The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(12)

Chapter Five


Emma sighed longingly out the window of the traveling carriage. She took great pains to keep her emotions inside, trying to always laugh and live the adventurous life she knew she deserved. Yet at times she couldn’t help the sadness that crept up in moments of tenderness. What Nicholas and Sara had was beautiful.

She was envious because the love they shared would never be hers.

For a moment she was alarmed that they had caught wind of her and the duke’s argument in the park. His swift nod told her otherwise.

Shocking how one little word can destroy a person.

“Damaged” was how he had put it.

Unfortunately it defined her life and her future perfectly. It was the one word her father had used repeatedly when describing the incident to the rest of the family.

And the word her betrothed had spat under his breath when he explained to her father why their marriage contract was officially annulled. Rumors had run rampant throughout their country estate. Her only saving grace was that somehow her father had paid off enough of the servants. The ton hadn’t caught wind of her scandal. God willing, they never would.

Thoughts of her betrothed and her ruination always stole her confidence and lust for life, never mind that men often took women of ill repute to their beds. Apparently a woman of good breeding who only appeared to have met with a man privately was more dirty and less clean than even the most wicked of prostitutes. It hadn’t helped that the day after the incident, her sister had announced to her already furious parents Emma had been sneaking out at night and dancing with the gypsies. It was the final nail in her social coffin, sealing her fate as the daughter who’d let the great Gates family down.

Just keep it inside, she chanted as the air in the carriage seemed to thin by the second. Finally they came to a stop answering her silent plea. Rising to get out, she took a shaky breath. Just a little further and she would have fresh air. Her eyes blurred until she only saw a look of concern in the duke’s eyes, and then things went completely black as her knees gave way.

****

“Emma.” The voice sounded thick and hazy.

Suddenly her eyes fluttered open. Apparently she had fainted.

This is where letting your emotions fly uninhibited gets you. Flat on your back in the middle of a carriage with the most eligible duke of the realm staring down at you as if you’d tossed your brain outside with the bath water.

“I must have…” She shook her head, then realized the duke wasn’t actually looking down at her, he was holding her.

Was it so wrong to enjoy the feel of his hands on her face as he looked in her eyes with concern? It was an obvious brotherly concern, but still, a girl could dream.

“Emma,” he said again.

Wasn’t he most improper, calling her by her Christian name? Something warm and tingly squeezed her heart, and in that moment, she knew he could call her anything he desired, as long as he didn’t let her go.

And then his hands moved across her neck, examining to see if she had hit anything during her tumble.

“We should go inside, but we can wait until you are ready.”

“What happened?” Slowly she looked around the carriage and noticed it was empty.

Tempest lifted her onto the seat and placed her skirts around her ankles for propriety’s sake. “When the door opened Nicholas and Sara took their leave. I turned around to ask you if you needed assistance down, and as you rose, you fainted. Are you normally this—”

“Weak?” she finished. “No, your grace. I’m sorry for any trouble I might have caused you. I assure you, I’m fine.”

Apparently keeping her thoughts and emotions inside had caused her to faint.

****

Emma flashed him a brilliant smile and leapt from the carriage. He followed suit and offered his arm as they entered the ballroom.

A resounding hush descended soon after they were announced. What in the blazes? Confusion set him to look at the faces of those around him. All eyes were trained on the lady next to him. He looked down.

Her shawl was off.

Alarms went off in his head. Devil take it, her shawl wasn’t on her body.

Her dress was…well, originally he had only seen parts and he had been ready to rip it off of her.

Now—well now he felt like he was naked instead of her. The dress wasn’t scandalous. It was…without compare.

And absolutely magnificent.

The fabric wound tightly around her chest then seemed to get looser as it neared the floor. A small train attached to the back boasted of several different shades of white that eventually met in the middle at the bodice. The gown was completely off her shoulders, leaving creamy soft skin in its place.

Curse her modiste.

Pasting a smile on his face, he closed his eyes and took three calming breaths. He was the Duke of Tempest. He could escort her without tripping over himself. And surely he could keep his hands firmly placed by his sides, the only other option being ripping her bodice completely off her body sealing both of their fates. Replacing the worry and, to his great irritation, lust on his face with one of his usual smiles, he urged Emma forward.

“Ah, and this is our lovely hostess for the evening, Lady Walters.” He kissed her hand then asked, “How does your daughter fair this evening, my lady?”

Lady Walters was still staring openly at Emma but managed to snap out of her rude gawking when she heard the mention of her own daughter.