Emily forced herself not to be swept away by the excitement with which her friends spoke. “I don’t want him to do something rash out of duty or obligation.”
“I’d say the fact that he keeps on kissing you proves there’s a bit more to it than that,” Cassandra pointed out.
“But…” Was it possible that Griffin actually wanted to marry her like her friends were suggesting? And if so, could it really be because he truly wanted her? The chance that it might sent a thrill darting through her.
“Would you perhaps consider going with him?” Mary asked. “To Vienna, that is?”
“I…I have no idea. I’d have to think about that.” Vienna seemed so incredibly far away, but then again, if she were going with Griffin, it might not be so bad. And yet... She shook her head. “No.” When her friends looked puzzled, she said, “Griffin might want me, but he does not love me the way I love him.”
“Are you sure?” Mary quietly asked.
Emily nodded, her heart overcome by sadness. “I cannot spend my life waiting for him to feel more for me than he does – hoping he’ll one day return my affection when that day might never come. It would simply hurt too much.”
Strollingthrough the stables with his brother, Griffin savored the whinnying sounds of horses and the earthy smell of muck and hay. He paused to nuzzle one of the mounts. “I look forward to riding with you in the coming days.” He glanced at Caleb. “We haven’t done so since we were lads.” Before they’d gone off to university. Before their lives had been changed by Caleb’s sudden departure.
As if sensing an underlying hint of regret, Caleb stepped closer and leaned one shoulder against the stall. “Do you wish things had been different?”
There was no mistaking his meaning.
Griffin shook his head. “No. You did the right thing by going away. Devlin and I saw that, which was why we both left as well.” He winced. “Staying behind and following the path Papa had prepared for us wasn’t an option.”
“It’s incredible, isn’t it,” Caleb murmured, “how poorly a man can know his own sons?”
“I don’t believe he ever cared to know us.”
“No. I don’t believe he did either.” Caleb patted the horse’s neck and straightened himself with a forced smile. “His loss, since we turned out rather well in my opinion.”
“We certainly managed to do alright without him.”
“That we did,” Caleb agreed. He let his hand drop and proceeded to study Griffin a moment. “What are your plans now?”
Griffin moved away from the stall and recommenced walking. “That depends.”
“On a certain Miss Emily Howard, I suspect?”
Seeing the sparkle in his brother’s eyes, Griffin could not help but grin. “I must confess she’s prompted me to reexamine everything I hope to accomplish.”
“Like getting married and starting a family?”
Griffin nodded. He kicked some fallen hay out from under his boot, savoring the scrape of the heel against the flagstones. “You know that neither featured very strongly in my plans for the future. Until now.” He smiled, comfortably and openly. “I swear that woman has put some sort of spell on me.”
Caleb laughed and slapped his hand on Griffin’s shoulder. “She wouldn’t be the first one to affect a man so. That I can promise you.”
“So you’re just as in love with Mary as you were four months ago when you married?”
“More so, if you can believe it.” They exited the stables and started back toward the house. “I’m happy for you, Griffin. Let’s hope that I’ll soon be congratulating you on your engagement.”
Griffin savored the warmth of the afternoon sun spilling over his cheeks as they walked. His heart fluttered beneath his ribs both from nervousness and excitement. Pursuing Emily felt right. Instinct told him that they would be good together. Now all he had to do was convince her. It was a feat he looked forward to with growing anticipation.
“The restof the guests should be arriving tomorrow,” Caleb announced during dinner.
“Who else are you expecting?” Emily’s father asked before he stuck a piece of veal in his mouth. He and Laura had arrived from London that afternoon.
“Cassandra’s brother, Viscount Aldridge and his wife, Vivien, have been invited. Then there are Mary’s parents, her sisters and their husbands, of course.” Caleb paused to take a sip of his wine. “I’ve also taken the liberty of inviting Langdon and his wife.”
Emily sputtered, the sip of wine she’d just taken going down the wrong way. “Langdon…?”
“He’s an old friend,” Griffin explained, apparently mistaking Emily’s question for ignorance. “I haven’t seen him since I left England. Last I heard he was visiting family in Scotland, so it will be great to finally catch up on lost time.”
