The Marchioness’ Buried Secret (Historical Regency Romance)

by Ella Edon

  Smiling, she curtsied.

  Lady Allen stepped forward to make the introduction. "Ladies, this is Lady Emma Blackmoor, Marchioness of Dunberry."

  Lady Allen then introduced all of the other ladies to her. Duchesses and Countesses. Emma could barely keep up as Lady Allen rushed through them. But Emma did remember one. Lady Culhane. The lady who had blonde hair and made the joke. She remembered her.

  “It has been a pleasure ladies but I am afraid I will see you off here, Lady Blackmoor and I must catch up. Her health hasn't been well, and it is quite a surprise that she has come all the way to see me!”

  "Oh dear, you must attend to her then, while we take our leave. It was lovely of you to have us," the lady with red hair said.

  Lady Allen nodded. "Thank you, Lady Hardcastle."

  Lady Allen nodded at Emma then. "In the salon, Lady Blackmoor... "

  Emma nodded and did as was guided. Lady Allen soon joined her.

  "You have just saved me from torture. The ladies have been here sometime."

  Emma laughed, but she was confused and she waited for the Duchess to elaborate. "Torture?"

  Lady Allen sighed. "They are not really friends. They are more acquaintances. Never genuine. They always talk about balls and dresses and nothing really. And they ask so much about my husband that I begin to wonder if it’s really him they are interested in. They are gossips and I will not take part in that. I do not like friendships built on uncertainty and motives."

  Emma felt her heart clench. She was, after all, trying to get close to Lady Allen because the Earl had requested it of her. She felt guilty, for she was no less than the ladies Lady Allen spoke of. However, deep down inside her, Emma hoped that the duchess would say something, anything worth reporting the earl, because even though he had walked out without demanding it of her, she feared that he may not be so lenient if she never gave him anything. Her disobedience to the Earl would cost her father his reputation. As well as hers. She wondered, who she was in all of this. She wondered if the duke really was her father. And if her mother had had an affair, with whom had she? So many unanswered questions. If the secret ever got out, she would be ruined. Her entire life would crumble before her very own eyes.

  Emma held her breath while Lady Allen narrated the ladies stories. Her ability to imitate one of them stunned Emma and she laughed and laughed. But it didn't reach her eyes. She was worried for when Lady Allen found out the real reason she had approached her.

  Although Emma had begun to befriend Lady Allen under disguise, Emma had genuinely begun to see her as a friend. She didn't want anything to come in the way of their friendship.

  "I feel that they have a motive for being friends with me. I don't feel safe around them. I would hate for whatever I say to them to become gossip with the ton. Now that, is a possibility when it comes to Lady Darcy."

  Emma tittered. Lady Allen waved her hand in the air, signaling the dismissal of the subject.

  Lady Allen sat up, her eyes widened, and then she spoke. "There will be a ball at Roxburgh Castle. I've been invited. But as usual, my husband is not at home to go with me. Will you be there? So that, I would not find myself alone again."

  Emma shrugged. "I don't believe there's been an invite sent to Drysdale."

  Lady Allen nodded with affirmation. "The Earl would have received one. There's certainly no way that he would not."

  Emma sucked in her breathe, Lady Allen’s tone was bitter. Emma wondered if the Earl had done something to her in the past, and if so, why would Lady Allen still want to be friends with her, such a close family member of The Earl.

  Emma's heart beat increased, and she was suddenly feeling uncomfortable. She was uncertain of what it took to be a daughter by marriage to the Earl.. She wasn't sure that this life was for her. There was so much feigning and so many secrets. She clenched her hands in fists and nodded numbly as Lady Allen spoke. "Of course. Yes, I shall be there."

  Emma didn't know who to trust. Even Lady Allen seemed to have been keeping secrets of her own.

  "When is the ball?" Emma asked.

  Lady Allen smiled. "In two days."

  Emma nodded. "I shall ready myself then."

  Lady Allen nodded. "I hope to see you there."

  Emma was eager to talk to Henry, because she felt even more lost. Henry was the only one she felt she could trust.

  Lady Allen called her out of her reverie. "So dear, tell me all about your recovery. All is well now, I hope?"

  Emma smiled and began to tell her about her health. She was better, and grateful to Lady Allen, for taking out time to visit her. Deep down, however, a small part of her was disheartened that nothing worth relaying to the Earl had come out of their conversation. She felt guilty for having such thoughts, for it made her feel that her friendship with the duchess was not genuine. Still, she knew, that if she had to make a choice between her friendship with the duchess, and the possibility of her father finding out that she may not be his child, Emma knew what choice she would make. She would do everything in her power to protect her father from all of this.

  * * *

  Lord Blackmoor was seated on the couch in the drawing room when Emma returned home. As she was about to step into the room, she noticed another lord, seated opposite him. She quickly withdrew herself and turned to Mr. Anders.

  "Lord Blackmoor is having a meeting with Lord Hamilton," Mr. Anders said.

  Emma nodded. "I shall proceed to my bedchambers then and return when dinner has been served."

  Mr. Anders smiled. "Very well, my Lady."

  Lord Blackmoor and Lord Hamilton, whom she had never seen before now, had seemed to be discussing something very important. She proceeded to walk to her bedchamber, but she was stopped when she heard her name being called out.

  "Lady Blackmoor..."

  She whirled around and was surprised to see her husband by the door of the drawing room with Lord Hamilton. Emma made her way over to them.

  She curtsied. "Your Lordship."

  Grinning, Lord Hamilton turned to Henry. "Blackmoor, it's quite a shame that you never informed me of your plans to wed."

  Henry laughed. "I wanted it to be quiet is all. "

  "So quiet that you couldn’t tell your old friend, Henry?."

  Emma felt odd standing there, but as she made to walk away, Henry gripped her hand.

  "Is Lady Blackmoor aware that I am your oldest friend? And as such, would she mind coming to my father-in-law's ball in two days time?" Lord Hamilton smiled at Emma before he spoke again. "Although, Roxburgh has extended an invitation to The Earl of Drysdale, I did want to extend my own personal invitation to you both. I hope to see you both at the ball. You will meet with Lady Hamilton. She'd be so pleased to meet you."

  Emma smiled and nodded. "I would also be pleased to see her, your lordship, thank you."

  Henry squeezed her hand once and said. "Let me see Lord Hamilton off."

  Emma nodded curtly, while trying to hide her blush. Henry had been treating her so delicately since her illness. She stood there, thinking about all the times he had expressed his care for her.

  He came back to her and said, "Emma? How have you been? How was your day?"

  Emma took his hand in hers. "It went well and... I do not know, but my meeting with Lady Allen got me thinking. Perhaps it is best we retire so we may discuss. There's so much I want to say, Henry."

  Henry looked at her, his eyes widening. "My lady?"

  Emma shook her head quickly, chuckling. "Henry..."

  He tightened his hold around her hands and pulled her close. "After dinner, we shall proceed to the bedchamber, and you shall tell me all about your day."

  Emma shook her head, her cheeks were crimson, he misunderstood her. "I really do have a lot that I wish to share with you. It concerns Lady Allen and I do not know who else to speak to, only you."

  Chapter Twenty-One

  As Henry walked into his bed chamber he saw Emma looking out the window, already clad in her night robe, her
hair brushed and pinned up just the way she liked it at night. The wind blew into the room, from the open windows.

  He shut the door softly behind him and proceeded to stand beside her. Emma turned, aware of his presence and he sensed that she was greatly bothered.

  "Pray tell, My Lady, what is it that worries you so much?"

  "Everything," she said abruptly, then sighed. "When I was with Lady Allen today, it seemed to me that Drysdale has done something to hurt Lady Allen in the past? It seemed that she was angry at him for some reason. I know that it sounds foolish," she tittered and was about to proceed, but Henry cut her off.

  "It does not sound foolish. It makes a lot of sense. My father has made many enemies. Maybe he has hurt her at some point."

  "Perhaps. For she spoke of him with disgust, and mistrust, and strong emotions." She walked away from the window and towards the bed. "Can I trust you? Even with all that is happening. I want to be certain that I can trust you. Can I?"

  Henry didn't know if his father had done anything to Lady Allen, but it would not surprise him. His father had always done more harm than good.

  Henry understood that with all that had been going on, Emma was finding it harder to know who to believe. He wanted her to be able to trust him and believe him. He didn't want her to look at him and wonder if he was telling the truth. He wanted her to look at him and know that he would always be there, because he would.

  He walked over to her, took her hands in his and said, "Emma, I would never betray you, or lie to you."

  "Everything is becoming overwhelming. What can I do?"

  Henry shook his head. He hated that everything was becoming too much.

  "You have me, Emma, and together we can figure all of this out. When all of this is done, I want us to leave here, and go back to Dunberry."

  Emma looked up at him, her eyes glossy “Oh, Henry."

  She leaned in and placed her lips on his. He stilled. He had not been expecting that. She must have noticed his lack of response, because she pulled away and fiddled with her hands. He moved close to her, and crushed his lips on hers, letting them relay all that he felt. She wrapped her hands around his neck and led her tongue into his mouth. He kissed her as though he had never kissed her before.His hands trailed down her back, and she shuddered in his arms. Her fingers left his neck and proceeded to the buttons of his coat and the cotton shirt he wore within. He couldn't wait, to see her without her robe, to have her bare body against his. For them both to be moving in sync.

  His shaft was hard against his breeches when Emma reached out to tug them down. He could not wait to see all of her too, she giggled as he undressed her, her cheeks growing red with every passing minute.

  With her robe gone, she was left in nothing but the beautiful body he had come to love. He could see her perfectly round breasts. He could see her curves. He could see the triangle at her center. She was bold, looking at him head on and not shying away. He advanced towards her, pulled her to him, and heard her sharp intake of breath. He pressed his shaft against her stomach, so she could feel him. She moaned and he lowered his lips to hers. Her hands gripped the side of his face as she kissed him.

  He carried her to the bed and laid her there. The candle flames illuminated her face, how beautiful she was, lying there ready for him. He began to kiss her neck. Her moans filled his ears. He kissed her breasts, pleasuring her with each nibble and bite.

  She began to pull at his hips buthe decided would pleasure her before he entered her. He would make her scream his name and demand more from him. His hands traced the outline of her center. She bucked as he did.

  “Henry," she cried.

  "Shh. Let me make love to you."

  He brought his lips to hers, but she moved away to nibble at his ears while his hands played at her center. He moved his lips down, so they stopped at her perfect breasts. He teased her, kissing and sucking. She gripped his waist.

  She looked at him and pleaded. "Touch me."

  The world tilted as he twisted her halfway around beside him, wrapped in his strong arms. He leaned over her, and his mouth came down hard on hers, taking her lips in a fierce, devouring kiss. He parted her lips, teasing and tormenting her with his tongue as it plunged gently, then retreated, until Emma, in a fever of longing, touched her own tongue to his lips. They kissed and caressed into dazed insensibility.

  He pulled back and bit his lip as he stared at her. She was so beautiful. She moved her hands against his manhood, urging him to move into her. He caressed her perfect breast again before he finally entered her. He moved inside of her, their breaths mingling as he did, their bodies moving in sync. Her hands were around his neck, and her lips drew dangerously close to his ear, so that her moans filled his ears. He knew that she was as satisfied as he. He could feel her breasts rubbing against his chest as she moaned, as they together, but he did not like that her eyes were closed.

  "Look at me, Emma." She did as asked, smiling now.

  He moved faster, their breaths mingling, their bodies in ecstasy. Jolt after jolt of wild pleasure rushed through Emma, leaving her trembling violently and clinging to him.

  Henry awoke the next morning, to find himself alone in bed. The light from the drapes, which had been pulled up, made him squint his eyes. He sat up abruptly, looking around, then, he saw her by the door, smiling at him. She was all dressed in adress with gold thread embroidery on it. Henry rose, as though drawn to her by force. Giggling, she met him halfway. He pulled her into a hug and rested his head on her shoulder.

  "Did you sleep well, my lady?"

  Emma, blushing as he wrapped his hands tighter around her. "Well, my lord."

  She pulled away. "You should prepare. Breakfast is to be served soon."

  Henry chuckled, "I am early for it."

  Emma smiled. "Hmm."

  "What are your plans for today?"

  Emma shrugged "Perhaps preparing for the ball at Roxburgh."

  Henry nodded. "Great idea. Sally will create just the outfit I am sure."

  "Of course."

  He wrapped his arms around her waist again.

  Emma sighed. “Don’t hold me anymore,” she said tiredly, turning her face to his chest and closing her eyes. “I learned my lesson.”

  “Lesson?” He sounded puzzled.

  “If you hold me that way, we may never leave this room.”

  He picked her up and dropped her on the bed and smiled at her. “That’s what you want I suspect.”

  She rolled off, coming to her feet, and flapped her hand at him, but he laughed and pulled her close again.

  "Henry, let me go."

  "For some reason, I can't seem to.”

  Emma blushed furiously, but she tried and failed, to hide it behind a scowl. He let go of her and after a while, slid out of the bed. Emma stood as well. A knock on the door called them both to attention.

  "It is I my Lord," said Cecil through the door.

  Henry replied. "I will be with you shortly."

  He pulled on the cotton shirt by the bed and said to Emma before he headed off. "Wait for me, my lady."

  Emma giggled and nodded at him. Once Henry was outside, Cecil shook his head, his face marred with a frown. Henry knew instantly, that nothing had come up from his attempt to discover his father's illegal dealings. He had sent Cecil to gather information on the Irish Lord his father had gone to Ireland to meet. He had hoped to discover something, anything that he could possibly hold against his father.

  "We discovered nothing, your Lordship. The Irish Lord is simply importing grain from Greece."

  Henry nodded at Cecil. He was not going to give up. He was going to keep digging until he found something. "Keep me updated with any information, Cecil. Anything at all."

  "Certainly, My Lord."

  Henry clapped his palm on Cecil's shoulders. "Thank you."

  He turned and headed back into the bed chamber. Emma was seated on the bed when he entered. Her face was creased with worry.

  She sat up a
nd asked, "Is everything alright?"

  Henry smiled. He walked over to her and kissed the backs of her hands. "I am splendid."

  Emma blushed. "Of course, you are. What is going on? What did Cecil want?"

  Henry sighed. "I had asked him to look into an Irish Lord my father is meeting with. I wanted to know who the Irish Lord was and the kind of businesses he is involved in, but Cecil found nothing."