by Ella Edon
"Of course," Emma responded quietly.
"Splendid." He clapped. "We must go in."
Henry alighted the coach. So did his Father. The Earl stood aside while Henry raised his hands towards Emma. Her eyes met his and she felt her insides twist.. She placed her hands in his and it felt like she was floating. . She felt so... cautious and hot, all over. She was suddenly shy to be beside Henry. Shy with him looking at her.
She tried to breath out quietly, so as to calm her nerves but it didn't work. She still felt uneasy.
Henry raised his arm for her, she placed her hands on his arm and they began to walk in.
"Splendid, remeber you are newly wed and quite happy."
Everything Emma feeling for Henry, vanished at that moment. Of course. They were here to play a part for his father.
Henry turned to his father at those words. "Kindly remember sir that we are your children and your not your servants to be ordered about
Emma held his elbow tightly. "Henry, please."
"I've only agreed to be here because you asked this of me," he announced.
The Earl was furious as he stared at Henry, but he could not utter a word. Emma liked to see him in that position. He needed Henry's cooperation.
The Earl walked away from them and into the ballroom, while Henry and Emma stood. Henry faced Emma once they were alone. Emma's heart skipped when he looked into her eyes.
"My father may want to control everything, but I will not let him control this marriage, do you understand?"
Emma nodded. Henry nudged her chin up. "Listen to me, Emma. I will not let him do anything to you."
She wanted tell him that that was impossible, but he spoke to her with confidence. His tone even made her that somehow, she would escape his father's evil clutches. He gave her faith, and for that, she was grateful. Henry was not the boy from her childhood, who like his father wanted to control everything. This Henry was her husband.
Emma could not help smiling. "Of course, Henry. Thank you."
His frowns disappeared, and he return her smile warmly. He placed her arm in his once again, and together they headed inside.
The ballroom was filled with the ton — the butler who stood by the entrance door, announced their arrival.
"Lord Henry and Lady Blackmoor, Marquess and Marchioness of Dunberry."
A few heads turned, gazing at them, as they made their way into the ballroom.
"I haven't been to this part of London in a while," Henry said. "It has been quite long. I doubt that anyone would truly remember me."
"They would remember your name, if nothing else," Emma responded.
"I suppose."
Emma looked up at him. "Why do you sound like that?"
Henry shrugged. "I feel that no one truly knows me or sees me. Whatever opinion anyone has of me it is always because of my father. Most of the time,Emma, it is not a high opinion."
Emma didn't know he felt like that. It was surprising to hear that he did. She felt that at that moment he was the most vulnerable she had seen him. She searched for words to put him at ease, because in that moment, she felt that he needed her to but she couldn’t think of what to say.
He continued, "Sometimes, I wish that I didn't have to lead this life. That I didn't have to answer to him."
He looked at Emma and she offered a small smile. "I didn't know you felt that way, Henry. I am sorry that you do."
"It's nothing that you've done, Emma."
"I know, I just... I once had such an opinion of you."
Henry grinned. "I suspected, my Lady. "
Emma blushed.
"Tell me, would your grace me with a dance tonight?"
Emma placed her hands on her chin, pretending to consider the request. "I am not so good at the waltz, my Lord."
Henry narrowed his eyes. "I should have been at your debut then, because I am certain your was splendid then."
"It was, the best actually."
Henry was smiling when she looked up at him. "I know it was. If you had danced so then, it won't be so different now."
Emma creased her brows. "Were you at my debut?”
He shook his head. "I.. I wasn't. However, I do remember that you could not wait for your debut as a lass."
Emma blushed. He remembered. "You have my first dance tonight, my Lord."
The Earl walked up from behind them. "Blackmoor. I do so appreciate that your new bride and yourself have chosen to set yourselves at Drysdale."
Henry smirked. "Only for a short while, father, I assure you."
The Earl narrowed his eyes at him. Emma saw that Henry seemed pleased to have annoyed his father. She giggled.
The Earl missed a step — deliberately, and held himself backjust in time, before he might have fallen into a lady who had her back to them. His missed step was enough to call her attention however. The lady turned. Emma watched as her half let down red hair moved, swinging backwards as she turned. She was a sight to behold, beautiful, red-haired, with green eyes.
The Earl placed his hands on her arm lightly. "My apologies, Lady Allen."
The lady turned cold as she fully became aware of him. "Lord Drysdale."
"My sincere apologies, once again for nearly falling into you."
"All is forgiven." She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
The Earl looked at Emma, she knew what he meant. He was showing her who Lady Allen was, and remindng her it was her job to befriend the lady, by all means.
The Earl bowed and stepped away from them all, leaving Lady Allen with Emma and Henry. Emma knew that she had to act fast, because it would be awkward to gain the lady's attention if she turned back away from them.
Emma aplogised. "He can be clumsy at times."
From her guess, the Lady had not been happy to see the Earl andEmma knew that a way she could properly be acquainted to Lady Allen was by pretending to have similarities with her, even if there was none. It was quite obvious that Lady Allen was familiar with the Earl and she had expressed her distaste for him through her facial expressions. Emma wondered if she could use that to initiate a conversation.
Lady Allen raised her brows. "I don't suppose you've been in London for long?"
"Ah, no. I've only just arrived. I am newly wed —"
"To the son of the Earl of Drysdale." Lady Allen looked up at Henry.
Emma didn't like that she was unaware of who Henry was and that she had to call him the son of the Earl of Drysdale, and did not use his name and title.
"I am married, to Henry Blackmoor, the Marquess of Dunberry," she said
Beside her, Henry acknowledged Lady Allen with a bow.
"I suppose that I should have known that, but the truth is that I am barely aware of anything and anyone. I apologize." Something flashed in her eyes as she said that, and Emma felt that she could relate to such emotion.
"I am much the same as well." Emma smiled. "As I am new to London as you have guessed, but there nothing to give an apology for, Lady..."
The Lady grinned. "Lady Rachael Allen."
Emma smiled. "Lady Emma Blackmoor."
. "I had my debut when I was eighteen. It was everything I ever imagined. "
She said this from her heart. She missed her home.
Lady Allen looked at her intently and then smiled. "Such a lovely dress. Where was this made?"
Emma looked down at her green ballgown, which had cream threaded edges. She smiled broadly. "It was made back home. At Elesmere."
Lady Allen laughed. "Really? It is so beautiful. I do love it. Perhapsyou could introduce me to your seamstress, so I could persuade her to come to London."
"Oh, you flatter me. "
"It is not flattery, Lady Blackmoor. I simply speak the truth. "
Beside her, Henry, touched Emma's arm lightly, and to Lady Allen, he inclined his head. "If you would both excuse me."
Emma nodded. "Of course."
Lady Allen simply curtsied as Henry took his leave.
"Your husba
nd is unlike any I have ever seen," Lady Allen said. As the butler was passing by, she took a drink from his tray.
"How do you mean?" Emma asked.
Lady Allen shrugged. "London is a home for those interested in politics, those hungry for power. It is filled with Lords who do not respect their wives very much and demand rather than ask. Your husband made sure to get your attention to tell you that he was leaving. How sweet."
Emma hid her smile and hoped her cheeks were not visibly red. For Henry to be commended in such a way pleased her. She looked at the direction he had taken and saw him speaking to his father. Both men had their voices in mere whispers. Soon, the Earl threw Henry a glare. He placed the glass of whiskey on a tray and they both headed outside. Emma didn't realize she bad been holding her breath until Lady Allen touched her.
"Are you alright?"
Emma was not, seeing Henry having a heated conversation with his father put her on edge. She forced a smile, one that she was sure would be fixed for days to come and said to Lady Allen, "I am well, thank you."
But her mind stayed with Henry and the Earl. She wondered why she felt so strange about the conversation. She placed her hand on her chest and hoped her heart would be calm.
Chapter Eleven
"You stated it quite clearly, Henry, that you wanted no part of this!" The Earl of Drysdale hissed once they were outside.
Henry was furious. He had watched Emma try to make conversation with Lady Allen, and seeing them had reminded him of his mother. How many times had she been in such a position, and how much she had hated it? He also knew of the man Lady Allen was married to, and he knew what his father wanted from Emma.
"Father. You're asking her to spy for you. That is ridiculous!"
"You are well informed, and aware, of how much I want the Dukedom. Not just for my sake, but for your sake as well, my son. Think of all the privileges, Blackmoor. The only way to get it, is to find dirt on Allen. Once we do so, he would be stripped of his title, and I would be named in his place."
Henry shook his head. "But why are you involving Emma in this? Once Allen discovers what you are doing, he will not be so forgiving. He will find a way to ruin her. You know he cannot get to you, so Emma would be the target. You know what the Duke is capable of. This could ruin not only Emma, but all of us."
The Earl scoffed. "Stop worrying. Emma is a smart one. She will do what is demanded of her. Do not pretend that you care for her. We both know that you do not. You just don’t want to be involved."
Henry opened his mouth to protest, to say that he was not as callous, nor as uncaring as his father, but he held back. He didn't want to admit that he cared for Emma, not to his father, not like this. How would that sound? Would it make any difference? It would only make matters worse. He cared for her and yet, he could not defend her? He could not put her out of harms way. What use was it then, if he did care for her. It was of no use at all. All over again, Emma was his mother. A lady thrown into a life she did not want. He felt as though he could not fight against his father, but he could try to help Emma learn to make the most of this life, use her wits, and never risk her heart.
" If you have nothing further to discuss with me, Blackmoor, please excuse me."
Henry spoke up before his father walked back through the doors to the ballroom. "I will be leaving with Emma. We are both exhausted from our travels and need to rest."
The Earl sighed. “I have no time for your nonsense, Henry."
"Call it what you wish, father, but we are leaving."
"You would not dare." The Earl turned around.
Henry smirked and brushed past him, leaving him standing there seething in his wake. Henry saw Emma was talking to Lady Allen. Her green dress complimented her skin tone and her elaborate formal hair swept up, no pin out of place, it amused and delighted him. She was innocent and still growing up. Her father had thrown her into a world that was too dangerous for her and he had not realized, he couldn’t have known, how conniving his own father could be. And now, there was no escape for Emma. Henry clenched his teeth. He wanted to go home, he was exhausted and he needed a good rest to clear his head. He would collect Emma take her home, for some reason, he wanted to take her away from all of this..
* * *
When they returned to Drysdale Townhouse, Henry was still lost in thought. He had no appetite for dinner. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but Emma seemed worried? He shook his head as he undid the buttons of his shirt and undressed himself. Surely, she was not worried about him?
The door opened and he turned as the door creaked gently. She faced him but her eyes did not rise to meet his. Henry had undressed to his breeches and lost all courage to undress any further once she entered the room. He was unsure of how to act in this situation. One part of his mind told him to leave her, but the other implored him to stay, that Emma was delicate and she had been thrown in a den by her own father, she needed comfort. Comfort from him. He knew it had been hard for her at the ball, pretending to want to be someone's friend.
"Emma."
She raised her head to meet his, but her eyes still avoided his. "My Lord —"
"Henry," he corrected.
"Henry." she repeated after him.
"Are you alright? You seem a bit tense."
"I should be the one asking that, Henry. Are you alright? You missed dinner."
"I was not hungry. I am fine."
"Are you?" She met his gaze then, but then as though she was uncertain of that action, she looked away immediately again. "We left so suddenly. Your father was not pleased."
"To hell with what pleases him. You needed rest. That was why we left."
Henry, unable to hold himself back, walked up to her and placed his hands gently under her chin, lifting her face, so that her gaze met his.
"Look at me."
Her dark amber eyes met his, he loved the dark colour of her eyes. He wanted her to keep her looking at him that way.
"I…are you alright?" she asked again, bolder this time. "I have been watching you and you seem unsettled by something."
His heart swelled. She was worried about him.
" I was quite worried about you. Are you alright? You seem a tad pale."
Emma creased her brows and shrugged. "I am splendid."
Henry hummed.
He raised his brows. "We didn't get a chance to have that dance, my Lady.Perhaps it would not be unmannerly of me to ask that we have that dance here?"
Emma's eyes widened. "'Here?"
Henry stroked his chin, as though rethinking. "Or, perhaps in the music room."
Emma giggled. "It's quite late, Henry. Why don't we do that tomorrow?"
His eyes lightened up. "You would dance with me? "
"Certainly, my Lord."
Henry felt giddy, knowing that she wanted to dance with him.
"Do you play an instrument?"
He nodded with pride. "The piano."
"Oh, splendid. I always wanted to learn how to play that."
"I could teach you."
Emma giggled. "I would love that."
Henry grinned. Emma smiled and twirled. Henry raised his brows as he watched her. "Pray tell? What are you doing?"
"Twirling. It's what I love the most about dancing. Twirling."
"Let me." He moved close to her and took a bow. She curtsied, her smile never fading. Then, he raised her hand in the air, just as she stood at a tiptoe, and he twirled her. He let her twirl as much as she wanted and when she got tired, she fell into his arms, giggling. He found it refreshing, seeing her laugh. She was panting as she rested in his arms. He laughed heartily. He held her close, so she could hear his heartbeat and feel his body. He liked the feel of her hands around him. Henry looked down at her. He was surprised to see that she was looking up at him, her plump lips parted open, begging to be kissed. Her breath, kissing his skin, so that he wanted to feel her. To touch her. It made him yearn for her touch.
He pulled Emma close and kissed her for
ehead. She was stiff as he did this and he was caught off guard by his own actions. Why had he done that? He began to apologize, but he felt her arms wrap around his torso, and she rested her head on his shoulders. He sighed and held her close. She looked up at him, her long lashes moving together. Her plump lips puckered up. He ducked his head and tilted his face, so that his lips met hers again. His heart beat faster as he moved his lips against hers, slowly, begging her to accept his kiss.