With all these distractions plaguing her, Emma was being driven half mad, and she couldn’t afford a bout of insanity just now. She had an obligation to Lady Clifford, to Amy Townshend and Kitty Yardley, and to Caroline Francis.
And what of all the silent promises she’d made to the nameless, faceless young girls who’d met their fates at the hands of aristocrats who seduced them, and then discarded them when they grew bored, as if they were soiled gloves? Girls like Helena, and like Emma herself, who’d only escaped Helena’s fateby mere chance.
“Lord Lovell and his party are here.” Lady Silvester leaned over Lady Crosby to get a better look out the window as the carriage made its way up the drive. “Goodness, Lord Lovell looks well today, doesn’t he, Flora? I’ve never seen a more handsome man in my life.”
Lady Flora didn’t reply, but Emma cast a sidelong glance at her friend, and cringed at the longing she saw in her face. Flora might protest that she didn’t care a whit for Lord Lovell, but anyone could see he held her heart in the palm of his hand. One careless move, and he’d shatter it into thousands of tiny pieces that could never be put right again.
“Lord Lymington looks somber, doesn’t he?” Lady Flora wrinkled her forehead. “I can’t think how he can be cross on such abeautiful day.”
Unable to help herself, Emma peered over Lady Flora’s shoulder again, her heart leaping in her chest at the sight of an unsmiling Lord Lymington, his broad shoulders outlined against the blue sky, the wind tousling his dark hair. “He looks as if he’s going to an execution instead of a picnic.”
Lady Flora, always ready to defend the indefensible, gave Emma a chastising look. “Perhaps he’s simply not fond of picnics. Not everyoneis, I suppose.”
Emma snorted. “He’s not fond of balls, or dancing, or company, or art, and now he has a quarrel with picnics, sunny skies, and rose gardens? I’ve yet to find a single thing Lord Lymington approves of.”
“Oh, hush. I’m sure that’s not the case,” Lady Flora scolded, but her lipswere twitching.
“One can’t say the same of his cousin.” Lady Silvester gave an approving nod as a smile lit Lord Lovell’s handsome face. “I’ve never known a gentleman more inclined to be pleased with everything than Lord Lovell. Don’t youagree, Flora?”
“Rather too inclined, perhaps,” Lady Flora muttered, but she let out a resigned sigh after a glance at her grandmother’s anxious face. “I don’t deny Lord Lovell is gifted with a charming temperament, grandmother, but charm isn’t proof of a gentleman’s honor. Don’t you agree, Emma?”
“I do, indeed.” The most charming gentlemen were invariably the least honorable, which, ironically, meant Lord Lymington was the most honorable man she’d ever encountered.
“Still, Lovell has always had a good heart.” Lady Flora was still gazing out the window, as if unable to tear her eyes away from Lord Lovell’s face. “Don’t you think he has a good heart, Emma?”
As good a heart as any other wicked rake.
Emma bit down hard on her lip before the words could tumble out. “Er…I imagine his heart is very…that is, I’m sure it’s as good as…any other gentleman’s.”
Faint praise, indeed. Emma cast Lady Crosby a despairing look, and sank down further in her seat, wishing she could disappear entirely—wishing herself anywhere but here.
Lady Flora gave Emma a curious look, but a shout pulled her attention back to the window. “Here comes Lord Lovell now.” She patted at her hair, and gave her skirts anervous twitch.
Emma peeked out the window as Lord Lovell strode toward their carriage. A gust of cool, fresh air rushed inside as he pulled the door open. “Good afternoon, ladies!” He offered them all a polite bow, and reached a hand out to Emma, who was closest to the door.
Her smile felt stiff on her lips as she slipped the tips of her fingers into his hand and allowed him to assist her from the carriage. “How do you do, Lord Lovell?”
“You look lovely this afternoon, Lady Emma.” Lovell pressed a playful kiss to her gloved hand. “As bright at the sun itself.”
“You’re a shameless flirt, my lord.” Emma intended the words as a tease, but they emerged from her lips as a scold, even as the irony ofherscolding anyone for flirting made her cheeks burn with shame.
Lovell didn’t seem to notice. He pressed a hand over his heart, but his pretty dark eyes were filled with laughter. “You wound me, my lady.”
“A hand for Lady Flora, if you would, Lord Lovell?” Lady Silvester prodded gently, recalling him to his duty. Lovell turned his attention back to the carriage at once, his cheeks coloring. “Yes, of course. Forgive me. Lady Flora, you’re as fresh and pretty as Lady Tremaine’s roses.”
Lord Lovell forgot Emma in an instant, and handed Flora down as if she were a precious object, his adoring gaze devouring every curve of her face.
But like so many ladies in love, Lady Flora’s feelings were easily hurt. Her smile faded, her joy in the lovely day dimming in an instant. She managed a brief nod for Lovell, but she didn’t meet either his or Emma’s eyes as she stepped down from the carriage.
Emma dragged her gaze away from Flora’s crestfallen face and looked down at her feet, kicking a loose stone aside with the toe of her shoe and cursing love and lovers alike with every breath in her body. From what she’d seen of it—which was, thankfully, blessedly little—love seemed to cause a great deal more miserythan happiness.
She bit her lip to hold in a sigh, joined arms with Lady Flora, and painted a bright smile on her face. “Is there a room where Lady Flora and I might tidy ourselves before greeting the rest of the company, Lord Lovell?”
Lovell bowed. “Certainly. You’ll escort the other ladies, Lymington?”
Emma glanced up, and found Lord Lymington standing in the drive. He scowled at Lovell’s request, but Lady Silvester and Lady Crosby had already taken possession of Lady Lymington, and Mr. Humphries appeared to be asleep in the carriage. That left Lady Lovell on her own, leaving Lord Lymington no choice but to offer her his arm.
Emma breathed out a sigh of relief. It was a brief reprieve only, but that frown on Lord Lymington’s hard lips didn’t bode well. She needed a moment to gather herself together before she crossed swordswith him again.
