An Infamous Proposal Read Free Page B

way?” she asked angrily. “I have no one to arrange the matter for me. I cannot see Miss Foxworth handling it any better than I did myself.”
    “It is hard to see how she could have done worse! You have a father—”
    “We will leave Papa out of this, if you please. He is miles away.”
    “I’m sure he would be willing to come, if necessary.”
    “Yes, with Aunt Hildegarde. I have told you that is precisely what I wish to avoid.” Emma was now eager to terminate the visit. She rose and said, “How much do I owe you for the silk?”
    He handed her the bill. She went to her cash box and extracted the sum. “Keep the change,” she said grandly. Nick counted out a few pennies and handed them to her with a lowering look.
    “Thank you, Lord Hansard. I appreciate your fetching it for me,” she said. “I shan’t bother you in future. I didn’t realize I had been imposing so wretchedly on your good nature. You should have mentioned it sooner.”
    “I was happy to do it, Emma,” he said, in a gentler tone. “Indeed, I did not mean to imply I resented any little assistance I may have rendered in the past. I hope you will call me if—”
    Her sharp reply cut through his pretty speech like a knife through sausage. “You are too kind,” she said, but her cold tone said there would be icicles in hell before she applied to his kindness again. She lifted her chin and glared. “Good night, Lord Hansard, and, once more, thank you for your kindness.”
    He hovered at the doorway, not wanting to leave with bad feelings between them, but not knowing what to say that would not set her off again. “Must we really begin ‘lord’ and ‘ladying’ each other, after all this time, Emma?”
    “You’re the one who called me Lady Capehart first.”
    “What you suggest would not do, you know.”
    “Truth to tell, I hadn’t the least wish to marry you. I thought if I could tell Papa I had an offer, Hildegarde might not come. It need not have come to an actual wedding.”
    This piece of chicanery did much to rekindle Hansard’s ire. He was to be jilted into the bargain! “Good evening, Lady Capehart,” he said through stiff lips.
    Emma watched as he went out and slammed the door behind him. She had never seen such an eloquent back. Every inch of his broad shoulders derided her presumption. She buried her face in her hands and uttered a strangled cry of vexation. What a wretched botch she had made of it! She shouldn’t have blurted it out so suddenly.
    Nick had no interest in her whatsoever. All these months she had been nothing to him but a pest. He hadn’t meant any of those compliments he used to shower on her. They were just to please John. Worst of all, the whole neighborhood would soon know what an egregious ass she had made of herself. She flew out the door after him.
    Lord Hansard was still in the hallway, just donning his curled beaver as she arrived, breathless, at the front door. She dismissed the butler, who stood ready to see Hansard out, and spoke to Nicholas in a low tone.
    “A gentleman, I believe, does not boast of his conquests,” she said, peering up at him with a beseeching look. Her bottom lip began trembling. Her childish expression made him regret his harsh attack. Emma was still young after all.
    He shook his head and gave a rueful sigh. “Don’t worry, Emma, I shan’t boast of this night’s work. I fear we neither of us appeared at our best. Let us forget it happened and continue friends.”
    She studied him for signs of irony or, worse, laughter. She saw only a worried gaze. “Thank you, Nicholas,” she said in a small voice.
    He opened the door and left. His traveling carriage and team of four were standing outside, as he had planned to remain only a short while. As he was driven home through the darkness, it was the image of the worried young face at the door and the small, soft voice that went with him. Emma had often complained of her aunt Hildegarde, but it seemed impossible that