“A pleasure,” Sebastian finally said.
Smythe seemed to be amused. “Tell me, good man, is it the spinning of tales that you will be marrying soon? I would be delighted to meet the future duchess’s acquaintance?”
“Right then,” Sebastian said. “I’m terribly sorry, but I believe she’s gone out for a ride, not sure when she’ll be returning.”
“Ah well, later then.” Smythe smiled gaily and accepted a sniffer of brandy from Belverd.
The room fell into an awkward silence that Sebastian lacked the desire to fill. After all, it would benefit him to see how Smythe reacted in such situations. It was impossible for Sebastian to wrap his head around the idea that Emma would soon be married to someone else. Nobody seemed good enough, not even he.
Stunning that he would think of her in that way. Slowly, he took another drink. Did he value her happiness above his own? When had she turned from something akin to horseflesh into a woman he wanted nothing more than to make happy?
Unfortunately, the object of his affection chose that moment to enter the room. All traces of her ride gone, now dressed in a simple white walking gown and pink pelisse. She looked delectable.
“Your grace.” She walked in and stood next to him, taking her place on his arm. His arm, not Smythe’s, or any other man’s for that matter. It was where she belonged, where he finally realized he wanted her.
“How was your ride, Emma?” he asked calmly.
“I only wish you would have joined me, your grace. We have much to discuss with our upcoming nuptials, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Agreed,” he said, noticing a flicker of amusement in her eyes.
“Shall we take a walk in the gardens?” he asked, trying to keep the excitement and rush of arousal out of his voice.
“We shall. If you’ll just excuse us, gentlemen.” She curtsied and looked to Sebastian to lead them out of the room. He wanted nothing more than to growl at Smythe as his eyes greedily scanned the expanse of Emma’s chest. A possessiveness he’d never experienced before threatened to explode.
Containing his emotions behind a cool mask of indifference, he led Emma out of the room and prayed to God she wouldn’t tempt him beyond what he could handle.
Chapter Nineteen
Sebastian stole several glances at Emma as they walked arm in arm to the garden on the far side of the estate.
Just as he was about to say something, Emma interjected.
“I do believe I’ve found someone for you, Sebastian.”
“As in, a person who was once lost but now found?” He played dumb, while his chest heaved with each step.
“No.” She stopped and flashed him a brilliant grin. “A woman I think you will take an instant liking to. I was introduced to her on the way in.”
“You were?” His voice was hoarse.
“Oh yes, and she was delightful! And beautiful. I do believe her reputation is outstanding. It would be a brilliant match.”
“Well, then—”
“You should ask her to dance tonight after dinner. I’ve heard there will be music and games.”
Just what sort of ploy was Emma playing? Last night she seemed to be seducing him. This morning she was throwing him at the first available woman she met.
“Right,” he answered. “So it is settled then?”
She smiled warmly. “I wanted to make sure I stayed true to my promise to help you. You did want my help?”
Loaded question.
“Yes. Of course.”
Emma shrugged and walked by him, taking a seat on a nearby bench. Sebastian, for the life of him, couldn’t figure out what to do. Her assumptions were completely accurate, yet it frustrated him that she was so eager to throw him into someone else’s arms. And it did sting his pride a bit to think she had no emotional reaction whatsoever to him being married to someone else.
Especially since less than ten minutes ago he was lamenting the fact that she would have to marry someone like Smythe.
“I’ve likewise found someone for you, Emma,” he said, trying to steer the conversation to see if he found opposition where Emma was concerned.
“Have you?” Emma looked surprised and, dare he hope, a tad pale.
He ran with it. “Of course. You’ll be delighted. Maybe we’ll do introductions tonight when we are all together. In fact, it was Mr. Smythe, the man you just saw inside.”
“Perfect.” Emma looked anything but pleased.
“Right.” Sebastian smiled. “Shall we?” He offered his arm and stifled a chuckle. Maybe the girl was just as affected.
****
Talk about a plan backfiring, thought Emma as Sebastian led her back into the house. If anything, it just made her feel all the more nervous.
Her only purpose was to gauge his reaction, to see if he would be excited about her matchmaking or upset. Instead he had turned the tables on her, making her more uncertain of his feelings. It would be easier if the man would at least show some sort of emotion. But the minute she saw anything close to attraction, he would turn away and change the subject. Her only hope was making him uncomfortable, being spontaneous, which wasn’t hard for a girl like her.
Maybe Rawlings had been correct in his assumption. Granted, his idea of her was somewhat tainted. She did used to be wild, couldn’t have cared less what people thought about her. And at this point in her life, she still didn’t mind if others thought her reckless. The only thing she cared about was Sebastian and being able to be with him just once before she said goodbye forever.
Emma was a pile of nerves by the time dinner was finished. Sebastian had stayed true to his promise of introducing her to Lord Smythe, whom she not only found extremely boring but awkward in conversation. Admittedly, he was attractive, but there was no spark, she didn’t swoon, nor did her knees feel week like they did when she was in the presence of Sebastian.
The guests were led into one of the larger rooms to play parlor games. Emma was never one to appreciate such activities , especially when the whole idea behind said games was to engage in gossip—the best gossip most likely being about her.
Rawlings entered the room and gave Emma a brief nod before walking over to Belverd. Emma still couldn’t figure out if the man was honest in his intentions toward her. Did he truly desire for her to be wild and free, or was his main purpose to skew her mind into thinking that and then expose her secrets? Rawlings had never possessed a mean bone in his body. But desperation made people do things that were out of character, and something in his eyes gave hesitation to Emma. He was desperate. She just didn’t know the reasons behind it.
Needing an escape, her eyes darted around the room until they settled on Lady Kentsworth, who was hanging on to Sebastian’s arm tighter than Emma would have liked. Steeling herself for what she had to do, she slowly walked over to where Lady Kentsworth stood with her mother and reluctantly introduced them. Was it blasphemous to pray that he wouldn’t see her for the attractive and kind woman she was? Emma hoped not, because that was exactly what she was doing. She would have gotten to her knees had she not made a scene over the whole ordeal.
Lady Kentsworth turned to face them all dimples and smiles, making Emma curse herself once more for her brilliant plan. What had she hoped to accomplish? Make him jealous, yes, but literally push him into the arms of his future bride? Not likely.
“May I introduce Lady Kentsworth,” Emma said, when in her mind she was contemplating ways she could trip the poor dear without anyone pointing a finger in her direction.
To Sebastian’s credit, her merely bowed over her kid gloves and offered a brief smile. Like any woman would, Emma stared at Sebastian, trying to read what his expression meant. Was he amused? Attracted?
“Emma,” he said.
“Yes?” She jumped back, not realizing her eyes had been trained on his lips for quite some time.
Lovely.
“We’re to be partners.” His eyebrow lifted, making him appear mischievous and more attractive.
Curse those wretched eyebrows, and dimples, and…
“Emma?”
“Hmm?”
“We’re to go on a scavenger hunt.”
“Right,” she said, cemented in place.
“The women are supposed to grab the pieces of paper with the directions. Once you find the first hidden area, you are allowed to open the second piece.”
Emma flashed him a smile then went and gathered the pieces, nearly falling on her face in the process as her dress somehow managed to gather under her foot.
“All right?” Sebastian asked, grabbing at her elbow. “You don’t seem like yourself, and you’re flushed. You’re not getting ill, are you?”
No, just overheated by your touch, thank you.
“It is a bit warm in here. The scavenger hunt is to take place outside, correct?”
Sebastian nodded his head. “In the dark. It’s Rawlings’ idea of a romantic escapade, although I’m not sure I quite agree with him. I bet by the end of the game we’ll have at least three women with twisted ankles.”
Just then Rawlings cleared his throat. “I understand it is a trifle dark outside, so the scavenger hunt will be postponed. But I do have a delightful game to take its place. Gather round. We shall play blind man’s bluff!”
Squeals of delight and gasps were heard throughout the room. Emma kept quiet, but in all reality wanted to throw something at Rawlings’ head.
Blind man’s bluff was not a game for young innocents, and was surely not the best game for Emma, given her current state of mind.
With her luck, the minute Sebastian stepped in front of her, she would maul him and cause every female in the room to swoon, or worse, have an apoplexy.
One by one, the ladies approached Rawlings and wrote out their names as well as their partners across the little pieces of paper before returning to their seats.
Emma hoped he wouldn’t notice her nervousness as she left Sebastian’s side to gain participation. The last thing she wanted was for Rawlings to make a scene or to finally decide that it was in his best interest to share Emma’s secret with the world.
Finally reaching Rawlings, she stretched out her hand waiting for him to drop the tiny pieces of paper into it. His fingers barely touched the palm of her hand, but the light caress was purposeful, making her wonder yet again about his intentions.
“I’m glad you’ve decided to play, Emma.”
His eyes pierced hers. A small shiver ran down her spine. She hadn’t remembered him being so…primitive. One thing was for sure, the same boy she had grown up with and chased through the apple orchards was now a grown man.
A man she realized she would never be able to trust.
“Kindly write down you and your partner’s names before we begin.” Rawlings grinned as she scribbled the names and threw the papers back into the hat.
“What did he want?” Sebastian said angrily when she reached him. “Did he say something to you? You looked uncomfortable. Emma if he was forward with you I’ll—”
“He was merely giving instructions.” Emma cut off Sebastian’s worry but inwardly smiled at his obvious display of jealousy.