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“Yes…yes…I heard you the first time, Williams,” she murmured to the hovering butler. “Have you informed the duke, Anthony has escorted Aunt Beatrice to Bath?”
“He has called for you, Miss Emma.”
Emma took a deep breath. My goodness, she felt restless and out of sorts. The duke hadn’t paid a personal call to her in years. Truly this could not be happenstance. Had Anthony betrayed her confidence?
“Have Mrs. Hodges send in tea and cakes. And please show in His Grace.”
She felt very presentable in her high-waisted, white-spangled gauze overdress with the palest green satin underskirt. Her hair had been coiffed in an elegant chignon with a few loose curls caressing her cheeks. Emma slowly stood as the duke strolled into the drawing room. Elliot had clearly ridden across to visit because he wore knee-high, dark brown, riding boots with gold tassels and breeches of tan moleskin that clung to his muscular thighs. He had discarded his riding crop, great coat, and his beaver but his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt were immaculate. Emma noticed that nestled in the folds of his cravat was a large gold set yellow diamond which reflected the glints in his golden eyes. No scenario she had imagined prepared her to see Elliot so soon after their night together. She hadn’t thought she would have cause to see him before she sailed to see her sister Elizabeth. He was such a unique combination of casual power and refined elegance. She liked it, very much. Emma drank in all of him at once, and pleasure welled up from her stomach and burst upwards to her chest like sunshine. It was always so wonderful to see him but what was he doing there? Please let it be a coincidence, her heart could not bear anything else.
She directed an enquiring glance at him. “Elliot…I... I…Your Grace, I fear Anthony and Maryann have left for Bath. They return in two days’ time.”
Sleek brows rose at her bumbling. Heat climbed her face, and she suddenly wished she had travelled down with them despite the ache in her leg and the pitying glances she had known she would receive. A bit flustered she dipped into a curtsy before lowering herself back on the sofa. His presence suddenly made the spacious and elegant drawing room seem compressed.
Mrs. Hodges bustled in with the tea trolley, and with quick bobs, she quietly departed.
“Forgive my abruptness, but what are you doing here, Elliot?”
His golden eyes ran over her like a physical caress. “Ah, I thought we were friends of sorts?”
Emma was instantly suspicious. More like petrified. She had written him every so often, and only received a few replies. She had sent him small tokens and gifts on his birthday and Christmas and received clipped thank yous. Friends did not ignore each other so.
His eyes lowered to the chess set on the small walnut table before her.
“You play yourself?”
“I…It is more enjoyable than it seems,” Emma offered with a small wince. The fact she played herself was a testimony to how alone she was oftentimes.
“Are you well, Emma? You appear a bit flushed, and your eyes are very bright.”
Silence met his polite inquiry.
A sensual smile curved his lips, knowledge gleamed in his eyes, and Emma wanted to die. He knew. Her heart which had already been warming up at seeing him decided to go for a trot and then a gallop. Please let me be just overly anxious.
“I have the most rotten headache this morning.”
She gripped the teapot and tried to give him a small unconcerned smile. The dainty china trembled ever so slightly in her grasp. “Tea, Your Grace?”
His face became inscrutable at her formality. But she desperately needed the distance.
“No, thank you, Emma.”
“Would you like a tart?”
“What I would like is for you to row on the lake with me, this afternoon perhaps?”
Elliot wanted to take her to rowing. A pastime they had enjoyed years past when life had been simple. So simple, but she saw the threat. “I always paint after luncheon,” She said hoarsely.
“Would you make an exception?”
A lump grew in her stomach and spread to her throat. “I...”
His stare was unswerving but inscrutable. “I am sure you can make an exception. I was hoping we could talk. It has been a while.”
She felt utterly wretched. This was not a coincidence. Anthony must have said something. She would kill her brother. She hated the slow fear and doubt that was snaking in her heart. “Elliot, your visit is so unexpected.”
His smile was slow and somehow threatening. “I’ve missed you, our long walks across the countryside, swimming together, and our fencing.”
Warmth spread throughout her body, but it wasn’t enough to dispel the anxiety. “I think Anthony is still very displeased you taught me fencing.”
