keeping you waiting, sir.' She was about to explain why she was late but he forestalled her. She noticed that there appeared to be something wrong with his breathing.
'For God's sake, sit down, Emily and let us get this farce completed.'
Every instinct told her to flee from this formidable man but her feet refused to move. He took a step towards her and fearing that he was going to strike her, she retreated until her shaking back was hard against the door, her eyes wide.
'Please, I'm sorry. I got locked out.' To her shame she felt unwanted tears spill out and trickle down her cheeks.
'It is I who must apologize, Emily.' Sebastian took her hand and gently drew her towards a sofa. 'Sit down, my dear, you are shaking. I should not have frightened you like that; it was inexcusable. I am behaving like a nincompoop. Here, use this.' Emily felt the soft touch of a linen handkerchief placed into her fingers and obediently wiped eyes.
'I am not usually a watering-pot. I don't understand what's happening to me. I promise you, I am usually a woman of good sense.'
'It is this wretched business. It has got to us both, has it not?'
She nodded. 'You have no more wish for this than I do, do you, Cousin Sebastian?'
'No, I do not. But I am afraid we have no choice, my dear. Our behaviour yesterday has put us beyond the pale and only the announcement of our engagement will save us both from ruin.'
'Grandfather told me you could lose your position in the government as well as in society. Is that truly the case?'
'It is; we have no choice.' Then he smiled and inexplicably her heart turned over. He reached over and took her hand. 'Miss Gibson, will you do me the inestimable honour of becoming my wife?'
She swallowed twice, before answering. There appeared to be a lump stuck in her throat. 'Yes, my lord, I will.' The pull on her hand continued and she found herself being embraced by two exceptionally well-muscled arms.
'Look at me, Emily,' he commanded. She did as she was bid and received her first adult kiss. The feel of another mouth on hers was at first alarming but slowly she relaxed and began to enjoy the strange sensation.
'There, it is done.' Viscount Yardley released her and stood up. 'I assume you will tell Lady Althea our good news?'
'Yes, of course I will. What happens next? Are we obliged to do anything else?'
'No; I am returning to Town after I have spoken to the Earl.' He bowed formally and, without further conversation, strode out of the room.
Emily stared at the closed-door scarcely able to comprehend what had just taken place. In the space of thirty minutes she had been shouted out, scared half to death, comforted, proposed to, kissed and abandoned. It was too much to take in. Shakily she got to her feet and began to walk around the room, trying to bring order to her tumbled thoughts.
She was still in the library when her sister discovered her. Millie greeted her with a scream of delight.
'Em, here you are! I have been searching for you for hours. Everything is like a game of hide and go seek in this huge house.'
Emily put down her book and returned her sister's happy smile. 'I know, Millie, I got lost this morning and have not dared venture out of here again. Is there a particular reason you are seeking me?'
'Yes, Madame Ducray from London has arrived and has boxes of samples and things to show you. Mama has got dressed and taken some breakfast. I love Westerham; we're going to be so happy here.'
'I'm sure you're right. Come along then, shall we try and find Mama's apartments or ring for assistance?'
'We had better ring; she will be getting anxious.'
Lady Althea greeted her daughters as though they had been lost for weeks. 'My dears, at last, I have been so worried. Where ever have you been for so long?'
'Em was hiding in the library; it took me for ever to find her.'
'Well you are both here now. Madame Ducray has set up in your sitting-room, Emily. She is waiting to see us there.'
Serena bounced off the
'For God's sake, sit down, Emily and let us get this farce completed.'
Every instinct told her to flee from this formidable man but her feet refused to move. He took a step towards her and fearing that he was going to strike her, she retreated until her shaking back was hard against the door, her eyes wide.
'Please, I'm sorry. I got locked out.' To her shame she felt unwanted tears spill out and trickle down her cheeks.
'It is I who must apologize, Emily.' Sebastian took her hand and gently drew her towards a sofa. 'Sit down, my dear, you are shaking. I should not have frightened you like that; it was inexcusable. I am behaving like a nincompoop. Here, use this.' Emily felt the soft touch of a linen handkerchief placed into her fingers and obediently wiped eyes.
'I am not usually a watering-pot. I don't understand what's happening to me. I promise you, I am usually a woman of good sense.'
'It is this wretched business. It has got to us both, has it not?'
She nodded. 'You have no more wish for this than I do, do you, Cousin Sebastian?'
'No, I do not. But I am afraid we have no choice, my dear. Our behaviour yesterday has put us beyond the pale and only the announcement of our engagement will save us both from ruin.'
'Grandfather told me you could lose your position in the government as well as in society. Is that truly the case?'
'It is; we have no choice.' Then he smiled and inexplicably her heart turned over. He reached over and took her hand. 'Miss Gibson, will you do me the inestimable honour of becoming my wife?'
She swallowed twice, before answering. There appeared to be a lump stuck in her throat. 'Yes, my lord, I will.' The pull on her hand continued and she found herself being embraced by two exceptionally well-muscled arms.
'Look at me, Emily,' he commanded. She did as she was bid and received her first adult kiss. The feel of another mouth on hers was at first alarming but slowly she relaxed and began to enjoy the strange sensation.
'There, it is done.' Viscount Yardley released her and stood up. 'I assume you will tell Lady Althea our good news?'
'Yes, of course I will. What happens next? Are we obliged to do anything else?'
'No; I am returning to Town after I have spoken to the Earl.' He bowed formally and, without further conversation, strode out of the room.
Emily stared at the closed-door scarcely able to comprehend what had just taken place. In the space of thirty minutes she had been shouted out, scared half to death, comforted, proposed to, kissed and abandoned. It was too much to take in. Shakily she got to her feet and began to walk around the room, trying to bring order to her tumbled thoughts.
She was still in the library when her sister discovered her. Millie greeted her with a scream of delight.
'Em, here you are! I have been searching for you for hours. Everything is like a game of hide and go seek in this huge house.'
Emily put down her book and returned her sister's happy smile. 'I know, Millie, I got lost this morning and have not dared venture out of here again. Is there a particular reason you are seeking me?'
'Yes, Madame Ducray from London has arrived and has boxes of samples and things to show you. Mama has got dressed and taken some breakfast. I love Westerham; we're going to be so happy here.'
'I'm sure you're right. Come along then, shall we try and find Mama's apartments or ring for assistance?'
'We had better ring; she will be getting anxious.'
Lady Althea greeted her daughters as though they had been lost for weeks. 'My dears, at last, I have been so worried. Where ever have you been for so long?'
'Em was hiding in the library; it took me for ever to find her.'
'Well you are both here now. Madame Ducray has set up in your sitting-room, Emily. She is waiting to see us there.'
Serena bounced off the
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