The Earl of Arundel

by Johnson, Angela

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Are you unwell?”

  “I’m sorry, Lieutenant. I—” Emma was saved the need for an excuse when Phillip approached.

  “Miss Emma, I believe you are saving the waltz for me.”

  “Lord Arundel, Emma and I were just about to go back out on the dance floor,” Lieutenant Brady said, putting his arm out for her.

  Phillip hadn’t asked her, but there wasn’t a single man in the room she’d prefer to dance with. “I’m sorry, Lieutenant, but Lord Arundel asked first.” It wasn’t a lie, although her statement implied they had a prearrangement.

  “I’ll be waiting here when the dance is over,” Brady said. Emma was certain his statement was more for Arundel’s benefit than hers.

  Phillip smiled as he led her to the dance floor. “It’s fortunate I asked you for a dance before the lieutenant.”

  “He asked because you approached. He was more focused on talking than dancing.”

  “Tell me, Miss Emma, how is the Navy supposed to survive while the lieutenant searches for a wife?”

  Emma laughed at his jest. “They’ll cry from boredom, since he is their entertainment.”

  Before he put his hand on her, he leaned forward and asked, “Is it appropriate and do I have your permission to touch your shoulder blade?”

  She swatted him on the arm playfully. “Just make certain you keep your hands in their proper places.” She was blushing and found happiness as she looked into his eyes. His eyes never wavered from hers during the dance, which caused her face to turn even redder.

  Phillip led her through the room as though she were the only one there. A flutter of excitement brightened her evening. By the time the dance was finished, she needed to leave the heat of the ballroom.

  “Will you walk with me on the patio?” he asked as he pulled her out of the middle of the room.

  “Yes.” Her voice squeaked, betraying her nervousness to him.

  “Miss Parker,” he started. “I would like to start over and allow us to get to know one another.”

  “I don’t think it would be good to start over.”

  He nodded. “I understand . . . If you prefer me to stay away, please don’t hesitate to say so.”

  “I don’t like you calling Miss Parker, Phillip. I want to continue from where we ended at Springhill Abby.”

  He took her hand in his and squeezed it.

  Although exhausted from the dance at Almack’s, Emma took herself down to the dining room to eat a little breakfast. She smiled to herself as she thought about the waltz and how Phillip held her.

  She buttered her toast while imagining his face and eyes.

  “What are you doing here?” Emma asked as Anne and Edward entered the dining room.

  “We wanted to visit,” Anne said with a smile. “We’ve missed the family.”

  “Miss Emma,” the butler said, walking into the room with a silver plate.

  Emma looked over to see a card. It was normal to receive flowers the morning after a party where she danced with any number of men. She picked the card up, opened it, and read:

  Thank you for the lovely dance.

  —Mr. Christian Bennett

  The flowers were the same as he always sent—pink roses.

  What is he talking about? Emma wondered. He was distracted the entire time.

  “Who could those be from?” Anne asked as though she already knew.

  “Mr. Bennett,” she replied, trying to sound happy.

  She handed the card to her sister and started eating her toast. Christian Bennett sent her flowers every time he danced with her. She knew it was a sore spot with her sister due to his courting of Anne during a previous season, but she was now married to Lord Edward and received flowers on a daily basis. As if the butler heard her thoughts, he walked into the room with a dozen red roses and took them to Anne.

  “Edward, you don’t understand the purpose of sending flowers,” Henry said as he sat at the table with his meal.

  “What are you saying?” Anne asked, admiring her flowers.

  “Once you have the girl and you are married, you don’t have to try so hard,” Richard added.

  “You are jealous,” Anne said, admiring her flowers. “If either one of you puts wild ideas in Edward’s head, you’ll have to accept my wrath.”

  The butler again walked into the room with another vase of flowers, this time white daisies. He put them on the table in front of Emma, and she took the card from the plate.

  “Are they from Phillip?” Anne asked. “Daisies would be his style.”

  “No.” She could not help the disappointment from entering her voice. She handed the card to her sister.

  Dear Miss E. Parker,

  Thank you for the time you spent with me last evening. I will call this morning to take you to the icehouse.

  Sincerely,

  Lieutenant David Brady.

  Anne put the card on the table, “There is still time.”

  “Are you going for ices with him?” Richard asked, picking up the card and looking at it with interest.

  “I accepted last night when he asked. If Phillip sees me with the lieutenant, perhaps he will send me flowers and not behave as my brothers toward women.” She grabbed the card from Richard’s hand.

  “What are you referring to?” Richard asked.

  “You both go to these parties and dance with all the women you can and never send flowers to them. Are either of you ever planning to get married?”

  The butler walked into the dining room again. Emma smiled as he brought another card to her. “Where are the flowers?” she asked as she took the card.

  “They’re in the morning room, miss.”

  “You couldn’t bring them in here?” she asked as she opened the card. She looked at the words and noticed the rush of heat in her cheeks.

  Will you be my Juliet?

  “I believe you should see the full delivery at one time, miss.” He smiled as he turned and left the room.

  Emma ran into the morning room to find an overwhelming number of white lilies and red roses on every table, the mantel, and the window box.

  “We should tell Arundel it’s only necessary to send one bouquet after each party,” Henry remarked with a shake of his head. “Edward, you’ll pass the message on?”

  Emma walked to one of the vases of roses to get a closer look. “If any of you advise him as such, I will no longer consider you my brothers.” She blushed again and giggled like a little girl as she walked over to smell her lilies.

  “Poor Lieutenant Brady,” Richard quipped. “I don’t think he can compete with her earl.”

  Their mother walked in the room. “Stop teasing your sister.”

  “Is this why you are here? To confirm the delivery came?”

  Edward laughed. “Phillip wanted me to make certain it arrived before you went to get ices with the lieutenant.”

  “It is easy to lose yourself when a man shows his feelings for you in such way.” Her mother pulled one of the lilies out of the vase to smell the scent.

  “What are you saying, Mother?”

  “Be careful and guard your heart until he makes it official.” Emma kept thinking about the flowers and the card as she went back to the dining room. He had asked her to be his Juliet. He’d made the same request during the previous season, and she’d told him no. It almost seemed a miracle for him to ask again.

  Emma dreaded the moment Lieutenant Brady arrived, knowing she would have to spend more time with the boring man. He didn’t seem to understand she wasn’t interested in him. When Lieutenant Brady picked her up to take her to the icehouse, Emma chided herself for accepting his invitation.

  “I wish you would’ve rejoined me last night at the dance,” Brady said as he help
ed her out of the carriage. She’d listened to him bemoan her absence for a quarter of an hour. “Lord Arundel and men of his type think it is their right to monopolize beautiful women.”

  “Lord Arundel and I are close friends, Lieutenant. His presence was most welcome. I enjoy being with him.” She hoped Brady would take the hint, but he didn’t. She listened and defended Phillip every time Brady made a derogatory comment.

  Thankful the activity was coming to an end, Emma forced a pleasant but tight smile as Brady escorted her to his carriage. He held a hand out to help her when she saw Phillip walking with Marianne and Charlotte. Emma missed the step and scraped her shin, ripping her dress and stockings. She wanted to get into the carriage as quickly as possible to avoid his gaze. She didn’t want him to see her with another man. Unfortunately, Brady made a scene out of the incident.

  “Emma, my dear!”

  Emma froze as he said the words my dear. She didn’t know why he thought he had the liberty to address her as such. They didn’t have an understanding. She denied him the right to use her Christian name.

  “You’re injured.” He continued picking her up. He carried her to a bench outside the icehouse.

  “Please don’t concern yourself, Lieutenant.” Emma turned sideways, hoping Phillip and his sisters hadn’t noticed her.

  “I must assist you. And I gave you permission to call me David.” He looked hurt by her use of his title. He pulled her leg and lifted the bottom of her dress. Emma rushed to push her skirt back down.

  “Sir, you do not have permission to touch my leg, nor to lift my skirt.” She looked around and motioned for her maid to attend her. “Please leave me to the care of my maid.”

  “Emma, darling, I’m trying to ascertain if the injury is severe.”

  Emma pushed him away. “Do not refer to me as ‘darling,’ sir.”

  She didn’t dare look up to see if Phillip was watching. Her maid helped her stand to go back into the icehouse. They could get water and clean the wound.

  “Emma,” Lieutenant Brady said, taking hold of her arm, “do you realize I’m your last chance at marriage? After the debacle with Lord Arundel last year, you’re fortunate I’m willing to pay call to you.”

  Emma lifted her hand and slapped him. “Sir, I will find my way home. I prefer you no longer speak to me.” She pushed him and limped away as Lieutenant Brady fell on the ground.

  “Don’t you ever speak to Miss Parker in such a way again.” Emma didn’t dare turn around as she heard Phillip’s voice. In the window of the icehouse, she saw Phillip punch Lieutenant Brady for her.

  “I am working to restore her virtue after you ruined her last year, Arundel. Have you now come to take her to your bedchamber?” the lieutenant provoked.

  Emma closed her eyes as he finished the statement. Before she’d left Springhill Abby, she’d told her mother of her concerns regarding her reputation. Although she and Phillip had only kissed the previous year, society was under the impression that much more had occurred. She didn’t realize how terrible society could be until she understood his implications.

  “She is far more virtuous than you, Lieutenant. Clear off.”

  Emma looked up at the sky to fight the tears. She was ready to start walking when Phillip approached. “Will you allow me to escort you home?”

  “Thank you, my lord. I appreciate your assistance.”

  He held his arm out and led her past the gawking crowd to his gig. Marianne and Charlotte both embraced her before Phillip helped her into the carriage. She looked graceless sitting with them in the carriage after she’d been on an outing with another man.

  “Thank you for saving me, L—”

  Before she could call him by his title, he raised his eyebrows at her. “Don’t you dare use my title.”

  “I’m sorry, my lord.”

  Phillip again raised his eyebrows.

  “What do you want me to say?” Emma asked as he continued to look at her as though every word she said was wrong.

  “I want you to speak to me like you did last year. Last night we agreed we would start where we left off.”

  “Fine . . . thank you for saving me from the brute!” She took a deep breath and realized he was laughing at her. “Do you find this amusing, my lord? My leg is wounded. My pride is injured. And Miss Prim’s scandal hasn’t taken front row to last year’s happenings. It doesn’t matter it was all fabrication . . . What’s so funny?”

  “You are, Emma.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Your leg looks injured. Are you all right?”

  Emma looked down to see the blood on her ripped gown. “It could be worse, my lord.”

  Phillip’s eyes looked so intense her heart skidded to a halt. She wanted to ask him why he was looking at her with such intensity, but she had a feeling the answer would be he was in love with her. She wanted him to say the words, but not in front of his sisters.

  “Do I have your permission to look at the injury?” he asked.

  “No, my lord. I will have it cared for when I arrive home.”

  Phillip continued to gaze into her eyes as he said, “I respect your choice. I wouldn’t want all of London talking about my rakish ways.”

  Emma worried he would kiss her in front of his sisters due to the intensity in his eyes. It was as though he had a rope tied around her heart, and all he needed to do would be to pull the end and bring her to him.

  She turned as the carriage came to a halt. “Thank you for your assistance.”

  Phillip helped her from the carriage and walked her to the door. “May I call on you tonight?”

  Emma’s heart fluttered with anticipation. “Yes, you may.”

  As Emma readied for bed, she experienced a wave of disappointment. Phillip had asked to call on her, but he hadn’t come to the house. She wondered if she misunderstood his request. She was determined to keep the tears from falling. She wasn’t going to spend the season crying over Phillip and all the broken hopes and dreams.

  “Miss?” Her maid, Abigail, stood behind her, taking her hair out of the pins. Pointing to the window she said, “There’s someone outside.”

  Emma walked to the window and looked down. Turning back to her maid, she squealed, “Phillip!” She put her hand to her hair. “My hair is unpinned.”

  “Miss, open the window,” Abigail said with nervous excitement as she helped Emma unlatch the lock.

  Emma’s hands were shaking too much, so she allowed the maid to open the window. A thrill of excitement fluttered through her as she realized Phillip was below her window. This was a romantic proposal, the best she could ever hope to receive. Most men discussed the arrangement with the father, and after negotiations regarding the dowry, the date was set and the banns read.

  Phillip held a single red rose. “‘But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?’” He reached his hand toward her as he spoke.

  She didn’t know if she should laugh or cry as she thought back to the day she suggested his name was Romeo. His response to her was only if he had a Juliet.

  “‘It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.’” He walked to the trellis against the house, put the rose in his mouth, and climbed. As he reached the top, he handed her the rose and kissed her hand. “Will you marry me?”

  “I expected you to continue to quote Shakespeare,” she said as she smelled the rose. She delayed in answering. “I never thought I’d want to hear words from Romeo and Juliet again after this last year.” The pain of the poison was far too real.

  “Are you going to answer him?” She turned to see her parents leaning out their window. Her mother continued, “You are going to wake the neighbors.”

  A window to the left of them opened, and Henry stuck is head out. “Have you always been so charismatic, or are you still suffering from a head injury?”

  Phillip laug
hed and turned back to her. “Did I choose the wrong romantic gesture? I have a few other ideas.”

  “How can you think of Romeo and Juliet after what happened?”

  “I’m not going to let it destroy my love of literature . . . Do you need time to think about it?”

  She looked into his eyes as he spoke. She understood his desire to put the past behind him. “Yes, I will marry you.”

  He leaned toward her and they kissed. As he pulled away he handed her a paper. “This is the receipt for a special license—”

  “A special license?” Anne called from her window, interrupting his monologue.

  They laughed. She knew her cheeks were bright red as he called out, “Richard, do you have an opinion or thought to share?”

  “Nope, no opinion from me, Romeo. I’m just enjoying the display,” he called from his window.

  “Edward, what about you?” Phillip called out.

  “Will you get this display over with? I’m trying to sleep,” Edward called over as he stood next to Anne.

  Emma put her hands on her cheeks to cover the blush. Phillip reached forward and pulled her hands away. He whispered so only she could hear him. “You are beautiful when you blush.”

  She shook her head. “My face goes bright red, and it’s embarrassing.”

  His eyes twinkled as he leaned forward and kissed her again. He couldn’t kiss her the same as he had during those stolen moments at Springhill Abby, because her family was watching and he was hanging off a trellis and a balcony. But she enjoyed every moment of the exchange between them.

  “Will you be able to climb back down?” she asked as he moved away from her. She touched her lips to make certain she was awake.

  “Yes, I’ll be fine. Good night, my love.” He moved her fingers and kissed her one last time before climbing back down the trellis.

  Epilogue

  “Marriage is a gift given by God to the human family for our well-being and growth.”