by Julia Quinn
Oh, blast, she’d forgotten her masquerade again. “Um, I work for the Earl and Countess of Worth.”
Alex knew the address and instructed his coachman. Sophie kept up a steady stream of chatter during the short time it took the carriage to reach the Blydon mansion.
Emma nearly ran out of the carriage.
“Wait!” Alex and Sophie called out in unison.
Sophie reached her first. “I must thank you properly. I’ll have nightmares for weeks if I don’t.” She reached up to her ears, quickly took off her diamond and emerald earrings, and thrust them into Emma’s hands. “Please take these. It’s just a small token, I know, but perhaps they will help you if you’re ever in need.”
Emma was dumbfounded. She couldn’t very well tell this woman that she was the only heir to a giant shipping business, but at the same time, she could see that Sophie desperately needed to give something to Emma to show her thanks.
“God bless you.” Sophie kissed Emma on the cheek and climbed back into the coach.
Emma turned to the coachman and took the eggs from him. She smiled at Sophie and headed toward the mansion’s side entrance.
“Not so fast, love.” Alex suddenly appeared at her side. “I’ll carry these in for you.”
“No!” Emma said, a little too sharply. “I mean, I’d really rather you didn’t. Nobody will mind that I’m late once I explain about Charlie, but they won’t like my bringing a strange man into the kitchen.”
“Nonsense,” Alex said, reaching for the eggs with the supreme assurance of one who expects his orders to be obeyed.
Emma backed away from him. All hell would break loose if he escorted her into the house, and Belle—to whom he’d most likely already been introduced—started calling her by her true name. “Please,” she pleaded. “Please just go away. There will be trouble if you don’t.”
Alex thought he saw true fear in her eyes and wondered again if she was being mistreated. Still, he didn’t want her to get into any trouble on his account. “Very well.” He bowed curtly. “It has been a pleasure knowing you, my dear Meg.”
Emma turned and scurried into the service entrance of the mansion, feeling Alex’s hot gaze on her back the whole way. When she finally burst through the door into the kitchen, she felt as if she’d been delivered from purgatory.
“Emma!” everyone cried out in unison.
“Where have you been?” Belle demanded, hands on hips. “We’ve been worried sick about you.”
Emma sighed as she placed the bag of eggs on the counter. “Belle, couldn’t we discuss this later?” She glanced pointedly at the servants, whose mouths were visibly agape as they stared at her unashamedly.
“All right, then,” Belle agreed. “Let’s go upstairs right now.”
Emma groaned. She was suddenly exhausted, and her head was pounding once again, and she didn’t know what to do about those cursed earrings, and…
“Oh my heavens!” Belle shrieked. Emma, her irrepressible and energetic cousin, had fainted dead away.
Chapter 3
Alex stood in front of the Blydon mansion staring at the servants’ entrance. He’d seen a look of sheer panic in Meg’s eyes before he’d agreed not to accompany her inside. He scowled, worried that she might be punished for returning so late from the market. Although he’d met the Earl and Countess of Worth on several occasions, when it came right down to it, he didn’t know much about them. He had no idea what kind of household they ran. Some of the ton treated their servants abominably. And although he refused to believe he felt anything other than lust for Meg, he was terrified that she might be turned out or beaten. He had a strong urge to march right into the Blydon kitchen and make sure that Meg was being treated like the heroine she was. Alex sighed, slightly irritated at the extent of his concern. He wasn’t at all sure that she’d completely recovered from her fall. All he really wanted to do at that moment was take Meg into his arms, carry her up to her room and tuck her into bed with a nice cold compress on her head. He groaned at the vision he was painting in his mind. If he managed to get her tucked into bed, he doubted that he’d be able to stop himself from climbing in beside her.
“Alex!” Sophie poked her head out of the carriage. “What are you waiting for?”
Alex tore his gaze away from the mansion. “Nothing, Soph, nothing at all. I’m just a little concerned about Meg. Do you suppose she’ll be all right? What kind of people are the Earl and Countess of Worth?”
“Oh, they’re lovely. I’ve met them several times at parties.”
“So have I, brat, but that doesn’t make them paragons of virtue.”
Sophie sighed and rolled her eyes. “If you ever spent more than one minute at the parties that Mama and I force you to attend, you’d know that the Blydons are simply wonderful. They’re very kind and not at all stuffy, Mama is extremely fond of Lady Worth. I think they have tea together at least once a fortnight. I don’t think we have to worry about Meg now that we know she works here. I cannot imagine Lady Worth allowing anyone to be mistreated in her home.”
“I hope you’re right. We owe Meg a great deal. It’s the least we can do to see to her welfare.”
“Don’t think I don’t know it, dear brother. I intend to call on Lady Worth this week to tell her how Meg saved Charlie. I am certain that she will not allow such bravery to go unrewarded.”
Alex climbed into the carriage and sat back into its plush seat as the wheels started rolling. “That’s a good idea, Sophie.”
“I’d go tonight, of course, but I really don’t feel up to it.”
“What do you mean you’d go tonight?”
“Really, Alex, you must keep track of things. Lady Worth is throwing a huge bash tonight. I’m sure you were invited. You’re always invited to everything even though you never go. If you don’t start—”
“Spare me the you’ll-never-meet-a-nice-marriage-able-female-and-produce-an-heir lecture, please. I’ve heard it before, and I’m not interested.”
Sophie shot him an irritated glance. “Well, it’s true, and you know as well as I that you cannot remain a bachelor forever. All you do is carouse with your friends, and they’re just as roguish as you are.”
Alex grinned rakishly. “Really, Soph, it’s not as if I’m lacking for female companionship.”
“Oooooh!” Sophie spluttered. “You say these things just to annoy me. I know you do. Those women are hardly worth mentioning in my presence.”
“Those women, as you so delicately put it, want nothing from me other than a few baubles, which is exactly why I choose to share my bed with them. They, at least, are honest about their materialistic desires.”
“There you go again! You know that I hate to hear about your torrid affairs. I swear, Alex, I’m going to box your ears.”
“Cease the histrionics, Sophie. We both know that you love to hear about my so-called torrid affairs. You’re just too prudish and proper to admit it.”
Sophie slumped in defeat as Alex arrogantly lifted one eyebrow. He was absolutely right. She loved hearing about his adventures—amorous or otherwise. She just didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of admitting it. Besides, how was she to keep up her crusade to get him married if he knew how fascinating she found his lifestyle? Still, she made one last attempt. “You know you’re going to need an heir, Alex.”
Alex leaned toward his sister and smiled at her wickedly. “I would imagine that I’ll be physically able to sire a son ten or even fifteen years from now. But if you’d like, I’d be happy to give you the name and address of my most recent mistress. I’m sure she can vouch for my virility.”
“Mama, what’s virility?” Charlie piped up.
“Nothing you need to worry about for many years,” Sophie said breezily. And then in hushed tones: “Alex, I swear you’ve got to watch what you say around him. He absolutely idolizes you. As it is, he’s probably going to be telling all our maids about his virility for the next month.”
Alex laughed. “All right,
brat, I’ll watch my speech, if only to protect your maids from falling prey to his lustful desires. Now, will you just be a good girl and tell me about this ball tonight?”
Sophie arched her eyebrows. “Suddenly interested in the social scene, are we?”
“I just want to check up on Meg. I’ll go for my usual fifteen minutes and then leave.”
“Lady Worth wants to introduce her American niece to society,” Sophie explained. “I hear it’s to be a grand affair.”
“Then why aren’t you going?”
“I just don’t feel like going out with Oliver away, and,” she smiled shyly and patted her stomach, “I’m expecting again.”
“Never say it, brat! That’s wonderful!” Alex smiled broadly and swept his sister into an affectionate hug. As dead-set as Alex was against marriage and children for himself, he did love spending time with Charlie and was thrilled at the prospect of another nephew or niece. “Ah, here we are,” he said as the carriage came to a stop in front of Sophie’s home. “Take care now, sister. Don’t overexert yourself.” He kissed Sophie on the cheek and patted her hand.
Sophie took Alex’s hand as he helped her out of the carriage. “Really, Alex, I’m not even showing yet. I hardly think I need to take to my bed.”
“Of course, dear, but you should be careful. Riding in the park is definitely out of the question.”
Sophie smiled at her brother’s concern. “For all your rakish ways, Alex, you really are an exemplary uncle. Just look at how Charlie adores you.”
Alex glanced down at the boy. Sure enough, he was tugging on his coat, begging him to come inside and play. Alex tousled his hair. “Another time, scamp. I promise.”
“You know, Alex,” Sophie began, “I just know you’d make an excellent husband and father, too, if you’d just take the time to look for the right woman.”
Alex crossed his arms. “Don’t start with me now. I’ve had enough lecturing for one day. Besides I’ve got this damned ball to get ready for.” With a wave, he climbed back into the carriage, instructing his driver to take him back to his bachelor’s residence.
Sophie waved back, standing on her doorstep, holding Charlie’s hand. At least he was going to the party tonight. That was a start. With luck, he’d meet someone suitable.
When Emma opened her eyes again, she was lying atop her bed. The pain in her head had diminished appreciably, but a new ache in her hip more than made up for the loss. Belle was curled up with a leather-bound book in a nearby chair.
“Oh, hello,” Belle chirped as soon as she noticed that Emma was awake. “You gave us quite a fright.” She got up, crossed the short distance to her cousin, and perched on the end of the bed.
Emma scooted up into a reclining position so that she could see Belle a little better. “What happened?”
“You fainted.”
“Again?”
“Again!”
“Well, I didn’t exactly faint the first time. It was more like a blow to the head.”
“What!?”
“Well, not really a blow to the head,” Emma hastily amended. “I fell, and then I hit my head.”
“Oh my,” Belle breathed. “Are you all right?”
“I think so,” Emma replied, gingerly rubbing the fast-growing lump above her right ear. “How did I get up here? The last I remember, I was in the kitchen.”
“I carried you.”
“You carried me up four flights of stairs?”
“Well, Cook helped.”
“Oh, God.” Emma grimaced at the thought of Cook having to lug her up four flights of stairs. “How embarrassing.”
“And Mary and Susie,” Belle added.
Utterly mortified, Emma sank back into the bed as if trying to disappear among the voluminous quilts.
“Actually, it wasn’t very difficult at all,” Belle continued, oblivious to Emma’s distress. “First we wrapped you in a blanket. Then I grabbed your shoulders, Cook took your feet, and Mary and Susie spaced themselves out between us.”
“And I didn’t wake up?”
“You did make a few odd noises when we rounded the corner on the second landing, but no, you were most definitely unconscious.”
“Odd noises?”
Belle’s expression turned sheepish. “Well, actually it might have had something to do with the fact that you crashed into the endpost when we turned the corner.”
Emma’s eyes opened wide, and her gaze flew down to the sore spot on her right hip that she’d been rubbing absently.
Belle smiled wanly. “It could very well have been your hip that hit the endpost. I seem to recall we clipped you somewhere in the middle.”
Suddenly a dreadful thought entered Emma’s mind. “What about your mother?”
“None of us exactly told her what happened,” Belle hedged.
“But she must have heard the commotion.”
“Yes, well, she did seek me out once we got you up here.”
“And?” Emma prodded.
“I told her you swooned.”
“Swooned?” Emma’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Belle nodded. “From the excitement of your first big ball and all that.”
“But that’s ridiculous! I never swoon!”
“I know.”
“Aunt Caroline knows I never swoon!”
“I know. You’re not exactly the swooning type.”
“She didn’t actually believe you, did she?”
“Not for one second,” Belle quipped, tapping her slender fingers on her book. “But Mother can be marvelously tactful sometimes, and so she left it at that. As long as you appear at the ball tonight in good health and spirits, she won’t say a word. I’m sure of it.”
Emma pulled herself up into a sitting position so that she could examine all her new aches and pains. “What a ridiculous day,” she sighed.
“Hmmm?” Belle looked up from her book, which she had started to read again. “Did you say something?”
“Nothing interesting.”
“Oh.” Belle glanced back at her book.
“What on earth are you reading?”
“All’s Well that Ends Well. Shakespeare.”
Emma felt compelled to defend her education. “I know who wrote it.”
“Hmm? Yes, of course you do.” Belle smiled absently. “I brought it in to read while waiting for you to wake up.”
“Good grief. How long did you think I was going to be unconscious?”
“I had no idea, actually. I’ve never swooned before.”
“I didn’t swoon,” Emma ground out between clenched teeth.
“So you say.”
Emma sighed as she looked up at her cousin’s mock-innocent expression. “I suppose you want me to tell you what happened.”
“Only if you want to.” Belle reopened the leather-bound volume and began to read again. “I have all the time in the world, you know,” she added, looking back up at Emma. “I’ve decided to read the complete works of Shakespeare. I’m doing the plays first, then poetry.”
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely. I’m going to do it in alphabetical order.”
“Do you realize how long that is going to take?”
“Of course. But I figure that with the way you’re going, I’ll be spending plenty of time at your bedside.”
Emma narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean by that?”
“Who knows how soon you’ll be unconscious again?”
“I can assure you I have no such plans for the immediate future.”
Belle smiled sweetly. “I imagine you don’t. But if you don’t tell me what happened this afternoon, I might just knock you out myself.”
Many hours later, Emma sat at her dressing table wincing while Meg, her maid, fussed with her hair. Belle sat beside her, undergoing similar torture.
“I don’t think you’re telling me everything,” Belle admonished.
“I told you,” Emma sighed. “I fell down after I knocked the little boy out
of the path of the hack. Then I hit my head.”
“What about those earrings?”
“The boy’s mother gave them to me. She thought I was a maid. I’m planning to call on her tomorrow to give them back. How many times do you need to hear this?”
“I don’t know.” Belle narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “I still think you’re leaving something out.”
“I saved the boy. I got the earrings. Period.” Emma gave Belle a sharp nod for emphasis.
“Emma, you were gone for an hour! Something must have happened between the boy and the earrings!”
“I was unconscious, that’s what happened! What do you think, I was ravished by some mysterious man?” Emma groaned inwardly as she realized how close to the truth that speculation actually was. She felt a little guilty for not telling Belle about her strange experience with the Duke of Ashbourne. They usually told each other everything. But Emma felt strangely possessive of her time with the duke, and she didn’t feel like sharing her memory with anyone, not even Belle.
“Well, I think it’s absolutely famous that it was the Countess of Wilding who gave you those earrings,” Belle chuckled, amusement dancing in her bright blue eyes. “I know Sophie fairly well. She isn’t very much older than we are. Mama and her mother are good friends. They’ll all just scream when they hear what happened. Although perhaps we shouldn’t say anything. I don’t think Mama would look favorably upon your going out alone dressed as a maid. Still, the situation is most amusing. I can’t believe Sophie gave you jewels to secure your future. Why, with your fortune, you could buy and sell us all.”
“Hardly,” Emma said dryly, pointedly glancing at the string of pearls draped around Belle’s throat. “Besides, she did think I was a maid.”
“I know, I know. Still, it’s just too funny. I do wish that Sophie were coming tonight. I’d love to see her face when she walked into the ballroom and saw the ‘ scullery maid’ decked out in all her finery.”
“Really, Belle, that’s positively cruel of you. The countess was very distraught this afternoon. She nearly lost her son.”
“You’re calling me cruel? You, the queen of all practical jokesters? The same girl who sent poor Ned a fake love note from Clarissa Trent?”
