Ah, it seems she is not convinced Lady Susan does not have something to do with it. “I wished I could have gone after him,” William picked up, not bothering to comment on Alice’s insinuation. “But I believed Lady Alice’s safety came first. Once I’d made sure she was safely within her bedchamber, I returned to mine and tossed and turned all night about what had happened.”
Of course, he would not tell them about their conversation that night, nor the fact that he’d told Alice something he’d never said to anyone else. Not even Christopher. They didn’t need to know how much he’d wanted to kiss her when they were at her bedchamber, when she’d told him she wanted him to stay. He’d wanted to stay true to his word about touching with consent, even though it had been one of the most difficult things he’d had to endure.
“Does Father know about this?” Lady Emma asked her sister, her voice tinged with her fear.
Alice shook her head. “It will only worry him unnecessarily. We know nothing about this intruder and he will only make me take precautions I’d already planned on taking anyway.”
“But—”
“You don’t have to worry either, Emma,” Alice said softly. “You know very well that I am tougher than I look.”
“Not tough enough to withstand a bullet you’re not,” Lady Emma snapped, much to William’s surprise. He’d thought her to be the more demure of the two, but it was clear she had just as much of a sharp tongue as Alice did. “Promise me you’ll be careful, Alice. Please.”
“I will,” Alice told her gently. “As long as you promise the same.”
Emma scoffed, shaking her head. “All right, if you insist.”
William finished the rest of his coffee and rested the empty cup back on the side table. Then he got to his feet. He wanted to spend more time in Alice’s company, to marvel at her wonderful composure considering all that was happening, but he had more pressing things to do.
“Christopher,” he said. “I am hesitant to mention what happened to the servants. I would much rather search for clues myself. Will you join me?”
“You need not ask, Brother,” Christopher stated, already rising. He looked down at Lady Emma, who was gazing up at him with stars in her eyes. The sight was both heartwarming and amusing to see. When William glanced at Alice, he saw that she’d noticed the same thing. “I shall return shortly, My Lady,” Christopher told her.
Lady Emma’s cheeks went pink and she looked away, not saying anything.
William wanted to say the same to Alice. He didn’t know what held him back. It would have been easy to say before last night, a part of his constant quest to bring a rise out of her. But he felt different now.
Alice was already staring at him when William looked back at her. She nodded at him slightly, as if she already knew what he was going to say. It brought a smile to his face and when he turned toward the door, Christopher on his heels, he felt more determined than ever.
“Do not think I have not missed that you and Lady Alice have grown closer,” Christopher pointed out the moment they were out the room.
“Yes?” William probed. “And what about it?”
Christopher eyed him warily. After a moment, he said, “I hope you know what you are doing, William.”
William said nothing. He didn’t know what he was doing. That fact frightened him more than he cared to admit.
Chapter 11
Emma wasted little time claiming the seat William had vacated the moment the men were out of the room. Alice knew what she was going to say before the words were out her mouth. “Are you certain you’re unharmed?” Emma asked her with a worried frown.
Alice nodded. “Had the bullet even grazed me, Emma, I would be bedridden right now.”
“Would you be?” Emma countered with a skeptical look. “Not many things can keep you from coming to the library on a daily basis, I know.”
That made Alice laugh. And God knew she needed a reason to laugh. Her mind had been on a slow decline ever since last night, ever since she’d woke up this morning after being plagued with nightmares for the remainder of the night. Even though she acted as if she was fine, all Alice could hear was the bang of the pistol.
“I appreciate your concern,” Alice said, reaching out to take Emma’s hand, “but I truly am fine. Lord Erlington made certain of that.”
Emma’s skepticism lingered for a moment. She squeezed Alice’s hand before and nodded. “All right. I’ll believe you. But please—”
“Yes, yes,” Alice drawled, waving her hand dismissively.
This time, Emma was the one who smile. She glanced at the door, her smile widened as she sighed. “Did you see the way Lord Christopher looked at me before he left, Alice? Heavens, I think I am falling in love with him.”
That took Alice by surprise, though she knew she had no reason to be. Anyone with eyes could see that Lord Christopher and Emma were smitten with each other, but to hear the word ‘love’ threw her a bit. “How do you know?” Alice asked carefully.
“Because I long for him when he is not here, and rejoice when he is by my side. Every time he looks at me, I get a tingling feeling in my belly and when he holds me in his arms, it feels as if I’m in heaven.” She sighed again. “Does that not sound like love to you?”
