His Not So Sensible Miss (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time - Book 3) (12 page)

“
Do you have to find work as
a governess? Couldn’t you remain with Ellings or live with your
aunt and uncle?” Phoebe asked in all innocence.

Dillon recognized her tone. Phoebe was
prompting Emily for deeper information. Leave it to Phoebe to see
through anything.

“
No. I have no wish to be a
burden.”

The voices of the gentlemen intruded
before Phoebe could press for further details. Dillon quickly made
his way to another set of open doors so he could enter the drawing
room from the foyer like the others.

Once conservation over tea began,
Dillon tried to find a way to speak with Emily directly, preferably
alone. When he looked at her, she pointedly turned away. He refused
to let matters be. They had to talk, though he didn’t know what he
would say. She refused to give him the opportunity, and it angered
him that she could be so attentive to his friends but barely
acknowledge his presence. Especially after all they had shared.
Yes, the others had a history with Emily, but Dillon shared a
history with her as well. A history he would never forget. Somehow
he had to get her to himself. At the moment, it was impossible and
every one of his friends seemed to support Emily in her desire to
avoid him or so it seemed. Well, she had to leave sometime and he
would be the one to escort her home.

* * *

As much a she enjoyed reacquainting
herself with her father’s former students, the evening was
beginning to wear on Emily. If she’d been able to remain ignorant
to Dillon’s true identity, this would have been the most enjoyable
evening since coming to London. Oh, she tried to ignore him, but it
was too difficult with him so near, watching her. No doubt he
wished to speak with her alone, but she was not ready for that
conversation. She still didn’t know if he had been toying with her
in the country or if he had actually felt some affection for her.
Either way, it didn’t matter. So, why had he continued as he did?
Emily didn’t want to know that answer at the moment. Her anger and
humiliation were enough without his adding any
explanation.

Finally, the party began to break up
and Dillon stepped forward. “I’ll be happy to escort you home.” He
offered his arm with a smile.

The last place Emily should be with
Dillon right now was in a closed carriage.

“
Thank you, but Noah has
already promised to see me home,” she lied, hoping Noah would come
to her rescue.

If Dillon was surprised, he hid it
well.

“
Would you like to talk?”
Noah asked once the carriage was set in motion.

Emily wished she could ignore him but
knew it was impossible. She also didn’t pretend not to know what he
was referring to. Slowly she turned toward him. “It is better
forgotten.”

“
What is better forgotten?”
Noah persisted.

“
If I tell you, will you
promise that it remains between you and I?” Emily asked. She had
believed her time alone with Dillon were her own secret memories.
They had carried her through the past weeks. That, and dreams of
returning in July, hoping they had a real future. Now that her
dream was shattered, she did need to talk to someone.

“
I promise.” He took her
hand in his.

“
You must also promise to
take no action on my behalf.”

Noah turned suddenly in his seat to
look at her. “What did he do to you?”

“
Nothing you just imagined,”
Emily assured him. “If I tell you of the time I spent with
Chambers, you must swear that you will do
nothing
.
” Emily refused to
breathe a word until she had his promise.

“
I’ll try,” he answered
after a few moments.

“
That is the answer I would
expect from Marius and won’t accept it from you either, Noah.
Promise me.”

Noah sighed in defeat. “Very well. I
will not challenge Dillon or force his hand.”

Emily relaxed. The relief of being able
to tell someone was almost overwhelming. “Thank you.” Slowly she
began telling Noah of her fist meeting and progressed, describing
their visits. Of course she did not tell Noah of the kissing. She
was afraid she would truly break down and cry if she did. “I
thought he was an employee of Chambers, not Chambers
himself.”

“
Did he seduce you?” Noah
asked quietly.

“
No. Though had that been
his intention, I doubt I could have found the will to deny
him.”

“
You’re in love with
him.”

Her tears began to flow. “Which shows
how much of a fool I am.”

Noah pulled her close and handed her
his handkerchief, stroking her back as she sobbed. When she finally
calmed, she pulled away. “I’m sorry. Foolishly I had hoped for a
future with a laborer named Dillon. It is impossible
now.”

“
Why?”

“
You know as well as I do
what is expected of Chambers. His parents would never approve of
me.” Straightening her skirt she looked back out the window.
“Besides, it is better I learned no
w
and let go of my silly
hopes
.
”

Noah reached over and took her hand
again. “Are you so sure they are silly hopes?”

“
How can they not be?” She
returned, her voice rising with anger. “Can you be so sure this
wasn’t all a game to him? He has always known what was expected of
him. I was very clear about my own background, though he didn’t
have my last name. He withheld so much more and led me to believe a
future was waiting for us after the season when all the time
knowing any such thing was impossible.”

“
I’ve known Dillon a good
portion of my life and I don’t think he would have made promises,
or even hinted at future meetings if he didn’t believe it was
possible at the time. He wouldn’t have played that kind of game
with you, Emily.”

Though his words were meant to offer
comfort, they did very little in patching the tear in her
heart.

* * *

Emily wasn’t prepared to face her
guardians but knew she must. Hiding her emotions, she joined them
in the salon.

“
How was your evening?” His
Grace asked.

“
It was pleasant.” Emily
wanted to escape to her room.

“
Have you been crying,
dear?” The duchess came forward with a look of concern.

Unwanted tears formed in her eyes
again. “This evening brought back a number of memories.”

His Grace smiled softly. “You’ll feel
better in the morning.”

“
Yes, I’m sure. If you’ll
excuse me.” She turned and rushed from the room. What had Dillon
brought her to? She had met him secretly behind her aunt and
uncle’s back and now she misled to her guardian. Dillon was a bad
influence she must dismiss from her life. That was exactly what she
would do tomorrow. Tonight was hers, she decided as she crawled
into her bed and let the tears flow. Tonight she would mourn her
loss and tomorrow she would move forward and forget him.

Chapter 6

Dillon knew it was too much to hope
that Noah would deliver Emily to her home and go on to his own.
Apparently he was right because he looked up to find Noah lounging
against the door jam of Dillon’s library, his face
unreadable.

“
It is my intention to get
bloody drunk. You are welcome to join me.” Had Emily told him
anything? Or everything?

Noah stalked into the room. “Thank you.
I could use a drink myself.” Noah helped himself to the Scotch
Whisky.

“
What were you thinking?”
Noah finally asked, after he sat down.

“
What did she tell you?”
Dillon countered. He wasn’t near drunk enough to share all the
glorious details of his relationship with Emily.

“
A good deal but I suspect
she left out some aspects of your relationship to keep me from
issuing a challenge.”

A bitter smile came to Dillon’s lips.
“I always told Emily I admired her intelligence.”

Noah’s arm shot out and his fist
connected with Dillon’s jaw. Dillon’s only reaction was to absently
rub across the injury with his cool glass. “Thank you.” Strangely,
he felt better for what had just transpired.

“
Now, would you tell me why
you led her on?” Noah sat back in his chair. “I never thought you
could be so cruel.”

Dillon groaned and let his head fall
back. “I didn’t think I was leading her on. I knew who her guardian
was. I was also led to believe that her mother married some sort of
nobleman, or at least that is what a servant told me. I honestly
thought all would work out for the best once we were both here and
unmasked.”

“
Regardless of your
intentions, Emily is hurting.”

“
And do you think she is
alone in that?” Dillon yelled.

“
What do you plan to
do?”

Dillon stood and began pacing, not
bothering to hide his agitation. “What the hell can I do? If I
pursue her, as I wish, my parents will give me no end of grief, not
to mention the financial damage they could do. They have the power
to ruin much more than anyone can comprehend. If I follow their
wishes, I’ll end up married to a poor replacement for my
emotions.”

“
So, exactly what is the
relationship between you and Emily?” Marius asked from the
doorway.

Noah barely acknowledged him. Dillon’s
anger surfaced. It was bad enough he had to figure out how he could
get around his parents and the hold they had on him and still have
Emily. He didn’t need to deal with his two friends who had now
taken on the position of Emily’s protectors. In a rage, he threw
his glass, shattering it against the fireplace. “I would like you
both to leave.”

Noah stood. “I have one
request.”

Dillon only looked at him, hands
fisted. Maybe he needed a bloody fight. Noah already threw the
first punch.

“
Stay away from her unless
you’re willing to offer more.”

“
You ask too
much.”

“
It’s for her sake.” Noah
left the room but Marius remained behind. Dillon should have known
his best friend of fifteen years wouldn’t simply leave and go about
his own business.

Marius didn’t wait for the offer but
poured himself a glass of whisky. He looked Dillon in the eye once
he settled in a leather chair. “So, what do you intend to
do?”

Dillon sank into the chair across from
him. He let his head fall back against the seat. “I don’t
know.”

“
Does she know about your
past, your former. . . “

Dillon’s head shot up. “No. I didn’t
tell her.”

“
Maybe an explanation is in
order then.”

He shook his head. “In time, but not
now. I don’t want to do anything that may push her further
away.”

They sat in silence for a moment before
Marius spoke. “Your parents won’t accept her.” Then he lifted the
glass and drank deeply.

“
I know. But, I can’t risk
going against them right now. You’re the only one who knows what
would happen if I did.”

Marius slowly nodded his head. “I wish
there was something I could do.”

“
I know, and I thank
you.”

Marius drained the glass and set it on
the table. “You fell in love with Emily, didn’t you?”

“
Is it that obvious?” Dillon
stood to pace again. Marius was the only person who knew everything
about his past. Things his parents would like to deny, or pretend
didn’t exist. Normally he would never admit to anything, but Marius
held all of his secrets and Dillon trusted him more than anyone
else he knew.

“
I’ve only seen you this way
with one other lady.”

A sad smile pulled at Dillon’s lips at
the remembrance of Rose. Had she lived, he wouldn’t be in this
position now. Until Emily, she was the only other woman he had ever
loved. What would his future have been had she lived? Would his
parents still have the same control or would they have eventually
destroyed her as they tried on several occasions? He may have been
young and foolish then, but the feelings he had for Rose and what
he felt for Emily were much the same.

Marius stood. “I will think on what can
be done and if there is any way around your parents.”

“
Thank you.”

Dillon watched as his friend left the
room and listened for the door to close before he sank once again
into his chair. Lifting the decanter, he drank directly from it.
The quicker the contents were gone, the quicker this pain would
subside.

* * *

Dillon woke to the pounding in his
head. Though the whisky hadn’t numbed his emotional state the night
before, it had no difficulty in making him miserable this morning.
It didn’t seem fair that he should be punished without reaching his
original goal. A strong cup of coffee would be a good start in
alleviating his current physical pain, but he wasn’t sure he wanted
to bother rising. Still, he couldn’t lie in his bed for the rest of
the day, week or month. He had plans to make. His goal was somewhat
clear, but the how of achieving it was fuzzy and vague. Before he
could establish how he should go forward however, he needed to
determine the truth about Emily’s feelings.