Then again, Emmie had really never known any man as handsome as Broderick. And blast it all, it didn’t help that her mind kept picturing him in the water. Perhaps ifshehad been in Broderick’s arms, she would have been sorely tempted to let him place his lips on hers.
Breathing slower, she relaxed against a tree. Finally, her heart beat a normal rhythm. She had experienced Anna’s thrill of excitement, making her want that very thing herself.
Groaning, she rubbed at the throb starting in her forehead. She wished she knew why she felt this way. It was so unlike her. Had living as a lady’s companion become so boring that she suddenly dreamed of improper things? What happened to the freedom she thought she would have in pretending to be a companion? For some reason, it wasn’t all she had wanted it to be.
She pulled away from the tree and took slow steps away from her hiding area, taking great care to see if anyone was watchingher. Once again, she was grateful that nobody had cared about the lady’s companion. She hurried back into the house.
Just as she entered, the announcement came of the last dance for the evening. Disappointed, she watched as Broderick danced with Anna. His joyous smile while he stared into the maid’s eyes nearly broke Emmie’s heart.
After the dance ended, Anna left Broderick’s side and made her excuses to Mr. and Mrs. Crampton. Emmie followed Anna up the stairs toward their rooms. She really didn’t want to talk to her friend, since jealousy continued to eat at her gut.
“Oh, Emmie.” Anna sighed dreamily. “Can you believe there is a handsome man who wants to be with me? Although I tried my best to act shy, he still continued his pursuit.”
Emmie tried to be gentle as she helped Anna remove the gown to ready her for bed, but ended up yanking the material over her friend’s head instead, pulling her hair in the process.
Irritably, Emmie rolled her eyes. “Of course he flirted with you. He is an untitled man, and you are supposed to be the earl’s daughter. Why wouldn’t he vie for your attention? Believe me, I see men like Mr. Worthington all the time, which is why I’m not married.”
She refused to believe he was enamored with Anna because she was pretty. Men only wanted to court Lady Sarah because of who her father was, so it had to be the same with Anna. It justhadto be.
“Oh.” Anna sobered drastically.
Inwardly, Emmie cringed. Obviously, she had wounded her friend’s pride. But something needed to be said to deflate Anna’s enthusiasm.
“After I get you ready for bed,” Emmie said, “I’m going outside to take a walk, all right?”
Anna shrugged. “Why are you asking me?Youare the earl’s daughter, after all.”
Emmie sighed. “I was just letting you know my plans for the evening.”
“Fine,” Anna snapped as she sat on the chair in front of the vanity and pulled out the pins in her hair. “I don’t care if you go for a walk in the dark this late at night without a proper chaperone.”
“You forget,” Emmie countered, picking up a brush, “everyone thinks I’m a lady’s companion. They are not going to wonder why I’m by myself.”
As she finished brushing Anna’s hair, silence grew in the room and became insufferable. Emmie realized she shouldn’t be so upset, but it was hard not to feel like this. Though she didn’t want her maid to think it was her fault she was angry.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to smile. “Anna, I forgot to tell you that I think my father would have complimented you on your performance tonight.” She chuckled. “You look more like my family than you think.”
Suddenly, Anna’s eyes widened. “Oh, I just remembered something I overheard tonight.” She grasped Emmie’s hands. “I heard rumors that Mr. Crampton is related to Captain Hawk.”
Confusion filled Emmie’s head, and she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around what Anna was saying. “Captain Hawk?”
“Yes, the captain of theAvenger—the pirate ship that attacked the very ship your mother was killed on.”
The shock of the news gusted out of Emmie’s lips as she lost her breath. The brush fell from her hand, thudding to the floor as an icy chill ran through her blood. “That cannot be right,” she whispered in disbelief. “Mr. Crampton is friends with my father. Would my father not know this?”
“I’m thinking he does not, Emmie.”
“But why… why would Mr. Crampton agree to have me stay here knowing it was his relative who killed his best friend’s wife?”
“I don’t know—unless Mr. Crampton isn’t on speaking terms with his relative now, and he must have thought you would not ever know.”
Emmie’s heartbeat gradually returned to normal as she tossed the idea back and forth in her mind. “What you said makes sense, Anna. After all, I have a corrupt relative, and I’m ashamed to be known as his niece.”
“Exactly.”
Emmie sighed and nodded. “That must be why Mr. Crampton hasn’t said anything. I shall not blame him.”
“You have a forgiving heart.”
