Groaning at his own ridiculousness, Henry waited until Lord Wiltsham had closed the door before letting out a low groan. Placing both hands on the back of a chair, he dropped his head law, ignoring the scream of his back as he did so.
What have I done?
Chapter Two
“You are not to speak of what just took place to your mother. Do you understand?”
Emma rolled her eyes at her cousin.
“You may be wed, Diane, and I may be as yet unmarried, but I have just as much sense as you,” she stated calmly. “I am well aware that I am not to speak up to mother about what I just saw. I think that she would bar me from Lord Thornbridge’s company, even if shedoesthink him the most eligible gentleman in all of London, and is overwhelmed by the fact that he has, thus far, chosen to place his attentions on me.”
Her cousin nodded but said nothing, her lips in a thin line as they sat facing each other in the carriage. She was more than a little concerned about what had taken place, and what she had allowed Emma to witness - although it was, of course, by no means her fault. Emma had thought it almost a boon to be permitted the chance to walk into Lord Thornbridge’s drawing room without the need for the butler to introduce them.
Emma considered now that it must have been a mistake on his part, for why ever would he have let her walk in on him in such a state of undress? It could not have been deliberate and, given the awkwardness of their meeting thereafter, she was quite certain it had been entirely accidental. Lord Thornbridge had, perhaps, forgotten his invitation for her to take tea with him that afternoon, for he already had Lord Wiltsham with him, and by the time it took for them to enjoy a single cup of tea, the butler had been in to speak to Lord Thornbridge twice before withdrawing again. On both occasions, Lord Thornbridge had nodded and frowned, appearing most severe in his expression, which was not something that Emma was at all used to. Lord Thornbridge was, by and large, a jovial fellow, but now he did not seem to be. Throughout the duration of her short visit, he had not smiled even once, and his normally light grey eyes were significantly darker. They had not rested on her face for any length of time and, indeed, he had run one hand over his chin on multiple occasions, as if thinking deeply about something, and his conversation had lulled as a result.
She had wondered at his lack of interest, and while Lord Wiltsham had done an excellent job of making certain that both she and her cousin were never without something to say, Emma had been all too aware of Lord Thornbridge’s silence.
“You have told me everything, have you not?” Her cousin looked back at her steadily. “I only caught a glimpse, but you then pushed me backward while remaining there yourself for a long moment.” One eyebrow lifted. “It seems very strange to me that a gentleman would wish to change his shirt in his own drawing room.” Eventually – and to Emma’s relief, Diane looked out of the carriage window. “Lord Thornbridge is a strange fellow, mayhap.”
Emma did not permit this to be met with any response. Her cousin had not seen the bruises on Lord Thornbridge’s back, it appeared. If she had done so, then it would have certainly come up in conversation. That was something that troubled Emma greatly. Why should Lord Thornbridge have such awful injuries to his back and shoulders? Whatever had happened to him? The look on his face when she had opened the door had been one of great anger, which had swiftly turned to shock as their eyes had met.
Surely it could not be that Lord Wiltsham was the gentleman who had injured him so? He was known to be an excellent gentleman and Emma would admit herself to be very surprised indeed if he should have done such a thing. No, she considered, no doubt Lord Wiltsham would have been ensuring that such injuries were not of the devastating sort. That would be the most reasonable explanation.
“If you have nothing further to say, then you must put what you saw completely out of your mind,” her cousin stated firmly. “I can see by your eyes that you are thinking about it. It is not proper for a young lady to see a gentleman so unclothed.”
“I hardly did such a thing purposefully.” Sniffing lightly, Emma lifted her chin a little, disliking her cousin’s tone. “I will admit that I am thinking of it, but I am not doing so in any salacious manner. I am thinking of it because I am concerned as to what our acquaintance will be like, now that I have seen him so. He has been paying me a great deal of attention of late, as you are aware. There will be an awkwardness there now, will there not?”
The worry suddenly grew as she spoke, as if she were giving it life and Emma bit her lip.
“I am certain nothing will change.” Her cousin smiled softly, evidently no longer as distressed. Perhaps it was that she realized how Emma was feeling at present, aware of the concern that Lord Thornbridge might no longer wish to be acquainted with her because of the embarrassing situation. “I do not think him such an unseemly fellow as that. It is embarrassing, yes, and certainly it raises some questions, but he will not step away from you because of it. You have nothing to fear. We took tea with him after all, did we not?”
Emma nodded, no longer finding her cousin irritating, but rather a balm for her growing concerns.
“Yes, you are right. Although he was rather quiet, and not his usual jovial self.”
“Given the circumstances, I do not think that surprising.”
A smile caught the edge of Diane’s lips and Emma could not help but laugh.
“Yes indeed, it was very awkward, was it not?”
“Highlyso.” Diane passed one hand over her eyes and then giggled, betraying the fact that she was still very much a young lady rather than a mature married woman; a picture that she so often seemed to wish to portray. “Here we are now at your parent’s house.” Forcing a straight face, Diane drew in a deep breath, then set both hands in her lap. “Remember now, not a word. You will say that everything has gone well. We took tea and have returned in the hope of some refreshment before stepping out for this evening’s ball.”
“An excellent idea.” Catching the glint in Diane’s eye, she struggled not to laugh, seeing her mother rush forward from the house, evidently desperate in her eagerness to hear how the afternoon had gone.
“Goodness, Mama appears very excited indeed!”
With a deep breath, she straightened her smile just as the carriage door was opened for her.
“Well!” her mother exclaimed the moment that Emma stepped out of the carriage. “You must tell me how your tea went with Lord Thornbridge. My, but I was devastated to be unable to attend with you today, but your father was most insistent!”
“Yes, Mama. I am well aware that Father required your presence with Lord and Lady Renmark.” Pressing her mother’s hand, she glanced over her shoulder towards Diane, who was just now exiting the carriage. “My cousin did very well. The tea and cakes were delicious and the conversation excellent, would you not agree, Diane?”
The smallest twitch of Diane’s lips betrayed the mirth which was still within her, but when she spoke, her voice was calm and steady.
“It was a very pleasant afternoon.”
“I am delighted to hear it. I am certain that Lord Thornbridge will soon ask to court you.” Clasping her hands tightly, Lady Stanbury made her way back inside the house, beckoning Emma to follow. “Come now. We must make certain that you are fully prepared for this evening’s ball.”
