"Adam has every right to be angered at him. Drummond is probably the most dishonorable man in all of London. But you did nothing wrong. Was he trying to get you away from here?"
"He told me he wanted to show me his city, but I told him we were preparing for our journey to Yorkshire."
"You did well. Were you able to think of a way to discourage him?"
Emma shrugged. "I thickly laid on the praise of my husband."
"Good girl." Lady Sophia sighed. "Those other men from Almack's last night will be sure to call on you today, too. Will that bother you?"
"It will. There's only one man I want to be with."
"It's the same with me and William," Lady Sophia said in a soft voice. "Why don't you and I go see about getting your court dress made? You use Madame De Guerney, do you not?"
"Yes. Do you?"
"No."
An awkward silence followed. Of course Lady Sophia would know Adam had taken her to Madame De Guerney because that's who Maria had used.
For the first time in her life, Emma was consumed with jealousy—toward a woman she had never met.
She ought to be grateful to the Italian opera singer. Her rejection brought about Emma's happiness.
* * *
Lady Sophia's sage counsel at Madame De Guerney's was greatly appreciated. They spent an hour there selecting the silk and all the adornments for the presentation dress. "I never would have known what to do without you," Emma told her as they returned to Sophia's carriage.
"It was my pleasure. I love anything to do with fashion."
The coachman cleared his throat. "I thought, my lady, you might want know that ever since we left Mr. Adam's house, we've been followed by a man on a horse."
"How singular," Lady Sophia said. "Watch carefully as we return and let us know if you see him again."
"Do you have any reason to believe anyone would be following you?" Lady Sophia asked Emma once they were facing each other in the coach.
Emma shrugged. "I don't, but I should probably tell you—in the strictest confidence—that we believe my uncle was murdered."
"Dear Lord, that's terrible! Do you know who the murderer is?"
"We think it's the man named heir in my uncle's last will—which we believe was forged."
"How frightening, yet fascinating! Does he know you suspect him?"
"I'm not sure. He does know I have challenged the will, so he probably knows I suspect the will was forged. Since he's not possessed of a high degree of intelligence, it's unlikely he realizes that I have strong suspicions my uncle was murdered."
"What a vile man. Will you permit me to share this intelligence with William?"
"Of course. It's just not something we want widely known at this time."
"It's the sort of thing that excites William frightfully. He adores living dangerously."
"Which must terrify you."
"Indeed it does, but since we want to have children, he knows he had to stop risking his neck."
"How long have you been married?"
"Six months. I have hopes you and I will be breeding at the same time. How much fun it will be for the cousins!"
Nothing would make Emma happier, but the very mention of it plunged her into gloom. If only she and Adam had a normal marriage. "It would be lovely."
"Has Adam bought you your own carriage yet?"
"No. There's been no need. I've been blessed to spend every day with him since we've married."
Lady Sophia sighed. "Adam must be deeply in love."
"I wish I could say it was my presence that's kept us together so much, but to be honest he's obsessed over bringing my uncle's murderer to justice."
"It's a wonder Adam went to the bank today."
"Since we'll leave for Yorkshire tomorrow, he had many duties that couldn't be put off ."
"Still, you have been blessed to have him with you so much. I would rather spend my days with William than buy jewels at Rundell and Bridge."
"I feel the same about Adam," Emma said, her voice barely above a whisper.
When they arrived at Curzon Street, she stopped and spoke to Lady Sophia's coachman. "Did you see that man on the horse again?"
"No, madam."
How curious. She wondered if she should tell Adam about it, but decided against it. He might think she was being stalked by Lord Drummond. The less said on such a topic, the better. She was flattered that Adam seemed jealous, but she did not want to do anything that would arouse his anger.