A Stockingful of Joy by Jill Barnett Mary Jo Putney Justine Dare Susan King

Author:Jill Barnett,Mary Jo Putney,Justine Dare,Susan King [King, Jill Barnett,Mary Jo Putney,Justine Dare,Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-09-03T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

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After her audience with the dowager duchess, Emma left the nearly empty drawing room to go to the ballroom. She was looking forward to her first waltz with Anthony. He was undoubtedly a superb dancer. She was badly in need of practice, but she didn't think that would matter.

As she entered the hall that led to the ballroom, she saw Cecilia slip away from the crowd ahead and go down the cross passage that went to the foyer and the main staircase. Emma thought nothing of it, until she saw Anthony leave as well—going the same way as Cecilia.

Emma stopped in her tracks, her stomach turning. Surely Anthony could not be having an assignation with Cecilia, not after what had transpired between him and Emma last night and today.

She swallowed hard and told herself not to be a ninny. The fact that Anthony and Cecilia had gone off in the same direction was hardly proof of amorous intentions. Fiercely she told herself that she must learn to trust her husband or she would go mad, for there would always be women hovering around him. Nonetheless, not ready to face the laughing people in the ballroom, she sank into a chair tucked beside a massive carved console table.

Until now she had not let herself wonder if Anthony would be a faithful husband, because the answer was probably not one she would like. Many men of his class had mistresses, and a man who loved women as Anthony did was a prime candidate for infidelity. Her heart bled a little at the thought.

Would she still love her husband even if he was unfaithful? Probably—but if that ever happened, part of her would retreat from him. Never again would there be the openness and trust they had shared today.

She sat very still and concentrated on her breathing until it was regular again. There. She had faced the worst. If Anthony was unfaithful, at least she would be a little prepared. But—please, God, don't let it happen.

She was about to continue to the ballroom when she saw Brand stalk out and head in the direction that Anthony and Cecilia had gone. His face was like granite. Merciful heaven, had he seen them leave? If he caught the two of them together, there would be hell to pay, even if the meeting was perfectly innocent.

Swiftly Emma considered what to do. Go for the duke? He would certainly put a quick end to any conflict. But by the time she found him, it might be too late. Better to follow Brand, and hope that she could head off any trouble.

She got to her feet and walked after Brand, her long legs covering the ground quickly. By the time she reached the great hall, he was disappearing from sight on the upper floor, heading toward the gallery. Emma followed, praying that she was being an absolute idiot and nothing untoward was going to happen.

Halfway up the stairs, she was halted in her tracks by a woman's scream.

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