“Step out of the fabric, Emma,” he said gruffly, his hands moving to the small buttons down the front of her camisole. “Sweet…beautiful…” he kissed a path behind the buttons he opened until the sides of the camisole parted. Tear drop shapes were betrayed to him on either side, his palms gliding over her ribs to cup each breast.
Emma shivered. It felt like it had been so very long since such sweet sensations raced through her. She felt the thick moisture between the lips of her pussy when his thumbs stroked over her nipples.
His hands left her breasts long enough to settle on her waist and lift until her knees were bent on either side of his knees. His hands stroked behind her, gripping her behind and pulling her hard against him. He couldn’t recall a woman sinking so firmly into his senses before Emma Carstairs. It wasn’t merely his cock she’d stirred, but she was deep inside his mind and warmly wrapped around his heart.
“Marry me, Emma,” Lucas lowered his mouth until he could draw his tongue around one pebbled nipple. He suckled, pulled the peak between his teeth and stroked his hands over her back and behind.
“I…no, no…” she was gasping in air, her back arched and the mewl she offered was soft at the pleasures shooting through her. Marriage. Forced marriage. Bad idea, a distant part of her argued seconds before his hand slid between her thighs.
“Yes…” Lucas said gruffly, dragging his fingers between the swollen center and pulling heated moisture over her clit. Her body jumped in his hands. He used his thumb to stroke over and around, pressing against her clit while he slid one long finger inside her. Entry wasn’t difficult. She was weeping hot moisture to guide him. But she was tight. So hot and tight. He added a second finger, stretching her in slow shallow thrusts. “Marry me, Emma…or I will stop this now.”
“I…no…you can’t be serious…” she pushed herself against his fingers, the faintest hint of pain snapping into her senses. “You want me…I know you do…” Holding her breath, she thrust against his invading fingers hard and knew the pain part was removed even as she gulped in deep drafts of air, waiting for it to pass. “Please, Lucas…”
“Promise me, Emma. We will be married,” he told her without doubt. He pulled his fingers away from her warmth and gripped her waist, stopping her movement and holding her captive when she struggled to rub her body against his cock.
“You came to the summons to tell your father he was mad! That…that winning you a bride was ludicrous!”
“I changed my mind,” he informed her firmly.
“I have not,” she whispered angrily, squirming and shoving her palms against his shoulders. Not a single movement, she realized, scowling and wiggling more. “Release me.”
“Agree to marry me.”
“No.”
Lucas raised his arms a little higher, his tongue scraping one of her nipples. He watched her open her mouth and then snap it shut.
“Your arms will get tired,” Emma ground her teeth together to avoid gulping in a sharp breath when his mouth continuing teasing her. She dug her nails into his shoulders and closed her eyes.
“I’ve taken your virginity,” Lucas said quietly.
“I…you’re…” she stared at him with wide, round eyes. “It’s a piece of useless skin that…I cannot believe I am even thinking of responding to that statement. I swear to you, Lucas, I am going to scream.”
“I will arrange for the local parson and complete the necessary paperwork. We shall be wed within a fortnight,” Lucas informed her. He stood up and lowered her to the floor before striding out of the room without looking back.
Emma stood gaping at the empty room.
How did the morning go bad so quickly?
She bent and retrieved the bloomers and quickly dressed, her fingers shaking as she buttoned her camisole and continued to stare at the open door.
“Good morning, Miss,” Nancy came around the corner with a glass of juice in her hand. She looked toward the closed trunk and the dress Emma held in her hands. “I can help you with that. You should have called for me, Miss.”
Emma sighed and dropped the dress over her head. “I’m accustomed to dressing myself, Nancy. It’s fine, thank you for offering, though.” She moved to the side of the bed and leaned against it. Both women looked up when Lucas suddenly came around the corner fully dressed.
“I’ve arranged for Daniel to prepare a carriage and take you both into town as soon as you finish your breakfast, Emma,” Lucas remained in the open door.
Emma moved to the vanity bench and sat facing the mirror. She held up the brush to Nancy and caught her gaze in the mirror.
“If you would braid this mess, please, Nancy. I’m not hungry so we can leave as soon as we’re ready.”
“Leave us for a few moments, Nancy,” Lucas took the hairbrush from her and waited for the door to close, giving them privacy. “You should have breakfast, Emma.”
“I do not need a keeper, Lucas. Thank you for your concern. Are you moving the…” her voice dropped to a whisper. “The money?”
“I will handle it once the house is empty,” Lucas informed her, moving to stand behind her and begin stroking the brush through her hair.
Emma tried jerking her head away until their gaze met in the mirror. She sighed, feeling like a child throwing a temper tantrum.
“You don’t want to be married to me, Lucas,” Emma said after a few quiet minutes, his hand smoothing the long hair while the other brushed through the thick, dark strands. “I just think it would be a bad idea. I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
“How can you be certain you would make me unhappy, Emma?”
“You don’t know me, Lucas,” she whispered, her head shaking slowly.
“I know that in the last few days I’ve met a woman who rarely speaks my language,” he met the pouting little scowl in the mirror as he continued brushing her long hair. “She brings me into moments I’ve never cared to be in. She speaks to me of everything except clothing, shoes and hairstyles. She makes me laugh and speaks to me of inventions of tomorrow without ridicule or derision. She kisses me as though I were more important than a title and wealth of jewels. She’s uninhibited and adventurous. She’s child-like and intelligent. How can I permit such a woman to leave me?”
“Oh, Lucas…” His name breathed from her lips and Emma closed her eyes.
“What are you frightened of, Emma?”
“I don’t belong here, Lucas,” she repeated with a little sob, her head shaking as she pulled away and turned to look up at him. She saw herself reflected in the oval lenses he wore, and even as she stared, she didn’t recognize the woman staring back at her or the woman he was describing. She drew in a long, slow breath and stood up, taking his hands in hers.
Hers were shaking; his, warm and confident.
Chapter Ten
“I’m not a coward. I don’t know who I am or…or why I’ve been put here,” Emma said quietly, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. “It’s hurts to fail and failing you would truly…” her voice caught and quivered. “Yes, Lucas. Yes, I will marry you.”
Lucas brought his palms up and framed her face.
Emma felt her heart pounding in her chest and listened to the shouting inside her head demanding to know what was she doing.
“You won’t regret it, Emma,” Lucas assured her.
“It isn’t me I’m concerned about,” she lied, her smile forced as she stepped back and went to the bedroom door. “Nancy? Could you braid this for me and we can leave. Oh, I’ll have to get my list from the library. I think I left it on your desk.”
“And you won’t have sustenance before you shop?”
Emma crossed to the nightstand and lifted the glass of juice that had been brought for her. She watched his mouth twitch as she lifted the glass and drained the juice.
“Breakfast. I’m honestly not much of a morning eating person. Usually I’ll be hungry about noon,” she said with a smile, returning to sit on the vanity bench and hand Nancy the hairbrush.
“I’ll be in the library,” Lucas said as he moved to the door. “I’ll have Daniel ready and at the door for you both.”
Emma turned from the penetrating glance and stared into the mirror.
“Make it tight, Nancy so it stays in for the day, please. I’m not used to all this hair. I should have it cut off,” she said absently, barely noticing the shocked expression on the younger woman’s face. “It’s just hair, Nancy. It grows back.”
“Perhaps, Miss, you should discuss this with his lordship,” Nancy murmured as her fingers deftly wove the dark hair into a long braid. “Would you like it pinned up?”
Emma waved a palm at the reflection. “It’s fine down. Just tie it off and I’ll find my shoes and we can go. Wait in the carriage for me. I won’t be long,” Emma promised and went to her knees by the bed where she knew she’d kicked her shoes off. She sat back and worked them on, tying the waxed laces, only vaguely aware of Nancy leaving her alone.
Emma stared at the closed trunk.
She stood up and wandered down the hall to the staircase. So all you want is nothing and the universe has decided, oh, no, not for you, missy! Let’s throw you into the middle of another life and, oh, by the way, try and get this one right.
Emma was still pondering the whole new mess that was her life as she entered the library. She’d left her note paper on Lucas’ desk and found it waiting for her. Lucas was busy writing something but looked up when she entered the room.
“Just tell the shop keepers to place your items on my account, Emma,” he told her with a glance at the collection of items she’d listed on her note. “I take it those items are for some of the recipes in your books?”
“Personal things…I don’t know…I’m going to explore the shops and see what I can find,” Emma folded the note and looked for pockets on her dress. She shoved it inside and turned to leave. “Do you believe in reincarnation, Lucas?”
“Believe in it?” He repeated slowly.
“Grasp what it’s supposed to be,” she interpreted, pausing at the door and watching him. She had to smile. She could tell he was trying to come up with polite words to answer her. “It’s alright not to believe in it. It’s simply another form people use to explain what happens when you die. I just wondered if you were familiar with it is all.”
“I know what it portents to be, Emma, if that’s what you’re asking,” Lucas laid his pen down and studied her.
“I’ll see you later,” she lifted a hand and waved before walking toward the front doors. Evidently Harris hadn’t returned from his errands yet since she hadn’t seen him for two days. And the younger, far less than polite Daniel sat at the top of the open carriage, his foot hitched on the side and waiting to go.
Emma swung herself into the back and plopped down across from Nancy, noticing the two woven baskets.
“Are we shopping for Mrs. Nielson?”
“She’s asked me to pick up some things for her,” Nancy kept her gaze on Emma’s knees, refusing to look up.
“Where should I take you, Miss?” Daniel asked over his shoulder, casting appreciative and untoward glances at both women.
Emma frowned and looked at Nancy.
“To whatever street has the shops on it. Then you sit somewhere and we’ll find you when we’ve finished,” Emma told him firmly. She reached over and tugged until Nancy moved to sit beside her. “Is something wrong?” She whispered.
“Nothing, Miss,” Nancy answered instantly.
“That’s obviously a lie. Has he been rude to you?” Emma had felt the tension the instant she entered the carriage and almost wished they had one where he couldn’t hear or see them.
Nancy bit her lip and remained silent.
“We’ll talk when we’re alone,” Emma said simply, launching herself into a mindless travelogue as they rode down the quiet lane toward Eastbourne.
Emma leaned back and looked around as they entered the town. “I suppose how I got here isn’t nearly as important as what I do now that I’m here,” she decided aloud before reaching for one of the baskets. “Stop here, Daniel. When we’re finished, we’ll find you at this Inn.”
“Yes, Miss,” he answered with only the smallest hint of a sneer in his voice.
“I don’t like him,” Emma said when they were walking away from the carriage. “I don’t like him at all. Has he been bothering you, Nancy? And please be honest with me.”
“He believes he should have privileges, Miss,” Nancy said politely, reaching into the pocket on her apron and pulling out a list.
“I can guess what those privileges entail,” Emma said with a glance over her shoulder where the carriage was left. She’d seen Daniel enter the tavern portion of the Inn. She only hoped he was sober enough to get them home. “I’ll take care of it. He will not be sexually harassing my friend.”
Emma wondered if Nancy had a question about the words used, she kept them to herself as they walked. She heard the words inside her head about being in a whole new world and barely kept herself from giggling. It was too close to the surface where the hysteria was just waiting for a chance to escape.
With a resolute sigh, she began to take in the closely packed narrow buildings and the people slowly milling around the wakening town. Glancing at the wide collection of attire, she didn’t find it difficult to recognize the gentry from the workers, the shop owners and servants, like Nancy going around on errands. Emma smiled and looked down at her dress, amused that people might have a hard time sticking her into a slot.
Signs labeled each of the doorways. Some on thick wooden planks, others noted on the glass windows. She couldn’t tell if it was the proprietor or an employee who stood in some doorways, watching people pass.
Emma began to see a pattern, though and asked Nancy.
“There seem to be a lot of people out this morning,” Emma continued watching, realizing she had also become a bit of an attraction to the shop people and servants passing them on the walkway.
“It’s the season,” Nancy answered as if that explained it all.
“Summer by the sea,” Emma said with a little nod. “It’s a medicinal town,” she said mostly to herself as things began gelling in her mind. All the bath houses, the generous supply of apothecaries and the decidedly wealthy looking patrons being ferried about in ornate carriages.
“We get many people from London,” Nancy told her.
“I’m going in here,” Emma gestured to the large sign proclaiming it was the best apothecary in the town. But then, she laughed, all of them wanted to lay claim to the same thing. She pulled her list from her side pocket and read through it as she entered the shop.
Definitely needed more windows, she thought, looking up and smiling at the older man who approached her. He smiled, but it was aimed at Nancy behind her.
“Nancy…training a new maid for the manor?” He asked politely, his hands clasp before him.
“Oh, no, Mr. Hettinger! This is Miss Carstairs,” Nancy looked at Emma. “His lordship’s fiancé,” she added reverently.
Emma wasn’t sure how, but the man managed to stiffen up just a little bit more and she swore she heard his heels click together. But she didn’t want to embarrass herself by looking down at the floor so she offered up a bright smile.
“Hello, Mr. Herringer,” Emma offered her palm and shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you. Do you think you could help me with things on my list?” She handed him the paper and watched his gaze sweep from Nancy to her to the list in his hand.
“Of course, Miss Carstairs,” he said quickly. “Of course,” he hurried off, collecting things and setting them on the glass case.
Emma wandered around the shop, reading and adding things to the collection. It was like being in a new merchandise antique shop, a thought that made her giggle.
“I think that’s all I need for today,” Emma said with a smile that faded slightly when she saw how large the collection had grown. “Oh.”
“It can be delivered, Miss,” Nancy said q
uickly.
“I…delivered?” Emma breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. That’s wonderful.”
“I’ll apply these things to his lordship’s account and see they’re delivered before the end of the day, Miss Carstairs,” Mr. Hettinger assured her.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Hettinger.” Emma touched Nancy’s arm. “I’m going exploring,” she said with the glee of a child.
“Oh, Miss, please…I’ll be right out,” Nancy promised.
“I’m all right, Nancy, don’t worry,” Emma promised and stepped back into the August sunshine. Her nose twitched. Then her stomach let loose with a growl.
Emma crossed the street, the clatter of hooves and wagon wheels over the cobble stones making her smile. She followed her nose and the small gathering of people around the large cart where the delicious smells were coming from. She noted the difference in clothing between the people waiting to purchase something as opposed to others in carriages passing them.
Emma guessed that the dresses in her trunks were more Americanized than the clothing she saw on the women stepping from carriages and striding straight into salons and bath houses. She never understood the bustle thing and vowed there wouldn’t be one resting on her behind any time soon. Her head shook at the thought that men probably did the designing and what the heck had been the purpose of the thing?
“Miss? Can I help ye?”
Emma blinked back to the present and scrambled for the small purse she’d found in her collection of things. She separated the opening and pulled out one of the coins, letting it clank on the metal of the cart.
“One of those, please,” she asked, pointing to a pastry covered something that everyone seemed to be devouring.
“Miss!”
Emma turned briefly, waved at Nancy and turned back to the woman who was holding a newsprint wrapped palm sized meat pie for her. Along with a ton of coins. She opened her purse and let the coins drop inside. She pulled the strings tight, shoved the little bag into her pocket and hungrily took the paper wrapped pie.
“Do you want one, Nancy? I’ve lots of coins,” Emma offered with a smile. She walked to the bench and sat down on the edge, fingers plucking at the warm, flaky crust. She popped a large piece into her mouth and reached into her pocket. She fumbled with one hand on the little purse and handed Nancy some coins. “They’re delicious,” she breathed with a grin at Nancy.
Red Crystal Romance: #1 Emma Page 10
