by Ella Edon
Emma smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. Henry was saddened by this. He didn't like it when she didn't smile, and his father was making her uncomfortable. He rose from his seat.
"Enough of all of this, Father. My lady and I would be going out."
The Earl waved his hands in the air carelessly. " Get on with it."
Henry shook his head. He nodded to Emma before he placed his hands on the small of her back and led her out of there. Emma breathed out heavily when they were in the hallway. "I really needed to walk out of there, Henry."
"I knew that you did. I knew that you were so uncomfortable with it. I am sorry that you have to go through all of this."
Emma blinked. Henry wasn't sure whether or not she was blinking back tears, but he realized that he never wanted to see her cry.
"Do you want to go riding?"
Emma blushed. "I'd love that very much, My Lord."
Henry could not be happier. It seemed that after what they had shared the night before, they were closer. He knew now that he wanted to keep her safe at all times.
They walked out of the townhouse and headed towards the stables. Henry wanted to know everything about her, even the silliest things. It had been long since they had played as children, and now, being grown, she felt like a new person.
"Do you enjoy reading books?" he asked at random. The question seemed to catch her off-guard. She looked up at him then, as though in thoughts, she replied slowly, and with caution.
"I do, actually. I love to read." She smiled. "Do you enjoy reading?"
Henry chuckled. "Yes, but the only thing I can be found reading is the Dunberry correspondence."
She stopped walking "We are here."
Henry's mouth opened. His eyes widened. "Oh. Oh." He had not even realized that they had gotten there. He chuckled. Why was he feeling shy before her? Why did he feel as though he wanted to keep talking to her forever? Just her.
"Are you no longer interested in riding?"
Henry smirked. "I most definitely am."
"It's so beautiful,” she said.
"Not more than you are," Henry said.
Emma giggled. "You flatter me."
"As I should."
"You promised to play the piano for me."
Henry closed his eyes as he nodded. "I will. I just wanted us to be away from there for a while."
Emma nodded in understanding.
Henry sighed. "I was thinking, if it pleases you. If you wish, we would return to Blackmoor "
"No, Henry. Here is fine."
Henry didn't push it further. He simply nodded. He didn't want to push the issue. Instead, he opted to discuss something else. Anything else.
"Tell me, all these years that we have been apart what have you been up to, Emma?"
Emma smiled. "I had dreams. To be wed, happily."
Henry frowned. He wondered if she thought that perhaps, they could be happy.
She went on. "I just really wished for that. And children."
"I am sorry that it didn't turn out that way, Emma."
Emma blew out a breath. "Tell me, what are your dreams, Henry? "
Henry smiled. "To be happy, my Lady, to be happy."
Emma grinned. "We wish for the same things then. Since my mama passed away, it seemed that everything became different."
Henry shrugged. "Same with me, my Lady. Do you think that we can make our marriage work?" he asked.
Emma looked up at him. Her chest heaved, but she said nothing. Instead, she smiled at him. He took that to mean that she would try. And he would as well. Henry wasn't sure what had gotten into him, but he liked it. He liked how bold he was with her and he liked that she appreciated his comment.
"Thank you, Henry," She said.
He creased his brows. "For what?"
"For trying to make me feel better."
Henry's heart pounded. He realized that he didn't like that comment. He didn't like that she said that to him. That she thanked him for caring. Did she know that he wasn't just trying to make her feel better? Did she know that he cared deeply for her? He wanted to tell her again, because he did not think she believed him. He wanted to tell her that he didn't say those words simply because he thought they would make her feel better. He said those words because he did care for her. But he was uncertain of the words to say, to make her understand, so he simply feigned a smile that did not quite reach his eyes and said in reply. "Of course, my Lady. You are most welcome."
He decided in his mind that he would court her properly. They had been thrown together by circumstance and she had not had time to experience courtship. He would court her. He would show her that he cared and that he was happy that she was his wife. He would no longer just tell her that he cared, he would show her. He hoped that gradually, she would begin to feel the same way for him. He wasn't sure how that would happen, with his father's plan ruling their lives, but he wanted to make their marriage work.
He would begin to show her that he cared. He didn't want her to think that all they shared was a bed at night. He wanted to share every other moment with her too. He wanted to share in her thoughts and in her actions as well. And he would.
Chapter Sixteen
Emma had expected more than a hug and a goodnight kiss from her husband, but that was all she got that night. He cradled her like a babe and went to sleep with her in his arms. She did like the warmth of him against her, but she wanted more. She wanted him to touch her like he had before. She wanted him to make her climax, to make her skin heat up. She had liked their love making, and she wanted more of it, but it seemed that all he wanted to do was hold her.
Emma rubbed her neck as she thought about the night before. Why had he not touched her? Did she not get it right the first time?
Footsteps interrupted her thoughts. She turned, to see the Earl of Drysdale walked into the drawing room, a smile on his face.
"Lady Blackmoor!" he called. He seemed thrilled.
Emma raised a brow, while she responded. "My Lord."
"Splendid news. Lady Allen has invited you to call on her."
Emma could not believe what she was hearing. She had secured an invitation? She shook her head. It was a playing out in favour of the Earl. Her heart pounded against her chest. Everything he wanted was coming to pass. It was all going according to his plan.
The Earl must have seen the doubt in her eyes, for her handed her the letter. "Here, she sent this."
Emma looked at the paper. Her heart stopped when she saw that truly, Lady Allen had invited her for tea.
"Oh, Lovely... "
"Get ready. I've asked Fredrick to prepare the horses. You're leaving for Loringham immediately!"
"But I've only just been invited."
"The earlier you go, the better for all of us." the Earl snapped. "I have to run down to Hemmingway. There is some business I must attend to."
His smile almost faded. Emma narrowed her eyes at him. There was no fighting him. This was what she had to do.
Henry had barely awoken, and because she had no intention to see him, she walked into her own bedchamber. Sally helped her dress. She opted for a lavender coloured day dress, that was simple but a current style.
"You look fine, My Lady. Beautiful."
Emma didn't smile. She felt a slight pound on her head. "I do not feel that way. "
Sally had no response for that and Emma wasn't particularly grateful for her silence. She wanted saving. She walked to the window, closed her eyes, and recalled what had brought about all of this. She went back and thought of the very beginning. Her heart broke as she remembered.
“What do you mean it’s all gone, father?”
As she recalled her own words, Emma wished that she had never had to hear him say that everything was amiss. She wished she never sat down to listen to him. Emma sucked in a breath, willing her memories to stop, but they did not. She kept on remembering, until she remembered all.
Breathing out hard, she wished that she had done something. She
wished that she had fled. She wished that she had ran away. If she had, then all of this would not have happened. She would not be the Earl's secret weapon. She would have been Emma. Just Emma.
She felt the need to cry, when she thought about how she found out that her life had changed forever. Emma felt tears form around her eyes. She was so sad, and she wasn't sure why, but all her memories were like demons, haunting her.
“I knew you were an astute girl,” he replied taking her hand. She fought the urge to pull back and run. “Now that you are the lady of the Drysdale family, you will have certain responsibilities.”
If only she had known what sort of responsibilities! If only. She shook her head. There was really nothing she could do about it. That night, the Earl had threatened to reveal that her mother had had an affair with another man, before her death. That secret would tear her father apart. It would ruin not only him, her late mother, and herself as well. It would raise questions that she had already asked herself. Who was she? Who was her father? Had the Earl of Elesmere raised a bastard more than twenty years? Emma swallowed hard, her heart getting heavier as she recalled the moment her world came crumbling down.
The Earl moved closer to her, a smile on his face. "I know something that would bring ruin to your family name, forever. "
Her heart beat very fast. "What do you mean?"
The Earl grinned. "I have letters, between your mother and her old lover. Some stable boy. She had loved him but could not be wed to him. But she had kept the relationship, and the letter proves that. Imagine what would happen, my dear Lady Blackmoor, if ever those letters were to be let out, for everyone to see."
The memory made Emma feel sick. Tears poured from her eyes.
Would she live like this forever? And what if none of it all had happened. She sighed.
"Lady Blackmoor?" a voice called behind her. Startled, Emma turned slowly. Mr. Anders was by the door. Sally was beside him. Mr. Anders offered her a sad smile. "The Earl asked that I summon you at once. It is time."
Emma closed her eyes. "Of course." It was time.
* * *
Emma had been afraid of honoring Lady Allen's invitation, because she knew that it was all deception. It was all a lie. To accept Lady Allen meant that they were to be more than acquaintances. They were friends.
When she arrived at Loringham address, the butler of the mansion, took time before he bowed to her and second, he asked her into the drawing room with a frown. He did not seem happy.
He went off to inform Lady Allen immediately. She spent minutes preparing herself to meet her. Practicing what she wanted to say, talking to thin air and hoping that it would not be as difficult as it seemed. Her heart beat, pounding furiously. She was afraid. She felt guilty and she just wanted to leave.
The moment she saw Lady Allen. A maid was before her, and she spoke to Lady Allen in whispers. When she saw Emma, she rose immediately, broadening her smile.
Emma forced a smile and walked over to her side. "Lady Allen. How have you been? It's so lovely of you to invite me."
"Oh, it's nothing." They air kissed both side of their cheeks and moved apart, smiling.
Emma sucked in her breathe.
"It's so lovely to see you again." Lady Allen signaled to her maid beside her. She did not stop speaking as the maid poured some tea. "I am so sorry that I left unannounced. I was feeling unwell and you were dancing happily with your husband."
Emma blushed. "I didn't know you were there when we danced. "
Lady Allen smiled. The maid stepped away. "Oh, I had been. I only left the moment the dance ended."
"Oh. I must have missed you then."
"Hmm. Perhaps."
Lady Allen nodded at her tea. "How has it been, being newlywed?”
Emma blushed. The first thing she remembered was the night they made love.
"Quite well, thank you."
Emma blushed. She took a sip of her tea to hide her reddened cheeks. "It's been quite lovely. Lord Blackmoor is a good man."
"Indeed. When I married His Grace, I didn't experience courtship. We became acquainted at my debutante and he immediately asked to wed me. The wedding was arranged quickly... my father wanted me to wed him." As though catching herself doing something wrong, Lady Allen stopped talking. She laughed. "Pardon me, I seem to be going off."
"Oh no, your Grace, it's alright. I was listening."
Emma saw, from the little she shared, that perhaps they were more similar than she had imagined. They had much in common. Emma had also been wed without experiencing courtship.
She was about to say something soothing, for she saw the gloom that clouded Lady Allen. But she was stopped by a strong wave of nausea and dizziness. She blinked hard and shook her head, but it came stronger, and Emma's eyes widened, willing herself to stay conscious.
"Lady Blackmoor?" Lady Allen called her out. Emma creased her brows.
What was wrong with her. She began to look around, her eyes wide. Her heart, pounding. And she was sweating profusely. What was wrong with her.
"Lady Blackmoor, are you alright?" Lady Allen rose from where she sat instantly. But everything was fading, and Emma saw black, just as Lady Allen got to her.
Chapter Seventeen
A knock on the study door averted Henry's attention from the papers laid out before him. He took off his spectacles, ones that he wore only when he needed to read something too detailed, and placed it down. As he rubbed his eyes, he said. "Come in."
The door creaked. He heard footsteps, and when he finally looked up and saw Mr. Anders, he raised his brows. "Good afternoon, Mr. Anders."
Mr. Anders looked gloomy. Henry was about to ask if all was well, when Mr. Anders spoke. "The lady has just been brought in, she is unwell, my Lord."
Henry creased his brows. "How do you mean?"
Mr. Anders shook his head. "She was brought in with the Duchess of Loringham."
Henry rose immediately. Still confused at Mr. Anders words, he wanted to see for himself what Mr. Anders was saying, in order to understand it. Mr. Anders stepped aside, while he walked past him.
"Where are the ladies?"
Behind him, Mr. Anders's footstep echoed through the hallway as he responded. "In the drawing room, my Lord. The Duchess was asking that we send for our physician.”
“She did the right thing bringing the Lady home."
They stopped in front of the drawing room door. Henry paused before he turned to enter. He nodded to Mr. Anders. "Send for the physician quickly."
Mr. Anders nodded, while Henry walked into the drawing room. He was not surprised when he saw Lady Loringham pacing the room, but he was surprised to see Emma simply resting her back on the chair and rubbing her temples. He sent a nod towards the Duchess, who, by now had stopped pacing. Henry walked up to Emma. She looked up feebly.
Henry took her hand in his and sat beside her. "Emma? Are you alright?"
Emma looked up at him, then she murmured. "I feel a bit dizzy, Henry. I fainted at Loringham castle. Her Grace said I awoke after she had sprinkled me with a bit of water. I still feel a bit faint, Henry."
Henry shook his head, "We have sent for the physician, but in the meantime, it is advisable that you rest in the bedchamber, my Lady."
He watched her nod. She looked away from him and at Lady Allen. "Your grace, thank you for bringing me home. My sincerest apologies for our otherwise very pleasant day."
The Duchess walked over to her side. "It is no trouble at all, what's most important is that you have a good rest."
Emma sneezed, and Henry was quick to place his kerchief in her palm as she was about to sneeze again. Emma shook her head. "Do you think I am coming down with a flu?"
Henry smiled at her. "The physician will tell us. Come now let us get you to bed."
He rose and placed his hand before her. She took his hand in hers and rose carefully.Lady Allen smiled. "I shall come in to check up on you tomorrow."
Emma shook her head and paused. "You needn't worry
yourself with that, I will be fine."
"I certainly wasn't asking your permission, Lady Blackmoor, I insist."
Emma smiled. Henry was uncertain of what to say, or if he should say anything at all, but nevertheless, he appreciated Lady Allen once again, for bringing Emma home.
"I should be on my way now. Do feel better." Lady Allen said. She waved and walked out of the drawing room. Henry held Emma close to him, and together, they headed to the bedchambers.