When he finally turned away to chat with a group of beautiful young women who flocked to him, disappointment washed over Emmie. Slowly, she went back to her corner of the room to keep the wall company once again.
For the rest of the evening, her form of entertainment was to witness the way her maid interacted with Broderick. Soon, Anna broke away from him and walked toward Emmie. Her heart quickened. She wondered what was going on now.
“Emmie,” Anna said when she reached her. “Mr. Worthington has asked me to take a walk with him outside. What should I do?”
Emmie fisted her hands by her sides, wishing once again thatshewas the woman he’d asked to walk with him. “It’s polite to accept.”
“Then will you fetch my shawl for me? I mean… um, your shawl?” she ended in a whisper.
“Yes,my lady.I shall be more than happy to fetch the shawl.” Grudgingly, Emmie hurried out of the ballroom and up the stairs to get the shawl. On the way back down, she grumbled under her breath. As she placed the shawl around Anna’s shoulders, she whispered in her friend’s ear, “Remember who you are and that Lady Sarah doesn’t allow men to seduce her.”
When Anna met Emmie’s glare, the maid’s forehead creased. Before Anna had a chance to say anything, Broderick claimed her for their walk. The only acknowledgment he gave Emmie before he escorted Anna out on his arm was a nod.
Emmie rolled her eyes. Why was she feeling this way? She didn’t have any claim on Broderick. Come to think of it, he had been quite snobbish to her when they spoke earlier at the pond.
But even though her mind was trying to create bad thoughts about him, she was still curious to find out what the two of them were doing on their walk right now.
She glanced around the hall, hoping nobody would care if she disappeared outside. But since everyone treated her as a ghost, she was certain to not have anyone stop her.
She grinned. Her entertainment was just beginning.
Emmie crept out the side door and onto the terrace. Casually, so as not to draw attention, she walked to the edge of the lawn and scanned the large expanse of grass and trees, hoping to spot Anna. Within moments, she noticed her friend and the very handsome man beside her. Broderick led the love-struck Anna away from the house toward the shadows near the trees. Growling under her breath, Emmie feared the worst. Knowing her maid like she did, she knew exactly what Anna wanted.
Emmie quickly searched for a place to hide and watch them better. Across the way stood a large marble statue, and behind it, some bushes. Since Broderick and Anna headed in that direction at a leisurely pace, Emmie decided she would have time to get to the statue and hide there before they arrived… as long as she ran.
She lifted her skirts to her ankles and sprinted across the yard toward the statue. Broderick and Anna seemed to have eyes only for each other, so Emmie arrived at her hiding spot before the other two did.
Hopefully, her maid wasn’t up to her usual tricks and disregarding the rules of propriety. If so, Anna would be in Broderick’s arms this very night. Emmie didn’t think she’d be able to hide her jealous anger and keep herself concealed if that happened.
She gulped. If Anna didn’t take care, Emmie’s reputation could be ruined.
*
Broderick smiled politelyat the lovely woman beside him. The longer he was in her presence, the more confused he became. Her charm was evident, yet her shyness was a contradiction. She really didn’t talk much, and he couldn’t believe he’d actually met a woman who didn’t chatter endlessly. Now he’d found one he wished would talk a little more.
So far, he had told her about himself—at least what he wanted her to know—and now he wanted to hear about her. If she would tell him, that was. Every time he asked her about herself, she changed the subject, bringing the topic back to him.
They stopped by the marble statue of a woman with a water pitcher in her hands. Still close enough to the house for propriety’s sake, and so as not to anger her lady’s companion,Miss Emmie… yet far enough away that they wouldn’t be bothered or overheard.
He glanced up at the moon and the few clouds littering the darkened sky. Most of the light shone from the house. Although they were not in total darkness, many shadows crept around them, especially in the bushes not more than five feet away. Prickles of awareness danced over his skin, hinting there was another presence nearby. Over the last ten years, he’d learned to trust his feelings and instincts. Spies were all around, and he must be cautious. Until he could figure out who was watching them, he would be careful.
“Please tell me about yourself, Lady Sarah. I’m certain you grow weary of hearing about my dreary life.”
She smiled. “Oh, no. I could never get bored hearing about you.” She paused to look at her clasped hands. “Besides, there really is not much to tell you about my life.”
“You must be mistaken. After all, you are an earl’s daughter. What could be more exciting than that? I’m quite certain you have many stories to tell.”
“I assure you, I don’t lead the adventurous life you do. My life is quite boring. My father keeps me sheltered. I’m surprised he allowed me to visit Mr. and Mrs. Crampton without his bringing me himself.”
“I wonder why he is so overprotective. I assume your father has been in Greenwich before, though?”
“Indeed. He met my mother in Berkshire on one of his visits.”
Her tale grew more interesting by the second. At least he wasn’t completely bored. “Why did your mother not come with you this time?”
“She died fifteen years ago.”
Sorrow filled him, and he frowned. He understood the ache of losing a parent because he had lost both of his. “Forgive me. I didn’t know.”
