The Earl's Entanglement (Border Series Book 5)(15)

“You’ve never grieved.”

She went so still that Garrick wished he could retract his words. “I don’t condemn you for it. I understand it all too well.”

Her head, slightly bowed, snapped up.

He’d uttered the words unthinkingly, leaving himself with little choice but to share his own story. “I lost my father in battle.” They’d fought many battles together before that fateful day in a foreign land, in a foreign war. “In Acre,” he clarified.

Emma didn’t say a word after that. They ate in silence. When they finished the meal, Garrick was about to stand, to escape the confining space that brimmed with her presence, her smell, the draw of her soft skin. But Emma stopped him from pushing his stool away.

“Nay,” she said. “Not yet.”





7





She’d thought last evening’s meal was trying, but sitting next to Sir Garrick Helmsley in a crowded hall was like riding a horse in an open field. Thrilling, yet simple, and assuredly safe. Dining alone with him tonight, however, was more akin to riding while standing . . . up a mountain . . . with her eyes closed.

“What I meant to say is . . .”

What exactly did I mean to say?

“Why do you travel to Scotland?”

She really could have thought of something more profound. Although, “I don’t want to leave just yet even though your high-handedness is exactly what I would have expected from an earl” would surely not do.

Emma, you can be such a dolt.

Garrick raised the pitcher slightly, and she nodded. Keeping her hands—and mouth—busy was helpful. Though she could think of other ways she’d like to keep her mouth busy . . .

Oh Emma, what is wrong with you? To imagine kissing the earl!

“As you know, I travel to my holding in Linkirk.”

He had said as much, and she had no doubt it was true. Although he hadn’t said much, he had a way of making every word sound important. And yet, she had no doubt he was holding something back.

Emma had been raised with three brothers. Her second eldest brother, Bryce, was even less talkative than Garrick. Emma had the opposite problem. Every single thought she had spilled from her head right out through her mouth. But even if she didn’t understand her brother’s reticence, experience had taught her that his lack of words didn’t mean he lacked for thoughts. He was just better at keeping them to himself.

A trait her escort apparently shared with her brother.

“And you said your mother is there?”

His crossed arms told her this was a topic he wanted to talk about even less than his time in Acre.

“She returned two months past, as soon as word of my father reached her.”

“Returned?”

“My mother is Scottish.”

When the corner of his mouth turned up ever so slightly, Emma realized she had not hidden her surprise very well.

“Her father was the former Earl of Linkirk. As his eldest daughter, my mother inherited the title and one-third of his holdings. The title was passed down to my father through her.”

“And now to you.”

His expression gave nothing away. Inexplicably, she thought of when their hands had touched in the stable. Had she dreamt about that last night? Aye, she had. And she’d woken contemplating how a simple touch in her dream had been so full of meaning. His face was the first thing she’d seen in her mind upon awakening this morning.

“And now me.”

“Sara mentioned possible trouble?”

Before he said a word, she knew he was not going to tell her. Perhaps she dug too deep and the matter felt too personal to him. Indeed, she was right, but he continued to look at her.

What is he thinking?

Everything about him was hard. Or, at least, she imagined it would be. Including his expression. Everything except the dark waves that curled just slightly around the nape of his neck. Emma wanted to touch his hair, to run her fingers through it as if it were her right.

“My maid cannot travel,” she blurted.

When faced with his confused expression, she attempted to explain. “I do that often.”

“Do what?” It was his tone, she decided, every word was delivered slowly, deliberately. That was what made his words seem so important.

“Talk about too many things at once. I told her it was not a good idea. Edith has always wanted to see Scotland, so she could not be dissuaded. But I knew so many hours in the saddle would give her some trouble.”

Garrick appeared to consider the problem.

“Imagine,” she said. “That she’d have so little experience riding with Eddard as her father.”

“Eddard?” That had clearly managed to surprise him. “I didn’t realize he had a daughter.”

“Well, neither did he for quite some time. Which may explain her lack of interest in horses. A few years back, a woman whom Eddard had, um . . .”

He cocked his head. “Sought out the service of Venus?”

It took her a moment, but when she understood, she shivered as surely as if they were still conversing in the cold stable at Kenshire.

“Cold, Emma?”

Of course not. In fact, it was quite warm down here in the cellar. “Nay.”

“I thought I saw you shiver.”