The Unthinkable Read Free Page A

Hawkesbury’s support and friendship tonight had been just as important as Edmund’s, perhaps more so.
    If only the rest of the ton were as easily persuaded.
    But Genie knew she should feel pleased. So far the evening had gone exceptionally well. The ton was intrigued. And there hadn’t been any unwelcome vestiges of her past to fend off. It was more than she could have hoped for.
    She turned back to Edmund to tell him she would see him for their dance later when she noticed him scanning the crowd behind her. Strange, she thought. She’d caught him doing the same thing many times throughout the evening. He appeared to be looking for someone. Though Genie had refused to tell Edmund his name, perhaps he, too, was concerned that he might be here.
    Now that she thought about it, there was a distinct edginess to Edmund tonight. Genie bit her bottom lip, feeling guilty. She’d been so preoccupied with her own thoughts, she hadn’t realized that this night might be difficult for him as well. They both had much riding on her success.
    She touched his arm and gave him a tender smile. There was no need to feign this time. Her eyes dropped to his mouth and she ran her tongue along her upper lip, thinking about how she would thank him later for all he had done tonight. She’d come to enjoy kissing Edmund. Though it didn’t create the heart-pounding frantic craving from her youth, Edmund’s kiss was like him: warm and secure.
    Not dangerous and destructive.
    “Your mother’s right,” she said, disengaging her hand from his arm. When Edmund looked like he might argue she continued, “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
    “But I do worry,” he said in a tone that was far too serious than was warranted by the situation. There was a tense moment where it seemed like he might refuse, before he sighed. “I’ll go for now, but I’ll be back if you need me.” He paused meaningfully. “For anything.”
    Genie watched him make his way through the crowd. Even his carriage seemed odd. Though graceful, there was a predatory slant to his movements tonight. It was almost as if he were stalking something… or someone.
    Whatever was bothering him—and she was sure something was—it was getting worse as the evening drew on. Perhaps Edmund was more jealous than she’d realized?
    She was prevented from thinking about the matter any further as the dancing began and she was led into the ballroom by the first in a steady stream of partners.
     
     
    Dismounting, the man carelessly tossed the reins of his horse to the waiting footman and hurried up the walkway, barely noticing the outrageous extravagances of tonight’s fete.
    He was late. Very late. Prinny would be furious, though he’d been fortunate to make it at all. A last-minute trip to Surrey to attend to an emergency for a friend had taken him from town yesterday. He’d only arrived home an hour ago, leaving him barely time to change before rushing to Carlton House to put in the obligatory appearance.
    He felt around for his watch fob but realized that in his haste he’d forgotten it. Instinctively his fingers dug around in the small pocket on his waistcoat that lay right below his heart. Relieved, he exhaled. It was there. The slide of cool silk slipping between his fingertips was strangely comforting. A corner of the blue ribbon, frayed and worn with time, peeked out from the opening of the pocket for a moment before he quickly stabbed it back down out of sight.
    Such sentimentality was not like him. But like some wretched talisman, he carried the damned thing with him everywhere.
    It was all he had left of a past that he could not forget.
    For it seemed nothing would ever bring her back.
     
     
    Much later, breathless and flushed from the heat of the ballroom, Genie decided to take a turn on the promenades. Catching sight of Edmund outside in the courtyard, she started across the room.
    She stepped outside Carlton House and paused for a moment, shocked by the drop in