Lady Emma's Dilemma (9781101573662) by Woodward Rhonda

Author:Woodward, Rhonda [Woodward, Rhonda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101573662
Publisher: Penguin USA
Published: 2005-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Stunned by Jack’s words, Emma felt incapable of finding her voice. Shifting her gaze back to Monteford, she saw that he looked shocked as well.

“Are you challenging me, Devruex? But this is too droll. You mistake the situation, my friend. Lady Fallbrook and I were just indulging in a bit of high spirits,” Monteford said in a jovial tone of voice, completely unlike the tone he had used toward her a moment ago.

Sorely tempted to kick him again, Emma opened her mouth to call him a liar, but Devruex spoke first.

“I mistake nothing. And you are most unwise to add insult upon insult. Swords or pistols?”

At the implacable tone in Devruex’s voice, Emma felt even more alarmed than she had a moment ago. This absurd scene had gone far enough and she felt the immediate need to intervene. “Stop this nonsense! Would the two of you stop speaking as if I am not standing right here?”

Devruex shifted his angry gaze to her. “Emmaline, if you think I am going to let him get away with this, you are terribly mistaken.”

She started to argue when a shrill voice suddenly cut through the air and they all turned to see Mrs. Willoughby rushing toward them in a flurry of plum silk skirts. “You must not duel! You cannot!”

She stopped in front of Devruex, her beautiful face marred by an outraged scowl.

“This is not fair! I will not stand for this! If there is going to be a duel fought then it must be over me! What will everyone think? It is not fair, I say.” She turned to Monteford and stamped her feet. “Monteford, you shall break my heart! After everything I have given you, how dare you insult me in this manner. No! It will not be so! I want a duel fought over me! Lady Fallbrook, it is most unfair of you to steal my thunder like this.”

Struck speechless by such outrageous behavior, Emma fought back an unexpected wave of laughter. Glancing over at Devruex, she saw the muscle in his jaw working and there was a suspicious glint in his eyes. He turned his head and for an instant their eyes met in shared amusement.

Marveling at the vain audacity of Monteford’s mistress, Emma shook her head in amazement. “My dear Mrs. Willoughby, I have to say that your inappropriate forwardness is as impressive as Lord Monteford’s. The two of you are indeed well suited.”

Mrs. Willoughby closed her mouth midscold and her scowl cleared. For a moment she looked flattered.

Next to her, Devruex’s cough sounded suspiciously like a laugh, but Emma kept her gaze on Mrs. Willoughby.

But at Monteford’s guffaw, Mrs. Willoughby’s face changed again in a flash. “There you go again! How do you do it? You just insulted me, yet your tone is as if you were inviting me to take tea.”

Shrugging, Emma said, “I would apologize, but I find you terribly vexing.”

“Ha! Me vexing? You are not so different from me, Miss High-and-Mighty Lady Fallbrook. I suspect that you would behave exactly as I am, were I trying to steal Devruex from you.

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