Several footmen were moving about, silver serving platters in their hands, and the low murmur of voices was audible from the hallway, but that wasn’t what caught Samuel’s attention.
It was Lovell. His cousin had come to an abrupt halt in the doorway of the dining room. “What are youdoing, Lovell?”
Lovell glanced over his shoulder at Samuel, his eyes wide. “Before you go in, Lymington, let me remind you that the dining room is not a proper place for a frontal assault.”
“Frontal assault? What are you onabout, Lovell?”
Lovell’s gaze slid to Lady Lymington. “Can’t say the same for ambushes, I’m afraid.”
Samuel blinked. “For God’s sake, what has you two insuch a lather?”
“Er, well…perhaps it’s best if you see for yourself.” Lovell stepped aside and gesturedSamuel forward.
Samuel didn’t make it more than two steps into the dining room before he broke off, his mouth droppingopen in shock.
Directly across from the doorway, seated next to her grandmother, dressed in a blue dinner gown that turned her eyes the color of midnight skies, sat Lady Emma Crosby.
* * * *
Emma took one look at Samuel’s scowling face, and her heart plungedin her chest.
Dear God. Perhaps this hadn’t been such a good idea, after all. It was too late to do anything about itnow, but it took every bit of determination she possessed not to leap to her feet and flee the dining room.
Lord Lovell was blocking the doorway, his back to the company, murmuring urgently to Samuel, who was a step in front of him, his dark head towering over his cousin’s.
Perhaps she could duck under the table—
“You’ve gone as pale as a ghost, Emma.” Lady Crosby seized Emma’s hand under the table. “It’s all right, you know. He’s not going togobble you up.”
Emma wasn’t so sure. He looked as if he’d be more than happy to forgo the beef course, and make a mealofherinstead.
She could never be afraid of him—she knew who Samuel was, under that scowl, knew the caring, tender heart he hid inside that powerful chest, yet still her pulse refused to cease its frantic pounding, because she was afraidof losing him.
Only shewaslosing him, even now, and her heart recognized it, while her head, the organ she relied upon, was still foolishly hoping.
“What are you doing here?”
It took all of Emma’s fortitude not to shrink down in her chair as every head at the table turned inher direction.
“My goodness,” Lady Crosby muttered in Emma’s ear. “Heisa bit cross, isn’t he?”
Samuel was staring at her, his gray eyes as cold as ice. “Why are you in my home? I thought I made myself clear regarding my wishes on that point,LadyEmma.”
“Samuel!” Lady Lymington exclaimed, shocked. “That isquite enough.”
Samuel didn’t spare his mother a glance, but took another step into the room, his gaze fixed on Emma. “I beg your pardon, Mother. I didn’t anticipate the pleasure of Lady Emma’s company at Lymington House.”
Emma said nothing, because she couldn’t speak. She could only stare at Samuel’s face in misery. She’d imagined he’d be angry, butthis…this was worse than angry.
He washurt. She could see the pain in every line of his face even as he struggled to maintain a neutral expression.
“Now, Lymington,” Lord Lovell warned. “There’s no need tomake a scene.”
Emma almost laughed. It was far too late for that. The scene had begun, and it looked as if it were going to unfold in all its awful glory in front of Lord Lymington’sdinner guests.
She half-rose from her chair, intending to leave the table, if not the house, but before she could take a step Lady Lymington spoke up, her voice firm. “It’s all right, Lady Emma. Do take your seat. I invited Lady Crosby and Lady Emma to Lymington House, Samuel. They aremyguests, and you will treat them with the same respect you would any guestin this house.”
Lady Lymington didn’t often assert herself so forcefully, and her words seemed to recall Samuel to his senses. After a long, tense pause, he inclined his head. “Verywell, my lady.”
