“And I would if I was able.” His hand lifted, as though he wanted to take hers again, only for it to drop back to his side. “Pray, do not ask me anything further. It is regretful that our connection must come to an end, but I have decided that it is the best thing for us all.”
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
“And am I to be given no say? Regardless of what is occurring, regardless of your circumstances, am I not to be given the opportunity to stand beside you? You will not give me that opportunity?”
Lord Thornbridge took small steps back.
“There is nothing occurring, Lady Emma,” he answered, in a tone that did not encourage Emma to believe him. “Why should you think such a thing?”
A flame of anger flew straight through her heart, pushing her tears away as Emma crossed her arms.
“You may not wish to speak of it – but perhaps you may not be aware that I saw something the day that I walked into your drawing room without introduction, even though I did mention it to you before.” Lord Thornbridge’s eyes flew to hers, widening a little. “It is not something which I wish to shy away from,” she continued before he could speak. “Your back. I saw the many bruises and injuries, and while you may state that you have no wish to discuss it, it seems to me that there is no coincidence in the fact that you decided to end our connection the day after I saw this, and to then return to your estate. Your injuries were linked to both, I believe.” Lord Thornbridge opened his mouth, then shut it. After a moment, he opened it for the second time, and then scowled, closing it again, gritting his teeth and his jaw tightening. Emma watched him, hoping that his frustration was not directed at her, but more at the fact that his situation had been so easily discovered. “You do not wish to do this.” Speaking softly, she came a little closer to him, closing the distance between them. “You found great happiness in our connection, did you not? We were becoming… closer.” Heat filled her chest, rising up into her cheeks. “There was an intention for something more, but you have chosen to end what is between us. Perhaps you do so out of fear for my safety, or for some other reason, but I am standing here to beg you not to separate yourself from me. I am stronger than you might believe. I have more courage than is expected of young ladies, but I have no desire to stay away from you, Lord Thornbridge. Tell me, do you feel the same as I?”
It was a very bold question, but Emma did not shy away. She had never been one inclined towards embarrassment or shame over being honest. Her mother had always decried this, telling her that it was not expected for a young lady such as herself to behave so, but that had made no difference to Emma.
Lord Thornbridge swallowed.
“We cannot speak of this matter anymore, Lady Emma.” A sigh escaped him as he shook his head then. “The decision has been made, and I am determined to stick to it.”
“Then you will find that I am not willing to accept such a decree, not when I know that there is a softness in your heart for me.” The courage in her remarks made Lord Thornbridge’s eyes flare in astonishment, but Emma did not care. “You may try to separate yourself from me, but you will find it impossible. And I am not a young lady who is atallready to give up.”
“I am afraid you will be the one disappointed,” he told her, his eyes still firmly fixed on hers. “I am a man of resolve.”
“And I am a woman of singular determination.” With a small smile, she began to turn away. “Let us see which one of us comes out victorious, Lord Thornbridge. I have a feeling that it will be me.”
With a smile on her lips, Emma turned directly toward her waiting cousin. Lord Thornbridge’s gaze was boring into her back, but she kept walking with swift steps towards Diane.
“I think our conversation is finished… for the present at least.”
“But not to your satisfaction, I think.” With a warm, sympathetic smile, Diane quickly offered her arm and Emma took it, walking away from Lord Thornbridge in silence. Her heart was heavy indeed, her mind filled with thoughts and sorrows. “I believe that Lord Thornbridge does still feel something for you.” Diane’s quiet voice was a gentle balm to her soul. “For whatever reason, he is choosing to hide it, choosing to push you away, but there is something there. I saw it in his expression at the moment that he came towards you, and then it was as though he shut all of that away again.”
Taking a deep breath, Emma let out her breath slowly as relief filled her.
“I am very glad indeed to hear you say that,” she answered softly. “I saw it myself also. The question is: just what am I to do now?”
Chapter Five
The incident with Lady Emma had been awkward – severely so. Henry had found himself moving forward quickly, ready to greet her with a broad smile rising across his face, only to remember that he was doing his utmost to push her away from both his arms and his thoughts.
That had brought a darkness to his expression that he still felt deep within his soul – a darkness that came from no longer having her close to him and a darkness that he had placed there himself. Lady Emma, however, had been quite determined not to permit him to escape from her without giving some clear explanation as to why he had ended their connection, but he would not give it to her. He could not explain the whole terrible story and, even though she had seen the injuries to his back, that was something that he wished very much to keep to himself.
“Sir?”
Henry blinked. The jarvey lifted one eyebrow, but Henry ignored it, pushing open the door of the hackney and jumping down to the ground before paying the man. The red-doored gambling den stood before him, with Henry having followed the instructions from Lord Stoneleigh and Lord Pottinger to find it. Striding up the steps, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. It was only a little brighter inside than it was out, but all the same, Henry kept his head low, recalling Lord Stoneleigh’s advice that he should remain as discreet as possible.
There were five tables around the room and a long counter at one end. The tables were large, but there was enough space for still more to be set-up, should it be required. The room was not overly crowded, as many of the West End gambling dens could be. Very few people looked in his direction, and Henry found himself grateful for that. His initial thought had been to march straight to the proprietor and demand to know exactly what had taken place the evening he had arrived with his friends, but he had been advised not to take that approach. That could cause consternation amongst those who had trapped him into losing his fortune, should they hear of it, and Lord Stoneleigh had thought that he would get no answer from the proprietor either. Perhaps he could offer coin, but not at this present moment. Tonight’s visit was simply to allow him to pay attention to all that took place and to see if he could recall anything about that fateful evening. For the moment, the only thing he could remember was coming into the room with his friends, choosing a table, and raising one hand towards the proprietor, shouting for his favorite beverage to be brought to him. Thereafter, there was nothing but darkness.
How did I get from here to my solicitors, demanding that the gentleman beside me be given a vast amount of my fortune? And how is it that I do not recall being beaten black and blue?
That was the conclusion he had come to. The injuries to his back were severe, but they did not appear to have any broken skin. It was as though someone had punched or kicked him repeatedly, perhaps even pressed a knife to his back, but he had no recollection of any of that, not even of the pain that he would have endured. It was as though his mind had no eagerness to remember it.
Lord Foster and Lord Wiltsham were quite determined that they had all been dosed with something to render them uncomprehending, but still, Henry found himself irritated at his lack of recollection. It was as if he believed that, by strength of mind alone, he would be able to remember everything clearly when, evidently, he could not.
“Don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.”
Henry shrugged, about to speak and then remembering that he had been warned to keep his voice low and to alter it in some way so that he would not appear to be as high born as he truly was.
“Need a new place,” he said with a shrug. “Friend of mine told me about this place. Is it any good? Thought I might play a hand or two.”
