He managed to pull back just in time to stop it from scalding her hand.
“Sorry.” The smile that followed was slightly bashful. “I mustn’t forget to be careful around you.”
She thanked him for the tea and sipped it while Peter dug into the chocolate cake he’d been given. Georgina, who sat to Emily’s right, was enjoying a scone. Stratton, who’d sat down across from Emily, was just about to take a sip of his coffee when something seemed to draw his attention.
He raised his hand and waved while sending someone a grin. Emily turned and saw Anthony and his wife, Ada.
“I see you had the same idea as us,” Anthony said with a wide smile.
Greetings were exchanged before Ada said, “We just arrived and thought we’d try to catch the next magic show. Have you seen it?”
“Yes,” said Peter. “It was marvelous. The magician was able to make an entire rabbit disappear inside his top hat.”
“That does sound impressive,” said Ada. She turned to Emily and told her softly, “I’m thrilled to see you here.”
The comment was followed by a wry smile and a very pointed look in Stratton’s direction.
Emily shook her head. “It’s not what you think.”
“Isn’t it?” Ada pursed her lips. Humor danced in her eyes. Before Emily had a chance to respond, Ada asked, “How’s your reading coming along?”
“Very well. I should be able to start on the book you gave me within a few days.”
“Thank you again for doing me this favor.”
“It’s hardly a favor, Ada. Had I known you’d written a novel I would have begged you to let me read it anyway.”
“You’re a good friend.” Ada sent Stratton another glance before telling Emily, “Enjoy the rest of your outing.” She and Anthony said their goodbyes and wandered off in the direction of the magician’s tent.
“They think there’s more than friendship between us,” Stratton told her a short while later when they were walking back to the carriage.
Emily nearly tripped. “Who does?”
She didn’t need to ask, but her question did help her stall for the time she required to adjust to his comment.
“Anthony and Ada.” Stratton, she saw, kept his attention on the direction in which they were headed. It almost looked as though he’d not spoken to her at all.
“Ridiculous,” she muttered, not daring to give away even the slightest hint of how he made her feel. Just in case he remained unaffected by her. He’d already told her that none of the ladies he’d met appealed in the way of marriage. Not that she was thinking that far ahead, but surely his statement included her. Didn’t it?
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” he said, confirming her fear.
The attraction and overall wish for something more than what they presently shared was completely one-sided.
How utterly perfect. The situation wasn’t improved by the fact that she’d likely be seeing a great deal more of him now that she’d made her home available to Peter every afternoon. Stratton would probably join him for the most part, forcing her to spend additional time with a man she’d started thinking about a lot more than what was wise.
Peter and Georgina entered the carriage first, then Stratton caught hold of Emily’s hand. Her eyes met his and she saw something there – some deeply buried emotion she failed to define. It was gone in an instant and he was handing her up.
She took her seat on the bench while he claimed the opposite spot next to Peter. This time, however, he kept his legs bent at the knees. He did not stretch them out and let them touch hers, despite her wishing with all her heart that he would.
7
Of all the situations Callum had thought he’d find himself in, this wasn’t one of them.
He stared at his reflection in the cheval glass once he’d finished dressing. If someone had told him just two weeks ago that he would be losing his heart to Emily Brooke, he’d have laughed. Yet here he was, utterly smitten while she remained completely indifferent to him.
She’d said as much, hadn’t she, when he’d mentioned Anthony thinking there might be more than friendship between them.
Ridiculous, was the word she’d used.
