Emma swallowed. “Of course. Right.”
Davina caught her expression and quickly added. “It is a fantastic party, though.”
Embarrassment heated Emma’s cheeks. God, she felt so small. She had spent the past week racing around organizing balloons and canapés, all while this woman had been saving actual lives.
“Yes, well,” she replied, working hard to keep her tone unaffected. “It’s still just a party.”
Davina nodded again, her gaze sliding over Emma’s shoulder. It looked like she was searching the crowd for someone.
“Are you looking for Knightley?”
“George? Oh, no. I’m actually going back upstairs. Montgomery wanted to show off the roof terrace,” Davina replied. There was amusement in her eyes, but it dimmed when she saw Emma’s expression. “Were you looking for Montgomery?”
“No,” Emma said with a tired scoff. “No, after this past year I’m going to make a New Year’s resolution to swear off men entirely.”
Emma meant it to sound like a joke, but realized Davina wasn’t smiling. She tried to manufacture one herself but it felt too strained. Too fake. She finally gave up and shrugged.
Davina’s expression softened. “It gets easier, you know.”
Emma frowned. “What gets easier?”
“Men,” Davina said. “Especially once you learn that some of them are right for you and some of them are just for right now.”
The words struck a chord somewhere in Emma’s chest. “How do you tell the difference?”
Davina let out a soft laugh; the sound was lost in the music. “Don’t worry. They find a way of letting you know.” Then she turned and started toward the staircase. “Happy New Year, Emily.”
“It’s Emma,” she corrected her, but Davina was already gone, her smooth movements disappearing up the stairs.
Emma watched her go and let out a deep breath. She needed some fresh air.
CHAPTER 20
Knightley was still at the bar finishing his second whiskey when they started handing out the streamers and hats and noisemakers. In the back of his mind, he knew he should find Davina. It was coming up to midnight, and even if they weren’t exclusive, she would want to be there next to him. That was the reason you brought a date to a New Year’s Eve party, wasn’t it? The countdown, the kiss, all of it.
But right now, the laughter, the cheering, the music—it all felt stifling, a mess of fake revelry and cheer when all Knightley wanted was peace and quiet. He needed to think.
He headed out of the crowded dining room, through the throng on the small conservatory dance floor, and into the backyard.
There were tall heaters littered throughout the space that had melted the snow, so his feet treaded on brown grass as he walked across the garden. A few chairs were set up for guests, but they were empty, as was the stone fountain in the far corner that was partly hidden behind a large topiary bush.
He stopped next to it, letting his head fall back as the tensionin his body released. Even with the heaters, the air was cold, and he welcomed the rush of freezing air into his lungs.
“Come here often?”
He stilled, not sure if the voice was in his head or right there next to him. But when he looked down to the fountain, there was Emma. She was perched on its stone ledge, champagne in hand, her high heels placed neatly beside her.
“Hello,” he said. He was smiling. A real smile, for the first time all night.
“Hello,” she replied. “Looking for your date?”
He shook his head. “I think she’s with yours.”
Emma sighed, leaning back. “He’s not my date, Knightley.”
Shit.
“Sorry, I forgot.” He held up his hands in mock-surrender.
