CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The next night after a long session in the House of Lords, Audsley found himself at another ball, this time at the home of the Marquess of Riverton. While he would rather be home with Emma, he liked Riverton and they’d worked together on several pieces of legislation. In addition, Lady Riverton was extremely clever and very kind – someone who could be a good friend to Emma. At the very least, Audsley was fairly certain the guest list wouldn’t include the likes of Cressida or any other notorious gossips. Lady Riverton was well-respected in the ton and an appearance by Emma here would go a long way toward redeeming her reputation.
At least that’s what Audsley’s mother had said, who’d been most insistent that they attend.
For his part, Audsley would have preferred that his wife remain at home to rest, but she’d told him she wished to attend. With some reluctance, he’d agreed and now they were both sipping punch and listening to music.
“Emma!” said Grace, who hugged her sister like she hadn’t seen her for years.
Audsley admired the sisters’ bond and wondered what it would have been like to have had a brother growing up. His life might have been less lonely if he’d had one. Audsley kissed his sister-in-law’s cheek. “Is Carter here?”
“I believe he’s outside smoking one of the cigars he took from your library yesterday.”
“Perhaps I should give him a box for Christmas.”
“You could, but he’d probably keep stealing yours,” said Grace with a laugh.
“I will see if I can find him,” said Audsley, wanting to give the sisters time alone.
“You’re very well-trained,” said Grace.
“Thank you, I think,” said Audsley, before escorting the two ladies to the chairs – they were both increasing, after all – and setting off to find Carter.
He didn’t get very far when Lady Embry approached. She was wearing a sapphire blue gown which emphasized her décolletage and trim waist. She walked with a seductive sway to her hips, which captured the attention of every man she passed. And none of it did anything at all for Audsley. She may be a beautiful woman, but she was not his wife and there had never been any chance she would be, even when they had seen each other years before. He had told her that as gently as possible just as Embry had entered the picture. She’d been livid and had announced her betrothal to Embry shortly thereafter. Audsley hoped for both their sakes that there’d been genuine affection there, but when she went out of her way to give everyone the impression she’d refused Audsley, he wondered how much of her betrothal had been motivated by spite.
“I understand that Embry has been assisting you with a matter,” she said quietly when she reached him.
“He has been most helpful.”
“I have news for you, but it’s best if we don’t speak of it here, given the sensitive nature of the matter,” she said, eyeing the throngs of people around them. “Mayhap we should find someplace quieter to converse.”
That suited Audsley well, since he didn’t want to give the gossips anything else to discuss when it came to Emma and her family. So, after allowing Lady Embry a small head start, he followed her. Perhaps, he could finally have some good news to give his wife.
On the second floor, Audsley watched as Lady Embry slipped through a door toward the end of the hall. A moment later he joined her in the dark room, which had two large settees and a few chairs. The drapes in the far corner were pulled back to allow the moonlight to stream in, which was where Penelope was standing.
“Embry has been so helpful in all of this,” said Audsley. “I cannot thank him enough.”
“Embry does make a point of helping others,” said Lady Embry with a half-smile. “Would you like some champagne?” She held out a glass to him.
Audsley approached her to take the glass. “What has he found?”
“He didn’t elaborate,” said Lady Embry. “But he is confident they can get to the bottom of this. It must be quite distressing to Emma that her parents find themselves in this predicament.” She put her hand on his arm in sympathy. “It must be quite difficult for you.”
“I hate seeing her so upset,” he said.
“If word gets out, it would be yet another thing for the gossips to feast on. I must say Emma often seems to find herself the subject of their attention.”
“She has led a less traditional life than most ladies of the ton, which brings out the worst in the gossips.”
“I feel terrible for her, of course,” said Lady Embry, as she took his hand, then led him to the settee where she sat down, pulling him with her. “But, how are you?”
“Well, thank you. What can you tell me about Embry’s news?”
She sighed. “Oh, Audsley, it has been so long since I’ve had anyone to talk to. Can you not speak of something else for a moment?”
Audsley tried not to let his irritation show. He had no desire to spend any more time with Penelope than was necessary. She’d been tiresome when he knew her before and she had not improved since. “How are you?”
“Bored, if I must be truthful. Embry has little use for me now that I have produced the heir and a spare and I find myself quite at a loss for how I shall entertain myself.”
Audsley froze. She could not have brought him there for seduction, could she? “Perhaps you should involve yourself in charitable pursuits,” he said as he started to rise, only to be pulled back down on the settee.
“I still have those, of course. Embry has been generous with his purse when it comes to donating to causes.”
“I am certain you do very good work,” said Audsley, as he finished his champagne so he could leave.
Penelope took his empty glass and refilled it. “I have my causes and I’ve thrown myself into being the consummate hostess. I have any number of lady friends I can visit, but, in truth, I find myself lonely in that big house.”
Now Audsley knew he was in trouble. “I am sorry to hear that. I believe I should find my wife.”
* * *
Emma was uncomfortable in her gown. The stays were too tight now that the babe was growing. And, truth be told, she’d been disappointed when Audsley has suggested attending this ball when all she’d wanted to do was stay home with him and talk. But here she was, sitting on a chair while Grace was having an animated conversation with her mother-in-law on the other side of them. Carter’s mother was kind, interesting and gracious – everything Amelia was not. Emma was happy for her sister, but she would just as soon be home. Then she saw something which truly made her night take a turn for the worse. She saw Audsley leave the room with Lady Embry.
Something made Emma follow him down the hall, then up a flight of stairs. She was far enough behind him so that he wouldn’t notice her, so she was stymied when she reached the next floor with a long hall of closed doors. She wondered if she’d missed him, so she went up a flight, but that was no more helpful.
She went back down and stood for a moment. And that’s when she heard the lyrical laugh she dreaded so much.
* * *
“Audsley,” said Penelope, as she clung to his hand with surprising strength. “Do you ever wonder what would have happened between us if Embry had not arrived on the scene?”
He wanted to say that Embry had had nothing to do with them not marrying, but he had no wish to prolong the conversation. “This is not an appropriate discussion.”
She laughed. “You always were one to follow the rules. But, in case you didn’t know, they change as one matures. That which wasn’t possible at one point, suddenly becomes not only permissible, but desirable. Embry and Lady Conover have been having an affair for three years, perhaps longer.”
“I am very sorry to hear that.”
“It makes things much easier for me.” She moved closer to him. “Aren’t you curious as to what it would have been like to be together? I’m a woman of experience now, looking for diversion.”
“I’m a married man who wishes to be faithful to my wife.”
“How very common of you,” she said with a laugh which didn’t quite ring true. “Spending too much time in the country has made you forget the ways of the ton. It’s expected of us, don’t you know, especially now that I’ve done my duty by Embry. You are always trying to persuade your colleagues in the House of Lords to follow you. Imagine how impressed they’d be if they knew you and I were together.”
“I cannot imagine Embry would like it very much.”
She shrugged. “I don’t think he’d mind overly much, as long as we were at least somewhat discreet. But please tell me you wish to experience this.” With that, she pulled her bodice down so Audsley had a full view of her breasts. It distracted him enough so that she was able to take his hand and place it on one of them.
That’s when he heard it. There was the distinct sound of a door closing. As he pulled his hand away, he looked around but couldn’t see anything. Had it happened down the hall?
“Christopher!” said Penelope petulantly. “You cannot truly be rejecting me, can you?”
“Yes, I am. I would never cuckold another man but, more importantly, I would never do that to my wife. Emma is the most important person in the world to me. I love her.” Audsley suddenly realized how strange it was that he’d never said that to Emma, yet he’d had no hesitation in admitting it to Penelope.
Penelope was putting her gown to rights, glaring as she did so. “I feel like quite a fool, but I’d been led to believe you would be receptive to my gesture.”
“Who would have given you a foolish idea like that?” But even before Lady Embry answered, Audsley knew exactly who it had been.
“Your mother, Audsley. She was the one who encouraged me.”
* * *
Emma couldn’t breathe. The stays of her corset were doing nothing to help the situation, but it was mostly the sight of Audsley’s hands on a half-naked Lady Embry which had her shaking. She’d stood in the doorway in shock because she never truly thought he’d do such a thing. But she’d seen it with her own eyes. Her worst fears had been realized and she didn’t know what she was going to do.
Her knees felt weak, so she couldn’t walk down the stairs, but she didn’t want to be caught standing outside the door. She stumbled blindly down the hall, unable to see through her tears. She hoped she’d be able to walk better once she reached the stairs. She was so distraught she didn’t see the woman in front of her until she nearly ran her over.
“Pardon me,” said Emma, hoping the lady wouldn’t see her crying.
“That’s quite all…you’re crying!” said the lady with some alarm. She immediately put her arm around Emma’s waist.
Emma tried to brush away her tears, but they were so heavy she wasn’t having much luck. The woman ducked into a nearby room. “Wesley,” she called out to a man who was waiting for her. “We need a handkerchief.”
The man, who had auburn hair with hints of red, looked alarmed and immediately produced his handkerchief, which the woman gave to Emma.
“Thank you,” said Emma, as she dried her eyes. She didn’t recognize the man or the woman, who was fair-haired with striking green eyes. Emma wondered if she’d stumbled into yet another illicit liaison, though both of them were being most kind to her. The woman had led her to a chair and the man was pouring her a glass of water. They were obviously both worried about her, making them extremely kind for adulterers.
“Is there someone we can call for you?” asked the woman.
“No!” said Emma a bit too quickly, for now the two of them looked even more worried.
“Perhaps we should introduce ourselves. I am Violet Addington and this is my husband, Wesley.”
Husband? Emma had just interrupted a liaison between a husband and wife? But from the way Wesley was standing so close to his wife, with a hand on her waist, Emma had no doubt these two were meant to be together and were very much in love. “I am Emma Aston.”
Wesley smiled. “You’re Audsley’s wife. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Can I find him for you?”
“No, thank you,” she said again, too quickly once more, which made the two look at each other.
Wesley turned to his wife. “Audsley doesn’t live too far from the Emersons.”
Violet’s face lit up. She was a beautiful woman, but even more so when she smiled. “Two of my very best friends are in the Emerson family. Letty, who’s now married to Robert Carmichael, and Anna, who is married to Mark Jones.”
“I know Mr. and Mrs. Jones,” said Emma. “They were kind enough to host the wedding breakfast for my friends Arabella and Jonathan.”
“She told me about that,” said Violet with so much warmth it almost made Emma start crying again. “She is really the best of friends and I miss her very much since she usually stays in the country.” She turned to her husband. “My love, perhaps you should see where Lord Audsley is.”
“But Lady Audsley said not to get him.”
“Yes, I know. But I’d like to talk to her about a few things and they are best said in private. Take your time in finding him, but then bring him here.”
“As you wish,” he said, kissing his wife, then taking his leave.
“Now,” said Violet, as she sat next to her. “How far along are you in your pregnancy?” Emma must have looked her surprise, for Violet quickly added. “This is not simply idle curiosity. My mother is the unofficial surgeon in our village of Marston Vale and she taught me to deliver babies. I’ve become quite adept at recognizing when a lady is expecting and you, Emma, have the radiance of someone with a babe on the way.”
“You mean the way I perspire at everything and cannot control my crying?”
“I prefer my description to yours, thank you very much. Have you found a good midwife?”
Emma was reassured that this lady asked about a midwife, instead of an accouter, as so many others had insisted on. “Yes, Mrs. Lanahan.”
“Oh, she is excellent!”
“I was told the Duke of Lynwood recommends her.”
“I know that for a fact. He’s my uncle.”
This unassuming young woman was a member of one of the most respected families in the ton. And she’d been sneaking away for an assignation with her husband, which she’d interrupted to help someone she’d never met. Clearly, there were good people in London and she’d just met two of them.
Violet took her hand. “Is something else the matter, other than the baby playing with your emotions?”
It was so tempting to say yes. Something made her feel like she could trust Violet, but she would not do that to Audsley. Anything she had to say she would say to him only and soon. She shook her head. “Thank you, but I need to figure this out on my own.”
“May I call on you? We won’t be in town much longer, but I would very much like to see you again. We can have a nice coze over tea and I’ll bring my little girl, if you don’t mind.”
“I would like that very much,” said Emma with her first genuine smile of the night.
“Good. In that case…”
They were interrupted by Audsley entering and looking extremely worried, followed by Wesley. Audsley’s look of concern was so real it almost made Emma think she’d imagined what she’d seen earlier. But she knew she hadn’t. She also knew that he was likely more worried about the baby than her.
“Emma,” he said, as he crouched in front of her. “Are you all right?”
No. Nothing was right. Emma could feel Violet’s intense gaze studying the two of them. She had the feeling that if Violet thought Emma was afraid of her husband, she would intervene. But it wasn’t that. Emma knew Audsley would never do her harm and she had to make Violet see that. Emma reached out to take Audsley’s hand and he immediately put it to his lips. Emma could feel Violet relax at the sight of it.
“I’m going to take you home,” said Audsley.
Emma nodded, then turned to Violet. “I look forward to your visit.”
“As do I,” said Violet. “Lord Audsley, you have a lovely wife.”
“I do, Mrs. Addington. And I am a most fortunate man because of it.”