“Lady Emma.”
She turned abruptly, and Lord Thornbridge, who was closer to Emma than she had imagined, stumbled. Her hands caught his arms and as he straightened, their nearness was such that her breath escaped her completely. Lord Thornbridge blinked, his eyes resting on hers and all that Emma could think of was just how close his lips were to hers.
A gentle breeze ran over her skin and Emma shivered, and her heart lifted suddenly as she realized that he had not moved back from her. In fact, she was certain that his eyes were a little rounded and that his breath also was a little quicker. Instinctively she moved closer, her fingers wrapping themselves around his arms, and almost unwillingly, Lord Thornbridge’s hands settled on her waist.
He blinked.
She said nothing.
His fingers shifted gently on her waist and Emma’s heart bounced furiously around her chest.
Will he kiss me?
In their time together so far, there had been plenty of smiles and certainly, a closeness that they had shared on many occasions, but nothing as significant as this moment.
“Lady Emma.” Lord Thornbridge’s voice was quiet, his brow furrowed as if he had lost himself completely; uncertain and unsure in this moment of nearness – a nearness which they had never once shared before. “Emma, stop.” With great courage, she ignored him and stepped forward so that they stood closer than ever before, letting her hand run from his shoulder, down his strong arm to press her fingers to his. She caught his swift intake of breath, even though he tried to hide it from her by a twist of his head – although he did not pull his hand away. “You cannot,” he rasped, pulling his head back, his face red and his eyes looking everywhere but at her. “I have ended our connection.”
“But I have proven that you do not truly desire our separation, have I not?” Her desperation was such that she shifted closer, her leg brushing his, noting that he did not back away. “I have proven that your desire to separate us does not come from a lack of feeling as you have pretended – pretended not only to myself but also to your own heart.” Her hand rested lightly on his chest, desperation beginning to flood her, afraid that this moment would pass without her being able to speak to him with openness, honesty, and the awareness of a growing desire that she could not push away. Closing her eyes, she took in a ragged breath. “Please.”
“Icannot. I cannot be close to you.”
Whirling confusion had her eyes lifting to his once more, her hand still placed steadily against his heart. Lord Thornbridge gave a shake of his head, trying to speak, but the words failed to come to his lips. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, his eyes suddenly affixed to hers – and she watched the storm form within them. The next moment, he let out a long breath that was somewhere between relief and frustration, his hand reaching up to settle over hers. The heat which seared her was a fire that she did not think could ever be quenched, and when this hand at her waist shifted towards her back, it was as though she were in an inferno.
“I am trying to separate from you, Lady Emma.” Lord Thornbridge’s head was lowering and suddenly, she forgot everything she had wanted to say. “Why do you force your presence upon me? Why do I see you at every turn, when all I am doing is seeking to be free from you?”
Emma spoke again, whispering for fear that someone else might overhear them. She was already taking a great risk in being alone with him in such a situation although, at the present moment, such danger seemed to be more than worth it.
“You asked me why I am determined to continue pursuing this matter. You asked me to show you why I will not release you, why I must know what is happening. And it is because ofthis.” Her hand pressed lightly against his heart. “It is because of all that has come to life in this one moment. My feelings are such that they cannot simply be blown away – my heart refuses to permit it! – and now I know that your heart says the very same.”
Lord Thornbridge closed his eyes.
“You take a great risk, Lady Emma.”
“I do so because of the determination in my heart and all that it calls for,” she told him, astonishing herself by the fact that tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
Taking another breath, and with the boldness she had never expected to fill her, she set her other hand on his shoulder. She did not care any longer whether or not anyone saw her. Her desire was for Lord Thornbridge and nothing else.
“Please, Lord Thornbridge, tell me the truth. Tell me what is happening so that I can aid you and so that we need not be separated any longer. I long to be near you, to step further into the closeness which we have already had but a taste of. Is that not what you also desire? I am certain that I can see it in your eyes.”
Before he could speak, and much to her astonishment, Lord Stoneleigh suddenly rushed forward, appearing in the copse of trees with his eyes flared wide.
“Lady Chambers and her daughters approach,” he said quickly. “Your maid, Lady Emma, where is she?”
The wonderful moment with Lord Thornbridge had passed quickly, and all Emma could do was step back from him and find her maid. In a flurry, she threw one glance towards Lord Thornbridge – a glance which he caught – before turning on her heel and scurrying away towards the waiting carriage, her maid stepping out from behind a shrub to come after her. One glance over her shoulder told her that Lord Thornbridge was still watching her. He did not smile, his face was set, and yet her question still hung between them.
Please, Lord Thornbridge. Tell me the truth.
Chapter Nine
“This is dreadful.”
Lord Stoneleigh blinked.
“I beg your pardon? We are here at one of the most auspicious evenings of the Season – a night in the Vauxhall gardens with a myriad of entertainment before you – and you are informing me that the entire occasion is dreadful? I thought we were on the lookout for this small, quiet fellow the proprietor mentioned. You cannot be giving up already!”
“My apologies.” Henry closed his eyes briefly. “I am thinking of what happened yesterday.”
“Yesterday?”
