“Well.” She shrugged and watched in fascination as his eyes scanned the curve of her neck as she did so. She should be outraged. Instead a feeling of pleasure descended on her. Warmth pooled in her belly. Looks like his were what cause innocent debutantes to abandon their chaperones.
Angel duke indeed.
“Do you mean to tell me men attend all of the Season's balls for the sport of it? No, sir. I hate to disagree, but men go for the same reasons women do. They too need to find a mate. So I should say any man would be thrilled to get it over with as soon as possible. I find myself doing them a service.”
His eyes flared for a minute. Looking away he swallowed slowly, muscles tensing in his classically lined jawbone, before answering, “A service, of course.”
Whatever he meant by that comment was obviously lost on Emma as she focused her attention on Sara, who had just entered the room.
Bringing in an heir of sensuality and sweetness matched by no one in Emma’s social circle, she embraced her as if they were more than cousins. Sisters, in fact. If only that were true.
Emma’s own sister despised her. It wasn’t always that way, but after the incident, her parents had felt so responsible for not keeping an eye on her that they were positively insane when it came to the youngest of the family. Abigail, her sister had not been pleased that during the year that was to be her come out, her parents had decided the eldest, Emma, should be launched first. After all, it was only proper that the eldest get at least one Season, even if it was in vain. The last thing they had wanted was whispers of scandal concerning the oddity of having a younger sister out before Emma was even presented to society. And Emma could only feign illness and staying with her grandmother for so long before people became curious as to her situation.
Embarrassing as it was, it became apparent that in order for her sister to be a success as well as scandal free, Emma needed to go to London first.
Either way, Abigail was not pleased. She had cried for days until Emma had promised she would quickly find someone to marry this Season and be done with it. Besides, Abigail was still one and seven—young for the marriage mart to be sure. She was also the favorite. Emma was fortunate her parents still chose to feed and clothe her after everything that had happened so many years ago. It hadn’t mattered that nothing had taken place. What mattered were people’s impressions, and because of appearances, she was now forever stained with ruin. All before ever receiving her first kiss.
Emma watched as Sara went over to Nicholas and whispered something in his ear. His darkly handsome face glowed with contentment, Emma sighed. What would it be like to have a relationship where both people respected each other so much? It was a dream that would never be her reality. It was better for her to steel herself against affairs of the heart. She would only end up disappointed, for her parents had reminded her several times that tied in with her dowry was their version of the truth of what had happened. And with that, any person who proposed would know of her disgrace. Only after they married, so they would be stuck with her. She would never do that to someone she cared for. Attach herself to their family name, making it impossible to get out of the marriage without even more scandal.
Her eyes fell on Nicholas, someone who was all too familiar with scandal. It gave her hope that one day she might find peace and happiness. With a bow, Nicholas excused himself, mumbling something about his youngest getting jelly all over his nanny.
The duke’s laughter jerked Emma back to reality as she noticed him shake his head in amusement.
“Do you find something amusing, your grace?” Emma inquired.
“Smiling about your fate are you, dear friend?” Nicholas paused before exiting the room with Sara. “It seems he and you are in town for the same reason, dear girl. The duke must find a bride this Season, and you must find a husband. Although bets are on you landing a husband before he even sets foot at his first ball. He has the uncanny ability to repel any lady of class within miles.”
“Guess I deserve that for encouraging young Samuel,” Tempest said gloomily.
“Yes well…” Nicholas bowed before finishing. “He’s now playing Mr. Duke in the front of the house and has decided life would be much more fun if he wiped jelly on his nanny and threw caution to the wind.”
Tempest nodded seriously while Emma tried to cover up her laughter.
“What exactly do you mean by—” The duke didn’t get a chance to finish because just then Samuel ran by screaming and stark nak*d.
“Good day,” Nicholas said, exiting the room at a dead run with Sara following close behind.
“Well, that was more excitement than I had hoped to see this afternoon,” Tempest joked as he rose from his seat.
Emma noticed an envious twitch in his eyes as he straightened his already perfectly smooth jacket.
“Leaving so soon, your grace?”
His pensive gaze traveled across her face before settling on her lips. She hadn’t even had time to lick them as he approached her.
“What would you have me do? Sit in my best friend’s drawing room with his wife’s cousin? Alone? Unchaperoned? Whatever would people say?”
He was openly mocking her, and for some reason, it sent a chill down her spine. He was exciting and she had missed excitement in her life for the past few years.
Gathering her wits, she reached toward an escaped curl on his forehead and pushed it back. “Why, your grace, I have to admit disappointment.”
Without moving he asked, “Disappointment?”
“Of course.” Her hand now rested on his shoulder as she provocatively leaned in. “One would think your reputation was all a ruse. I find myself saddened to see that others’ opinions of you decide with whom you associate and when.”
“Are you implying, dear girl, I should stay and chat like one of your gossip-ridden girl friends?”
“Gossip, no. But ride? I could go for one of those.”
His face blanched. “I’m sorry?”
“A ride through the park, silly.” She slapped him on the shoulder and sauntered away. “That is, only if it does not make you uncomfortable, your grace. After all, I do have a care for your opposition in spending time with a gossip-ridden lady of the ton.”
Emma was on fire. It was exhilarating. The Duke of Tempest wasn’t a man to be trifled with. Yet a part of her was saddened he had never once been the type of man to let his hair down, emotionally that is. Of course, he was known for being the most captivating and joyful of the peerage.
The man couldn’t breathe without the gossip mills finding out about it. She assumed he used his confident and easy-going personality as protection from those who would love nothing more than to see the man fall off his high horse.
Emma, having already fallen off her high horse, felt sympathy for him. It was easy living a life where people put no expectations on you, for your only choice was to keep climbing up. But those who were already the toast of the ton, they were the ones who lived the truly maddening lives. They had to stay in the newspapers and among the gossip during the Seasons affairs, at all costs.
The Duke of Tempest had always been well liked and respected, even among the mamas of the ton. Oh it was common knowledge he’d had his affairs, but the gossips never mentioned courtesans. No, the only women tied to him were the widowed who openly engaged in an affair with him, at least that’s the only information she had heard of him over the years. His reputation was to be spotless. It all started when he saved a small girl from drowning while he was at Eton. The next week he stopped a runaway carriage. The following year he saved the prince himself from a fall down the stairs. Which wasn’t all that heroic, except it saved embarrassing the royal family.
People were ready to have the duke sainted after all those incidents. So, he came to have the nickname “The Angel Duke.” Surely he thought it was silly, but Emma found it odd how easily it fit.
She swallowed and gloomily looked down at her hands. If he only knew what spending time with her would do to him. Well, he would most likely shout at everyone within distance, all the while pushing her in front of the first oncoming carriage.
Her secret was like a disease, making it impossible for her to keep anyone close no matter how badly she desired it.
Adventure was her only companion now, and her body ached for it the way it used to ache for dancing. If she could feel the wind against her face, the sand between her toes, water dancing on her skin, only then did the memories of that night seem to fade away. Adventure was to be her lover.
Love for Emma Gates would never happen. Love was saved for pure girls. Girls with little to no scandal.
“Just a short one then,” the duke answered gruffly.
“A short?” she asked confused. Apparently they had been in active conversation the whole time. Emma cursed her tendency to woolgather.
Tempest grinned. “A ride. That is if the offer still stands. I find myself curious as to your riding abilities, Miss Gates.”
Licking her lips, she bit back a smile. “I daresay they more than trump your own.”
He shrugged as if conveying a message of humility. “I gather we shall see about that. Meet me at the front in an hour. It should give you adequate time to change into a habit while I ready the horses.”
She exited the room only to hear him call after her.
“Shouldn’t you ask Sara to accompany us?”
“For what reason?” Emma turned back as he approached her.
“It isn’t at all proper for a lady to go about without a chaperone? I daresay you’ve been in the country far too long, Miss Gates.”
Emma grinned. “Oh, I see. You’re frightened to be alone with me.”
He cursed in answer then ran a hand through his hair. “I am a man.”
“I see, and were you confused about your sex before our little talk?”
Emma shocked herself with her bluntness.
Sebastian turned away laughing. “As amusing as you might be, I have a care for your reputation.”
“Don’t.” Emma fought to keep her voice even as she met Tempest’s calculating gaze. “I assure you, I’m not a debutante out to seduce you, nor will my reputation be in question, your grace.” Difficult for a reputation to be in jeopardy when it’s already been destroyed. “Now, would you rather discuss chaperones and propriety or go for a ride?”
Emma fought the desire to look away as Sebastian’s piercing eyes continued to question her as if trying to figure out what had brought on her answer. Finally he shook his head and held out his hand.
The air stilled as she put her hand in his. Warm lips caressed her knuckles sending a thrill down to her toes, “A ride through the park, of course.”
“Good, I’ll just be a minute then.”
Chapter Three
Sebastian paced in the entryway, trying his best to look casual as he heard footsteps tap lightly across the marble staircase.
With each step his fist seemed to get tighter and tighter. As if the person’s footsteps had a direct connection with the tension he felt all over his body.
He was still perplexed at her offhand comment concerning reputations. Didn’t every girl worry about reputations? And why wasn’t Nicholas yelling at him for taking the girl out on her first day in London? It wasn’t necessarily frowned upon to take a lady for a jaunt in the park during the fashionable time of the afternoon. But he wasn’t so ignorant to believe that tongues wouldn’t be wagging after they were seen together. Self preservation told him it would be best to attach himself to Miss Gates in a brotherly way. After all, they were staying at the same house, which was cause enough for scandal. But if he could attain that they were as close as cousins, well then, there should be no problems for either of them in the near future.