And yet his accusation that she was hiding away from the world had rattled her.
Because there was an element of truth in it? Perhaps more than just an element.
Or was it Lord Ashendon himself who’d rattled her?
She appeared to be foolishly susceptible to his good looks. And the gentlemanly way he’d escorted her home the other night. And that far-from-gentlemanly kiss.
She’d thought of it, and him, more than once—oh, who was she fooling? She thought of him every night, alone in her small attic bedroom.
As pathetic spinsters were rumored to do—spinning unlikely fantasies about men they hardly knew.
The moment Theale had told her he was waiting downstairs and had requested private conversation with her, Emm had felt the most ridiculous fluttering. She’d even removed her spinster’s cap—just to tidy her hair, she’d told herself—but she hadn’t put the cap back on. Theale had noticed and given her a scornful sniff and a knowing look.
He’d smiled when she arrived, and it had taken Emm a few seconds to gather her wits. He was tall and broad-shouldered and so assured that somehow he seemed to fill the room. She’dfound a hole in her gloves and occupied herself in keeping it hidden. She really ought to make herself another pair.
He’d outlined his plan, and Emm had forced herself to look past the handsome face, those intriguing gray eyes and the knowing, clever mouth, and concentrate on his words. His very damning words.
Like many of the parents of the girls here, he was careless of the real needs of his half sisters and niece, more interested in his own convenience than anything else. The other day she’d thought—or imagined—that he seemed sincerely worried about them.
Today she’d seen him in his true colors.
A bonus forfiring them off. Like cannons. Pushed into marriage whether they were ready or not. And would he care whom they married? Would he even give them a choice?
No, just a bonus to whoever got them off his hands within the year.
But no girl should be pushed into marriage, and Emm would never be a party to such a scheme, no matter how large or tempting the bribe. For call it what you like, that bonus was nothing more than a bribe.
He might be selfish, superficial and self-centered, but he wasn’t stupid. That accusation he’d made about her hiding away was quite... perceptive.
Now with time to reflect a little more calmly—and without his presence to distract and, andbeflutterher—she could admit that there was some truth, a very small amount, in what he’d said.
Nevertheless, she didn’t regret her decision at all. Not one little bit. She would make a good and useful life for herself here in the school. It might not be glamorous or exciting, but it would be a worthwhile life.
And if that thought didn’t precisely cheer her up, well, she hadn’t slept well last night, that was all. A good and useful life would be quite sufficient. And very safe.
***
The sound of voices in the hall caught her attention. It sounded like an argument. Theale and... a man?
Before she could go to see what the problem was, the door flew open and Lord Ashendon stood there again, taking up all the space. And the air. “See, sheisstill here,” he said. He turned to Emm. “Tell this dra— female that you are willing to speak to me. She seems to imagine I’m going to attack you or something.”
“He just pushed his way in—” Theale began.
“It’s quite all right, Miss Theale, I will speak to Lord Ashendon,” Emm told her. She shut the door and waved him to a seat. “Did you forget something? I have a class in five minutes.”
“I won’t take long.”
She waited.
He was still carrying his hat. He fiddled with it a moment, smoothing the brim between his gloved thumb and fingers. He set the hat down on the small table at his elbow and crossed his legs. He cleared his throat.
She waited.
He uncrossed his legs and tugged off his fine leather gloves, setting them down beside his hat.
“My class starts in three minutes, Lord Ashendon,” she prompted. “Is there something else you wanted to say to me?”
“Yes, dammit, I’m getting to it,” he snapped. He swallowed, then fixed her with those hard gray eyes, like a butterfly on a pin. “You want a position for life. Very well, I’ll marry you.”
