Page 61 of Mr. Eastwood’s Match

A soft rustle sounded nearby, and then Juniper’s voice, gentle but certainly alert, reached her. “Emily? Are you all right, darling?”

Emily forced her head to turn toward the light. “I cannot tell at present.”

Juniper was at her side in a moment, blocking the offending sunlight and smoothing the blanket. She also inspected Emily closely, as though looking for evidence of her health upon her face. “How do you feel?”

Emily swallowed. “As though I was trampled by a horse, then dragged behind it for several miles.”

Juniper pressed her lips together, eyes dancing even as she winced. “The doctor said the headache would linger. And the dryness. I suppose we cannot be surprised, then. But you are home and safe.”

Safe. How fragile the word felt.

Emily tried to sit up, and Juniper supported her by quickly adjusting pillows behind her back. “Slowly, dearest.”

The room swam with less violence than the night before. She breathed carefully until the dizziness subsided. “What time is it?” she asked, knowing her room faced westward. “Have I slept the whole day away?”

“It is to be expected, given you did not sleep at all last night. It is a quarter past two.” Juniper moved away to fetch a cup of warm peppermint tea. As she handed it to Emily, she said, “There is something you must know. Something important.”

Emily’s stomach dropped. “Oh no. Did I do something strange because of that horrible drink? Was I terribly ill-mannered? Did I cause a scene?”

Jack’s voice came from the doorway. “No. But someone else created one.”

With a sharp turn, Juniper gave him a look full of warning. “Jack, not like that.”

Clutching her blanket, Emily tried to ignore the prickle beneath her skin. “What has happened? Please, Jack. Tell me.”

His face was unreadable as he stepped fully into the room, but his shoulders held tension she rarely saw. He cleared his throat. “Emily…you are engaged to be married.”

Her mind went perfectly blank. She stared at him. Then at Juniper. Then back again.

“I beg your pardon?”

Juniper took her hand. “To Mr. Lyness Eastwood.”

The sensation of someone pouring cold water down her spine made her shiver. Lyness Eastwood. Not his brother. Lyness.

The memory fluttered at the edge of her mind—dancing with him, his patience and steadiness, the warmth of his hand against hers. Then everything blurred after the lemonade. Like a story someone had half-erased. But Lyness had hurt her the night before, at his home, had he not? He avoided looking at her and speaking to her, even though everyone else hovered and asked after her health, he stood apart.

“Engaged?” Emily whispered. The word felt foreign on her tongue. “But…how? I do not recall speaking to him about such a thing. Or to anyone else. We were not even courting.”

“No. He did not speak to anyone about it either. Until he made the announcement.” Jack grimaced. “He declared it this morning at Lady Lockwood’s garden party.”

Juniper added quickly, “To stop the gossip from harming you. It was already spreading. The implication that you had slipped into the night with Lord Hartwell was circulating. As we feared it would.”

“We? But no one told me…” No one should have needed to tell her, Emily realized. She had been so shocked by the events of the night before, so foggy from the laudanum, so exhausted from the ordeal, that she did not once think of the repercussions to the evening. Emily pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. “Oh no.”

“It is all right, Emily. Take a deep breath in. Slowly.” Juniper squeezed her fingers. “Mr. Eastwood acted to protect you. Truly, your brother discussed the possibility of such a thing last evening. With both Lord Hartwell and Mr. Eastwood.”

Folding his arms, Jack said with a deep frown, “This is not exactly what we decided upon, however.”

Emily’s thoughts stayed on what Juniper was saying rather than her brother’s complaints. “Protect me? But how could he…? Without asking? Why did no one speak to me of this first?”

“We thought it best not to worry you while you recovered.” Jack said, and when she turned to look at him, unable to say a word for the hurt she felt, he shifted uncomfortably. “It was for the best, Emily. You were not in a position to make any decisions. And now Mr. Eastwood is downstairs. He asked to speak with you as soon as you woke.”

Her heart stumbled over itself. “He is here? To see me?”

“Yes,” Juniper said softly. “And he is terribly concerned for you.” Juniper rose, slowly. “If you are unable to speak to him, I will send him away. If you would like, I can help you dress, too. But you deserve to hear the explanation from him directly, Emily. As soon as possible”

Emily tried to gather her thoughts, but they scattered like startled birds as she realized both her brother and sister-in-law waited upon her decision. She pointed to the door. “Out, Jack. I need to dress.”