The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(43)

They were hands that had possessively covered hers before.

“The Duke of Tempest,” she announced.

“Correct,” Sebastian said, and then his lips kissed her hand. The moment was fleeting, but Emma felt she would swoon straight off her chair at any minute.

And then before she had time to analyze the feel of Sebastian’s lips on her skin, another hand was thrust into hers.

It too was warm, inviting…and large.

Fear spread like a disease through her body, threatening to choke her. Why did these hands feel so familiar? And why was such a terrible feeling associated with the innocent touch of another person?

In the end, fear won out. She guessed Lord Rawlings in order to push the game along.

“Oh, how delightful!” someone squealed. “She guessed all three correct!”

Emma’s stomach sank to her knees.





Chapter Twenty


Sebastian briefly contemplated slamming his head against the mantel on the fireplace. Yes, surely that would rid him of the rage he currently felt at Emma’s familiarity with Rawlings hands. Logic told him that she had also recognized Smythe’s hands, but his jealousy blinded him to that fact.

The blighter.

And then the man’d had the audacity to look him in the eye and smirk all the while beautiful Emma held his hand.

He knew what he wanted to do with Rawlings’ dirty hands. It involved chopping them into little bits and feeding them to the birds outside.

Fighting to keep himself in check, he gave a curt nod to Rawlings as the blindfold was removed from Emma and placed on the next participant.

At the moment, he should be feeling pride that she had recognized him so quickly, but it was snuffed out the minute her lovely voice said Rawlings’ name.

Just what was their history and why was Emma being so secretive about it? Rawlings, drunk sod that he was, hadn’t been able to shed any light on the situation either.

Which made Sebastian curious.

He decided to send a letter to Renwick House asking about the relationship between the two. If anyone knew of her past it would be Sara, and the more he thought about Rawlings’ little confession, the more he suspected Nicholas had no idea of Emma’s past any more than he did.

They were only a day’s ride out of London, surely he would hear back from Sara by the ending of the house party.

At least the worse was over. Emma’s turn was finished. They merely needed to survive the dancing, which would surely follow into the evening, and then Sebastian could adequately devise a plan to steal young Emma’s heart, all the while convincing his grandmother that a woman who is figuratively on the shelf would make the perfect duchess.

Sebastian smiled to himself. He wasn’t entirely sure how in the span of a few days he had decided to try to win over Emma. Maybe it was Rawlings’ attitude toward her that finally pushed him over the edge, or maybe it was the way she knew his touch, or that he couldn’t handle watching any other man lay a finger on her without wanting to commit some sort of crime.

The way he figured it, if he didn’t marry her, she would be someone else’s. And in his heart, his mind, he wanted her to belong to him and only him. Why did it matter if she was a bit too outspoken and adventuresome? She was a beautiful woman, full of life.

Yes, he would admit she had a wild streak, but no scandal he knew of attached itself to her name. All in all, she would be perfect, somewhat amiable, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

If all went well, by the end of the house party he would be announcing their wedding date, knowing full well it was real.

****

The dancing started soon after the game ended. Emma hadn’t said much since her return from her room, but something did seem to be bothering her. Sebastian tried witty banter and even offered to throw food at guests. That at least earned him a smile, but something was definitely wrong.

“May I have this dance?” Rawlings appeared out of nowhere like most rakes and degenerates and grabbed Emma’s hand before Sebastian could protest.

“I, uh…” Emma looked to him for help.

Just as he was getting ready to tell Rawlings exactly where he could go, the man spoke again.

“Miss Gates, we have danced before, have we not? Do you not recall the time in your father’s study when I taught you the quadrille?”

Sebastian clenched his fists as he fought the urge to pummel the man he used to call friend.

“Yes.” Emma’s eyes suddenly lit with fire as she accepted the man’s hand and boldly stepped onto the dance floor, never once looking back at Sebastian or anyone else.

The waltz, not the quadrille as Sebastian had assumed, began playing. Rawlings bowed, Emma curtsied, and then, they were off.

The entire room seemed to still as Rawlings and Emma danced. It was the most captivating thing Sebastian had ever seen.

She had practically ran away from him when he had offered to dance with her in London. Yet today she freely went into the enemy’s arms, not only accepting his offer but dancing in such a way it made Sebastian’s heart ache.

Her laughter teased his senses. Uninhibited it flowed freely around his ears. Rawlings hands continued to lower and pull Emma closer to his person. The only reason Sebastian did not interfere was because Emma didn’t deserve the embarrassment. He was also opposed to scandal, so he stayed firmly put as she danced in another man’s arms. And while another man, his enemy to be precise, freely held her firmly within his grasp.