London Husband

Chapter 4: Crazily In Search For Meg

The Duke kissed his sister's cheek and patted her hand. Sophie leaned on Alex's hand, and he helped her out of the stroller.

"You know, dear," Sophie remarked, "you would have made an exemplary husband and father from you." It's only to find a suitable woman.

The Duke crossed his arms over his chest.

"For today, I have enough moralizing, and besides, I need to prepare myself for this damn ball ..." Waving his sister's hand, he sat down in the carriage and ordered the coachman to go to his bachelor apartment.

When Emma opened her eyes again, she found that she was lying in bed over the veil. The pain in her head almost passed, but now her thigh ached.

Bell with a leather-bound book curled up in a nearby chair.

"Hello, cousin!" - Bell exclaimed joyfully, as soon as she noticed that Emma did not sleep. - Well, you scared us! - She quickly overcame a short distance and nestled on the edge of the bed.

Emma climbed on her elbows to see Bell better.

- What happened?

"You lost consciousness, that's all."

"Again?"

- Again!

- Well, for the first time, actually, I did not lose anything - it was a kind of blow to the head.

- What?

"I fell and hit my head," Emma hurried to explain.

- My God! Are you all right now?

- I hope so. - Emma gently rubbed the rapidly growing lump over her right ear. "How did I get here?" I was in the kitchen first, and then ...

"Then we brought you here."

- Transferred?

"The cook helped me."

- Lord! Emma winced, imagining the cook dragging her down the stairs. "How unpleasant it all is ..."

"Mary and Suzy also helped," added Bell.

Completely destroyed, Emma collapsed onto the bed, as if she wanted to hide among the voluminous featherbeds.

"In truth, it was not at all difficult," Bell continued, not noticing the cousin's embarrassment. - First we wrapped you in a blanket, then I took over my shoulders, Cook - at my feet, Mary and Susie were supported on each side.

- And I?

"You made some strange sounds when we got to the second landing, but, of course, even then you were unconscious."

- Strange noises?

- Well, maybe it was due to the fact that when we turned the corner, you hit your hip against the balustrade.

"And your mother?"

"We did not say anything to her," Bell assured.

"But she probably heard a noise."

"Yes, and went looking for me as soon as we put you to bed."

"Then what?"

"I told her you fainted."

- Fainted? Emma's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Well, excitement in anticipation of your first ball," Bell giggled.

"What an absurdity: I never faint!"

- I know.

"And Aunt Caroline knows that." I wonder if she believed it or not? .. "Emma sighed. "What a ridiculous day!" And what are you reading, for God's sake?

- 'The end is the work of the crown' of Shakespeare. So it was easier to wait until you wake up.

Emma sighed.

"I think you can not wait to find out what happened."

"To tell you the truth, yes, but if you do not want to tell ..."Bell opened the volume in leather and began to read again. "You know I have plenty of time," she added, casting an expressive look at Emma. - I decided to read Shakespeare in full: first all the plays, and then all the poems.

- Are you serious?

- Absolutely. I'm going to read them in alphabetical order.

- And you are not afraid of how long it will take?

- Not at all. Anyway, given the circumstances, I will have to spend a lot of time near your bed.

Emma's eyes narrowed.

- What do you mean?

- And suddenly you again lose consciousness ...

- I assure you, for the near future I do not have such plans.

Bell smiled.

"I believe, but if you do not tell me what happened, I myself will resort to violence."

An hour later Emma sat at the dressing table and, wincing, watched as the maid Meg, fussing, makes her hair. Bell, sitting side by side, was subjected to the same painful procedure.

"I do not think you told me everything," Bell said.

"And yet ..." Emma sighed. "I grabbed the little boy from under the wheels of the crew. Then she hit her head."

- And what are these earrings?

"The boy's mother gave them to me because she thought I was a maid." Tomorrow I will return them to her.

"And yet you're hiding something."

- What, tell me? She saved the boy, she received earrings as a reward. Dot.

"You've been gone for an hour!" Between the rescue of the boy and the earrings something must have happened!

"Do you really think that during this time I was dishonored by some mysterious stranger?"

Then Emma felt a little guilty: she did not dare to tell Bell about her strange adventure with Duke Eschborn. The reason was that she wanted to possess these details alone and not to trust them to anyone, not even Bell.

- Terrific! You gave the earrings herself Countess Wilding. Bella's blue eyes danced with laughter. "I know Sophie pretty well: she's not much older than you and me." My mother is friendly with her mother; when they hear about the incident, both will be amazed, although it may be better not to tell them about it at all. And yet I can not believe that Sophie gave you this jewel to ensure your future, while with your fortune you could buy or sell all of us.

- And in my opinion, nothing special. Emma shrugged her shoulders. "She just thought I was the maid."

"I know, but ... It will be interesting to see Sophie's face when she enters the ballroom and sees the 'dishwasher' in all the splendor. Really, cousin, it's even cruel of you: the countess can be upset."

- Firstly, she almost lost her son, and secondly, do not you call me cruel.

"But are not you the queen of all the rallies, the same girl who sent a love note from Clarissa Trent to poor Ned?"

Emma suppressed a smile.

"Really, it's not worth it to raise this with soda.

"You're absolutely right." Bell raised her finger upward. "And that would not have happened if Ned had not been so hopelessly in love."

"But how was I supposed to know this?" I have not yet entered the world and can not be aware of the latest gossip. Okay, enough about this. I already understood: no interference in Ned's personal life. Now tell me, why will not Sophie be today?

- I do not know for sure. Perhaps because her husband has been missing for several months in the West Indies - he's got business there. I think she misses him, because this marriage is made for love. Bell sighed. "All for the better: you hardly want to see her face bewildered."

"Yeah, to see me this evening would be a shock to the poor thing for the rest of my life. "I think it will be better if I visit her tomorrow morning."

"You're probably right. If you will, I'll go with you. Such entertainment can not be missed!"

"Of course, you can go."

"Stop shaking your head!" Emma shouted suddenly. "Otherwise, we'll spend all day and all night and you'll miss the ball."

"Considering my condition, it would be nice," Emma mumbled, but her natural curiosity overpowered the pain. "Why do not you tell me more about Sophie?" She asked.

"Sophie?" Bella thought. "She's very nice, but she talks too much." Nevertheless, she and her husband are very fond of each other, and she misses him terribly.

"Does she have any other relatives?"

Bell raised an eyebrow.

"Only my mother and brother."

- Really?

- Yes. I think he is about thirty now. He is incredibly beautiful: thick black hair and the greenest eyes I've ever seen.

Suddenly, Emma felt agitation, but with willpower suppressed him. Arrogant and presumptuous boor - that's who he is. And it does not matter that his kiss became for her the most important event since coming to London.

"Looks like Bell, are you very interested in him?" She said carefully.

"The Duke of Ashbourne?" Do not be so joking. A handsome rascal, he is certainly dangerous, but he never communicates with a lady, only with women of low birth. In truth, I hardly know him, but I heard that throughout England this ladies' man broke hearts to a lot of women.

- Sounds intriguing.

- Not that word! Parents would have had a fit if I had shown interest in him. The Duke is a convinced bachelor and will not marry for many more years. And if he marries, then on some stupid little girl. When she makes him an heir, he will immediately forget about her.

Emma felt that the mood instantly fell.

- Today, he just does not appear, I'm sure of it. He, of course, is invited. Eschborn is invited to all the evenings, but he never attends them, but he does not need it: he has dozens of mistresses in London among the ladies of the half-light. I'm sure you will not want to get acquainted with him: he always has a dark mine, and he can bite off your head, as soon as you talk with him a couple of words.

- Wow! Judging by what you tell, this is an extremely unpleasant person.

Bella shrugged.

"He is simply rich and indecently beautiful, and hates secular evenings because he does not want to pretend. Most of my friends, he just freaks out, because it does not allow him to lure him to the wedding altar."

"The duke must have extraordinary willpower if he can repel such attacks," Emma laughed.

- Yeah, he always knows how to get his way.

"Why does everyone try to find him a pair?"

"Because of the title, he's still a duke, and besides he's immensely rich." If you saw it with your own eyes, you would understand me: it positively exudes power. He is a man of a particular breed.

"Bell!" Emma looked at her cousin in surprise. "Your mother would have fainted if she heard what you're saying."

"Mom faints no more than you."

"In that case, it's time for her to catch up with me," Emma smiled sadly.

Still, she sighed with relief, learning that Alex would not appear at today's ball. She still had a headache, and she feared that in this state she could not stand another meeting with him.

"Ashburne! Well, surprise! I can not believe that I see your ugly face!"

Through the ballroom of Blydon Mans, William Dunford, one of his closest friends, approached the duke when they were both in Oxford.

Dunford patted his friend on the back with a feeling:

- What are you doing here? I thought you were categorically against such gatherings.

"Of course, against, that's why I have no intention of staying on this glorious little banquet for more than ten minutes."

Alex spoke in a casual tone, but his tempestuous temper was about to burst. Before he could enter the hall, the silence reigned in him, caused by the appearance of the duke Eshborn in an elegant evening suit.

Nervous mothers immediately demanded from their daughters that they oath to them they promised to stay away from this rogue, although they secretly hoped that he would give attention to their daughters. Those who did not have daughters for marriage were immediately parted, giving way to the duke.

Alex sighed. He did not have the patience to take part in colorless secular chatter. The only thing he wanted was to find Meg and, making sure that she was all right, retired. Mistress was already waiting for him in a cozy mansion, and Alex was looking forward to a long sweet night with her.

While he was prepared to endure half an hour of boredom, but the meeting with Dunford somewhat eased the situation: at least, there was hope for a decent conversation.

Dunford was not such a rogue as Alex, but in many ways approached him, but most of the secular society forgave his tricks, because he was unconquerably charming. Alex never succeeded in following the example of a friend; friends recognized his friendliness, but did not forgive the fact that the Duke of Ashbourne is not distinguished by tolerance towards society. Alex rarely condescended to hide boredom when he was involved in a conversation with someone he found uninteresting. There were rumors that not one lady swiftly escaped him in terror, terrorized by his severity.

"Say, Ashburn," a grin appeared on Dunford's face, "why are you here?"

"Oh, really," Alex muttered, "I do not even know myself.

He arrived at the ball an hour earlier and during this time he studied the whole house, disturbing many lackeys, maid-servants, and also one secluded couple. Nevertheless, he did not find the slightest sign of Meg. In the ballroom, the maid was not there either. Alex was ready to give up and stop the search when he was called by Dunford:

"Admit it, buddy, you're definitely looking for someone here."

Alex said with a sigh:

"It's a long story, and it's unlikely you'll find it interesting."

- Nonsense. Usually the most interesting are the long stories. In addition, if this story has led you into the ranks of secular messengers, then the reason for this is the woman you are very interested in.

Nodding to his friend, Alex briefly told the story of how his nephew was saved by a brave kitchen girl. Of course, he omitted the part that belonged to him personally:

"It's not such an exhilarating narrative. In this story there is no romance, no feelings. I'm afraid you'll have to admit that my current behavior is perfectly flawless."

"But it's boring!"

Alex nodded, not hiding disappointment.

"Really, it's hard for me to survive this failure. I think I can howl with anguish if any damn dandy comes up to me and asks how I tie a tie."

"You see," Dunford began thoughtfully, "I'm also thinking about slipping away. Why do not we go to the Whites and do not overtake the cup? It's not too bad to throw yourself into cards, after you've been giving yourself to the joys of social life for a long time."