Lady Emma's Dilemma (9781101573662) (6 page)

A moment later, Roger reached them. “My dear Lady Fallbrook! What a pleasure to see you. I believe it has been close to five months since we stayed with you at Maplewood, which is much too long for my wife to be without your society.”

Emma smiled at the handsome man, liking the familiar twinkle in his brown eyes. “Good evening, Mr. Spence-Jones. I confess that it has been much too long.”

“As you can judge for yourself, the
ton
is agog with your arrival. And with very good reason.”

“It is true,” Amelia put in. “We were just discussing how much fun we shall have now that Lady Fallbrook has come to Town.”

Penelope sent the gentleman a sly smile. “And I shall count on you to encourage my husband to ignore any scrapes I may get into while Lady Fallbrook is here.”

Mr. Spence-Jones laughed. “Of course you may count on me, Lady Tunbridge. But I don't think you will need my assistance, for Tunbridge has always seemed to like your adventures.”

“You are too kind,” Penelope said with a chuckle.

“Lady Fallbrook, we were very pleased to see your note this morning accepting our invitation to dine tomorrow evening. We shall do our best to amuse you.”

“I have no doubt, sir, and I look forward to it.”

“Capital! Now, if you will both pardon us, I intend to waltz with my wife.” After a bow to Emma and Penelope, he guided Amelia onto the polished floor. Amelia's expression, as she gazed up at her husband, caught at Emma's heart.

Emma stayed still, unable to pull her attention from the look of love and adoration so plainly evident on her friend's pretty face.

As they moved in time to the romantic melody, Emma shifted her gaze to Roger. The expression of passion and protective tenderness stamped on his features caused an odd ache to enter her chest. He did not even attempt to
mask his emotions as he gazed down at his wife. Emma continued to watch, transfixed by the charming, shameless intimacy of the two lovers.

Amelia must have said something amusing, for Roger smiled and pulled her a little closer. Her gloved hand caressed his shoulder for a moment. An instant later, Emma lost sight of them amongst the other dancers.

“Aren't they charming?” Penelope said softly at her side.

“Undeniably.”

What must it be like to be that in love? Emma wondered, the odd ache still in her heart. What must it be like to have that kind of intimate understanding and devotion? Amelia and Roger were indeed among the most blessed people she knew, for the kind of love they shared, she knew from experience, was very rare indeed.

“Now that is a surprise!” Penelope's words broke into Emma's thoughts and she turned to see the petite blonde gazing toward the entryway. “Lud! If it isn't Lord Monteford! I heard he could not tear himself away from a certain retired actress.”

Feeling curious, Emma looked above the heads of the other guests to see the same slim, elegantly handsome man who had been with Mrs. Willoughby at the theatre, coming down the sweeping staircase.

She watched with interest as he descended and joined the throng of guests. He approached their hostess, who by her beaming smile seemed enormously pleased to see him. The flourishing bow he performed was graceful and well practiced.

Although he did not have the engaging good looks of Lord Darley, Viscount Monteford was a handsome man. He looked much as he had last night: formally dressed and exceedingly proud.

She remembered the way he had seemed to enjoy the attention his mistress received at the theatre. She also remembered the impertinent way his eyes had held hers as
she had sat in her grandmother's box. What kind of man would flaunt his mistress to half of London, and then practically flirt with another woman at the same time? These kinds of intrigues certainly did not occur back home, she thought with an amused smile.

Just then, Lord Monteford turned from his conversation with Lady Colhurst and looked directly at her. She gazed for a moment into his eyes and felt a blush creeping into her cheeks as a smile slowly came to his lips. He was doing it again! she thought with a flicker of annoyance. As smoothly as she could, she pulled her gaze from his and casually began to scan the room, until she felt a tap on her forearm.

“I would never have thought to see Viscount Monteford here,” Penelope continued in a conspiratorial tone. “From everything I have heard, he is quite besotted with a certain jewel of the demimonde and rarely leaves her side. Is it true that at the play last night an actor made some sort of comparison between you and Queen Willow?”

“Yes,” Emma said, glancing back to where Lord Monteford stood with their hostess. A look of surprise lurked beneath Lady Colhurst's pleased expression and a number of other guests looked on curiously.

“I thought my grandmother would have a paroxysm when the actor departed from the script.”

“I wish I had been there. I saw Mrs. Willoughby”—Penelope lowered her voice on the name—“at the park last week. Quite sets herself up as very superior. I would not be at all surprised if she dubbed herself Queen Willow.”

Emma laughed, keeping her gaze on Lord Monteford, who had left their hostess to stand with a group on the other side of the room.

“She did rather behave as if she owned the theatre. I have to say I found her confidence impressive.”

“Yes, that is why I am surprised to see Monteford here tonight. But seeing him puts me in mind of his friend.”

Emma caught Penelope's serious gaze as she continued. “I have to ask if you are aware that Lord Devruex is in Town.”

Although Emma was surprised to hear that Lord Monteford and Jack Devruex were acquainted, she had prepared herself for Penelope's question. She was quite proud of herself when she did not become flustered.

It was only natural that Penelope would be concerned about her encountering Jack Devruex, for she was one of the few people who knew the true details of what happened all those years ago.

“Yes, I heard last night. It's not really surprising, is it?”

“No. My husband is quite impressed with Devruex's stables and says he is becoming quite the star in the racing world.”

Instantly, the memory of a young Jack Devruex telling her of his dreams and plans for breeding thoroughbreds washed over her in a stinging wave. His eloquent enthusiasm had captured her young imagination and there had been a time when nothing seemed more exciting to her than helping him build his stable.

So he had achieved some of his goals, she thought with grudging admiration. Briefly, she wondered where he had gotten the capital to start his venture.

“Good evening again, Lady Fallbrook,” a voice reached her above the music and broke into her thoughts. Emma turned around and met a pair of smiling hazel eyes.

“Lord Darley!” she said warmly, glad she remembered his name after their brief introduction earlier.

“I confess that I have been trying to reach you for the last half an hour. I almost believed I was destined to chase you from one end of the ballroom to the other.”

Before she could stop it, surprised laughter escaped her lips as she met his admiring gaze.

“I certainly had no notion that I was being chased, but I will not apologize for unknowingly evading you in case you needed the exercise.” Emma thought him quite charming
as well as handsome as he laughed at her rejoinder. “Are you acquainted with Lady Tunbridge, sir?”

At Emma's question, Penelope sent Lord Darley a wide smile and answered for him. “Lud, yes. How are you, Darley? I spoke to your mother a while ago. She looks very well.”

“She is, thank you. I do not have to ask after your health, Lady Tunbridge, for you grow lovelier every time we meet.”

“You are such a charmer, sir.” Just then a woman in a flamboyant yellow gown approached and drew Penelope's attention away.

Lord Darley grinned at Emma and made a sweeping gesture toward the dancers. “I noticed that you have not yet danced. May I have the honor of being the first to lead you onto the floor this evening?”

Her smile broadened and she owned that she felt flattered by the admiration so evident in his smiling eyes.

With Penelope in conversation with her friend, Darley led Emma to the other dancers. Taking a deep breath, she did her best to relax, but her nerves felt rather racked for she had only ever waltzed with her brother and uncle—and that had been during private family gatherings.

A moment later, as his warm hand rested upon her waist, it became apparent that she needn't have been nervous, for Lord Darley proved to be an excellent dancer.

It felt wonderful to be whirled around the floor in time to beautiful, lilting music. And she found it even more gratifying that he also showed every evidence of enjoying himself. Charles had hated dancing. Instantly, she dismissed thoughts of her deceased husband, for she wanted nothing unpleasant to intrude upon this lovely evening.

Lord Darley skillfully led her around the floor and Emma relaxed even more, finding him extremely easy to follow. Oh, she had missed this! It had been too many years since she had experienced this heady feeling of dancing in
the arms of a handsome, attentive man. This moment alone made the trip to London well worth it.

“Shall you be staying for the entire Season, Lady Fallbrook?”

“Yes. Even so, I don't know how there will be enough time to attend all the parties and other entertainments that my grandmother has planned.”

“I shall have to pay the duchess my highest compliments for convincing you to spend the Season in Town.”

“And she will certainly take all the credit,” Emma said with wry humor as he swung her into a graceful turn.

“Lady Fallbrook, would you do me the honor of accompanying me on a drive through Hyde Park tomorrow afternoon?”

A pang of disappointment brought a slight frown to her brow. “I'm sorry Lord Darley, but I am to spend tomorrow afternoon shopping with my grandmother.”

For a moment he looked crestfallen, and then said, “I shall be devastated if you say you are engaged the day after tomorrow.”

She felt charmed by his earnestness. “I am not, sir. I would enjoy driving in the park with you on Thursday.”

With the melodic strains of music and the excited chatter of the other guests swirling around them, Emma gazed into his eyes and came to a momentous decision.

Lord Darley certainly exhibited all the traits she was looking for in a gentleman. He possessed engaging, easy manners and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was an excellent dancer and her grandmother certainly found him acceptable. Yes, Lord Darley was certainly a gentleman worthy of being the first name on her list of potential lovers. Not that she intended to make any snap decisions this early in the Season, but he was certainly attractive enough to give further consideration.

A ripple of excitement raced over her skin at her own daring.

The music faded away and they came to a stop. Emma
was the first to lower her gaze from the intensity of Lord Darley's.

They remained silent as he began to lead her through the densely packed dance floor back to where Penelope now stood with Grandmère and a number of her friends, as well as Amelia and Roger.

The look of approval and pleasure so plainly evident on Grandmère's countenance almost made Emma laugh. The old lady would be calling for the banns to be read after one waltz, Emma thought with rueful amusement.

She moved to stand next to Grandmère, then turned back to Lord Darley. “Thank you, sir, for a lovely dance.”

“The pleasure is mine, my lady.” With another lingering look, Lord Darley bowed and left.

Just as Emma turned to tease her grandmother over her too pleased expression, their hostess caught her attention. Although some distance away she was looking directly at Emma.

The plump lady—dyed orange egret feathers quivering atop her head—moved gracefully, yet swiftly, through the crowd with a pleased smile gracing her features.

As Lady Colhurst drew near, Emma noticed the man at her side. She was startled to see that it was Lord Monteford.

“La, Emmaline, it appears Monteford desires to judge for himself if what the actor said last night about your charms is true,” Penelope whispered to her from behind her fan.

Their hostess and Lord Monteford were now so close that Emma dared not risk replying to Penelope.

“My dear Lady Fallbrook,” Lady Colhurst said without preamble, “what a delightful picture you made waltzing with Lord Darley. I trust you will delight us by taking the floor again.” This last bit was said with a bright sideways smile to the gentleman at her side. “Now then, I do not believe you know Lord Monteford.”

Keenly aware of her grandmother's and her friends' interested attention, Emma composed her features into a faint
smile and said, “No, Lady Colhurst, I have not had the pleasure of meeting Lord Monteford. Good evening, sir.”

Inclining her head toward him, she watched his smile disappear and his brows furrow ever so slightly. For an instant she feared that her tone had been a bit too frosty, and then decided she did not care. By the avid stares from a number of the other guests, it was clear that most of them had heard about the scene at the theatre last night. Well, she was in no humor to provide more gossip for the scandal-mongering appetite of the
ton.

She held his gaze steadily for a moment and was suddenly struck by the unusual color of his eyes. Last night, in the indifferent light of the theatre, she would not have suspected their startling beauty. They were a dark, flawless blue, like a perfect sapphire.

He held his chin high before he made a bow to Grandmère and the rest of the group. It looked as if he was about to speak when Grandmère snapped her fan open and said, “So how is your mother, young man? Last time I called upon her, I was distressed to see that she had taken to her hartshorn for some inexplicable reason.”

Emma bit her lip to hide her amusement. How like her grandmother to make a not so subtle reference to the common knowledge that Monteford's mama was distraught over his scandalous behavior with his mistress.