His Not So Sensible Miss (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time - Book 3) (18 page)

Dillon leaned toward Claresta, concern
marred his previously besotted face. Emily feared she could be ill.
Maybe she would become sick, then they could all go home. “If you
are sure? I can easily see the play another evening. Your health is
much more important.”

Claresta smiled up at him weakly. “You
are so kind, as always, but I insist. Please stay, for
me?”

“
Only because you wish me
to.” He lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. Their
eyes met momentarily.

Mrs. Chambers’ mouth opened and closed
a few times before she pursed her lips together. No doubt she
didn’t want her special son left behind with the inferior female,
but didn’t dare insult the mother of the lady her son should
marry.

Emily sighed heavily. Dillon belonged
on the stage right along side Claresta. Had the two hatched this
ridiculous plan? If so, the young woman should feel ashamed for
making her mother worry so and Emily would have a nice long talk
with her when she returned that evening.

Emily settled back into her chair after
being abandon by everyone but Dillon. What could Her Grace be
thinking? She shouldn’t have been left alone with Dillon even if
she was three and twenty. Apparently the woman thought that since
everyone had heard the distressing news of Claresta’s health and
the girl’s pleas, her reputation would not be hurt.

His mother watched their box, her back
almost to the stage. She was probably making sure Dillon didn’t
succumb to the charms of lesser person. Though it made Emily
uncomfortable, it did keep Dillon from moving closer. They hadn’t
sat this far apart when there were other people in the box with
them.

At least she could finally concentrate
on the production, even if it was the last act. The actors were
quite good and the final scenes moving. In fact, when Juliet killed
herself, Emily felt the tears form and began searching for her
handkerchief. His hand appeared before her with a snowy white
handkerchief dangling from his fingertips. She accepted it with a
watery smile then turned her attention back to the play.

They barely waited for the lights to
come up before exiting their box. Emily was anxious to escape and
be home as quickly as possible, however their intentions were
impeded by his mother.

“
Why are you in such a
hurry? You know what a crush will be waiting?”

“
Miss. Frasier is worried
about Lady Claresta, as am I, and wish to return her home as
quickly as possible.” Dillon escorted Emily away before his mother
could argue further.

Emily clutched her reticule tightly
between both hands while they waited for the carriage. The traffic
was heavy tonight and it would take forever to get home. Whatever
was Claresta thinking to leave them alone? If the young woman were
indeed ill, then Emily would feel horrible about her uncharitable
thoughts. Still, she suspected this setup had been done on purpose
but for what reason, she didn’t know. Could Claresta suspect the
truth? Was Claresta testing Dillon’s feelings somehow? Emily
couldn’t believe Dillon would have confessed anything to
her.

Dillon assisted her up into the
carriage and took the seat opposite of her. At least he couldn’t
touch her from there. As long as he remained a distance she could
think straight, though she was surprised he hadn’t sat next to her.
The entire first act of the play he plastered his leg against hers.
After Claresta became ill, he treated her with respect and
distance. The man was the most confusing creature on this earth and
she couldn’t wait to get home and be rid of him.

* * *

Dillon cursed his luck. His parents had
followed them out of the theater and their carriage was behind his.
They would travel in the same direction for a few blocks so he had
to continue to keep his distance. But, as soon as they turned in
the opposite direction he would move to the place beside
Emily.

Their carriages came abreast at the
crossroad and his mother peered into his carriage, her lips firm
and eyebrows narrowed. When she saw Emily seated across from Dillon
and looking out the opposite window she smiled and waved. Dillon
nodded his head in acknowledgment.

As soon as they had traveled less than
a block, Dillon pulled the shades.

Emily turned startled eyes on him.
Dillon didn’t give her a chance to object before he moved to her
side, pulled her into his arms and claimed her with a possessive
kiss. Emily pushed against his chest and tried to turn her head
away but Dillon wouldn’t allow her to break contact and held her
head in place.

She wretched her head free and opened
her mouth to object, but Dillon didn’t give her an opportunity. He
followed and plundered. He’d been denied the taste of Emily far too
long.

Dillon knew the fight had gone out of
her when she stopped pushing on his chest and slid her hands up to
his shoulders. Only then did he delve deeper.

Emily’s hands strayed to his hair and
Dillon’s hand skimmed down her arm before he pulled her onto his
lap. He didn’t give her a chance to protest because he never
stopped kissing her long enough for her to speak.

His hand caressed her waist and moved
upward until he was cupping her breast. Emily moaned into his mouth
and he brushed a thumb across her hardened nipple. With his other
hand he loosened her bodice until no clothing lay between her
breasts and his hands.

Dillon trailed his kisses down her
neck, to her collarbone until he reached one rosy, tight bud. He
drew it slowly into this mouth, savoring each moment. Emily moaned
and arched her back. He lowered her to the seat and followed her
down, his lips never left her body.

His fingers itched to lift the hem of
her gown and to caress her thighs, but he would not. He was having
a difficult enough time remaining in control as it was and knew if
he sought anything further he would have no control whatsoever. He
allowed himself a few moments more to enjoy her soft, full breasts
before slowly raising his head.

Emily lifted her head to look at him,
eyes dark with passion. The passionate haze that enveloped her must
have evaporated because her eyes grew wide and she gasped in shock.
Yanking up her bodice she scrambled to the opposite seat. She
frantically tried to reach the buttons at the back of her gown to
fix her appearance. “Drat.”

He took a seat behind her and redid the
buttons she was unable to reach. When he was finished Emily shifted
to the other seat and attempted to repair her hair.

Tears formed in her eyes when she
looked up at him. “Why did you do that?”

“
To remind you.”

Chapter 10

Emily simply stared at him with a
hundred thoughts flitting across her mind. Did he think she could
forget what it felt like to be kissed and held by him? She was a
fool to have allowed him past her defenses.

“
I need you to hear me out,
please?”

Was that his game? To befuddle her so
he could say his peace and be on his way.

“
I was wrong not to tell you
who I was, but I never dreamed there would be obstacles in our
path.”

“
How could you think
otherwise? I was always clear on who I am.”

Dillon looked her in the eyes,
challenged. “You never told me you were a professor’s
daughter.”

“
It is small matter that
doesn’t change anything. I was very clear that he was a scholar and
of no consequence except to me and His Grace. You, on the other
hand, let me believe that you were a servant, a common
laborer.”

Dillon winced. “Do you know
why?”

“
I’ve formed a number of
opinions on that matter, but no, I don’t know why?”

“
All my life I’ve done what
is expected of me. I’ve met my mother’s expectations whenever
possible. I followed my parents’ rules when I would have normally
balked if someone else asked. Mother is a formidable woman who
should not be crossed. It is more peaceful to go along.”

“
My father knew this,” Emily
said thoughtfully. “I asked him once why he allowed you to do what
he would not allow the others. He said you had enough battles to
fight and he would not add to them.”

“
Yes. He understood better
than most, but I never knew why.”

Emily leveled her eyes at him. “He also
said that you would know which battles were worth fighting for and
be able to weigh your sacrifices when older. You were too young
then and still manipulated.”

“
Did he explain those
battles?” How much had the professor confided in his daughter?
Perhaps she already knew his most cherished secrets because nothing
had been withheld from Professor Frasier.

“
No. He didn’t. Still, this
doesn’t explain why you proceeded in such a manner with
me.”

“
I have met few people in my
life who didn’t know me or know of me. You know who my friends are.
They’re the only people who accept me for who I am. Out there,” he
gestured to the window, “I am Chadwick Chambers. Heir to a fortune.
A son who is expected to make the match of the season. They know it
isn’t me they really need to please, but my mother. No one, other
than your father and my current friends ever bothered to find out
who I am. What little my mother knows she would change.”

Emily listened quietly, twisting her
skirts in her hands. He wondered what she was thinking. “At the
cottage I met a beautiful, witty, intelligent woman. She had no
preconceived notions of what to expect of me. I was free to be
myself. I was doing things to please me until it became important
to please you as well.”

“
I never asked anything of
you.”

Dillon smiled. “No. You never did,
which made me want to please you all the more.”

“
The garden?” she
whispered.

“
Yes. I started seeing the
cottage and land through your eyes, or tried to. I never questioned
why I felt this way. I only knew I wanted what you saw.”

“
Why, when you knew our time
would be over within the month?”

He liked that she used the
term
our time.
It
gave him hope. “I didn’t know that it couldn’t be, or that we
couldn’t pick up where we left off in London, returning once again
to the cottage in the summer.”

“
How could you not? I never
led you to believe I was anything more than I am.” The anguish in
her voice pulled at his heart.

Dillon shrugged. “I thought that you
were withholding as much as I. You are the ward of a duke. Not just
anyone finds themselves in that position. Our servants said they
had heard rumors that your mother had married a nobleman but did
not know who.”

“
She didn’t.”

“
I know that
now.”

“
You believed I was secretly
a nobleman’s daughter?” The left side of her mouth turned up in a
smile.

“
Who was enjoying a rare
opportunity to be herself without all the expectations of your
position in society.”

“
You knew all along we were
bound to meet in London. How were you going to explain
yourself?”

“
My plan was to present
myself to you, hoping you weren’t overly angry, beg your
forgiveness and proceed from there.”

“
Thank you for telling
me.”

“
You don’t hate me any
longer?” he asked with a hint of a smile.

She looked down at her lap. “I never
really hated you. I wanted to, but I couldn’t.”

“
Does it have to end?”
Dillon asked after they had sat quietly for a moment.

Emily looked up at him, her eyes
beseeching. “You know it does.”

“
Why?” He needed to know if
she wanted it to end or if circumstances were making her
decision.

“
Your mother.”

Dillon breathed a sigh of relief. At
least it wasn’t of her own choosing. “I’m not ready to let you go.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready.”

Pain filled her eyes.

“
Can we not try? Perhaps
what we shared at the cottage was only a dream. We’ll never know
unless we see if this connection we share exists in the real world.
I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering. Do
you?”

“
It is impossible.” She
shook her head and looked out the window.

“
You met with me in secret,
believing your aunt and uncle would not approve. I went along in
order to spend time with you.” Dillon reminded her. “I’m asking you
to do the same for me.”

When she continued to watch the passing
scenery and not respond, Dillon continued, “As long as mother
thinks I am courting Lady Claresta, she will allow me much more
freedom.”

Her head snapped back and a stern look.
“I cannot and will not let you use Claresta in such a
manner.”

Dillon quirked an eyebrow and smiled.
“I’m willing to bet that when you return home this evening you’ll
find Lady Claresta as healthy as she was before attending the
theater.”

Emily narrowed her eyes.