Page 52 of The Marquess’s Forbidden Bride

‘How could one not enjoy oneself among the charming group our hostess has assembled?’ Hart said.

‘It’s always pleasant to spend time among friends,’ Charles said. ‘Where all present conduct themselves with cordiality and restraint, wishing to make themselves agreeable to the company, as befits individuals of superior breeding.’

And there is your warning from him, Emma thought.

Before their hostess, who was looking even more confused at this odd speech, could respond, Hart bent to place a kiss on Lady Telford’s cheek. ‘Dear sister, your husband charged me to ask your forgiveness at his tardiness. The farm manager snagged him as we were coming down to ask about some agricultural matter. He’ll join us shortly.’

‘I understand Miss Wellingford is something of an agriculturalist,’ Lady Routham said. ‘Always puttering about in the dirt, potting up this or digging up that? A place she obviously feels at home.’

A few of the ladies tittered at that, while Emma clamped her teeth together to stifle her immediate retort. Before she could think of a suitable repost, Charles said, ‘Yes, she is quite knowledgeable, following in the footsteps of Lady Mary Elizabeth Bennet—daughter of the Earl of Tankerville.’

‘I know Lady Mary’s mother, the countess!’ one of the other ladies said. ‘She has a marvellous collection of botanical prints. Breeds orchids, too, I understand. Very accomplished, both mother and daughter. How splendid that you are inspired by her, Miss Wellingford.’

Emma caught Charles’s flicker of a smile as she inclined her head. ‘If you are interested in viewing Lady Mary’s work, you must visit Kew. The beds there are now planted out with pansies, a flower she developed.’

‘Perhaps I shall,’ the lady responded. ‘I understand Kew boasts some wonderful walks.’

At that moment, their host strode in. ‘Forgive me, my dear!’ he exclaimed, coming over to kiss his wife. ‘Shall we go in? Tompkins tells me dinner is ready to be served.’ He turned to his guests. ‘We don’t stand on ceremony among friends. Each of you may escort in the lady of your choice. We’ll not bother with precedent.’

As the gentlemen went to claim dinner partners, Charles offered Emma his arm, Hart falling in beside them. Just then, noticing Claire’s absence, she said with some concern, ‘Claire is not joining us?’

‘Not tonight. Our youngest has a bit of congestion in her lungs. Nothing serious, but Susanna does so much better if her mama tends her when she’s not feeling well. I’d have absented myself, too, but Charles warned me reinforcements might be necessary.’ He chuckled. ‘Though I think you scored the first hit with your shot, Charles.’

‘Has she been pricking you with innuendo the whole time you were in the drawing room?’ Charles asked, tensely controlled anger on his face.

‘Somewhat,’ Emma allowed. ‘I think I successfully returned her volleys, though. You don’t need to…intervene. I can sideslip most of her comments, and I don’t wish to draw undo attention to them, lest Lady Telford, already looking at us with confusion, grows any more concerned. I won’t let myself be dragged into any outright hostilities and cause that sweet lady distress.’

‘Nor will I,’ Hart agreed. ‘I can occasionally be cross with Lilliana for blithely passing all her burdens on to my wife, but she never does so out of malice or a sense of entitlement. She truly is an innocent, who has been so cared for and cosseted since infancy that it never occurs to her to do more than state a need and wait for someone to satisfy it.’

‘I’m not sure I’d want to be that innocent,’ Emma said.

‘No, you’d rather seize the reins and take action,’ Charles said.

‘Let us hope Lady Routham behaves herself and we have no more skirmishes this evening,’ Hart said.

To Emma’s relief, she was not seated near Lady Routham at dinner and was thus able to relax her guard. With precedence dispensed with, Hart was not obligated to sit beside his hostess, as the highest-ranking gentleman would normally be, but placed himself near the middle of the table beside Charles, who had claimed Emma as his dinner partner.

Nor did the gentlemen remain at the table for brandy and cigars while the ladies departed but instead went through to the drawing room with them. After tea, as the guests broke into groups for cards, she was able to stay with Charles and another acquaintance, Hart leaving then to go upstairs to sit with his wife and ailing daughter.

But though there was no more verbal jousting that evening, Emma still felt Lady Routham’s gaze follow her as she sat with Charles at dinner, poured him tea and chatted over cards.

Though Charles had given no indication he noticed that lady’s regard, as he dealt the last hand of the evening, he murmured, ‘She’s like a giant spider with her web strung up in the corner of the room, always watching us.’

Emma sighed. ‘Would that I could swat it down.’

He chuckled. ‘It appears you won’t need to. She’s thus far confined herself to only a handful of admittedly pointed remarks but made no attempt to call out either of us before the company.’

‘Fortunately, it appears Lady Routham has enough concern for her status as a lady to refrain from appearing ill-mannered before her hostess and her friend, Mrs Jeffries. Perhaps all will go off well after all.’

‘Hopefully Claire is right and she has reconciled herself to the situation. Or at least realised if she wishes to maintain her place in Society, she cannot appear actively hostile. Still, stay on your guard. Lord Telford intends to take the gentlemen shooting tomorrow. In our absence, she may look for opportunities to corner you.’

‘I shall take care to remain well out of her way. Although one can’t avoid her during the ball.’

‘If she becomes unpleasant, I know you, at least, are too well-bred to respond in kind. But I don’t intend to allow you to become the target of her spite. If she is harassing you, contrive to pass me a note and meet me in the arbour. I’ll arrange to convey you back to London and deal with her myself. I could tell Lady Telford you’ve been recalled by some urgent request of your sister’s, a matter that requires attention but not anything that need cause concern.’

‘You really think Lady Routham will look for opportunities to abuse me?’ Emma asked, curious to discover just how much animosity he thought his half-sister still harboured.

Charles frowned. ‘From the look on her face when she talks about her uncle and the great wrong done him by the Wellingfords, I think there is little she wouldn’t connive to get back at your family.’ He shook his head. ‘If you could hear her speak about him—the story she tells is nothing like what I heard from you! But I suppose she couldn’t continue to hold him in such high esteem if she believed the truth.’