The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(41)

“Well, then—”

“You should ask her to dance tonight after dinner. I’ve heard there will be music and games.”

Just what sort of ploy was Emma playing? Last night she seemed to be seducing him. This morning she was throwing him at the first available woman she met.

“Right,” he answered. “So it is settled then?”

She smiled warmly. “I wanted to make sure I stayed true to my promise to help you. You did want my help?”

Loaded question.

“Yes. Of course.”

Emma shrugged and walked by him, taking a seat on a nearby bench. Sebastian, for the life of him, couldn’t figure out what to do. Her assumptions were completely accurate, yet it frustrated him that she was so eager to throw him into someone else’s arms. And it did sting his pride a bit to think she had no emotional reaction whatsoever to him being married to someone else.

Especially since less than ten minutes ago he was lamenting the fact that she would have to marry someone like Smythe.

“I’ve likewise found someone for you, Emma,” he said, trying to steer the conversation to see if he found opposition where Emma was concerned.

“Have you?” Emma looked surprised and, dare he hope, a tad pale.

He ran with it. “Of course. You’ll be delighted. Maybe we’ll do introductions tonight when we are all together. In fact, it was Mr. Smythe, the man you just saw inside.”

“Perfect.” Emma looked anything but pleased.

“Right.” Sebastian smiled. “Shall we?” He offered his arm and stifled a chuckle. Maybe the girl was just as affected.

****

Talk about a plan backfiring, thought Emma as Sebastian led her back into the house. If anything, it just made her feel all the more nervous.

Her only purpose was to gauge his reaction, to see if he would be excited about her matchmaking or upset. Instead he had turned the tables on her, making her more uncertain of his feelings. It would be easier if the man would at least show some sort of emotion. But the minute she saw anything close to attraction, he would turn away and change the subject. Her only hope was making him uncomfortable, being spontaneous, which wasn’t hard for a girl like her.

Maybe Rawlings had been correct in his assumption. Granted, his idea of her was somewhat tainted. She did used to be wild, couldn’t have cared less what people thought about her. And at this point in her life, she still didn’t mind if others thought her reckless. The only thing she cared about was Sebastian and being able to be with him just once before she said goodbye forever.

Emma was a pile of nerves by the time dinner was finished. Sebastian had stayed true to his promise of introducing her to Lord Smythe, whom she not only found extremely boring but awkward in conversation. Admittedly, he was attractive, but there was no spark, she didn’t swoon, nor did her knees feel week like they did when she was in the presence of Sebastian.

The guests were led into one of the larger rooms to play parlor games. Emma was never one to appreciate such activities , especially when the whole idea behind said games was to engage in gossip—the best gossip most likely being about her.

Rawlings entered the room and gave Emma a brief nod before walking over to Belverd. Emma still couldn’t figure out if the man was honest in his intentions toward her. Did he truly desire for her to be wild and free, or was his main purpose to skew her mind into thinking that and then expose her secrets? Rawlings had never possessed a mean bone in his body. But desperation made people do things that were out of character, and something in his eyes gave hesitation to Emma. He was desperate. She just didn’t know the reasons behind it.

Needing an escape, her eyes darted around the room until they settled on Lady Kentsworth, who was hanging on to Sebastian’s arm tighter than Emma would have liked. Steeling herself for what she had to do, she slowly walked over to where Lady Kentsworth stood with her mother and reluctantly introduced them. Was it blasphemous to pray that he wouldn’t see her for the attractive and kind woman she was? Emma hoped not, because that was exactly what she was doing. She would have gotten to her knees had she not made a scene over the whole ordeal.

Lady Kentsworth turned to face them all dimples and smiles, making Emma curse herself once more for her brilliant plan. What had she hoped to accomplish? Make him jealous, yes, but literally push him into the arms of his future bride? Not likely.

“May I introduce Lady Kentsworth,” Emma said, when in her mind she was contemplating ways she could trip the poor dear without anyone pointing a finger in her direction.

To Sebastian’s credit, her merely bowed over her kid gloves and offered a brief smile. Like any woman would, Emma stared at Sebastian, trying to read what his expression meant. Was he amused? Attracted?

“Emma,” he said.

“Yes?” She jumped back, not realizing her eyes had been trained on his lips for quite some time.

Lovely.

“We’re to be partners.” His eyebrow lifted, making him appear mischievous and more attractive.

Curse those wretched eyebrows, and dimples, and…

“Emma?”

“Hmm?”

“We’re to go on a scavenger hunt.”

“Right,” she said, cemented in place.

“The women are supposed to grab the pieces of paper with the directions. Once you find the first hidden area, you are allowed to open the second piece.”