover what he would donext.
“We must talk.” He released her and proffered anarm.
Not what she had wanted nor expected, she hid her disappointment by glancing down the hall. She arrived in his private parlor with her heart still pounding, and lowered herself onto a wingbackchair.
He sat opposite her then leaned forward and took her hands in his. The heat between them threatened to turn her into ash as she waiting for him tospeak.
“It does not escape me that I know almost nothing about you. Most concerning, I do not know how you came to be hiding in my coach.” He stared at her with sympathetic eyes. “You can trust me,Emma.”
Her eyes widened at the use of her given name and she attempted to pull back herhands.
He held on, rubbing small circles on the backs of her hands with the pads of his thumbs. “It is my wish to protect you. However, I cannot do so if I do not understand the danger you arein.”
The more he talked, the harder she found it to breath. Dare she tell him her secret? What if she did and he cast her out? She never should have hid in that blasted carriage. Now she cared deeply for Lady Sophia and could not deny an attachment to the duke as well. If he sent her away it would bring more heartache for Lady Sophia and it would be all Emma’sfault.
“Trust me.” He smiled, fine lines forming at the edges of hiseyes.
Emma inhaled then let her breath out slow. “I told you about my father abandoning me and my aunt’spassing.”
He nodded, continuing to rub her hands, to reassure her with hisgaze.
“What I did not share with you was that my uncle is deep indebt.”
Rap, rap,rap.
Irritation clouded the duke’s warm gaze as he let go of her hands. “Hold your thought. I will get rid of whoever itis.”
She released a breath, grateful for the interruption, then averted her gaze to the closeddoor.
“Enter,” the dukesaid.
