Page 50 of A Deal for the Duke’s Virgin

“Yes, we were. And do you remember why we parted ways?”

Emmeline scowled but said nothing.

There had in fact been a number of reasons. While Emmeline shared his desire to avoid matrimony and keep her freedom, she had gradually grown more and more possessive of him, even resenting the time he spent with his mother and sister. That, coupled with her habit of entertaining gentlemen when he was away, had led to the end of their friendship.

He had not expected to see her in London this Season, at least not in the same circles. He had assumed, foolishly perhaps, that they would keep their distance from each other.

Apparently not.

Judging by the mulish expression on her face, she too was remembering why they had left each other’s company.

Christian met her eyes squarely. “Enough is enough, Emmeline,” he said shortly. “You and I are not destined to be together.”

“But if you would only reconsider! Think of the time we spent together. Were we not happy? Were we not⁠—”

“You called Lady Thalia a shrieking banshee,” he interrupted.

She flinched, blinking. “Surely, you cannot mean to say that you have a genuine interest in a woman like her.”

“You no longer have the right to ask me what interest I have in anybody. I do not expect to see you again, Emmeline. And you would do well to avoid Lady Thalia. For your own sake as well as hers. She is remarkably protective over her orphans and might well make good on her bead-ripping promise.”

He turned to leave. Conversing with Emmeline was gradually making him more and more angry. It seemed almost laughable that at one time, he had craved her company more than anybody else’s.

Had she once felt the same way about him? It was likely.

Oh, they’d both known very well that it was not love. Emmeline had once confided in him that she did not believe in love. It was only a made-up idea, she said, the sort of thing poets complained about and authors wrote about. A waste of time, best avoided if it did exist.

At the time, Christian had agreed with her. But now, there was a light in her eyes that he recalled seeing before. What did it mean? Had she changed her mind about love?

He hoped not.

“You cannot possibly be in love with her,” Emmeline scoffed bitterly.

Christian turned back to her. “Love? Who talks about love?”

“Oh, everybody. Do you mean to say you haven’t heard? There is gossip in town about you and Lady Thalia. You pay her too much attention, and even rakes are careful about seducing innocent wallflowers with marquesses for brothers. They say that you must be serious in your pursuit. If you were inclined to seriously pursue any woman, why her?”

Why not me, was the unspoken addition.

Christian tightened his jaw, looking away. “I didn’t know that you listened to gossip, Emmeline.”

She flinched, taken aback for only a minute. But then fury flashed in her eyes, and she stormed past him towards the receding figure of Thalia and her little entourage. “I shall ask her myself, then.”

Christian lunged forward, seizing her wrist and hauling her back. She yelped in surprise, staring up at him in consternation.

“Let me be clear, Emmeline, since apparently you do not listen to me otherwise,” he hissed. “Lady Thalia is my betrothed. Yes, betrothed. What do you think of that? There is an understanding between us. If you disrespect her again, you’ll be disrespecting me. And you well know the consequences of that. I won’t allow you to speak cruelly to her. Now, I cannot control the gossip you share with others, but I should warn you about trying to besmirch Thalia’s name. Cross me, and you won’t be able to show your face amongst the ton ever again. Do you understand? Do you understand me, Emmeline?”

Emmeline had gone quite pale, the color clashing with the burgundy of her dress. “Betrothed,” she echoed weakly.

Christian gave a tight nod. It was the first time he’d said that word aloud. Betrothed.

“So I see,” Emmeline said tightly. “Thank you for explaining this to me. I suppose we had better part ways, then.”

“I agree.”

Wordlessly, she turned on her heel and strode off down the hill. She looked back several times and flinched each time Christian caught her eye.

I haven’t seen the last of her, he thought grimly. She’s got her heart set on me again for some reason. She won’t spread the news about my betrothal to Thalia.