by Lucy Langton
She was at one end of the balustrade, and the young man at the other end was making her uneasy. His eyes never strayed off her face or body, and he kept making her overly aware of his glare. His eyes especially seemed to focus on her breast region, and Emily had a good mind to give him a good talking to if that continued for very long. She could already feel herself going red. What perverted young man was this anyway?
The door behind her whined as someone else came onto the balcony. Emily didn’t look back, but she was grateful to the person because immediately he entered, the young man at the other end stared at him, bowed stiffly, and made his way out. It was Lewis, Emily knew very much before she even looked back. Lewis was arrogant and seemed to dislike every individual that wasn’t in the peerage. This had been making her even more sceptical of his advances. She disbelieved that he could really like her or have true, good intentioned interest in her since her station was also far below his. He only had one aim, and Emily’s determination not to provide it to him made her twist her legs together in a taut crossing of her feet.
He isn’t going to be coming through here, not him or any part of him.
This, she had thought as his presence became even more obvious behind her. Her gown was a flowing peach coloured one, and the skirt rolled all the way past her high heels to the ground, so her manner of standing couldn’t be seen and did nothing to Lewis’ perception of her.
She knew what he would do even before he did, and when he finally did, putting his hands around her neck before moving them down to her arms, Emily shrugged hard and removed his hands from her. He always did that, even in the middle of dances where physical contact was a given and no one took notice of his excessive touching.
“You gave no verbal warning of your disappearance,” he said before appearing by her side.
Then she hadn’t been used to him, his height, and the thickness of his voice. His appearance was daunting and was one that, she knew, also added to the fear many common men and even a few in the gentry showed him. She looked into his face, and his smile belied his intimidating appearance. He had a spotted face with a lot of small pimples on his skin, visible from where his beard grew. It covered the lower part of his face, for he was a hairy man, and Emily would later notice that he made it compulsory to shave almost daily. His teeth were white then, they always were, even till two days ago when she had seen him last. But then he smiled more often, making her more aware of them. He took her hand gently, taking it off the railings. She had been instantly aware of the whiteness of his skin, that distinct lack of a tan that told her he hadn’t worked much in the sun in his life and the presence of rings on the three middle fingers.
She wasn’t from an affluent family and still couldn’t tell if the ruby on the middle ring was real. She had never asked, mostly because she cared less about those things and had only sought that he loved her and treated her right up till marriage for she was no young chit anymore.
“Forgive my carelessness, My Lord, I intended very much to return, but I felt a searing heat from within me and couldn’t see properly. Much good this light breeze has done me, and that convinced me to tarry here till the end of the dance,” Emily responded.
He had smiled and rubbed his fingers into her palm. Emily felt awkward in that position and slowly withdrew her hand till it was free of his grasp and then put it behind her, joining it in a tight lock with her other hand so he could make no attempt to take it once again.
“I agree with your decision. That hall is hot and could make one faint. Much difference has it made since I have stayed here this past minute, enjoying the tickling rub of the light breeze,” he answered.
Emily had nodded and looked forward. The balcony wasn’t big, but she had to admit it was strategically located. From where she stood, she saw the end of Baring Street and Rumerbarn Market. She could see the tall houses that formed one of the boundaries of Huntingdom, and the tall structures of the wheat silos. It was sensible architecture so the Earl could see his entire earldom and make personal observations. She was already thinking about what she would do if she was Earl, an impossible feat but no less imaginable, and therefore worth her musing. Her mind had wandered far, and she only heard that Lord Baring had said something when he was repeating it the second time and was peering into her face with a mixture of bemusement, wonder, and a tinge of impatience. The latter she could see in the wrinkling of the skin by the side of his eyes; Lord Baring was not a man that liked to be delayed.
“Yes, My Lord,” she answered.
“I asked if you would mind that I took you back to your home in my grand post chaise,” he said.
Emily smiled. She had never ridden in a post chaise and could already see the amazement on her sibling’s faces and her mother’s if she alighted from one in front of their house.
Mother would speak of nothing else for the next two months and make it a daily routine to remind me that Lord Baring brought me home in one.
Emily wanted dearly to say yes and accept his offer, but she barely knew him and couldn’t trust what she knew of him. Who knew what designs he had and what audacious actions he would make in the seclusion of a post chaise’s carriage? It was worth more than a moment’s thought, whether she should take him up on his offer, but her answer was the same as the first instinct she’d had when he first asked.
“I do not aim to displease you, My Lord, but allow me to reject this offer as I came with my chaperone in our carriage and have an important matter to discuss with her.”
It had been a lie and one that Emily had suspected he saw through. He had behaved gentlemanly nevertheless and gestured with open palms to tell her that he tried.
“How do you compare our party to others that you have attended this season?” Lewis asked her.
Emily had seen no difference and was already starting to tire of dances, breakfasts, dinners, and balls. The season had been hectic, and she had attended a great number of events as Mother had not one day rested from reminding her that she was 20 and the same age that she was when she had married their father.
“Leave this young woman alone and allow her to live life. Goodness knows she has no wish to take up the life you live, and if she does, I cannot but pity the rest of her life,” her father always said when her mother’s comments were becoming rather unbearable. Emily always found it difficult to reconcile that man with the man who would be fiercely protective of his wife if the situation demanded it. It was the most confusing phenomenon.
Her mother, in reply, would eye the man and tell him that she had a right to remind her of the intricacies of the current English clime.
“People like you make current synonymous with forever,” he would reply and continue to look back into his book, only providing Emily morale support by the occasional peering up over his thick spectacles and the following shake of his head.
“It is mighty fine, My Lord. The Earl has done wonders with the garden in the compound,” Emily said, replying to the Earl’s question.
She had looked down from the balcony and saw the sparse dotting of green leaves with blue and red. She thought that the gardener here was doing a woeful job and should be out of a job soon. She had made that comment with a hint of sarcasm and had hoped Lord Baring would catch on and look into his garden to notice that its condition was the exact opposite of her words. He didn’t do that, though, and even as he looked down to it, he looked back to her with a smile on his face.
It isn’t that he was not intelligent enough to notice my sarcasm but he was too full of himself and was totally incapable of seeing something wrong in their garden. He still is that way.
“Maybe I will bring a few flowers to your house during my intended visit,” he had said.
Emily had raised a brow when he said that, majorly because it looked more like their garden needed some flowers from the Amesbury bouquet. It was also telling that he was stating that he wanted to visit.
“Do you have business with my father, Lord Baring?” she asked.
“I do not. Business though, I do hope to have with you,” he said.
“Lord Baring–” she said only to be stopped by him raising his hand.
“When we are alone, such as now, you can call me Lewis,” he had said.
Emily placed her hand on her neck now and tried to force down the bile that seemed to be rising through her throat. Had she known this was the likely end, she would have declined his offer and disallowed the convenience of first names from fostering their relationship.
“Lewis …” She had paused then after saying it because of the oddness of his name in her mouth. Then she had taken a deep breath before continuing, “You will find me to be totally incapable of some particular things, one of such ventures is business, My Lord.”
He had smiled and shaken his head.
“I am very sure that you know what I seek from you, but you require me to put it in direct terms,” he said.
Emily had looked away from him then, choosing to look at a small carriage led by one horse going out of the gate and into the street. It was quite early as the guests were yet to have dinner. The person was probably alerted of something of grave importance and saw little choice but to leave.
“I assure you, Lord – Lewis, that many possibilities cross my mind. I find it hard to put my hand on a particular one,” she answered.
Lewis had nodded, and the slight bemusement that hadn’t left his expression since he came up beside her disappeared entirely. The serious mask with which she would come to know him became his face once again.
“I had hoped that my overtures throughout the season would inform you of my intention. From always asking you to dance, to requesting that you followed me to many a dinner, to even following you here today. I guess those actions could have a myriad interpretations, and it only has meaning if I speak my desire.”
He paused and looked into her face after saying that. Emily remembered being tempted to look back at him to match his gaze, but she had at last decided against it, preferring to hear what she already knew he would say before giving him the satisfaction of full concentration.
“I find myself very attracted to you, Miss Emily Amesbury. You have class and carriage, your airs are that of a gentlewoman and sometimes it makes me wonder if you are a peer.”
Emily had blushed at that moment and had felt a tinge of displeasure at the weakness of her will in its immediate response to flattery.
“Your words are that of a woman well read, and one that has travelled the world,” he said.
“I’ve read a lot of novels and my father’s musings. I might not have travelled the world, but I do know Huntingdom quite well. You would never get lost with a guide like me,” she commented.
He had chuckled, and for the first time, Emily had regarded him as handsome. It had happened a few other times too, but they were few and so far between that she never expected it. The looks she expected from him were his mask-like frown and his angry scowl.
“And you play the piano like a musician,” he said.
Emily had made no comment in response. She did play the piano well, better than many musicians.
“I want you to be my bride, Emily. I want you as a wife. I want you to be with me and be my Countess when I finally become Earl,” he had said.
Knowing a long while ago that this was where he was leading, Emily had asked the question that had made her doubt the intentions of his actions.
I should have asked it more often. I should have questioned my conscience.
“My Lord, I have heard what you have said, but disbelief befriends me at this moment. I am from a lowly family, of a very humble station and can offer comparatively nothing in terms of entail or inheritance. Even if the heart, which can be the most asinine of characters, leads you to believe that you find me so enchanting, I would prefer to think that marriages within peers aren’t just about fleeting infatuations. That I am on this balcony, public as it is, is strange given that you are the Earl’s son and I – my father was a mere soldier. I know you have a glut of more appropriate options, young women who can give you the right accompaniment and will strengthen your position in the ton,” she answered.
She had attempted to leave, but Lewis held her hand and pulled her till she was a short distance away from him. Emily made no attempt to struggle because he didn’t seem like a man who would let her go, and she had no wish to attract the attention of the people on the ground below.
“I tell you, Emily, that everything that you have just stated has been ruminated over by me,” he answered. “Yes, my parents would have preferred that I marry another peer, a woman with a position equal or by courtesy, higher than mine to elevate my family status. But marriage is a lifetime pact, Emily. And if I do not marry you, I assure you that I will be consigning myself to a lifetime of regret.”
His last statement had touched her, maybe convinced her, but she still put up a bit of resistance, just for assurance sakes.
Yes, assurance that has become nothing now.
“Please allow me leave, Lord Baring,” she had said.
“Lewis,” he corrected.
“Lewis,” she said. “My maid will be in search of me now as I did not inform her of my whereabouts. About your proposition, it is tempting to say the least, but I find it difficult to believe. I offer you nothing, Lewis, except a sound, thoughtful head and a beauty by your side,” she answered.
When she said that, his eyes jumped, and a hungry snarl crept into his face. He placed his hand under her chin and tickled her underneath. His eyes bore into hers, and his tongue slid out of his almost closed lips to lick his lower lip. The allure of his person first made itself known to her, and Emily had to resist the temptation to drag his hands to her body and allow him to hold her tight with his strong fists. His gaze travelled around her face, surely taking in her beauty once again and then down her neck to her bountiful bust. His free left hand moved to her abdomen and slid gently upwards till it rested just below her bust. Emily could feel his hand push gently into the softness of her covered breast.
I should have known then that he sought little more than physical gratification. I gave him too many chances and chose to believe his tongue over my head.
“All I want by my side is a sound thoughtful head.” Those were the words that his mouth spoke that day, but his eyes said more about what he wanted in his bed.
Emily had felt warmth dance up her from the junction of her thighs through the middle of her stomach till it turned to pool around the press of his index finger into her lower breast then move up her throat, making her head hot and full of lewd thoughts. His tongue was yet to retract, and its pinkness was so tempting that Emily felt her lips slide open in readiness of his entrance. He almost did and neared her such that his breath danced into her mouth, and she felt the brush of his lip on hers. But it was a dangerous action as they could be seen by an interested party from the compound below. Lewis drew back and released her.
“Expect me in your house any day now; I think I have to be more than the son of the Earl to make you accept my offer,” he said.
Emily wanted to tell him that she didn’t care about who he was. She wanted to tell him, but she feared that it would provide him an avenue to keep her once again. She wasn’t scared of him, not anymore. She was terrified of how her body would react to him if he made any sensual move.
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