"Lovely flowers for a lovely lady. Tell me, Mrs. Birmingham, how is it that I have never before seen you?"
"I have spent my entire life in a small village, my lord."
His sultry gaze lazily trailed over her, pausing discernibly on her breasts. "Birmingham is most fortunate to have captured you before you came upon the ton."
This line of conversation must stop. "It is I who am the fortunate one. Every minute of the day I count my blessings that my dear husband chose me for his wife."
Lord Drummond's eyes narrowed. "Spoken like a bride."
She was thankful Studewood had kept the room's door open. She kept eyeing it, hopeful that Studewood would return. She would be mortified if Adam learned she was alone with this noted scoundrel. Finally she strode to the bell pull and yanked it. "I fear my beautiful flowers will wilt if we don't put them in water."
Studewood came promptly and she asked him to see to her flowers. "Then please bring them back. I do so love violets." In reality, she didn't prefer violets over other flowers, but the more often she was not alone with Lord Drummond, the less agitated she would be. And, hopefully, the presence of others would prevent his unwelcome overtures.
"Since you are new to London, Mrs. Birmingham, it would give me great pleasure to show you about my city."
"How very kind of you," she said without enthusiasm, "but we are now preparing for a trip to Yorkshire for my brother Nicholas's electioneering."
"Oh, yes, I heard where he was standing for Parliament. A pity he's pledged himself to the Whigs."
She was grasping for any topic that would get his mind off wanting to be alone with her. "Then I take it you're a Tory, my lord?"
"Indeed I am. My family has always aligned ourselves with Tories. Those of us who support our Crown are Tories."
"The aunt who raised me greatly admired the Tories."
"An intelligent woman, to be sure."
Having apparently exhausted the Parliamentary topic, they sat silent for a moment. Her ears strained when she thought she heard a door closing , followed by voices downstairs in the entry hall.
"I daresay the loveliest woman at Almack's last night will be holding court today," he said.
She gave him a quizzing look. "To whom can you be referring, my lord?"
He laughed. "You, my dear lady, were the loveliest woman at the assembly."
"It's very kind of you to say that, my lord, but I strenuously disagree. Your opinion is influenced by my novelty—and the lovely dresses and jewels my husband's fortune has procured."
"Not true."
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and seconds later Lady Sophia, swathed in soft rose, swept into the room. Her gaze riveted to Emma's visitor. "Lord Drummond, I see your reputation is intact for ingratiating yourself with . . . fresh beauty."
Before he could respond, she moved to Emma and kissed her cheek. "How lovely you look today, my dear sister."
When she sat next to Emma, Emma could have curtseyed before her in gratitude.
"I was pleasantly surprised to find you home today. Adam's been devoting every moment since you married to showing you London." Lady Sophia eyed the earl. "Her husband is besotted."
Lord Drummond met Lady Sophia's gaze with amusement. "What's not to besot?"
Lady Sophia turned to Emma. "It forcefully struck me this morning that you must be presented to the queen."
Emma could have swooned. Was meeting the queen an honor accorded to a non-aristocrat? "Are you sure that is something I could be permitted to do?"
"I would be happy to sponsor you," Lord Drummond said.
Lady Sophia glared at him. "No need, my lord. My brother has already done so. I just left him."
The very idea of getting to meet the queen lifted Emma's gloom. "I could wear the lavender dress I wore last night!"
"No." Lady Sophia shook her head. "As beautiful as that dress is, it will not do for court. Court dresses are . . . well, more old fashioned. The skirts are quite full. You should see mine. There's enough fabric in it to drape every window in our house."
"Surely you exaggerate."
Lady Sophia laughed. "A little, but I believe I made my point."
Lord Drummond rose. "I must take my leave, ladies. It's been a pleasure." He bowed over their gloved hands for a mock kiss then left.
Once he was gone, Emma whispered her thanks to her sister. "I cannot tell you how much I prayed that someone else would call on me. Adam did not want me to be alone with that horrid man, but I didn't know what to do."