“Blindfolds on!” Sophia announced.
Oh, yes, her scarf. The lieutenant lifted it over her head and tied the knot snugly behind her.
Did she thank him? She wasn’t sure. Why had Blakely done that? Why would he kiss her? Was he playing with her?
Did he pity her?
For some reason, this caused her heart to drop. A sob rose in her throat, but she quickly choked it back down.
Why had Rhoda and Sophia done this? Why couldn’t they simply allow her to do things in her own time?
Because Emily would persist in doing that what she’d always done. Repelling gentlemen with her bluestocking and blunt ways.
Listening to the creaking of the floor, Emily jumped when Rhoda said, “No!”
“You’re not supposed to talk,” Emily inserted.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” Except Rhoda didn’t sound sorry.
Emily wanted nothing better than to return to her room, don her night rail, and crawl beneath her covers. And then she didn’t want to wake up until Lord Blakely returned with her repaired spectacles.
What was taking so long? Had she sat atop Lord Blakely’s back for this long? Surely not!
“This is becoming rather boring,” the lieutenant complained. “Is anything happening?”
The sound of rushed movements and then, “Blindfolds off.” Rhoda’s voice sounded froglike. Emily tugged at her blindfold and studied Rhoda as much as she could. Rhoda’s complexion might be pinker than normal. What had happened?
Lord Carlisle simply knelt in the middle of the floor, likely looking as pleasant and stoic as ever.
“My duchess and I had best retire. Our little Lady Harriette has the habit of shortening most nights for us.” His grace seemed to gauge his wife’s reaction when he spoke.
Poor Sophia. She’d mentioned that although she could just as easily allow the nursemaid to take care of the baby at night, she couldn’t bear the thought of not being the one to do it.
Everybody rose, and a few replaced some furniture. Emily could at last return to her room. But… could she?
“Oh, but we haven’t all had turns yet,” young Miss Coleus Mossant whined.
“It’s been a long day. We’ll play games again, I’m quite certain of it,” Rhoda consoled the younger girl. Really, this game was far too fast for Coleus. Although, knowing her for a few years now, she guessed Coleus wouldn’t think so.
Emily knew she’d have difficulty locating her chamber alone, so before she found herself left behind, she approached Rhoda and took her by the arm. “I can’t see, remember.”
Rhoda nodded and, after bidding the others goodnight, slipped into the corridor with Coleus following. Emily so wanted to question Rhoda about her ride on Carlisle but couldn’t do so with the younger girl following. Coleus exhibited brash behavior on occasions and was known to be something of a gossip.
Rhoda solved the problem by depositing her sister first, and then escorting Emily two chambers down. Emily waited until they’d closed the door behind them before either said anything of consequence.
“Well, did you kiss him?” Rhoda gushed. Confused at first, Emily wondered how on earth her friend new about—oh, she meant LordCarlisle.
“Er, yes, um just a peck though.” She couldn’t tell Rhoda about Lord Blakely’s utter disregard for rules and conventions. Not when Rhoda was to marry the man herself! “But most importantly, I spoke with Blakely before supper and he’s amenable to the plan.”
Rhoda glanced at her sharply. “He is? Are you certain?”
Emily nodded. “Did you go to him? During your turn?”
Emily barely made out Rhoda biting her bottom lip and then nodding. “Nothing special though.” Cursed spectacles! She wished she could see Rhoda’s expression. Her wily friend sounded as though she were hiding something.
“When will you do it? When do you want to head to Gretna Green with Lord Blakely?” Emily could confirm these details with Blakely tomorrow. She also wanted to speak to Prescott. “The sooner the better, I should think.”
“Do you think he’s likely to change his mind?”
