Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) (12 page)

“Fine, you don’t have to hold onto my arm, but will you walk beside me?”

Slowly, she nodded. “I can do that.”

He smiled. “I would like that very much, Emiline.”

She stumbled and bumped against him and then quickly righted herself. The color in her cheeks had left, and her eyes now were laced with panic. “Who told you my name was Emiline?”

“Lady Sarah let it slip. Is there a reason you don’t want me to use that name?”

“Uh…no, that’s fine.”

Side by side, they walked outside to the lawn where Lady Sarah waited with his family. Gabe noticed how uncomfortable Emiline seemed when all eyes were upon her, and he thought it was probably the first time his uncle, aunt, and cousin had really got a good look at the woman. She tugged at the waist of her dress then smoothed her hands down the material.

Gabe decided to break the silence. “Now that we are all here, let us allow Miss Emmie to teach us how to play.”

He glanced at his uncle and aunt who stared blankly at Emiline as if the girl had two heads. Irritation ran through Gabe. Were his relatives appalled to actually be playing games with a lady’s companion? He would talk to them alone about their behavior and give them a piece of his mind. After all, Emiline was a guest here, just as Lady Sarah was.

Henry cleared his throat and nodded. “Gabriel is right. We shall let Miss Emmie teach us this new game.” He smiled wide at his wife. “I, for one, am quite bored of Trundling Hoop and Roll, after playing it for so many years.”

“Uh…” Martha’s gaze switched between Emiline and Henry a few times before she shrugged. “I think that is a splendid idea, Mr. Hampton.”

Relief washed over Gabe, knowing that his uncle and aunt were not going to cause a scene—although Rebecca just might. Gabe handed a stick and hoop to Emmie and gave her an encouraging nod.

A shaky smile appeared on her lovely face as she took the items. “Actually, the way I have changed this game, is that we will need a wooden ball as well. If you do not have one, I’m certain my ball of yarn will work.”

Rebecca snickered and smartly folded her arms across her chest. “A wooden ball? Pray tell, is this a child’s game?”

“Actually no, Miss Hampton,” Emmie replied quickly, “although I’m quite certain children could play without difficulty.” Her grin widened and she suddenly didn’t appear as shaky as before. “So I’m very certain
you
will have no problem catching on to the game...as well as everyone else, of course.”

Rebecca gasped as her mouth hung agape. Gabe, slapped a hand to his mouth to keep himself from laughing and covered his quick movement with a cough. Remarkably, his aunt and uncle didn’t comment.

“Uh…I do believe we have a small wooden ball,” his aunt finally said and turned to a nearby servant. “Linus, do you know which ball I’m referring to?”

“Yes. I will fetch it right away.”

During the few minutes the servant was gone, Henry and Martha directed a few questions to Emmie, inquiring about her stay here in New Hampshire. The companion’s tone of voice was quite different than when she had first spoken to Rebecca. Instead of the bold woman Gabe knew Emmie to be, her answers were soft and she rarely met his aunt and uncle’s gaze.

The more he studied Emmie, the more he wondered why she acted so different. In front of him—and even Rebecca—she was as brash as any woman he’d ever met. Yet in front of Henry and Martha, she acted extremely shy.

When the servant brought back the small wooden ball, Emmie changed into a different person again. Confident and self-assured, she explained the new game and even demonstrated how to smack the sticks against the ball, making it roll from one end of the lawn to the other until reaching its destination inside the hoop. Indeed, Emmie was brilliant. This game would be much more enjoyable.

Soon the game began. And even though it wasn’t prearranged, the group did eventually divide into partners. Gabe, willingly partnered with Emmie. Rebecca with Lady Sarah, and his aunt and uncle were together.

Rebecca stomped her foot, and scowled as she faced the ball. Slowly, she turned her back to the group, but it was obvious she kicked the ball instead of hitting it with the stick. When the ball didn’t reach its mark, she grumbled. “This is a very senseless game, and in my opinion, the rules were not thought up correctly.”

“Now, Rebecca,” Henry warned. “The rest of us are enjoying it, I suggest you relax and enjoy it as well.”

She huffed and planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t know why we have to play this. And really, why did we pair off in teams?” She pointed at Gabe. “He is stronger than any of us, so naturally
he
is going to win. It’s not fair.” She glared at Emiline. “And
she
is cheating. I just know it!”

Emiline stood beside him, and from his cousin’s comment, Miss Emmie hitched a breath and squared her shoulders. “Forgive me, Miss Hampton, but I assure you I’m not the one who is cheating. I don’t have to kick the ball in order to make it move.”

“
Augh
!” Rebecca aimed her fiery blue eyes at Emmie. “How dare you accuse me of kicking the ball?”

“Rebecca, dear.” Martha moved to her daughter and grasped her arm. “Please, just calm yourself and play the game right.”

Rebecca flipped her hands in the air. “What are you saying? Do you think I’m cheating too?”

“I believe it’s my turn,” Henry said quickly and moved into place.

Gabe didn’t think he’s ever seen his cousin so out of sorts, but he loved how Emiline could irate the redheaded woman. When Emiline turned her attention back to him, he winked at her, silently letting her know he approved.

“Your rules are impossible to follow,” Rebecca snipped as she swiped a reddish curl off her forehead. “I cannot seem to hit the ball. It’s too difficult.”

“May I show you another way?” Miss Emmie asked calmly.

Rebecca shrugged one shoulder and rolled her eyes.

“If you will,” Emmie began, “imagine the ball as a head.” When Rebecca gasped, Emmie held up her hand and continued. “Think of the head as someone you loathe and would love to take out your frustrations on.” Emmie adjusted her stance with her stick close to the ball. “For instance…if someone has been belittling me on a daily basis, and I want to take my frustrations out of that person but know I cannot.” She arched an accusing eyebrow toward Rebecca. “Instead, I just swat this stick against the ball as hard as I can to relieve my anger.”

Focusing on the ball, Emmie nibbled her lower lip as she aimed…and swung.
Whack!
The ball sailed across the lawn perfectly. She stepped back and pointed toward the ball. “
Ahh
, I feel so much better now.” She grinned haughtily. “See, Miss Hampton. It works perfectly.”

Rebecca grumbled and stormed toward her parents. “Did you see that?” she whined. “She was thinking of me, I just know it!”

When Gabe’s cousin reached his aunt and uncle, their whispers couldn’t be heard. Gabe grinned at Emmie as she made her way back to him. Chuckling, he shook his head and said softly, “I don’t know what you are trying to prove with my cousin, dear Emmie, but I’m having the most enjoyable afternoon watching you.”

One side of her mouth lifted more than the other. “Prove? Pray tell, what would a mere
lady’s companion
want to prove with your cousin?”

“Oh, I don’t know, unless it’s showing my cousin you are not afraid of her.”

“I don’t fear many people, Mr. Lawrence, most assuredly, your arrogant cousin.”

The game continued, and to Gabe’s greatest delight, the winner was Emiline. He held himself back from taking her in his arms to give her a congratulatory hug only because he worried that once she was in his arms, he’d want to do more than just hug her. He quickly shook the thought from his head. What was wrong with him lately? Why couldn’t he stop thinking about charming the woman? Had he basked in their kiss that much?

He grinned. Apparently so.

“That was a splendid game,” Henry cheered. “What shall we do next?”

“As much as I hate to leave this cheerful group,” Gabe answered, “I have other duties that need to be dealt with at this time, so I shall wish all of you a good day and see you at evening meal.” He bowed slightly, and turned to leave.

“I, too, have things to do in order to get Lady Sarah’s dress ready for this evening’s social,” Emiline added quickly. “Thank you, Mr. Hampton for including me in this game. I really do appreciate your kindness, but I need to get back to my duties.” She bowed and turned toward the house, passing Gabe on her way.

“Emiline, hold up there,” he called.

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “
Mr.
Lawrence, I really need to go—”

“Emiline, I just wanted to tell you what a good game you played, and I wanted to thank you for teaching my cousin a lesson.”

She stopped and faced him. “I taught your cousin a lesson? When did I do that?”

“Dear Becky could not stand the fact that you won the game.” He laughed. “I thought it was the best medicine she had ever tasted.”

A small smile tugged on the corners of
Emmie’s
tempting mouth. “If you think that’s a good thing, then I’m certainly glad I was able to help.”

“Yes, that’s a good thing. My cousin needs to be brought down a notch or two in her life, and I was happy to see it happen.” He stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “Especially from you.”

Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and once again, she blushed profusely.

“I thank you,
Mr.
Lawrence,” she said, stepping away from him as she reached to open the side door, “but I really must be getting back. I promised Melba I would help her get Lady Sarah’s dress ready, and give her some tips on how to style her hair correctly.”

The statement struck him funny. Miss Emmie knows how to style hair correctly, when hers was always pulled back so tight her eyes nearly popped out?

Shaking away the thought, he stepped past her and took hold of the door. His hand brushed against hers, and she quickly withdrew. Her eyes sparkled as she looked into his eyes. There was a certain glow about her and it wasn’t due to the sun shining on her face. Curses, she was pretty!

“
I thank you
, again,” she whispered.

“Yes, well, I’m sorry for keeping you. Have a good afternoon, and I shall see you later.”

Her smile widened as she bowed, and then quickly walked into the house. Although she was a mere companion—a poor relative as she’d kept reminding him—he felt like a grand gentleman while holding the door for her. He looked forward to doing things for her just to see her radiant smile. And her eyes...

He took a deep, cleansing breath. Those mesmerizing eyes could make a man weak in the worst way.

Chapter Six