17. Chapter 17
Emma dashed down the block, her heart pounding.
He had known it was her for two weeks! Why hadn’t he turned her in?
Why hadn’t he turned away from her in shock and dismay?
Her instincts screamed for her to run far away, but Emma forced herself to walk straight home.
It would be dangerous to wander around London at night in an evening gown, no money, no plan.
She slowed her pace, taking deep, bracing gulps of the cold night air.
Her mind scrambled to understand why he had kept her secret.
Perhaps he was hoping to continue their amorous activities; it had certainly seemed like that tonight.
If she said yes and became his mistress, she knew he would take care of her…
for now. But what then? When he grew tired of her or found another?
No, she was better off on her own. Her heels clicked an angry rhythm against the cobblestones.
What must he think of her? A common harlot, no doubt.
It had been the height of folly to be with him.
She wiped at the wetness on her cheek. You fool!
It’s too late to be crying over your poor decisions.
Now she had to trust he would not turn her in to the authorities.
Fear clawed in her gut. Perhaps she should just disappear.
The idea took root, feeding her instinct to escape.
If she left the city, Lucy could still carry on her connection with the Langdons and Emma wouldn’t have to see Andrew.
If she were honest, she didn’t believe he would turn her in to the authorities.
But she was certain he planned to press her to become his mistress.
She needed to get away, or else she didn’t know if she had the strength to say no to him.
She would do this job for the diamond necklace.
It would bring in a sizable sum, enough to provide for the family for a while.
She would steal the necklace and leave the proceeds for Lucy to manage.
Then she would disappear. Charles could damn well step in and take his guardian duties seriously.
She could go to Hertford Manor. It wasn’t entirely livable yet, but it would be a roof over her head.
No one knew her there. Calmer now that she had made a plan, Emma took a deep breath through her nose.
She would allow herself a week to prepare. She could avoid the duke for one week.
She arrived home, hollow from the emotional upheaval of the evening, and made her way up to her room.
When she entered, Fergus woke and walked over to greet her from his bed in the corner.
Emma took one look into his big, sympathetic eyes and burst into tears.
Kneeling down, she flung her arms around his great shaggy neck and wept.
Several nights later, Emma crouched on the roof of a row house across from Miss Esmeralda Hunt’s residence.
The cold night air cut through her lightweight men’s jacket, causing her to shiver.
It was two o’clock in the morning, and Miss Hunt was still not home.
Emma had been watching the house each evening for the past three days, hoping to figure out if Miss Hunt had any type of regular schedule Emma could use to her advantage.
So far, it seemed Miss Hunt spent hardly any time at home.
She came home to change clothing, and then she was out again.
Unfortunately, her erratic comings and goings didn’t leave Emma with any sort of plan for when she could slip inside.
The only pattern she had surmised was that Miss Hunt did go out regularly in the evenings, at least for dinner.
Emma yawned. She’d better get home and get some rest, or else she really would get sick, just as she had been feigning all week. She felt guilty about lying to Lucy. But feeling guilty was nothing new.
She shimmied down the drainpipe, landing silently in the garden.
Just as she exited through the garden gate, which led to the street, a carriage pulled up in front of Miss Hunt’s house.
Emma flattened herself against the brick wall of the house, keeping to the shadows in the alley.
Mr. Caldwell jumped down from the carriage, and he held out a hand to help Miss Hunt alight. The couple embraced passionately.
Then Miss Hunt pulled away, laughing. “Now Mr. Caldwell, you’ve had your fun tonight. Go home and sleep.”
“But I’d much rather come inside and sleep with you.” He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.
Miss Hunt smiled and placed a hand on his chest. “Now, now, I need my rest too. I will see you on Friday evening. You are still taking me to the theatre, aren’t you?
I do so love going to the theatre. Off you go, be a good boy, and I promise you a special surprise Friday after the show.
” She gave him a languid kiss, then turned and went up the front steps.
The young man gave a jaunty wave. Then he stepped back up into his carriage.
Elated at what she overheard, Emma watched the carriage roll away down the street.
She couldn’t believe her good luck. Now she knew exactly when the lady would be out of the house for a good chunk of time.
She would return Friday night and hope Miss Hunt wasn’t planning on wearing her diamond necklace to the theatre.