by Cheryl Bolen
Even this brief stroll would cause tongues to wag despite the fact there was nothing untoward between them. They were friends, their comfort in one another’s company aided by long familiarity.
Emily nodded toward the end of the hall and he hesitated, thinking she was going to lead him into James’s study, the one room on this floor that wasn’t currently open to the public and was sure to be empty. She cast him a curious look and he began moving again.
Unable to stop himself, his thoughts went to what sort of mischief they could get up to behind those closed doors. What shocked him most about the wayward direction of his thoughts was the fact he wasn’t disgusted with himself. No, he found he wanted to be alone with Emily.
Her brothers were going to beat him to a bloody pulp, but as she led him the rest of the distance, he couldn’t bring himself to care.
He was so distracted, so intent on his own imaginings about what was going to happen, that he almost didn’t stop when she tugged him over to the side. Only then did he see that chairs had been placed in the hallway for those who wanted a moment of relative, but not true, privacy.
Disappointment crashed over him.
He’d been away from polite society far too long if he believed Emily Hathaway was leading him away for a romantic assignation. But in that moment he realized he wanted more than friendship from her.
Emily withdrew her hand from his arm and lowered herself onto one of the chairs. After she was settled, he did the same.
“My family means well. But between James pushing me toward a staid, respectable union and Sarah and Grace going to great lengths to ensure there were a few eligible men present, I feel as though I am something of a disappointment to them.”
He could understand not wanting to be pushed into a union one didn’t desire, but surely Emily didn’t wish to remain a spinster. He chose his words with great care when he asked her just that.
“You don’t wish to wed?”
“Oh no, it’s not that. It’s just that I never thought it would be so difficult to find someone.”
He raised a brow at that but didn’t have to ask the obvious question.
“Yes, well, perhaps it isn’t quite that difficult to find a husband. But I want what my brothers found. I want love.”
He had to hold back his impulse to laugh. Of course Emily would be stuck on such a romantic notion.
“Sometimes love comes later. From what James told me, he didn’t expect Sarah would ever come to care for him.”
“That may be true, but he was smitten with her from the start and willing to take the risk that their union would come to mean more. But I haven’t felt that emotion for anyone. Oh, I like many of them well enough, but I don’t feel a spark of interest, let alone anything that approaches love. The closest I’ve come to feeling any heat are the moments my anger is sparked when I realize they care more for my dowry that they ever would for me.”
“I hate to tell you this”—and he found that he really did—“but there are more than a few men here who have absolutely no need of your dowry.”
Emily blew out a breath. “They may not need it, but you can trust me when I say they want it nonetheless.” She shook her head as if to clear her mind of the current subject and smiled up at him. “Well, now that you’ve learned my secret Christmas wish, you have to share yours. Tell me, Sir Jonah. What is it you’re hoping to receive this Christmas?”
What was he hoping for? He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something missing in his life, but he ascribed that to the sensation of being unmoored now that he was back in England. He didn’t know what he was going to do to fill his days, and that thought unsettled him.
“I don’t know yet.”
Emily laid a hand over his and gave it a brief squeeze before releasing it again. He was surprised at the unguarded show of compassion, but what unnerved him more was his desire to reach for her hand again, peel the glove from her fingers, and clasp it within his.
Emily stood then, saving him from doing something foolish, and he followed suit. “Come,” she said. “We should head back now before tongues start wagging.”
“If you want to start a few rumors, you should dance with me a second time.”
He’d been joking, but Emily leaped at the suggestion. “Maybe Lord Kirby will think you’re courting me. You can do that, right? Feign interest in me to keep him at bay?”
Jonah felt a strange sensation in his belly at her words. He ascribed it to nerves at the reminder that soon he’d be entering the marriage mart himself. He wasn’t sure about the wisdom of Emily’s suggestion, but he found himself powerless to disappoint her. “I think I can manage that.”
He held out his arm and Emily took it, smiling up at him in a way that had him feeling ten feet tall as they made their way back to the ballroom.
Chapter 8
Emily could feel the tension in the air when she entered the breakfast room to find the only occupants were Jonah and Lord Kirby. It was almost midday, and she’d hoped to avoid her would-be suitor by arriving after he’d departed, but clearly she hadn’t waited long enough.
Jonah was leaning casually against a wall, his arms folded across his chest and an expression of extreme boredom on his face. Lord Kirby, on the other hand, was glaring at her partner in crime from his seat at the table. She could see that Jonah hadn’t been exaggerating after they’d returned to the ballroom when he told her the other man hated him. He’d suggested it was because of their pretend courtship, but Emily couldn’t help but wonder if there wasn’t more to the story than he was willing to share.
She only had a moment to take in Jonah’s appearance, her foolish heart giving a small leap at how handsome he looked in his maroon coat and waistcoat and buff breeches, before he noticed her. The corners of his mouth lifted and a spark of mischief danced behind his eyes. She almost pitied Lord Kirby in that moment and suspected Jonah was doing everything in his power to stir up the other man’s temper.
Lord Kirby leaped to his feet when he realized he and Jonah were no longer alone. “Miss Hathaway, I am so happy to see you this morning,” he said, greeting her with a cautious smile. “I was afraid the time would come for me to depart before I had the opportunity to bid you adieu. Or to tell you how beautiful you look.”
“That would have been a tragedy.”
Jonah’s interruption caused Lord Kirby to clench his jaw, but the unwelcome audience didn’t deter him from his task. Lord Kirby closed the distance between them and gazed down at her.
Emily could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. She’d avoided this moment the night before when Jonah had come to her rescue, but it was clear the man wouldn’t be deterred.
She managed to keep a polite smile on her face when Lord Kirby reached for her hand and dropped a kiss on the back. She’d been through this same situation enough times now to ensure she always wore gloves as a barrier.
He released her hand with reluctance. “Will you be in town this coming spring?”
She took a discreet step back, allowing her smile to widen the tiniest fraction so he wouldn’t take offense at her retreat. “I believe that’s the current plan.” She didn’t offer him any encouragement, but she knew he would take her polite response as an attempt on her part at coyness.
“I look forward to seeing you there then. Perhaps you’ll spare me a few moments of your delightful company when your attention isn’t quite so consumed by old acquaintances who make unwelcome demands of your time.”
She said nothing to that, knowing full well he was referring to Jonah. But the only acquaintance who was pressing upon her time was him and all the others who saw her only as a means of attaching themselves to a wealthy family.
She dipped into a brief curtsy, making sure to break eye contact, and sighed with relief when he took it as the dismissal it was meant to be. He stepped back but didn’t depart just yet.
She chanced another glance at his face and noticed the slight crease that had formed between his br
ows as he glanced in Jonah’s direction. She knew then that he’d learned Jonah and his mother would be staying with them through Christmas and the beginning of the new year. Longer, perhaps, if it snowed and the roads become impassable.
If it wouldn’t be a breach of decorum, she suspected Lord Kirby would have pressed for a longer stay himself. She was grateful that the house party hadn’t been planned for the actual Christmas holiday as Emily had originally wanted before she learned it would become yet another attempt by her family to find her a husband. No doubt that was James’s doing, and for once Emily was glad her brother avoided society whenever possible.
She glanced at Jonah and wasn’t surprised to see what could only be called a self-satisfied smirk on his face. He appeared to be taking an inordinate amount of pleasure in Lord Kirby’s distress. It was too bad, really, that his show of triumph over the man was merely an act. What would it be like to have two men fighting for her attention—especially if one of those men was Jonah?
“Yes, I’ve enjoyed our opportunity to become reacquainted,” Jonah said, his tone rife with insincerity. Emily was glad Sarah wasn’t there to witness it since she was so concerned about ensuring each of their guests enjoyed their stay. “But if those heavy clouds are anything to go by, we’ll soon have snow, and we’d hate for you to be stuck here with us over the holidays. You really should leave now if you want to make it home. It would be a shame to find yourself stranded at an inn on Christmas morning.”
Emily managed not to laugh at the frown that crossed Lord Kirby’s face before he gave them both another bow and turned to leave. She counted it a tremendous feat of restraint when she held back her mirth for a full ten seconds after the man left the room.
“You are so evil,” she said when she managed to catch her breath again after her amusement died down. “The poor man looked as though he wanted to strangle you.”
A corner of Jonah’s mouth tilted upward in a more genuine smile. “I’m quite certain that’s exactly what he wanted to do. If you hadn’t arrived when you did, I’m sure he would have called me out merely for the offense of existing.”
Emily gave her head a slight shake, wincing slightly as she wondered whether Lord Kirby had heard her laughter. Oh well, it was too late to worry about it now.
“Kirby was right about one thing,” Jonah said. “May I say that you look lovely today, Miss Hathaway? Of course, you always do.”
At his formality, Emily glanced toward the doorway to see who was witnessing their exchange. When she realized they were still alone, she cast a sideways glance at him and made her way to the sideboard.
“You can save your teasing for others, Sir Jonah. These past few days have been trying enough.”
She expected him to join her as she reached for a plate. When he didn’t, she realized he must have already eaten. “You needn’t stay to keep me company. I’m sure someone else will be along shortly.”
She’d given him permission to escape but was glad when he didn’t take the opportunity. Instead, he waited for her to finish loading up her plate—she felt a sense of relief that she could eat her fill without worrying about appearing gluttonous—and followed her to the table.
“There is no place I’d rather be,” he said, lowering himself into the seat next to her.
How was a girl to keep her thoughts from scattering in the presence of such a formidable opponent? With his classically handsome features and wit, Sir Jonah Stanton would have no difficulty finding a bride this upcoming season. He was going to have to carve his way through the crowds of hopeful young women vying to capture his attention.
Needing to divert her thoughts from their current path, she grasped for the one subject she knew would unsettle him. “Tell me more about Lord Kirby.”
Jonah’s frown told her she’d succeeded in distracting him from his teasing. She had to look away lest she betray her amusement.
“I thought you weren’t interested in knowing more about him.”
She lifted one shoulder but kept her gaze averted. She hoped he’d take it as shyness on her part, but in truth she feared she would burst into laughter again. It appeared Lord Kirby’s dislike of Jonah wasn’t one-sided.
“You and he are of an age, are you not?”
“Yes.” Jonah’s reply was curt.
She met his eyes and somehow managed to keep a straight face. She raised a brow, and Jonah folded his arms across his chest.
“You are not going to entertain his suit. He’s far too annoying and dull for someone like you.”
“Someone like me? James seems to think we’d make a good match, and he is not one to give his consent lightly.”
“You know what I mean. You are far too full of life to saddle yourself with someone so stolid.”
“It sounds like I’m just what he needs then. Someone to show him the joy life has to offer.”
Jonah scowled at that. “I sincerely hope you’re joking.”
Emily could no longer hold back her laughter. “I wish you could see the look on your face.” She attempted to arrange her features into a similar scowl but gave up and chuckled when his frown deepened.
“To set your mind at ease, I’ll admit that I won’t be entertaining Lord Kirby’s suit. My interest in him stems solely from my curiosity about the animosity between the two of you. Were you rivals at school?”
Jonah shook his head, and Emily was glad when his expression softened. “Nothing quite so dramatic, although we did know one another back at Eton. We’ve never been anything more than acquaintances, but I’ve always found him to be a little too full of himself.”
“So you weren’t onetime friends who had a falling-out?”
“Definitely not. I told you this last night, but apparently you didn’t believe me. Kirby means to have you for himself, and he can’t abide the sight of me because he thinks I’m standing in his way.”
Emily took a sip of her tea as she contemplated Jonah’s words. Lord Kirby wasn’t the first man to have set his sights on gaining her hand in marriage.
“So I take it his fortune is limited and he needs my dowry?”
Jonah hesitated, and for a moment she didn’t think he was going to reply. Finally he shrugged. “I don’t think so. Really, Emily, you must see that you hold a great deal of worth beyond the amount James will be settling on you when you wed. You are smart, generous, have a lively wit, and you brighten every room you walk into with merely a smile.”
Emily found herself at a loss for words. It almost seemed as though Jonah admired her. But no, she was letting her imagination get away from her.
“It’s too bad you won’t be able to be my protector during the upcoming season,” she said when she could speak again. “Although it shouldn’t be too difficult to convince my brother to forgo the affair entirely. I’ll just have to figure out a way to keep Sarah from changing his mind again.”
“I remain ever at your service, Miss Hathaway.” He grinned at her, and Emily felt her foolish heart lighten at his obvious good mood.
She had to force her thoughts back to reality instead of allowing herself to get caught up in foolish daydreams. “You forget that I know you’re planning to look for a wife. You can hardly do that while pretending to court me to keep unwanted suiters at bay.”
Jonah held her gaze for several seconds before speaking. “I don’t know. If my luck holds, I may not need to worry about that. But only if you promise to come to London in the spring. How else would I be able to court you properly?”
Emily’s stomach did an odd little flip at his words. She had no witty comeback and could only watch, struggling to keep her jaw from dropping open, as he rose and strolled from the breakfast room.
It wasn’t possible he’d spoken in earnest. No, he was teasing her again. Jonah didn’t need her fortune, and they’d known each other much too long for him to be interested in her romantically.
That thought shouldn’t have depressed her as much as it did.
Chapter 9
Despit
e her best efforts, Emily couldn’t stop thinking about her conversation with Jonah. No matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept circling back to what it would be like to have Sir Jonah Stanton court her.
He’d woo her with flowers and drives through Hyde Park, but he wouldn’t be content to follow the traditional path quite so strictly. He’d find moments to take her aside and kiss her whenever he could. No, not just one kiss but several. Whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Emily had to give her head a sharp shake to keep from getting carried away with her fantasy. Her feelings for Jonah were being muddled by the role he’d played during the ball the night before. And after his teasing that morning, it was becoming difficult to separate fantasy from reality.
It was possible Jonah was also caught up in the same trap. But come spring he’d be over any inclination he might have had to court her.
She made her way to James’s study, wanting to thank him properly for agreeing to host the Christmas ball. He might have had ulterior motives, but in the end she’d enjoyed herself tremendously. Perhaps he’d like to go for a ride. It seemed an age since the two of them had gone riding together, and she needed to distract herself from thoughts of Jonah.
She let herself into the study after a quick knock. “It’s safe to come out now, James—”
She stopped abruptly when she realized her brother wasn’t alone. In fact, he and Sarah were in the midst of a heated embrace.
He spun them around, his broad back shielding his wife so Emily couldn’t see what was happening, something for which she was infinitely grateful.
“How many times have I asked you to knock first, Emily?”