Thankfully, he didn’t say anything, but he helped his wife and then his daughter out of the carriage. Emmie closed the door and then proceeded to climb back up. Broderick’s strong hand was there to assist. She grabbed it as he finished pulling her up. He then led the team of horses to the side of the house. After securing the brake, he jumped off then helped Emmie down.
“Are you ready?”
“Ready for what?”
“We are going to sneak around back and find a place to hide where we can watch the party and keep out of sight.”
She grinned widely and nodded. She wanted so badly to take his hand, but other drivers were watching, so she didn’t want to go with her first instinct.
Once they rounded the house and were away from curious eyes, Broderick made the first move to hold her hand. Her heart hammered with excitement, and she couldn’t stop from cuddling close to him as they sneaked around to find a place to hide. Thetall hedges would provide the perfect spot. From their spot, they could still see inside the large windows of the gathering guests.
She studied each woman carefully, hoping to see a resemblance to what she remembered her mother had looked like, but so far nobody had met those qualifications. As each minute passed, her hopes dropped lower.
A warm hand rested on her back and drew small circles. She looked up into Broderick’s caring eyes.
“Don’t rush things. It will happen, just maybe not today.”
She nodded as tears stung her eyes. He turned her and pulled her into his embrace. She pressed her face against his chest, slowly breathing in his masculine scent of spice. Although she tried to fight the tears, they wanted to come anyway.
“Broderick, I know. I just never expected to see my mother again. And now that I’m so close—” She choked up.
“Shh… No need to explain. I understand.”
She lifted her head and gazed into the shadow of his eyes. “I’m so happy you are here with me.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Not as happy as I am to be with you right now.”
When his gaze dropped to her lips, her heart raced with anticipation. But after a few seconds when he didn’t kiss her, she rose on tiptoes and pressed her mouth to his. His arms tightened around her as he kissed her back with great urgency, slanting his mouth over hers to deepen the kiss.
Heavens, but she couldn’t help but love him at this moment. He was such a kind, caring, and tender man. She never wanted this to end. She wanted to kiss him for the rest of her life.
Just as she prepared herself to tell him her feelings, the bushes rustled, and a loud gasp ripped through the air.
“Broderick Worthington! Pray, what are you doing with that… boy?”
Chapter Sixteen
Startled, Emmie jumpedaway from Broderick. He swung around in the direction of the other man’s voice, keeping his dignity—which was something she couldn’t do. A man, dressed as if he had come from the party, stood not far behind them, his eyes wide and mouth agape. Even his face had lost color.
Embarrassment washed over her and scorched her cheeks. She wanted to dig a hole and crawl inside, or at least pull the hat over her face so that nobody could see her discomfort. Unfortunately, the hat wasn’t large enough to cover her whole head.
Broderick chuckled, shaking his head. “No, Phillip. You have it all wrong.” He glanced back at Emmie and took her hand to bring her forward. “My good friend, look closer.” Broderick removed her hat and lifted her chin toward the sliver of moonlight pouring between the branches of the tree. “These delicate features don’t belong to a boy, but a woman.”
Phillip gasped again and stepped closer, his eyes now narrowed in scrutiny. “Indeed, she is a woman.” He laughed. “Oh, thank the good Lord, Broderick. You had me worried there for a moment.”
“Phillip, this is my friend, Miss Emiline Snow. Emmie, this is my friend, Phillip Daughtery—someone I, um, I have not seen for a while.”
Emmie curtsied as well as she could wearing men’s breeches, and Phillip bowed like a true gentleman.
“It’s a pleasure to meet one of Broderick’s, uh… friends,” he said.
Another blush spread over her face. Was this man hinting that Broderick had more than onefriendlike her? “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
“So, Phillip, what are you doing here?” Broderick asked.
“I am friends with Mr. Goodfellow.”
“What a coincidence. So is my uncle.” Broderick chuckled. “But how did you know I would be out here?”
