Miss Hastings' Excellent London Adventure (Brazen Brides Book 4)(45)

 

They all laughed.

 

"Since it's your electioneering," Adam said to Nick, "I'll leave all the traveling arrangements to you. I will, of course bring my carriage."

 

Nick nodded. "Don't worry about servants. Mine can handle the six of us—your valet and your lady's maid excepted."

 

"There's no sense in coming in three carriages," William said. "Sophia and I can double up."

 

"Why don't you ride with Adam and Emma?" Lady Fiona suggested. "We'll be bringing Emmie—who's dying to see her Aunt Verity' babe. The dear child takes up a whole seat with all her dolls."

 

William shook his head. "No. Adam and Emma ride with me."

 

"I'd almost forgotten," Lady Fiona said with a little laugh, "how well-suited Will's carriage is for long-distance travel."

 

For her part, Emma could not believe William's carriage superior to Adam's. Nothing could be as comfortable as Adam's for a long ride.

 

Adam raised his brows and directed his remarks to his wife. "Because my youngest brother believes the Birminghams can be a target for robbers, he always travels with a veritable arsenal."

 

"And," Nick added, "he knows how to use the weapons."

 

Adam chuckled. "Mama always says the Lord makes the youngest son the toughest for a very good reason."

 

"How many days will the journey take?" Emma asked.

 

"If we leave very early," Nick said, "and if the roads are good, and if there's no rain, we should be able to make the trip in two very long days."

 

"Then we'd be one night at an inn on the way?" Lady Sophia inquired.

 

Nick nodded.

 

It would be Emma's first time ever to stay at an inn. How exciting! Her face brightened as she looked up at her husband. "Then I shall get to meet Verity, too?"

 

Adam eyed her affectionately. "As well as our mother."

 

Would her adventures never cease? How thrilling that she would be seeing more of England that she had ever thought to see! How fun it would be to travel in William's fine coach, especially with her sweet sister-in-law, Lady Sophia. She also admired William vastly. How excited she was that she would meet Adam's sister and mother.

 

More excitement was to follow when the orchestra struck up the next set. Even though she thought she would rather be a spectator than a participant, alas, she discovered she was favored by a great many gentlemen here, judging by the rush of men begging her to stand up with them. She had no precedent for such an occurrence. Added to that quandary, she did not know one man from another.

 

Adam took the dilemma from her hands. "Lord Drummond," he said to the first man, "I should like to present my wife to you."

 

Lord Drummond, who was older even than Adam, eyed her. "I do pray, Mrs. Birmingham, you will do me the goodness of standing up with me."

 

* * *

 

Adam had no desire to dance with any woman other than his wife. In fact, he was compelled to stand at the wall and watch as she danced with Drummond. He had wanted to be proud of Emma. He'd wanted her to look lovely in her new finery. But he had not been prepared for the way he felt when other men made cakes of themselves over his wife! Drummond was a notorious womanizer. Not at all the sort he wanted hanging about his sweet little wife. And Drummond wasn't the only one. Several noted rakes had been practically drooling over Emma as if she were fresh meat. He did not at all like the way the so-called cream of society conducted extramarital affairs.

 

Now there was still another reason he must look out for her welfare.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 14

 

 

 

 

She was surprised the following morning when she entered the breakfast room to find Adam already there. "Sweet heavens, but you've actually arrived here first. How novel!"

 

He was seated at the table, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand, a plate piled with toast in front of him, and he was regarding her with a stern expression.

 

Her heart fell. After her success the previous night, she had hoped he would be proud of her.

 

"I have to go to the bank today."

 

Was that why he was so grave? Did he regret that they would not be able to spend the day together? She helped herself to coffee from the sideboard, slathered butter on a slice of toast, and came to sit across from him. "I shall miss you."

 

"I expect you'll be besieged with morning callers today," he said gruffly.

 

"But I talked with no woman, other than Lady Fiona and Lady Sophia. I did greet Lady Jersey and Lady Cowper, but I hardly think women of their stature will be calling on me."