“Private?” Aaron did not like the idea. His gaze flicked toward Emily and her family on the other side of the ballroom, his thoughts moving quickly. She was gathered with her brother and his wife, the three of them laughing warmly about something. He longed to be a part of the joke and return to her side.Soon!
“Aaron? Please.” Jane was insistent. Aaron thought of correcting her again, demanding that she use his title instead of his name, but he figured it was best to get this conversation over and done with as soon as possible, then he could return to Emily’s side.
“Fine, I am coming, but at least bring a maid to ensure we are not alone for this conversation. I will only let privacy stretch so far.”
“As you wish,” Jane murmured softly. She retrieved a maid from the side of the room, and he followed the two of them, traipsing out of the ballroom and along the nearest corridor where Jane led them through the garden door that opened onto the terrace.
Aaron stepped out, feeling the frigid wind of the evening take hold of him. It bristled across his hair and his cheeks, just as the door was closed behind him by the maid. Jane stood in the middle of the terrace with her figure bathed in moonlight as she looked back to him.
“So?” Aaron said, trying to urge her on. “What is so important that we have to come outside at this time of night?”
“I will tell you all.” Her words were strangely fierce as she stepped toward him.
* * *
“Lady Emily?”
The voice made Emily frown a little as she turned round to greet the person addressing her name. She recognized it instantly – Lord Hugh. With Julia at her side, she linked arms with her, finding she needed that support of a friend when looking at a man who so obviously disliked her.
“Lord Hugh, how are you?” she said politely and offered a curtsy. He hurriedly bowed to her, though he did not respond to the words. There was something off in his expression, something that suggested concern. “Have you met my sister-in-law? This is Lady Bolton.”
“A pleasure to meet you, my Lord.” Julia curtsied to him with her words. Lord Hugh was careful to bow back, perhaps a little deeper than he had done for Emily, but his eyes returned quickly to her. He still said nothing, with the muscles in his jaw strangely taut.
“Is something wrong?” Emily asked, not wishing to waste time.
“I do not know.” Hugh glanced over his shoulder, searching the crowded guests’ heads before he looked back to Emily. “Has my brother spoken to you this evening?”
“Yes,” Emily narrowed her eyes with the words, wondering where Lord Hugh was going with this conversation. “We have spent much of the evening together.”
“What did you speak about?”
“If I am to repeat every conversation I have with your brother, we shall be here all evening,” Emily’s jest brought a small smile to Julia’s cheeks beside her, but Lord Hugh was clearly not humored. He took another step toward her, his manner frantic.
“Has he spoken to you about anythingparticular?”
“I do not have the pleasure of understanding you.” Emily shook her head. “Besides, what I discuss with your brother is my business only, my Lord. It is no other’s matter.” Her words did not please him. He ran a hand across his waxed hair with frustration before looking back to her again.
“I must speak to him. Have you seen him?” Lord Hugh asked.
“He went to fetch us some drinks.” Emily lifted a hand to point in the direction of the punch table, but to her surprise, Aaron was no longer there. Other guests were crowded around the tables and Aaron was nowhere to be seen.
“I thought I saw him leave the room,” Julia said slowly. “I may have been mistaken, but I thought he went to get some air.”
“Thank you,” Lord Hugh bowed his head to the two of them and walked away, clearly intent on following his brother.
“How odd,” Julia murmured to Emily. Emily moved forward, suddenly desirous of following Lord Hugh. “Where are you going?”
“To see where Aaron has gone,” Emily said distractedly. She walked through the ballroom with Julia following closely behind her.
It was difficult, with Emily having to squeeze her way around some of the groups of guests, moving past them all and trying not to be caught in conversation. More than one person tried to stop her, attempting to ask her about Aaron and commenting on her recent closeness with the Marquess of Tattershall. She extricated herself from them all as quickly as she could.
As they reached the door of the ballroom, they caught Lord Hugh up who looked at them, questioningly.
“I need to speak to my brother alone, Lady Emily,” he said warningly, but she was not cowed by his words.
“As do I need to speak to him too.” She pushed through the door before he could and stepped out into the corridor, determined not to be left behind. When she reached the garden terrace door, she was aware of Julia speaking, trying to calm down the tense and awkward exchange between Emily and Lord Hugh.
“I am sure there is plenty of time tonight for you to both speak to Lord Tattershall. This is a joyous event, is it not? No need for any worry.” Julia’s words faded into the distance though as Emily pushed open the garden door.
