Chapter 8

Callum gaped at Lady Emily, who sat before him, quietly waiting for his response. The message he’d received from her last night had mentioned an urgent matter. She’d requested he call upon her the following morning, at his earliest convenience. So he’d set off for Rosemont House as soon as it was appropriate for him to do so, and was now comfortably seated in the parlor.

Naturally, he’d been concerned. And worried. He’d hardly slept since he’d tried to work out what this was about. But he’d not imagined this.

“You want me to do what?”

He still couldn’t quite comprehend her request. She’d spoken in a rush while clutching her hands and strolling about in a state of complete agitation. Finally, she’d ceased her pacing and lowered herself to a spot on the sofa. Her eyes were wide, imploring pools of green.

“I realize it sounds a bit mad, but you are the only person who might be willing to help.”

“By lying to your grandmother?” He just wanted to be perfectly clear about what she was asking of him.

“Is it so terribly wrong if it lets her die happy?” Lady Emily gazed back at him as though he had the means by which to save the entire kingdom if only he’d try. When he didn’t answer – not because he had nothing to say but because there were too many thoughts filling his brain – she shook her head. “I’m sorry. It’s a silly idea. Let’s forget I asked.”

“I beg your pardon?” He stared at her. “You’ve just asked that I pretend to be your fiancé, and now you want me to forget it?”

“I’m sure you have more pressing matters to attend to than this and judging from your response, you’re not inclined to do it. Which I completely understand. Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking.”

He was fairly certain he did. She loved her grandmother and was attempting to fulfill her dying wish. That was precisely the sort of lovely thing he’d expect from her, the only problem being all the potential complications that might arise while carrying out the plan.

He took a deep breath and slowly expelled it. “First of all, I’d like to take a moment to tell you how sorry I am to hear of your grandmother’s grave condition. That cannot be easy for you or your parents.”

She averted her gaze briefly, but not enough to hide the tears that welled in her eyes. It tore at his heart knowing she suffered – that she would soon suffer more when news of her grandmother’s death arrived. Dismissing propriety, he reached for her hand. She started a little, but quickly relaxed and allowed him to simply offer the comfort he wished to impart.

“I am your friend.” It was imperative he make that clear. Even if he had a burning desire to be something more, his primary goal at the moment was offering strength and support. “I’m also glad that you felt able to come to me with this request. It caught me by surprise, that’s all. I hadn’t expected an offer of marriage when I left my home this morning.”

He added a teasing smile. The truth was, she had completely swept the rug from under his feet.

“It was very bold of me, I’ll admit.” Gratitude shone in her eyes, and Callum’s heart melted.

“So just to be sure I understand, you wish for us to visit your grandmother together. Yes?” She’d related the details too quickly for him to follow. His mind had been stuck on ‘pretend courtship’.

She nodded. “Grandmama didn’t believe me when I told her you and I were courting. She…doesn’t believe you to be the marrying sort, I’m afraid.”

“Hmm…” He reflected on that a moment. Marrying wasn’t something he’d spent much time thinking about, until recently As he’d told Lady Emily, he had time. But when he was with her, he felt the uncanny need for something more permanent. It was a feeling unlike any other and one he feared she did not share.

This complicated her request since a small part of him secretly wished for it to be real. If he weren’t careful, he could end up brokenhearted, but wasn’t that a risk worth taking if he truly cared about her?

“Your grandmother isn’t wrong,” he said. “I’ve shown no interest in courtship or marriage before. In fact, the first lady I’ve called on with flowers is you.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

His heart beat a bit harder at the realization that she seemed to like that idea.

Careful.

He released her hand and positioned himself with his forearms resting upon his thighs and his hands clasped together. “No one else can know about this.”

“Does that mean you’ll do it?”

It was a big request, but why should he refuse? He had no other attachment and he did owe her a favor for helping him out with Peter.

He gave his consent before he could change his mind. “Yes.”

“Thank you.” The relief with which she spoke assured him he’d made the right decision. This would not only give Viscountess Seaton peace. It would also give it to Lady Emily.

Still, the endeavor was not without risk. He had to make that clear to her. “If word gets out that you and I travelled to visit your grandmother’s deathbed together, assumptions will be made.”

“Agreed.” She nodded with the keenness of an adventuress about to explore an unchartered land. “I thought we might meet somewhere along the way and continue onward from there.”

He tried to think of a discreet location. “There’s a church in Camden, near the main road. Do you know it?”

“No, but I’m sure my coachman does.”

There was another detail that needed addressing. “I trust Georgina will be joining us?”

“Of course. My reputation will be preserved.”

He was pleased to hear it. “And when would you like to depart?”

“Today. As early as possible since Mama and Papa intend to return to Seaton Hall themselves this evening. I’d like to go and come back before then.”

“Very well. I’ll need to return home first, but I can meet you at the designated spot in a couple of hours. Will that do?”

“Yes.”

He stood, gave a short bow, and departed, all the while wondering what the hell he’d just gotten into. It wasn’t until he’d already set off that he realized how problematic this could become for them both.

Making big decisions with haste was always unwise and he had to admit, this plan he’d agreed to help Lady Emily with, was no small thing. He should have taken more time to consider the possible implications it could potentially lead to. But with a viscountess on her deathbed, he hadn’t.

Instead he’d agreed, not taking into account that Lady Emily’s grandfather would have to be informed of their courtship as well. Callum doubted the viscount would go along with deceiving his wife, so they would have to lie to him too. Which pretty much ensured this would all spiral out of control.

Two hours later, Callum muttered a curse as he climbed from his hired carriage. He walked to the spot where the Rosemont carriage was meant to pick him up and glanced at his pocket watch. Five to eleven. She’d be here any minute.

No sooner had he returned the watch to his jacket pocket, than he spotted the carriage. It wasn’t the same one she’d used when they’d gone to the fair. This one was unmarked, he noted.

It pulled to a stop and Callum greeted the coachman before climbing in.

“Good day, ladies,” he said, by way of greeting as he settled onto the bench opposite Lady Emily and her maid. “A pleasure to see you again.”

“Thank you for coming.” Lady Emily wore a somber expression, but that didn’t stop her from smiling at him with what looked like genuine pleasure.

“How could I refuse?” He winked at her and pulled the door shut, then knocked on the roof.

The carriage jolted into motion, rolling toward their next destination, which Lady Emily claimed to be just one hour away. Callum watched her while trying to think of something to say. The subject he wished to broach would have to wait since he’d no idea how much Lady Emily might have revealed to her maid.

He drummed his fingers against his thigh and suddenly thought of a different means by which to pass the time. “Shall we exchange this or that questions?”

“As a means by which to discover our differences and similarities?”

“Precisely.” He stopped drumming his fingers and tilted his head. “I’ll give you an easy one to start with. Day or night?”

“I’ve always been a day person.”

“Me too.” He smiled at her softly and saw that the tightness in her features was starting to ease. “Your turn.”

“Very well.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Red or white wine.”

“Red.” He didn’t even have to think about it. “And you?”

“Also red.”

The edge of his mouth quirked. “Town or country?”

“That’s a tough one, but I suppose if I had to choose I’d probably pick the town. As much as I love the country, I always end up missing the bookshops and the theatre.”

“I wasn’t aware you enjoyed the theatre.”

“Doesn’t everyone?” She grinned and he was delighted to have distracted her from the ache he knew she felt in her breast at the moment. “I think that brings me to the next question. Ballet or opera?”

“As I’m sure you can appreciate, I’m not very fond of dancing.”

“No?” Her eyes sparkled. “I wonder why.”

“Minx.” She looked quite pretty with her sage green bonnet and matching velvet spencer. His gaze dropped to her lips, so perfectly pink and lush. God, how he’d love to kiss her. He cleared his throat and forced his eyes to meet hers while telling her softly, “You’re the only lady I’ve ever danced with.”

It was a telling confession. He’d no idea why he’d brought it up.

“Because of what happened?”

He nodded. “I was horrified by how badly it went and feared another attempt, so I haven’t danced since.”

“We’ll have to rectify that.”

He gave her a dubious look. “How?”

“By having another go at it of course. How else?”

“Absolutely not.” If there was one thing he wouldn’t do, it was dance with her again.

She huffed a breath and flattened her mouth in a frustrated sort of way. “Dancing can be enjoyable. You cannot honestly mean to go through the rest of your life without making further attempts.”

“I’ve managed well enough so far.”

A frown puckered her brow. “As we’ve already established, you weren’t the only one who got the steps wrong that day. I made mistakes too.”

“Yes, but you didn’t crush my toes.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Perhaps it was time to address the past and put it to rest once and for all. “The truth is, I was anxious.”

“I gathered as much,” she said with a chuckle, “though I cannot imagine why. You were one of the most sought-after bachelors London had to offer.”

“A fact that did little to reduce the pressure of getting everything right. And then you came along.”

“Me?”

“I knew the moment I saw you that I was in trouble. My face got all hot and my hands started sweating. It honestly felt like I might be sick.”

“How flattering,” she muttered, looking slightly affronted.

“You made me so bloody nervous,” he added before he could change his mind.

Her lips parted. She shook her head as if baffled. “I don’t see how. Was it something I said or—”

“It was simply you.” He held her gaze while letting that statement sink in. “I’d never seen a lady more dazzling. You made me feel self-conscious for the first time in my life.”

“But…I am the furthest thing from what is considered classically pretty. My hair is red instead of fashionably blonde. I’m also unusually tall for a woman and—”

“You’re perfect, my lady. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“I…” Her mouth opened and closed a few times but no additional words came.

Callum glanced at the maid. It bothered him that she’d overheard their exchange, but he also felt much lighter now that he’d told Lady Emily of the effect she’d had on him from the beginning. He’d never told anyone else. Papa had just thought he was horsing about and had scolded him for it later.

“Strawberry shortcake or trifle?” he asked.

“Sorry?”

“For dessert,” Callum clarified. “What’s your preference?”

“Oh…um…strawberry shortcake I suppose.” When she said nothing more, he nudged her foot. “Your turn.”

“Right. Of course. Um… Pall mall or billiards?”

“Pall mall, I should think.”

The smile that followed was one of surprise and wonder. “It would seem we have a great deal in common.”

His gaze caught hers. “Mind if I stretch out my legs?”

Something incredibly tempting flashed in those pretty eyes of hers. A flush rose to her cheeks and he wished with all his heart that it was because she was starting to want him as much as he wanted her.

“By all means,” she said, her manner so breezy it gave no hint of being the least bit affected by what he’d asked.

She turned to address her maid, bringing up something about some trim she wished to apply to one of her gowns. Her legs moved, allowing Callum the space he needed. He pushed his feet forward between Lady Emily’s feet and the wall of the carriage, and crossed his legs at the ankles.

The conversation about the trim ended and Lady Emily shifted back into position while moving her skirts as if trying to get more comfortable. The voluminous fabric fell over Callum’s feet, and then her ankles pressed against his.

A rush of desire heated his veins. His pulse quickened and his breath caught. Having crossed his arms, he dug his fingertips into his biceps while staring toward the spot where he and Lady Emily touched. Although he couldn’t see them, he knew her stocking-clad ankles rested against his boots.

His muscles tightened and he directed a hasty glance toward the maid, whose attention was now on the view. Had she not been here, Callum had little doubt that he would have dragged Lady Emily into his lap and kissed her senseless.

There was a reason why young ladies needed chaperones. To protect them from men with wicked intentions. And frankly, his intentions toward Lady Emily were becoming increasingly so. Oh, he could deny it as much as he wished, but that didn’t change the fact that he’d wondered about her on several occasions.

Apparently, the better he got to know her, the lustier his thoughts became.

He swept his gaze back to the lady in question and saw that she studied him with open interest.

“Are you more comfortable now, Your Grace?” There was a hint of mischief to her voice that instantly filled his head with all sorts of lascivious ideas. Good Lord. This had to end.

“Perfectly so,” he murmured while doing his best not to wonder how long it would take to work through the buttons that ran down the front of her spencer. “Thank you.”

She dipped her head and said nothing further, but her gaze remained locked with his until they reached their destination.