“I thank you.” Without asking what it was they intended to do, or to say to Lady Follet to keep her in one place, Frederick rushed across the street to the carriage and climbed in, hailing the driver and telling him where he wished to go. Sitting back, he closed his eyes as sweat broke out across his forehead, panic still surging through him. The carriage moved forward – though not as quickly as Frederick wished – and soon was on its way to Lord Wellbridge’s townhouse.
What is it that Lord Wellbridge wants with her?His heart clamoring with questions and concerns, Frederick ran one hand over his face, turning his eyes to the window.And what will I find when I reach his townhouse?
Chapter Seventeen
“Might you step into the carriage for a moment?”
Emma frowned, looking from Lord Wellbridge to the carriage and back again.
“The carriage?”
“Yes, if you would?” Lord Wellbridge put one hand to his heart, letting out a prolonged sigh. “There is such a heavy weight upon my heart that I confess Imustspeak of it to someone.”
Emma hesitated still.
“It would not be proper for me to sit in the carriage with only your company, Lord Wellbridge.”
“Oh, but I shall leave the door wide open and as you can still see Lord Yeatman and Lord and Lady Pleasance from here, I am sure you can see that there is nothing to trouble you.”
This was a little odd, Emma considered but, then again, there was something about Lord Wellbridge at this moment that caught her attention. He did have something he wished to share with her, she was sure, and given that it was no doubt about Martha, did she not have a sisterly duty to hear him out?
“I must speak to you,” Lord Wellbridge said again, coming closer and lowering his voice. “Let me explain to you as clearlyas I can.” He took a breath. “After my hasty departure yesterday, I have taken a great deal of time to consider my… position in some things. I realize now that I ought to have stayed and taken advantage of that opportunity; I should have made my own intentions very plain. Instead, I departed and that was foolish. Might I have a few minutes to do so now? I will take full advantage of these quiet few minutes, I assure you. It will help my own heart a great deal if you would only be good enough to accept that from me.”
Biting her lip, Emma took in another breath and then lifted her shoulders before letting them fall.
“Very well. So long as it is only for a few minutes, Lord Wellbridge. I am sure you can understand my concern.”
“But of course.” Lord Wellbridge swept into a great bow before her, catching her hand as he rose before inclining his head over it again. “You are very considerate and most generous, Miss Fairley.”
“Whatever you wish to speak of must be of the greatest importance, I am sure,” Emma replied, climbing into the carriage the moment he had released her hand. “Please, let us speak of it directly for I do wish to return to Lord Yeatman very soon.”
Lord Wellbridge climbed up and sat opposite, only to reach across, pull the door closed and before Emma could protest, rapped on the roof. The carriage started at once and Emma snatched in a breath, a sudden fear enveloping her. Her hands dug into the seat as she stared at Lord Wellbridge, seeing him grin and finding herself suddenly terrified.
“Lord Wellbridge,” she whispered, hoarsely, a weakness rushing through her now. “What is it that you are doing?”
“I am speaking with you, of course.” Lord Wellbridge smiled as though it was more than acceptable for him to have capturedher in this way. “Do you not understand yet, Miss Fairley? It isyouthat I wish to speak to.”
Emma swallowed hard, her fingers still tight on the edge of the seat.
“For what purpose?”
“To make my intentions for you clear! Have you not understood them all this time?”
The eagerness of his expression, the wide eyes that searched hers, and the fierce hope that she would understand only added to Emma’s confusion.
“Last Season, I attempted to seek you out, but your elder sister continually put herself in my way,” Lord Wellbridge stated, rolling his eyes at the memory. “She has done so again this Season and then, for whatever reason, I have very rarely had the opportunity to see you or speak with you! I did not know why, and every time I spoke to your sister – for I sought her out very often in the hope of speaking withyou,she gave no indication of where you had gone.”
Emma’s whole body went cold. She shivered involuntarily, looking back into Lord Wellbridge’s face as she fought to understand what it was that he said. From what she understood, it seemed to be that this gentleman had been eager to pursue a courtship withher,rather than with Martha, as she had always presumed. That did not make the least bit of sense to her, for he had never made himself plain in that regard.
“You do not believe me.” Lord Wellbridge sighed and then, reaching across, made to grasp her hand, though Emma snatched it back quickly and folded her hands across her chest, keeping herself as far from him as possible. Lord Wellbridge let out a long sigh and shook his head, seemingly a little upset that she did not trust him. “It is understandable. I must tell you that I found myself filled with such deep regret yesterday afternoon that I had no other choice but to take myself away from yourcompany until I had thought through what I had to do next. Lord Yeatman has taken hold of you before I could do the same – but that is only because I could not find you! I danced with your sister very often, and asked her where you might be, and wondered why you had been pushed from society… in truth, however, I did think of my own reputation also.” Wincing, he spread out his hands as the carriage trundled on. “You must understand, Miss Fairley, I am a gentleman with a title and reputation to take care of! I did not understand the reason for your absence from society. If some great scandal had occurred, then I feared that if I searched too hard, if I attempted to understand it with a little too much fervency, my reputation could be damaged. Therefore, I had to be cautious, though my intentions have always remained steady.”
Emma closed her eyes, a thread of worry beginning to run through her veins.
“Lord Wellbridge, whatever your intentions were for me, surely you can see that what you have done atthismoment is not at all proper! You are in danger of damaging my reputation.”
“Ah, but now that you understand my feelings for you, there is nothing to concern yourself about in that regard!” Lord Wellbridge beamed at her as though this was the solution to her worries. “We can simply tell Lord Yeatman that you did not know of my feelings at the time that you accepted his courtship and–”
“I have no intention of accepting your courtship, Lord Wellbridge!” Emma stared straight back at him, seeing his eyebrows lifting. “I am perfectly contented with Lord Yeatman’s courtship.” Lord Wellbridge frowned, blinking rather quickly as though he had no understanding whatsoever of what she had said. “Though I do appreciate your consideration of me,” Emma continued quickly, hoping that perhaps thanking him andshowing some sort of kindness might encourage him to return her to Lord Yeatman. “However, I will not change my mind.”
