She stumbled to a stop on the paving, feeling Lord Hugh do the same beside her, just as a sight came into view.
She had found Aaron at last, only he was not alone. A maid was standing at the edge of the terraced garden, with her gaze turned away. In the middle of the terrace, Aaron was with someone. He was with Miss Drew, with her arms wrapped around his neck, locked in a passionate embrace, and a kiss.
Chapter Eighteen
Emily could not blink. She was too busy staring at the sight before her, of Miss Drew’s arms around Aaron and their lips pressed together. Aaron was jerking backward as he saw the others on the terrace. He shoved Miss Drew hard, pushing her away and breaking their connection.
“How could you!?” Lord Hugh practically roared the words, directing them purely at Aaron.
Emily felt her hands shaking as she stared at Aaron, barely understanding what had happened herself.He was kissing her… He crept outside of the ball to kiss her. Oh, my Lord…
Every book Emily had ever read that talked of heartbreak flashed in her mind. Even the description the author had given on the Captain’s and Elizabeth’s separation from each other could not compare to this moment. It felt like her heart was wizened and shriveling up fast, like an old, dried piece of fruit.
“No…” she said breathily, still scarcely able to understand it.
Aaron did not reply to his brother. Instead, he turned his gaze straight to Emily.
“It’s not how it looks,” he spoke with a kind of desperation and stepped forward.
“Really? That is what you are going to say?” she muttered in amazement. “There is no other way this can possibly be interpreted.”
“You kissed her!” Lord Hugh was furious. “You kissedmybetrothed, Aaron. How long will it take you to understand that she does not want you. That Jane wants nothing to do with you.”
Emily flicked her gaze to Jane. She was not so sure about Lord Hugh’s words. To Emily’s mind, Jane had been as involved in that kiss as Aaron had been.
“Emily, please listen – what are you doing?” Aaron had tried to reach Emily, but Lord Hugh stepped in the way, blocking off his path.
“I cannot believe you,” Lord Hugh muttered, advancing forward, and forcing Aaron to step back. “Don’t you know brothers should be happy for each other’s happiness? Yet you never could be, could you? You were always so jealous.”
“Me? Jealous?” Aaron gestured to his chest, looking baffled.
Emily could not handle it. Her mind was a whir with thoughts, each one blending into the next in horrid realization.He was never truly over Miss Drew. She was always there, in his heart, she had to be. Despite everything. Then… what do I mean to him?
She had been so certain he was hinting that he wanted to propose to her, now she was unsure about everything. Clearly, she had misinterpreted him.
Was our courtship all just to make Miss Drew jealous? All leading to this moment of a reunion between them?
Emily flitted her eyes to Miss Drew, watching her actions. She was stepping away from the brothers and coming to stand by Emily’s side, but Julia stepped between them, blocking her off.
“Jane was right.” Lord Hugh was in his element, his words so filled with rage and volume that Emily thought it a wonder people could not hear him from the ballroom. “You were always jealous of me, weren’t you? You were so desperate to ensure I wouldn’t be happy, that you would actually stoop as low as to do this.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” Aaron asked, shaking his head so fast back and forth, he had to be cricking his neck. “Will you let me talk for one minute, Hugh –”
“Talk? So that you can do what? Spin this round to make you look like you are in the right? That is not possible right now.” Lord Hugh advanced toward him again, but this time Aaron did not back up. He held his ground, staring down his brother.
“If you would let me speak –”
“Ever since Jane told you we cared for each other, you have gone out of your way to separate us, haven’t you?” Lord Hugh’s words were accusing as he thrust a finger in Aaron’s chest.
Emily stumbled back, finding a longing to escape.
Is that what this has all been about?The thought crushed her.
“You are not making sense to me.” Aaron snapped. “The first I knew about you two caring for each other was when I found you two together, that fateful night. She never told me anything of it.”
“You would say that, wouldn’t you?”
“I am saying that!” Aaron barked the words. “As for what you just saw,shekissedme.”
