Page 30 of Vanquishing the Viscount

“At risk of seeming rude, I’ve not the slightest idea what you mean.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You had a tryst with Philippa in your room that night you stayed at Figheldene. Does she mean nothing to you, now that you’re courting your cousin? And what of Miss Carslake? Have you entirely given up hope there?”

His jaw dropped even farther, and he was unable to utter a word in response.

“I didn’t have you down for a rake, but it seems I was mistaken,” Emma said tartly.

He struggled for breath, deeply offended by her accusation. Apparently, they were not to be friends, after all.

“You should be ashamed, Emma, believing in tittle-tattle like that,” he exclaimed angrily. “My cousin’s a delightful young lady, but we have no designs upon each other. You must think me shallow, indeed. What kind of a man nurses a broken heart for a mere month or two before offering up the damaged article to some other female? I am not that kind of man. Nor did I encourage Miss Keane. But how do you know about that unfortunate misunderstanding? Were you eavesdropping?”

She had the grace to look embarrassed, but it failed to diffuse his annoyance.

“My room was above yours,” she said. “I couldn’t help but overhear.”

“You mean you had an ear to the floor! You take my breath away with your hypocrisy. How can you fire such accusations at me when you, yourself, have behaved like a common housemaid, listening at doors and…and floors, and reveling in gossip and the perceived faults of others? You’re a poor a judge of character if you think I’d lure my host’s impressionable daughter into my chamber in the depths of the night. I thought we’d reached some kind of truce, you and I. I can see I was wrong. “

If he hadn’t had hold of Lawrie’s bit, he might have been tempted to take Emma by the shoulders and shake some sense into her—gently, of course. It was hurtful to hear such words from her mouth, more hurtful than he could ever have imagined.

A look of fright crossed her face, so he relaxed his harsh expression and said softly, “Don’t worry. I shan’t let your opinion of me affect my decision with regard to purchasing Tresham Hall. However, I think maybe we should stop conversing, lest we end up at loggerheads again.”

It was a coward’s way out, refusing to talk, but he really wasn’t feeling quite the thing, and their verbal sparring was wearisome. As for her view of him, it was a cruel blow. By the time they came within sight of the high chimneys of Tresham, his head was brimming with unspoken rebuffs, any one of which would have ignited their argument again.

Thus it was a relief to be delivered into the polite, smiling care of Mr. and Mrs. d’Ibert, and to see the back of their beautiful, infuriating, unsettling daughter.

Chapter Twenty

Emma had spent a considerable part of the night struggling to work out her feelings regarding Viscount Tidworth. Luckily, he hadn’t accepted their offer of George’s room for the night, so she didn’t need to worry about his physical proximity.

Which was just as well, as she found being near him extremely distracting.

“The viscount seems much taken with the property,” said Papa as the family sat at breakfast the next morning.

“Do you think so?” queried Emma’s mama. “I found him hard to read. A bit stiff and aloof. What is your opinion of him, Emma?”

Emma flushed and poked at her breakfast roll. “Perhaps he’s not always like that,” she muttered. For what man would not be wary—and seemingly aloof—after the kind of inquisition to which she’d subjected him? It was none of her business which young woman—if any—he wanted to pay court to. Heaven forbid she gave the impression she cared.

“Very high in the instep,” continued Mama. “But also diplomatic, considering this sale has been forced upon us.”

Papa stopped sawing at his bacon and said, “My dear, what do you expect from the future Earl of Rossbury?” He looked over at Emma and went on, “How remarkable that you already knew him. Maybe that will work in our favor. Do you think, now he knows you are a d’Ibert rather than a Hibbert, he’ll reveal your status to your employers? That could be embarrassing.”

Not just embarrassing, thought Emma, fanning her cheeks with a napkin. It could cost her her job. Not to mention bringing all their creditors clamoring around, demanding settlement of their bills.

But if Tresham were sold, they’d be able to pay those bills.

Buttering another roll, Mama said, “Emma, I think you should show the viscount around the gardens today.”

“Oh, but the hedgerow! I’m not quite finished.”

“I’m not having you working on that hedgerow while he’s here.”

“I care nothing for his good opinion.”

Her mother’s knife clattered onto her plate. “Emma, I won’t have it said we lost our respectability along with our good fortune. Now, if you’ve finished pushing your breakfast around your plate, you can go up and put on your best gown and your claret pelisse, along with your Sunday bonnet.”

Resisting the temptation to roll her eyes and protest that she was perfectly capable of choosing her own apparel, Emma went upstairs to prepare for Tidworth’s next visit.

After changing her clothes, she could find no occupation that stopped her stomach lurching each time she heard a noise outside. The longer she waited, the more violent the sensation, until she thought she must be ill. Finally, a good hour later than expected, Tidworth hove into view atop his splendid stallion.