Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

E mma gasped and nearly pushed him away in shock. You're not the Earl? She nearly said aloud.

"You!" her voice couldn't be more accusing now. "You tricked me!"

"I saved you from breaking a leg," he countered.

Where she was utterly flustered, he appeared completely calm and unperturbed. "Were you expecting someone else then? Did I perhaps interrupt a planned tryst?" he asked, his curiosity palpable, a slight teasing tone in his voice that did nothing to alleviate Emma's growing discomfort.

"I need to leave," she blurted before quickly turning on her heels and practically running out of the dark conservatory. The warm air in the hallway touched her face as she emerged, providing a small relief from the stifling tension inside.

She nearly collided with her parents. "Emma—" her mother began, her voice filled with concern and a hint of suspicion.

"The Earl was supposed to be there, but Seymore ruined things…" Her father whispered in agitation. Her parents tried to question her, but she was in no mood for their inquiries. "Not now," she managed to say, her voice firm yet weary.

Leaving them, she turned at the end of the hallway and hurried without thinking where she was going. They followed her, relentless in their mission. As she passed an open room, she heard a voice say, "I could have sworn I had my brooch on me earlier." Emma recalled the brooch she'd found. Perfect timing , she thought. The heavens seemed in her favor tonight. What better excuse to avoid a further interrogation from her parents?

"I can help," she said quickly, stepping into the room without further thought. Lady Amberton blinked at her—as though wondering where she had come from. "I overheard as I was passing. Forgive me." Emma removed the brooch and showed it to her.

"Oh, where did you find it?" Lady Amberton was ecstatic, relief washing over her features.

"I nearly stepped on it," Emma offered half the truth, choosing not to disclose the precise location lest it implicated her in some unforeseen manner.

"Oh, this is a gift from my late husband," Lady Amberton exclaimed. "I couldn't afford to lose it. Thank you, Miss…"

"Lovell. Emma Lovell," she introduced herself, curtsying politely.

"As lovely as your name," Lady Amberton chuckled warmly before thanking her once more.

With a polite nod and a small smile, Emma excused herself. Her parents were thankfully nowhere to be seen, but she suspected they were nearby. No sooner had she closed her bedchamber door behind her than it reopened, and her parents walked in, their faces etched with expressions of apprehension and curiosity.

"What happened?" they echoed, their voices overlapping in their urgency to understand.

If they weren't her parents, she would have sent them out and slammed the door shut. But instead, she met their gaze steadily. "I came across the Duke in the conservatory. I left so as not to be inappropriate," she shrugged, her voice even, masking the turmoil she felt inside.

Her father let out an audible sigh of relief. The way their faces relaxed confirmed her suspicions: they had indeed meant to set up a meeting for her with the Earl. "The Earl is a botanist, so I brought up his plants and asked him to show us one of his rare collectibles from the conservatory," he explained, seeming satisfied with his supposedly clever arrangement.

"I insisted that he fetch the plant himself, so we could follow with an audience and find you two alone. However, the Duke volunteered to retrieve it instead," he added, his displeasure at having his plan thwarted all but palpable in the tense lines of his face.

"We are glad you thought quickly and left. The last thing we need is for the Duke to ruin our plans and tarnish our family name," Caroline interjected.

"Indeed," her father agreed, nodding solemnly. "But no worries. We shall try again," he added with a determined set to his jaw, as though plotting yet another maneuver in their relentless social chess game.

Emma listened, appalled by her parents' desperation and schemes. They spoke of her as though she were a pawn in their grand strategy, a mere tool to be positioned at their convenience.

If only I had a choice.

"The Earl was supposed to be there, but Seymore ruined things."

George could not dismiss what he'd overheard Baron Dewsbury saying in the hallway. The words echoed in his mind, mingling with the memory of Miss Lovell's palpable disappointment in the conservatory when she realized his identity in the dim light and accused him of tricking her. She'd clearly been expecting someone else—Alexander, perhaps?

Surely not!

Was this an attempt at entrapment he'd inadvertently come between and possibly foiled? He also remembered how insistent the Baron had been that Alexander personally retrieve the plant to show them himself. George rather thought the Baron displeased when he'd volunteered to get it instead. He'd only offered to do so to escape for a private moment to smoke. Were his actions now a blessing to Alexander? Had he saved his friend from a possibly orchestrated scandal?

Miss Lovell didn't seem like the sort to be involved in such schemes. But then, what did he know about her, save for her temper that he curiously found interesting. Indeed, people are deceptive.

He turned back to the liquor cabinet in Alexander's study and refilled his tumbler. "What exactly do you know about the family of Baron Dewsbury, Alexander?" George asked his friend. They were sharing a drink in Alexander's study later that night after the guests had retired for the evening.

Alex quirked an eyebrow, equal parts curious and perplexed by his question. "What do you mean?" he returned.

"Do you trust the Baron?" George probed, his tone serious.

"If I had to trust everyone in order to host them, then my house would be empty right now, George," Alexander chuckled, his response light-hearted but touched with truth. "Why?" He added, now fully in the conversation.

George contemplated what he'd overheard and his suspicions. "I'm merely advising that you be cautious and watch yourself more often, Alexander. Especially in the company of Miss Lovell."

"Miss Lovell?" Alex was surprised.

"She seems particularly interested in you," George shrugged after a sip of his drink.

"Whatever interests she may harbor seem rather harmless, don't you think?" Alexander chuckled again. "She's a most decent lady, from what I'm coming to gather," he added, his tone reflecting a hint of admiration.

Alexander is too trusting , George thought, a little frustrated by his friend's casual dismissal. "One should not be too free with people."

Alexander appeared thoughtful for a moment before responding, "One would think you would grow less protective as an adult. You haven't changed a bit, George." His friend suddenly had a wistful look in his eyes.

"Only because you are constantly getting yourself into trouble," George jested. "One of us needed to keep the focus for two," he added with a light chuckle.

"And a half. Don't forget Olivia," Alex laughed.

Olivia had been their little appendage growing up, the little child who had followed them about everywhere. They reminisced a bit into the night and shared a good laugh.

However, George still couldn't stop thinking about Miss Lovell, and the Baron's words. She was intriguing. And now most dubious too. All the more reason for him to keep an eye on her.