But there was more than that physical attraction when he was with Emma. He did like her, but it was more complicated than that rather simple and childish feeling. He felt nervous around her. He felt…restless. He wanted to stand closer to her, he wanted to know more about her, he wanted to protect her, he wanted to show her things and places.
He sighed. “I do like her,” he admitted.
“Well, that is better than many men of rank find in a bride,” Graham said. “So we will celebrate with you.”
Simon nodded and slipped to the sideboard to pour more of the scotch James had been guzzling upon their arrival. He handed glasses all around and then inclined his head toward Graham for the toast.
“To James,” Graham said, holding James’s stare evenly. “Our fearless leader, who will now fearlessly lead us all into this next phase of our lives. And to Emma, the only woman clever enough to catch him.”
James smiled and the rest laughed before they raised their glasses in unison. “To James and Emma,” they all repeated.
James drank again, this time slower in order to savor this moment a little longer. It was likely one of the last he would have as a bachelor.
Soon everything would change.
Emma stepped into the ballroom and felt every eye in the room swing to her. She took a long breath and tried to ignore their whispers and glances. She would have to become accustomed to it, it seemed. Certainly the Duchess of Abernathe would inspire such a response more often than plain Emma Liston ever had.
Especially since she was becoming Duchess of Abernathe under such trying circumstances.
“Some people get what they do not deserve,” one woman sniffed loudly as Emma passed.
She stiffened at the slur as she continued walking through the room. Walking toward what, she did not know. She hadn’t yet found James in the crowd and the girls along the wall would not meet her stare anymore.
Suddenly she felt an arm slide through hers and found Meg at her side, beaming with friendship and love for her, and Emma nearly buckled at it. Marrying Abernathe would make Meg her sister. She was very much looking forward to that.
“Smile,” Meg said. “I have you now.”
“It seems your family makes a habit of saving me,” Emma said through a smile that hurt her cheeks.
Meg shrugged. “You saved us, too, I have not forgotten it. Perhaps that is what family does, save each other. It all evens out in the end, I think.”
“I hope James believes the same,” Emma sighed. “Though I cannot imagine my helping you once equals the sacrifice he is making on my behalf, no matter how kindly he makes it.”
Meg turned toward her. “Don’t make him a savior, Emma. His whole life he’s been put up on a high shelf, the heir, the duke, the man who could do no wrong. That makes him a doll, not a man. And he is a man with flaws and faults and pains like any other. Bring him down to be a human with you, be patient with him as he figures this out. Whatever you do, don’t stifle that you love him, even if you think that’s what he wants.”
Emma jolted. “L-love him?”
Meg arched a brow. “Will you deny that you love him?”
Emma sighed. “I suppose I could, but you are tenacious. I assume you would only browbeat the truth out of me.”
Meg laughed. “I certainly would. Good, I’m glad I’m not seeing things. And I’mgladyou love him. He’s had little of that in his life, little of it he could depend upon. I want that for him.” She gazed into the distance. “He’s coming now, coming for you.”
Emma’s heart leapt and she smoothed her skirts reflexively. “What if I can’t do this?” she whispered.
“You are stronger than you want to believe,” Meg said softly, then turned her toward James as he took the last few steps toward her. “Now get what you deserve, Emma. Take it.”
James smiled as he reached them. “Hello, Emma. Meg.” Meg waved as she moved away and James blinked at her hasty exit. “Goodbye, Meg.”
Emma looked up into his face, thinking of what Meg had just said to her. That he was a man, not anything less or more. Certainly, she was well aware of his maleness in this moment, but Meg meant something different.
“Should we dance?” she blurted out.
He grinned. “Aren’t I meant to ask you that?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “We’ve broken with all other tradition in the past twenty-four hours—why not destroy it all?”
He bowed slightly. “I would very much like to dance with you, Miss Liston.”
