She didn’t trust herself to speak, and after brief silence, Lady Crosby added, “I can only hope Lord Lymington recovers as swiftly from whatever aches your stroll together might have caused him.”
“Can we please not talk about Lord Lymington, my lady?” Emma didn’t want to think about his aches, or his mouth, or the moment his lips had touched hers. It was altogether too warm in the carriage already, without dragging Lord Lymington into it.
“Certainly, if you wish it, dear, but you look a trifle flushed.”
“I’m not flushed.” But even as the denial left her lips, Emma was stripping off her gloves and wriggling out of her cloak.
“Oh, I beg your pardon. It’s just that your cheeks havegone very red.”
Notjusther cheeks. Her neck and chest felt as if they were on fire. Emma plucked at the neckline of her gown, which suddenly felt much too tight, and turned a sour look on Lady Crosby. “You’re a dreadful tease, my lady.”
Lady Crosby let out a gleeful chortle. “Forgive me dear, but I couldn’t resist. Oh, come now, there’s no reason for you to blush as pink as a peony, Emma. Lord Lymington is rather devastating, taken altogether.”
“Nonsense. I’m not blushing.” Emma wouldn’t permit such a thing, particularly not over Lord Lymington, no matter if his kiss had turned herknees to water.
Especiallythen.
“Of course not, dear.” Lady Crosby was still smiling, but she patted Emma’s hand and ceased her torment for the remainderof the drive.
It gave Emma far too much time to dwell on the memory of that kiss, but after a struggle and a hesitant stroke of her fingertips across her swollen lips, Emma wrenched her wayward thoughts back to the matter at hand.
One thing was certain. It was past time for Caroline to be gone from the Pink Pearl, and Helena with her. Now that Emma understood how, er…persuasiveLord Lymington could be, she’d just as soon keep Helenaout of his way.
Her first problem would be getting them away tonight without Madame Marchand catching them. She couldn’t simply stroll through the front door and demand them. She could send Daniel in, but Caroline Francis had never laid eyes on Daniel, and he was…well, a trifle intimidating at first glance. Emma wasn’t certain Caroline would go with him. Even Helena was a bit skittish of him.
And it wasn’t as if Madame Marchand wouldn’t recognize Daniel.
“Do be careful, dear,” Lady Crosby said, leaning over to kiss Emma’s cheek once they’d reached Audley Square. “Don’t let that wickedwoman see you.”
“I won’t, my lady.” Emma waited as Daniel handed her ladyship from the carriage, wishing she was as confident as she sounded. It was madness, venturing into the library tonight, but something was dreadfully amiss with this business, and she needed answers at once.
After they’d left Lady Crosby safely ensconced in her townhouse, Daniel drove them to St. James, and brought the carriage to a stop in one of the darker side streets near the Pink Pearl. “All right then, lass. How do ye want to manageit this time?”
“Fate does seem to keep leading us back to the Pink Pearl, doesn’t it, Daniel?” Emma let out a short, humorless laugh. “I think we’ll have to rely on Charles again. Once you find him, tell him Miss Emma needs to see Helena and Caroline in the library. It’s best if you go in through the mews, as he’ll likely be near the kitchens. I’ll wait here until you return, then I’ll sneak in the terrace door again.”
“Aye.” Daniel’s nod was reluctant, as if he didn’t entirely approve of this plan, but he did as she asked.
It felt as if years had passed by the time Daniel returned, but it likely wasn’t more than ten minutes or so before he appeared at the carriage door. “Wait a bit longer to give the boy a moment to fetch the girls and unlock the library door, then ye can go.”
Emma waited until she couldn’t make herself sit still a moment longer, then she crept down the street, blending seamlessly with the shadows, and slipped through the gate leading to the back garden. With a quick glance around to make certain no one was about, she darted up the shallow stone steps that led to thelibrary doors.
The wrought iron latch under her bare palm was cold to the touch, despite it having been a warm spring day today. Or was it just Emma’s hands that were cold? All this sneaking about couldn’t be good for her circulation.
The latch turned easily—thank goodness for Charles—and she slipped silently through the doors. She paused when she was inside, half-expecting Lord Lymington to leap from the shadows, clamp one of his enormous paws on her shoulder, and demand to know what business she had at the Pink Pearl in the middle of the night.
She didn’t fancy another clandestine meeting in this library after the last one had gone so disastrously wrong, but Lord Lymington had been trapped in a conversation with Felix Humphries when Emma left Lady Tremaine’s, after pleading fatigue and begging her ladyship’s pardon for leaving her picnic supper early.
Lord Lymington hadn’t seen them leave, yet Emma still imagined she felt his glare following her from the garden, that hot gaze boring into her back all the way to the carriage. He wouldn’t be a bit pleased when he discovered she’d sneaked off while he wasn’t looking. Those stern lips would press into a grim line, his gray eyes would darken, and he’d reach for her, growling low into her ear, and…
Emma sucked in a tremulous breath, and shook her head to clear it.
That was quiteenough ofthat.
This would all be a great deal easier if Lord Lymington were far less attractive, and better yet, as dim as a sputtering candle, but instead he was as distracting a man as she’d ever met, and worse, he was as shrewd and wily asEmma herself.
He was sure to realize at once where she’d gone, and would be right on her heels, but unfortunately for him, he’d be just a touch too late. By the time he reached the Pink Pearl, Helena and Carolinewould be gone.
Unless he’d somehow gotten past her? It would be just like the man to find a way to get here before she did. He was distressingly resourceful. Emma peered into the shadows, biting her lip. The library appeared to be deserted, but it had appeared so the lasttime as well.
