Mrs. Lydia Partridge coughed, alleviating only a fraction of the tension now filling the dining room. “I must say, your concern for a family friend’s well-being is admirable, Mr. Crawford.”
“Unusually so,” Mr. Partridge said dryly, his eyes no longer shining with pleasure but rather glaring at Lord Griffin with severe irritation. He frowned even as the conversation was redirected toward the subject of a new play that was due to open in London - one that his sister was very keen to see.
“Perhaps we can go together,” Miss Partridge suggested several minutes later when everyone had been informed of the general plot.
“An excellent idea,” Emily agreed, the smile she pasted on her face pulling painfully at her cheeks. Whatever Lord Griffin’s reaction might have been to her answer, she failed to see it on account of the very deliberate effort she made to ignore him. And because she was irked by his behavior, she even decided to add, “I plan on visiting my parents again at the end of May, and since I have only a few friends in London, your added company along with your brother’s would be most welcome indeed.”
“I am so very pleased to hear you say that,” Mr. Partridge murmured a little too smugly for her liking.
Emily forced a smile and gave her attention to her food. She didn’t dare look at Lord Griffin for the remainder of the meal and was happy to avoid him completely when he and the other men went to enjoy their after-dinner drinks in the library.
Meanwhile, she did her best to focus on the conversations taking place in the parlor where she and the ladies were served sherry, but doing so was impossible when her thoughts kept straying to Lord Griffin. He had no right to act like a jealous fiancé, not to mention the fact that he risked revealing the truth. If the Partridges discovered he wasn’t really Caleb and they’d been lied to, it was more than her reputation and his that risked being ruined. Her mother’s was now at stake as well. So for him to allow whatever irritation he felt to show was completely unacceptable and very much deserving of her ire.
The more she thought on this, the more she believed it, and by the time she said good night to the Partridges, she’d convinced herself that Lord Griffin deserved to be put in his place. She had to remind him of the risk he’d taken by letting himself be ruled by emotion. So she took her seat stiffly in the carriage and waited for it to take off.
But before she got out one word, her mother said, “Well, that went rather well.”
Emily spun her head sideways to look at the woman who’d brought her into this world. “If having an unpleasant evening was the aim, then yes, it most certainly did.”
Lord Griffin grumbled something from the opposite side of the carriage and stubbornly turned to look out the window, even though there was nothing but darkness to see.
“I fail to see your point,” Georgina said with the same degree of cluelessness she’d shown when she’d chosen to plump up her daughter and dress her in orange. “We have all agreed to meet again in London, so whatever you felt went wrong has not deterred the Partridges from wanting to further their acquaintance with us.” She patted Emily’s hand. “And Mr. David Partridge was so attentive toward you too. There can be no doubt about his interest. So if you and Lord Griffin don’t wish to marry, perhaps you could entertain the idea of marrying him instead?”
Emily dropped her gaze to the floor of the carriage. Perhaps she could find an escape hatch there? A low growl reminded her why she was eager to flee, and it was because she would sooner or later have to deal with a man whose desire for her was just as terrifying as her desire for him.
Forgetting himself completely, Griffin muttered a hasty, “Good night,” before stalking into the Clearview dining room and shutting the door behind him. It wasn’t until he’d poured himself his second glass of brandy that he was levelheaded enough to reflect on the fact that he should have waited for Miss Howard and her mother to head upstairs before quitting their company.
He was just so bloody furious he could scarcely see straight, and he had been so for several hours now. So he’d snatched the first chance he’d gotten to escape the woman who’d caused his blood to run hot through his veins all evening. First, on account of the gown she’d worn and then, by enjoying the attention of Mr. Damnhimtohell David Partridge.
His gaze had lingered on her as if she’d been a delectable feast he was hoping to one day devour. He had paid particular attention to the swell of her breasts when he’d bowed over her hand, pretending gentlemanly politeness when Griffin had practically been able to see every sordid fantasy he hoped to play out with her painted in the air.
Christ almighty!
Griffin raked his fingers through his hair and squeezed his eyes shut while pinching the bridge of his nose. He’d never experienced jealousy before, certainly not this all-consuming variety and never because of a woman. It had made him almost barbaric, his need to conquer and claim her and put her off limits to all other men so intense, he’d completely lost focus of what truly mattered. Her reputation and her mother’s as well.
Damn, if he hadn’t made a muck of things, but it couldn’t be helped. Not when she’d chosen to bat her eyelashes at the foppish bastard and serve him encouraging smiles. Hell, she’d even issued him a direct invitation to meet with her in London.
Griffin tightened his grip on his glass. Perhaps he should leave her to it. Leave in the morning and go back to Vienna. Put as much distance between himself and Miss Emily Howard as possible. Before he lost his mind completely. Before she reduced him to a fool.
Hell.
She’d already done so. His unacceptable behavior this evening was proof enough. And it had to be stopped.
He took another deep swallow of brandy just as the dining room door eased open. The snick of the handle drew his attention. His head turned sideways, and his eyes settled perfectly on the woman whose presence he’d grown so fond of.
Yes, damn it. He more than wanted and desired her. He needed her in a way that he’d never needed anyone else before. Even though she had the power to turn him into a raving lunatic. She was still wearing the red gown, and the only thing he could think of as she stepped further into the room and closed the door behind her was what it might be like to pull her neckline down over her shoulders. Would she sigh with pleasure or push him away when he pressed his mouth to her skin?
The steel in her eyes suggested that she wasn’t looking to be seduced but rather to have some choice words. His muscles tightened with anticipation. An argument would be equally welcome as a means by which to alleviate some of the tension straining his body.
“You behaved badly tonight,” she began.
Her back was straight, her chin slightly raised, and her face a perfect display of severe displeasure.
Griffin set his glass aside and flexed his fingers. The way she said that… Heaven have mercy on his sordid mind but her scolding manner did not have the humbling effect he believed she hoped for. Rather, he found it to be unexpectedly arousing.
Oblivious, she moved toward him, closing the distance. “Your attempt to dissuade Mr. David Partridge from giving his attentions to me was not only rude but—”
“Are you interested in him?”
