“We’re amongst friends,” Liston said. “Aren’t we, Emma?”
Emma swallowed hard. Her father wanted to share whatever news he had right now because it was going upset her. That was the only reason he could possibly have for wanting to do this in a public forum. In this room, with all these people watching, she would not be able to show her upset in order to maintain a semblance of decorum. Nor would she be able to refuse him whatever he had arranged for her.
“Of course we are,” Mrs. Liston said, still staring at him in adoration, though her voice trembled a fraction and she shot Emma a concerned look.
“You are to marry, Emma,” Mr. Liston said with a wide grin when she didn’t answer his question. “I have arranged for you to wed Sir Archibald.”
Once again Emma felt as though her head had been dunked under water. Blood rushed to her ears and she swayed in her seat as the room erupted in surprised sounds. Meg held her hand tighter, Emma could feel each of her friend’s fingers against her skin, but she didn’t move. She didn’t speak. She didn’t breathe.
She just stared at her father and saw the flicker of guilt in his eyes. Something had happened that had forced his doing this. Something where he had traded her hand to save his own skin.
“Archibald was a guest here, I believe. Took quite a notion to you and came straight to me to make the arrangements. He’ll be rejoining the party shortly. I’m sure you don’t mind, Abernathe.” When Emma still could find no words, her father shook his head. “Well, come then, girl, say something,” Mr. Liston said with a chuckle. “I’ve arranged a good match for you, youmusthave something to say.”
“She is silent because Emma has been keeping secret her own news, Mr. Liston,” James said as he slowly rose to his feet. Emma watched him, well aware of his tall, strong body as he unfolded it. As he positioned himself toward her father, it was a subtle threat of his superior position and strength.
“J-James,” she whispered, not even caring that she was addressing him inappropriately in front of people who would gleefully talk about it. They had enough fodder now, what was a little more?
“News?” Mr. Liston repeated, giving Emma a concerned glance. “What news does my daughter have?”
James locked eyes with her, and in a split second, Emma saw what he would do. Meg must have sensed it too, for she sucked in a long gulp of air before he spoke again.
“Though Emma may appreciate the work you have done on her behalf to match her,” James said. “I’m afraid it is impossible. You see, Emma has already agreed to marryme.”
She pushed to her feet. “James,” she repeated.
“Yesterday,” he continued softly as he looked at her evenly. “I intended to officially ask her mother for her hand this morning when you made your arrival.”
At that, the room erupted in complete chaos and Emma felt blackness filling her vision. In the distance, she heard James shout out, “Catch her!”
And then the room went very dark.
Chapter Seventeen
James carried Emma’s limp frame into a parlor and laid her out on the settee. A trail of people followed him, keeping him from privacy as he knelt beside her and looked into her pale face with concern. There was his mother, Meg, Mr. and Mrs. Liston and of course four of the five members of the 1797 Club in attendance. Only Simon did not join them, for he had not returned from his ride to be present for the announcement of the “engagement”.
James glanced up and met Baldwin’s eyes. “Thank you, Sheffield,” he said softly. “She might have struck her head if you didn’t move so quickly to catch her.”
Sheffield arched a brow. “I could not risk injury to the future wife of one of my best friends, could I?”
He heard the question in Sheffield’s tone. He saw it on the faces of Brighthollow, Roseford and Graham, as well. But there would be time to open a discussion on that subject soon enough.
Right now, he had to focus on Emma.
“Emma,” he said, smoothing his hand along her cheek. “Emma?”
Her eyes fluttered and slowly opened. For a moment, she only stared up into his face and he saw just the hint of a smile on her lips. A smile just for him, and his heart throbbed at it. But then her gaze shifted to the rest of the room, to the crowd of people staring at her, and the smile faded as she struggled to sit up.
“Oh no,” she moaned.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You fainted, Emma, so lay still. Just rest a moment before you pop up and repeat the action all over again. I might not catch you so easily as the Duke of Sheffield did.”
He was teasing, but she didn’t register any pleasure at it. She just kept staring around the room at those in attendance.
“James,” she whispered.
He nodded. “It’s all right.”
“This is all very dramatic,” his mother said with a sniff.
