by Ella Edon
"And you will remind me of this for as long as we live I suspect."
She smirked. "Oh, not this one in particular, but I do wager that more times than none, I would beat you again."
He let out a throaty laughter while she blushed.
She smiled. They were at the end of the field, where the land from there sloped down, so that a rocky path led to the water below. Henry thought back to when he used to come here when he was younger, to the end of the field much like this, to simply look at its beauty. But he had not come for a very long time. There was no reason, he just stopped coming.
He looked at Emma, as she looked down at the rocks and the water beneath. It seemed that her mind drifted as she gazed at the water.
"The water reminds me of Elesmere. Papa liked to stare at where the rocks and water touch."
He opened his mouth to reply but found himself searching for words. It was as if a dark cloud now hovered over them. He wondered what prompted her to remember his father. He decided to be silent.
He saw her raise her brows, but just as quickly, she brought them down. She said nothing, and they stood in silence. Sometimes, he didn't understand her. He really wanted to. He didn't know what could annoy her so easily. It seemed that since the news of their need to be wed, and after they had been wed, all he had done was annoy her. He had thought they were getting along just fine, the previous night, but she surprised him by slapping him.
Henry was slowly realizing that he was attracted to her. And more, he felt he needed to protect her from his father. He looked at her briefly feeling that visceral need.
She broke the silence. "I wish that none of this ever happened. Now, I question my life everyday."
He clenched his teeth but said nothing. There was nothing to be said. Henry wondered why she had to be the one to pay for her father's mistakes. It was so unjust.
"What did my father say to you, at the wedding?"
"Something that would ruin my father, and I." She stopped there.
He saw, from her side, her lashes flutter as she blinked very slowly, deliberately. He knew she would speak on, but he did not expect her next words.
"Didn't I tell you to let it be?"
"You did, but you should have known that I wouldn't. Emma —"
She turned to face him, her face marred with sadness. "Just let it be, there is nothing that can be done about it. Speaking of it shall make me remember what a terrible mess I am in. Do try to understand —"
"Why do you always think that you must face every circumstance alone?"
She was bent on keeping the blackmail a secret, and it made him wonder what it was, because he saw clearly how she was hurt by it. Henry did not know if there was anything he could say that would make her feel any better. He felt for her, for she carried a burden so heavy.
Emma clenched her fists, stared at him long and hard, through those dark eyes that glistened. It was as though she were ashamed. Her lips quivered slightly before she turned away from him and returned to her horse. He was left alone, his hands on his hips, staring after her as she rode away. Henry wondered how far his father would go, just to get the dukedom. His father had hurt a lot of people, stepped on a lot of people, but Henry had always known what he was up to. However, with Emma, his father kept surprising him at every turn.
"What are you up to Father?"
He shook his head lightly. It was his mistake. He should have asked properly what was going to happen before he agreed to be wed to Emma. He had not asked questions, because he had thought it would be no concern of his. He was only now realizing that he had dragged Emma into the kind of life his mother lived. He never wished that for anyone. Now it bothered him, and he wanted to know what truly was going on. He was not going to relent until he did know. He patted his horse's back, mounted it, and rode off after his wife.
* * *
Henry alighted from his horse the moment he saw Eugene, the stable boy, come into view. He was about to run up the stairs that led to the entrance door but was stopped by the sight of a carriage. He clenched his jaws. He recognized it as his father’s. He ran up the stairs and pushed open the door. He should not have been surprised to see his father talking in low whispers to Emma, but it surprised him. It made him halt and his heartache to see such a sight.
Emma looked most uncomfortable. She was visibly angry but didn't speak. She didn't fight for herself. She didn't respond smartly, in the way that irked him, but he admired.
"Father? This is an unexpected visit?"
"Ah, lad, this is my home as much as it is yours, is it not?"
Henry hated that his father referred to him as a lad. He was no longer that. He was a man.
"I will be returning to London, and as you know, I will be extremely busy. We could too easily fall into not seeing each other as we should, the whole season! I suggested to Lady Blackmoor," a snide smile graced his lips, "that you should come down with me, Blackmoor."
A sickening feeling settled at the pit of Henry’s stomach. Something was certainly going on. "Father, we would prefer to spend our honeymoon in our own home—"
"But your lady has made a choice and I agree. We should leave for Drysdale Townhouse without delay?"
Henry averted his gaze from his father’s and rested them on his wife's. She had her shoulders raised, and her eyes met his. Too strongly. She knew what he was going to ask her, but he asked anyways.
"Is this true? Do you wish to move London, now? Isn't it too soon?"
His father sent him a glare. Henry did not miss it. "She wants to move to Drysdale, Henry."
"I want her response, father. I did not request yours."
The Earl grunted.
Emma didn't waver. "Yes, I wish to move to Drysdale now. It would be very pleasant to be at court. I would like to have such an experience and staying close to your father. I thought —"
Henry knew that she knew he didn't miss his father. Moving was simply to please his father's interest. There was no need for exaggeration.
"We can make for London early enough to spend some time with Father before the season starts, without leaving so soon as this —"
"Well, I want to move to Drysdale, Henry. I think it is best we leave as soon as possible." Emma said. She closed her eyes briefly then, as though she was in pain.
Henry was at a loss for words. He knew he had said he would wed her and then mind his business, but with each passing moment, minding his business became harder. He watched his father smile mischievously at the unfolding scene.
"I want to move to Drysdale, Henry. I want to," she said again. It sounded like she was pleading this time. "Please. I do want to see the city. See what London looks like. We will only be there for a few months, then we shall return here. Just a few months."
He didn't know what was going on, but he wanted to protect her from any kind of pain.
He nodded curtly. "If that is what you desire, then of course. We shall move to London."
He saw her shoulders relax, and then her eyes close. "Thank you." she said.
"It is settled then. We leave early tomorrow," the Earl said.
Henry clenched his teeth. He would make sure he found out what his father blackmailed Emma with. He nodded curtly and walked around them, making his way to his study. Everything was happening too fast, and it was making him think too much. He needed a scotch. He walked into his study and closed the door quietly. He would need to prepare to move to Drysdale Townhouse and he needed to be prepared for whatever trick his father had up his sleeve.
The next morning arrived quickly, he had barely closed his eyes before the ray of sun peeked in through the window. Once again, he found himself in a situation he had dreaded.
He was seated in a coach, with his wife and father. His father was the only one smiling. Emma was just as somber as he was. She kept her gaze outside through the whole journey. The coachman, announced each stop. It was tiring, but Henry knew it was what had been demanded of him by his father. The Earl of Drysdale wanted to
know everything, at all times. He hated not being able to control everything around him, and that was what he was doing in Henry's marriage. Trying to control it.
"Are you alright, my lord?" Emma raised her brows.
"What? I am fine. Why do you ask?"
Emma nodded towards his hands. Henry looked down and realized they were clenched and gripping the velvet cover of the seats. He retrieved his hands immediately and laid them on his thighs. Emma looked like she wanted to say more, but she simply looked away. He cracked a smile. She amused him with her need to be strong and do things alone. She wanted to be independent and he admired that a lot, but she needed to understand that she didn't have to face everything alone in their marriage.
Henry’s thoughts were interuppeted by the Coachman’s final announcement" Drysdale Townhouse. " The coach wheeled to a halt.
His father's grin widened. "Home, at last."
Henry’s feeling that his father was up to something was growing, and it was made worse because his wife was involved.
He alighted from the coach and took in his father’s preferred home. The Townhouse, a three-story Greystone, was quite obnoxious. The large wide twin doors flung open, standing there with a bright smile, his head bowed was the Earl’s butler of many year, Mr Anders.
As Mr Anders set his eyes on Henry and his smile dimmed. It was then, that Henry knew too well, that whatever their reason for being in London, it was nothing good at all.
Chapter Ten
"Get ready right away! The ball at the Hemingway House takes place late afternoon" the Earl said, touching his stomach and sending her a happy smile.
Emma held the urge to scream at him. She was struggling to keep her composure instead of exploding in anger at him for all the things he had blackmailed her with.
Instead, she released a breath and curtsied.
From her side, she saw Blackmoor sigh and walk out of the foyer.
The Earl took the opportunity to wave his index finger at her. "We will be meeting with Lady Allen today."
"We've only just arrived!" she hissed. "Why go to a ball right away? Can't we call on her tomorrow?"
"The ball is today, and we will be there. Make sure to convince Blackmoor. You two must attend as newly weds. You do as I wish - disobedience will have its consequences. You, more than anyone else should know this."
Emma felt her insides curl at his words. The cold slap brought her back to her reality. Drysdale held her in his palm. One mistake and he could crush her.
Emma swallowed hard and curtsied. She paused. "I need a ladies maid —"
" The cook's daughter, Alicia, would be of great help to you. Perhaps, she is already awaiting your arrival in your bedchamber."
Emma closed her eyes briefly. It was the only way she knew to calm her nerves. She walked away, and out of the sight of the Earl. He repulsed her. She climbed the staircase with uncertainty, she did not know where her bedchamber was located.
"The west wing,the first bedchamber has been assigned to you at the end of the hall." She heard the Earl call out.
She quietly followed his instructions and found the bedchamber. She pushed open the doors and walked inside. The room was dim, as the windows were flanked with wine coloured drapes. The bed was huge and filled with many pillows. The dressing table was beautifully designed.
"My Lady." She heard a tiny voice..
A lady, who looked no more than ten and nine, stood by the windows her head bowed.
Emma waved her hands in the air. "Pull up the drapes, dear, please."
The girl did as asked and when she was done, she curtsied.
Emma walked over to the bed, took a seat and said to the girl. "Alright. Let's prepare for this ball."
The door opened as she said this, and she was not entirely shocked to see Blackmoor walk through the door.
"Lord Blackmoor." She breathed out. Seeing him always made her heart skip, especially since the kiss. That kiss...and the morning after.
"I would like a moment alone with the lady," he said to the girl. She nodded and walked out of the room.
Lord Blackmoor placed his hands on his waist and gazed down at her. "What is going on? Why do we have to leave for a ball when we've only just arrived? I do not wish to attend a ball. It's been a stressful journey."
Emma felt her stomach clench. "Lord Blackmoor."
"Henry, Emma. Call me Henry."
She rose from the bed abruptly and faced him fully. "We have to attend the ball, Henry. Together."
“Emma..." he narrowed his eyes. "What does my father have on you?”
Of course, he knew. She blinked back tears that threatened to fall. There was no way she was going to tell him what his father had blackmailed her with. It was embarrassing. It was something that she never wanted to be out in the open. Something that made her ashamed of who she was. It made her question her very own identity.
Since the Earl had blackmailed her, Emma was at most times lost in her own head, wondering if it was true. Still, she did not want to take the risk of disobeying the Earl for she never wanted her father to hear of it. It would break him.
Emma shrugged helplessly, as she looked away from him. "Would telling you change anything?"
"Tell me first!' Henry said in exasperation, his teeth clenched. He was angry.
As though realizing that he had snapped, he breathed out and approached her more gently. "Emma, I want you to know that irrespective of what you think, your well-being is important to me."
Emma cast her gaze down.
"Emma, all I want is for us to be comfortable and happy. I want you to be comfortable and happy."
Emma didn't look at him. She had begun to see he was not the boy she had known years ago. He was different now. She had not expected that even while she was frustrated, he could approach her so gently that she became calm again herself. She decided she would risk disclosing his father’s plans for her..
"He has asked that I become acquainted with Lady Allen. He has asked that I become close to her. He has told me he will convey other details to me on the matter later, but that is all I know at present."
She stared at him after she spoke. He closed his eyes and pulled his hands through his hair.
Henry creased his brows. "Emma, why would my father set you this task? What would compell you to do as he asks? What is he holding against you?”
Emma sucked in a breath. She could not even bring herself to tell him what his father had truly blackmailed her with. She shook her head. "We should go."
"Emma —."
"I stand on my word, Henry. Do try to understand that it is not easy for me to simply discuss this -"
"I am sorry —"
She sighed, “it is best you get ready and we leave for the ball at once."
"You can trust me, Emma." His eyes searched hers as he uttered those words. Then he took a step closer. Emma felt the heat between them, as he did. Secretly she wanted him to move even closer. She wanted him to move close enough to her so he could hold her. But he didn't. He stopped.
"There's really no way out of this. It matters not if I tell you, Henry," she said quietly. With his blue eyes searching her dark ones, she wasn't sure she could continue speak coherently.
Henry pleaded again. "Emma, please tell me. "
He seemed relentless and Emma wondered why. Slowly, as he urged, she was breaking, her tears were welling up, because it made her remember. And for a second, she felt that sharing would lessen the pain.
"He threatened —" She felt tears rising from inside her. She felt the need to burst out in tears, so that she could be held, so that she could be consoled, so that she could be told that everything would be fixed and the Earl’s stories were lies. But she didn't do it. She held her tears back and raised her eyes to meet Henry's. "Prepare for the ball, Henry. We are going."
Henry opened his mouth to speak, but she didn't let him. She raised her voice immediately and shouted. "Alicia! Come on in. We have a ball to prepare for."
&nb
sp; * * *
Emma sat wilently in the carriage. The Earl kept glancing at her, and muttering, and grinning. It made her feel uncomfortable. Beside her, Henry was unperturbed — or so he seemed. He acted like none of it was his business anymore. Once at the destination, the coachman announced. "Hemingway House."
The Earl proceeded to brief them on who owned the house.
"Lord Hemingway is a very powerful man. He's friends with the King, I hear. He has organized a ball for his daughter. We must show our support. Lady Allen would most assuredly be here."