“You seem to be under the illusion that there is something of significance between us still, Lady Emma.” Lord Thornbridge’s tone was cold and clipped. “I have already made myself quite clear. I am aware that you have told thetonthat you were eagerly looking forward to my return to London, rather than express the truth. You may have been doing it to save yourself some embarrassment, but there is nothing that can be done to prevent that. The truth will be known soon enough. We have no further connection, Lady Emma.”
Her chest lifted as she drew in a great breath.
“And yet I find that I do not believe you.”
“You do not believe me?” he repeated, as though she had said something quite foolish. “I do not understand. What is there for you to believe? I have stated things quite clearly.”
“No, you have not.” Her hand tightened on his arm, making him look down at her sharply. Willing to speak honestly – for she was never one to give in to shyness or reserve – Emma lifted both shoulders. “We seem to be speaking in circles, for I will repeat to you the same thing as I have done before: you stated that you had to end our connection because of your urgent requirement to return to your estate. However, now that you have returned to London, you can give me no reason for your unwillingness to continue with what we had begun, even though I am quite certain that you feel a great deal for me still. I asked you directly if your feelings had changed and you did not give me an answer.”
“Then let me be clear now.” Lord Thornbridge turned sharply, dropping her hand from his arm. “My feelingshavechanged. At one time, I thought there might be a connection of interest between us and found myself a little intrigued by you. Now, however, I find that there can be nothing of the sort any longer. I do not find you to be what I require.”
His words hurt, and Emma found herself recoiling. Taking a step back from him, she kept her eyes fixed on his face, noting how he could not look directly into her eyes, seeing how he turned his head, and how his jaw worked furiously.
He does not mean it. He despises the words he is saying.
“I do not believe you.”
Lord Thornbridge snorted and shook his head.
“There is nothing that I can do about that, Lady Emma. Whether you believe me or not is not my concern. I have told you the truth and I –”
“I do not believe that you are telling me the truth,” she interrupted loudly, heedless of those around her. “I believe that you are telling me what you think I need to hear so that I will no longer come to speak with you. You are doing this because it is the only way you believe you can drive me from your side for good, even though deep in your heart, you have no real desire to do so.”
Lord Thornbridge attempted to smile, but it did not so much as lift the edges of his mouth. His eyes sought hers and then he looked away again, trying to say something, but failing repeatedly to form any words. Emma’s heart, which had cried out when he had told her such a painful thing, found itself lifting in hope again, even as Lord Thornbridge put both hands to his waist, his elbows akimbo.
“We must only be acquainted, Lady Emma. I can offer you nothing more, and I beg of you to turn from me. There are many other gentlemen in London who will be glad to have you on their arm.”
This time, his voice and expression were soft, the hardness and coldness gone. Emma’s stomach began to churn, and she put a hand out to him.
“You really are pushing me away, are you not?”
Her hand touched his fingers, but he instinctively pulled away. Clearing his throat, he looked at her.
“As I have said, my feelings on the matter have changed. There can be nothing more.”
That cold tone was back in place, and Emma shivered visibly. At this, Lord Thornbridge’s hands fell to his waist and he moved a fraction closer, as if wanting to say something. But then he shook his head again, cleared his throat, bowed, and turned away.
The matter, it appeared, was settled.
Chapter Seven
“Iwould not say that this is wise, not by any means.”
“I would agree, but I do not know what other choice I have.”
Lord Stoneleigh sighed.
“I already said that I did not think it was a good idea to come to this establishment dressed as a gentleman.”
“And yet I found myself injured when I attempted to appear as one of them,” Henry shot back quickly. “Dressed in that garb, the men here still knew that I was not who I appeared to be. There are many things one can hide about one’s appearance, but how one speaks can be very difficult to keep hidden, as well as other traits that are not even obvious to myself, but obvious to others.”
“Perhaps,” Lord Stoneleigh agreed quietly. “Although this may prove disastrous also.”
“Be that as it may, I am still going to try.”
A slight worry ran through him as he pushed open the door to the gambling den where he had found himself on the night that he had lost his fortune. He had very little recollection of this place from that night, and even now, as he stepped inside for the second time, there was no jolt of familiarity.
“We’re closed.” The proprietor lifted his chin, rubbing his hands on a dirty white cloth. “Open again later. Come back then.”
