Chapter Eight
James stared out across the ballroom floor and immediately caught sight of Emma. She was standing at the wall, just as she did at almost every ball or party she attended, but tonight she was not alone. Tonight a few gentlemen stood at her side, talking to her and Meg.
And while he should have been pleased with that—after all, it proved his point that his attention brought eyes and interest to her—instead it made his blood boil. Two of the men were idiots, couldn’t rise to her intellect in any way. The other, Sir Archibald, was twenty years her senior, with two dead wives in his wake and eight truly rotten children.
“Why do you keep shifting around?” Simon asked, elbowing his side.
James blinked and broke his gaze away to refocus on Simon, Graham and another of their club, Robert, the Duke of Roseford. They were all staring at him, expectant and rather smug, if he read their expressions correctly.
“It’s nothing,” he grunted, turning his attention away from them.
Graham laughed. “Or is it Miss Emma Liston, who we all saw you talking with quite closely at supper?”
“Yes, and then the idiot goes for a walk alone with her in the garden,” Roseford said, batting his eyelashes. “Careful, you’ll have the lass in love with you and then what a pickle you’ll be in.”
James pressed his lips together at the teasing and ignored the flash of pleasure at the idea of Emma wanting him. “I’m not worried about that. I’m just shocked that she hasn’t responded to my offer.”
Graham lunged forward a step. “Your offer? Christ, James, don’t tell me you went forward with that ridiculous idea you were telling me about in London.”
“What idea?” Simon asked, looking between the two of them. “What is he talking about?”
James shifted in discomfort. He wanted his friends’ advice, but not their taunting when the truth came out. “I thought Northfield would have told you all about it already,” he said. “He had such a chuckle about it at my expense.”
“Well, I thought you were in jest,” Graham explained. “So I didn’t say anything to anyone.”
“What are they talking about?” Roseford asked, looking at Simon.
“Something I’m not privy to. Do either of you care to explain?”
Graham turned to them. “Before we left London, James came to me with this ridiculous notion that he would pretend to court Emma Liston to help her garner attention in the marriage mart—and to keep attention off himself.” He glared at James. “Did youreallyapproach her with this ridiculous plan?”
James folded his arms. “It isn’tthatridiculous. I paid her the barest of attention tonight and look, she has men flocking to her side.” He scowled as Emma smiled at something Sir Archibald was saying. “Though I do not approve the quality.”
Roseford leaned forward, his dark eyes flashing with true emotion. “Have you lost your bloody mind? This isexactlyhow men get trapped into marriage with women.”
Simon’s expression was less harsh than Robert’s, as was his tone. “So you actually talked to her about this?”
“In the garden before the ball,” James admitted, his treacherous mind dragging him back to their kiss before he pushed the thought away. “She said she had to think about it. What is there to think about? I’m offering her something mutually beneficial. Why would she resist?”
Graham tilted his head back and began to laugh. “Great God, this is about her refusing you. You’veneverhad a woman have the gall to say no to you.”
James opened his mouth to refute that charge, but found he couldn’t. He had always had ladies falling at his feet. They always danced with him, cooed over him, and if they were of a certain type, fell into bed with him.
Emma was different. In more ways than one. She’d kissed him back in the garden, yes. But there’d been no simpering and playing and flirting afterward. She’d hardly even acknowledged it happened. And here he was, still tasting her on his lips and feeling her in his arms.
It was madness.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but haven’t you declared multiple times before that marrying is not something you’re interested in at all?” Roseford pressed.
James shifted. “Yes. And this ruse could very well help me further that goal. If I’m unavailable in the eyes of the mamas, they’ll refocus their attention on others. And when Emma finds someone else, I will have a perfect excuse as to why I am not interested this Season or next or even the next after that.”
Graham stared at him for far too long and the concern on his friend’s face was clear. “If you don’t want to marry, you could simply not marry. This convoluted plan isn’t the best way to ensure it.”
Simon was nodding, his own expression tight with worry. “And if you are truly concerned about Miss Liston, there are also easier ways to help her. There are a few in our group alone who are open to the idea of brides.”
“You think I should arrange she meet with someone in our group?” James asked, his body going cold at the thought.
Roseford nodded. “Idlewood comes to mind. Christopher hasn’t inherited his dukedom yet, but he’s financially stable as Earl, so her position might not be of difficulty to him.”
