The Marchioness’ Buried Secret (Historical Regency Romance)

by Ella Edon

  Sally frowned. "My deepest apologies, my lady. My excitement got the better of me."

  Emma turned and proceeded down the stairs, only to see Cecil at the bottom of the staircase.

  "My Lady! "

  Emma closed her eyes briefly.

  "You're better now. Oh —"

  "Thank you, Cecil." Emma smiled as she walked past him and headed to the salon, avoiding another assault of conversation. She needed to walk around, gain her strength, but she was already feeling a bit tired again. She needed to rest for a bit. She sat in the salon and asked that Sally bring her a needle and piece of cloth. She had not embroidered in sometime, but she was most certain that it would calm her nerves, until Henry could spare himself.

  She hummed as she worked, just as her mother had. She realized that speaking to Henry about her mother had reconnected her to the past that she had buried, and she was grateful for their conversation.

  Henry was occupied until early in the evening. Emma was in the study when he returned, her needle and thread long forgotten, having gotten tired of sewing and needing to walk around.

  "The lady came down today, my Lord." She heard Cecil say. Emma smiled.

  "Oh," was Henry's first reply, before he proceeded to say, "and where is the Lady now? "

  "In the study, perhaps? "

  Emma felt her cheeks reddened, because she was certain that he would come to the study first, to see her. The mere thought of that made her giddy.

  "My Lady? " She heard, accompanied by footsteps. Emma smiled. She walked towards the door and pulled it open, just in time to see his right hand raised in the air.

  Upon seeing her, Henry smiled. "Emma!" He rushed to her and engulfed her in a hug. "You look well."

  "Yes. And I came down, just as you had predicted."

  Henry laughed. "Yes, yes, indeed."

  "How was your day? "

  "It all went well." Henry took her hands in his. "Come, let me play for you, just as I had promised. "

  Together, they walked out of the study and towards the music room. Emma had never been inside the music room, she had passed by it, but had never felt the need to go inside. He pushed open the door, and Emma was shocked at how neat it was.

  As though Henry read her mind, he said, "I requested that it be kept clean even though no one enters here often, since my mama passed."

  He was gloomy for a moment, but it passed.

  "Splendid."

  Henry led her to a seat in front of the piano and kissed her hands just as she took her seat. Emma was blushing furiously. She was certain that her cheeks were red. She felt it.

  Henry chuckled, then, he proceeded to sit behind the piano and began to play. His fingers touched the piano, and sound filled the room. Soon she was immersed in the music he played. He was so focused, the music seemed to touch his soul. She watched at how he moved his head to the side to play, it was humorous. Soon, Emma was giggling as he played, because she felt giddy, and she felt like dancing.

  Henry beckoned to her from where he sat. She rose and walked over to him. He moved a little, so she could sit beside him. When she sat down, he stopped playing and nodded at the piano.

  "You have to touch it very lightly. There'd no need to press it for too long, a touch will make the sound loud enough,” Henry said as he instructed her.

  Emma listened attentively, watching as he pointed to different places. Soon, he took her hand in his and led her to play. Emma smiled at this. She played along, moving her hands as he directed. They were laughing, and playing the piano, their attention on each other's company and the lovely sound the music made.

  When they stopped playing, Emma became aware of how close that Henry was to her, that her body was pressed up against his. She saw that he was happy and was not surprised when he leaned in and kissed her. Her heart lurched. His hands held hers as his lips moved against hers slowly. Emma gave into the kiss, kissing him in return, feeling the soft ripple throughout her body and her stomach dance. His hands soon left hers, so that they moved to her face and held its sides. His tongue found its way into her mouth at that very moment, exploring. Emma moaned, her hands on his thighs. Henry moved his hands away from her face, to the nape of her neck, touching her very lightly, moving against her skin in a caress. She felt a chill run down her spine at the contact.

  Henry pulled back, as his hands moved to her waist. "Emma, if we do not stop now, I fear that I may go too far, and this room is inappropriate for what I intend."

  Emma blushed. "I do not want us to stop, truly."

  Before she could get the words out of her mouth, he leaned in and kissed her. Emma felt his hands move beneath her dress, trying to reach her thighs. She stiffened at the contact, but her heart soared. She wanted him to touch her. She wanted him to hold her, so she could feel his body against hers, and she wanted him inside of her.

  His hands explored her thighs, and she felt him moving further, moving close to her center, pushing her petticoat aside. Then, he began to touch the curls down there, as he kissed her. Emma felt like she wanted to explode. His touch was everything. She was panting as he did this, her heart hammering.

  Footsteps echoed in the hallway, accompanied by noises, voices speaking all at once. Emma and Henry broke apart. Even before the door opened, she knew who it was, and she had never felt so desolate before in her life. The door burst open, and all the bliss Emma had been feeling disappeared.

  Chapter Nineteen

  "Father? " Henry said, when his father walked into the music room, grinning.

  "Blackmoor. I was informed that you would be here with the Lady."

  Henry was still clouded from the events of minutes ago. He wondered how he went from wanting to bed his wife, to facing his father.

  "I see that Lady Blackmoor is better now. Splendid. Henry, news about your meeting with Lord Dunmount got to me. How was it? Successful, I hope."

  Henry shrugged. "It was beneficial, for me and my county, father."

  He knew his father wanted to be part of the business, to have a share, if there was going to be a profit. But Henry had only planned for himself, and his county..

  "How was your trip, father? "

  The Earl grinned and nodded. He took a step into the room. "It was successful. We shall continue this discussion later, son. I am famished, I have called for dinner. It's been a long journey."

  Henry saw Emma move slightly beside him. The movement averted attention to her. Henry dreaded it. The Earl nodded.

  "Lady Blackmoor, any headway on our plans? "

  Henry felt his heart skip a bit, but he did not want to let the Earl know how afraid he was for Emma. Each time the Earl said anything concerning what he had assigned her to do, Henry remembered that his father had threatened her.

  Emmatilted her jaw, so that she was facing him squarely. "None at all."

  Henry hoped that Anders had not said anything to his father about Lady Allen's frequent visits. If he did, then his father would put more pressure on Emma. Henry didn't want any of that.

  "Alright, we shall make more plans, come see me in the study later. I need to have my meal now."

  Henry rose immediately. He knew what his father wanted, and he wanted to clarify that Emma would be taking no part of it. She was ill and was still in recovery. There was no way he would let Emma get stressed and worked up again.

  "No, father. Lady Blackmoor is still in recovery. The physician has asked that she rests. She will be going nowhere. Besides that, we should be discussing how the business went."

  The Earl laughed humorlessly. "Speedy recovery, Lady Blackmoor." He turned around and walked out of the room.

  Henry put his hand over this face when his father was gone. He wasn't sure how things would be, now that he had returned. He liked the peace and quiet they had. He turned back to see Emma shrugging.

  "The Earl has returned."

  Henry sighed.

  "I hope that no one informed him of Lady Allen's visits during my illness. I think of her now as
a genuine friend." she said with concern lacing her voice.

  Henry knew this also. He understood that on the days she had been ill, they had grown to be more than mere acquaintances. They had become true friends and to use that against Emma would break her heart. Henry stepped forward and took her hands in his.

  "I promise you, Emma, that it won't be used for the plan."

  Emma sighed. "I hope so. I hope the servants know to be quiet about it."

  "I shall speak to Anders and Cecil."

  Emma nodded. "I trust Sally, she would never dare."

  Henry nodded, smiling. "Her loyalty to you is amazing. Did you know that she had stood by the door on most days, even when you had told her you needed nothing? She often stayed outside, just in case you called."

  Henry found it amusing, but Emma did know. She nodded. "I am well aware, Henry. She did make sure to tell me all about it this morning."

  Henry guffawed. "Of course, she did. I would not expect anything less."

  Emma nodded to the piano. "It was wonderful, learning to play. "

  Henry grinned. "Surely, you do not mind if we continue what we were doing before we were rudely interrupted?"

  Emma giggled. "Oh, Henry, now I feel shy."

  He laughed and pulled her close to him, so that her head rested on his shoulders, and his heart soared with joy. Henry's stomach rumbled.

  Emma looked up at him. "You arehungry?"

  He certainly was, however he recalled that they had also discussed that they'd dance together in the empty room, without music, the music playing in their hearts.

  Grinning, Henry rose. "Emma, rise."

  Emma giggled. "Why? "

  “So we may have that private dance we talked about."

  Giggling, Emma rose. Henry took her hands in his, kissed them both, they began to move in the room, dancing to the sounds of their laughter, the melody their lips created, moving in sync, and enjoying every moment of it.

  He had not been happy in a long time, but Emma made him so happy. He knew hwoever that often times, Emma worried about the blackmail his father held against her. It concerned him, which was why he often tried his best to make her happy, and to take her mind away from all of the troubles. He hoped that he made her happy the same way she made him happy.

  * * *

  "You think I am pleased to return, only to be informed that no progress has been made?!" the Earl bellowed.

  Henry shook his head. He was glad that Emma had retired to her chambers. He didn't want her to listen to any of the discussion. He knew that his father would have an outburst, which was why he had to make sure Emma was out of sight.

  Henry was seated behind the desk in the study. The only thing that worried Henry at that point in time, was that Emma would hear and be, once again, stressed. Coupled with her illness, thinking over his father's trivial issues would bring her health down. He didn't want that. His father's presence alone had soured her mood.

  "We discussed before I left for Scotland, Henry, pray tell —"

  "The lady was unwell. She could not socialize in that state? It also would not look good for you to insist on it."

  His father had told him to use a strategy in Lady Allen, informing her of Emma's poor health and luring her to visit, thereby making her friendship with Emma stronger. Henry had played no part in Lady Allen’s visits— not that he would inform his father, not even that the visits had occured.

  "I had other matters to tend to, and I trusted that you would have this in hand."

  Henry raised both his brows. "I thought that I made it clear that I would do nothing inappropriate, I excluded myself from the plan."

  "Until, of course, you decided to be a hero, try to save your wife from the blackmail. You're in this, Blackmoor, whether you have accepted it or not."

  Henry clenched his teeth. His father was infuriating. He wished there was some way to keep Emma from all of this, Henry decided to do what he thought was best.

  "Emma is still in recovery and I have you know that until she has fully recovered, she will not be accepting any invitations, especially to balls. "

  "She must listen to me, Henry. We both know what will happen if she doesn't."

  Henry clenched his teeth. Once again, the threat hung over everything. He tried to act as though he had it all under control, because he knew that more than anything, his father was relentless.

  Henry raised a brow. "And I wonder what would happen when you destroy her reputation without getting what it is that you wanted? I'd have you remember that you have no daughter of your own, or wife, so who can help you get the information you need, by means you need them, if you throw her to the wolves. I know, Father, that she is too precious to you."

  "Nonsense! If Lady Blackmoor does not follow my instructions, then I shall find a replacement. It doesn't matter how, but I shall. And before that, I willruin her."

  Henry smiled. He knew that his words had been true, and all his father was trying to do was to cover up what was most apparent. His father would only hurt Emma, when she betrayed him, not when she was making an effort but not getting results. He knew this.

  "I shall be off again, my deal with Lord Kerr is yet to be finished and if I can finalise it by a fortnight, then the merchants from India would be more than willing to proceed with our initial agreement. I would be on my way to Ireland by tomorrow. I do hope that upon my return, changes would have been made." He raised his brows as he said this, and without waiting on Henry's response, he walked out.

  Henry sighed as he did, because once again, his father was using a stone to kill two birds. He was using the Irish Lord, Lord Kerr, to get a firm hold in the Indies.

  Still, Henry had had peace when he was away. He wished his father well on the trip. He relaxed into the seat and shook his head. With his father gone again, Henry decided that it would be the best time to focus on what to do, to finally take action against his father. The Earl had controlled him all his life, controlled his mother as well, and now, he was trying to control his marriage. Henry hit the desk with his fist making a thud. He was distressed. He wanted it all to end. It was high time he took action.

  Chapter Twenty

  The moment Emma heard that the Earl had gone away to Ireland, she decided to visit Lady Allen. She thought it improper that the Lady had been with her through all of her illness, and she herself was yet to reach out to Lady Allen and return the kindness. She hoped that all the servants knew not to mention it to the Earl. In fact, she had not been too keen on any of them seeing her as she left. She only informed Henry of her whereabouts, because she now trusted him completely. She trusted that he would keep this secret.

  Her heart melted at the thought of him. He looked out for her even when she was unaware. He had sat by her bed all through her illness. He has been there for her. She didn't know if it was possible to be so grateful, or so happy when he was nearby. Her heart soared with joy anytime he was close to her. She also felt at peace as he made her feel safe. She didn't think that was ever possible, but it was.

  The coach wheeled to a halt, and Emma's attention was once again averted. The coach was in front of the Loringham Castle. Emma held her breath. She pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and alighted the coach. Loringham had not changed at all since her last visit. The butler regarded her with a slightly surprised smile. Emma didn't know what that meant.

  He nodded. "Welcome, my Lady. The Duchess is having tea with some ladies in the Salon. Would you like to join?"

  Emma's heart skipped. She wasn't sure it was a good idea for other ladies to see her here. With the way gossip flew around in the town, it was easy for news of her blooming friendship with the duchess to get to the Earl. And she hadn't known that Lady Allen had that many friends.

  Emma shook her head. "Inform the Lady that I would be waiting in the drawing room —"

  The salon door opened then. Sounds of laughter filled the air. Emma watched, curious to see how many ladies there were. She was amazed when she saw that there w
ere four of them. Lady Allen was the last to leave the room. A smile was plastered on her face and from where Emma stood, she saw that it was not genuine.

  "And I said to Lady Darcy, would you be happy to see if the dress would do for the ball?” A lady with blonde hair asked.

  All the ladies burst into laughter. What she said seemed funny to all, except Lady Allen, who laughed too much, in an exaggerated manner.

  Lady Allen spotted her then, which was when her face lit up in a true smile. But before she could say anything, one of the other ladies spotted her as well. They all looked her way, and she felt small under their gaze.