Miss Hastings' Excellent London Adventure (Brazen Brides Book 4)(50)

 

Several times that day William had addressed his wife as Isadore. After the fourth time, Emma summoned the courage to ask, "Pray, William, why do you refer to Lady Sophia as Isadore?"

 

Lady Sophia's dark eyes met her husband's, and both laughed. "It is because when I met this vixen she did nothing but lie to me—particularly about her name."

 

Emma's eyes rounded. "She told you her name was Isadore?"

 

"I did," Lady Sophia said.

 

"I had been told a beautiful woman named Isadore would be contacting me, and when this . . . " William's simmering gaze locked with his wife's, "this beautiful pseudo trollop strode up to me and said she'd been waiting for me, I quite naturally thought she had to be Isadore."

 

"My husband was meeting this woman to conduct illegal business, so you can only guess what sort of woman the real Isadore was."

 

Adam turned to Emma to explain further. "Before Lady Sophia tamed our brother, he was never happy unless he was breaking the law or endangering himself."

 

"My greatest offense was smuggling gold bullion illegally into the country—a practice I have since abandoned."

 

Emma didn't know what to say. She directed her attention to Lady Sophia. "How long did you pretend to be Isadore?"

 

"A few weeks."

 

"And," William added, "she instructed her maid to pretend to be her mute sister."

 

Lady Sophia shrugged. "If she had spoken, he would have known she couldn't be my sister. That's why I forced her to portray a mute. It was really clever of me to keep my elder sister with me at all times to protect me from this unscrupulous man."

 

William took his wife's hand. "Even believing she was my Shady Lady, I still fell in love with Isadore."

 

"I think that's very romantic," Emma said. She recalled Adam telling her that two of his siblings had fallen in love with members of the aristocracy without knowing their true identities. "Adam told me that Verity, too, fell in love with Lord Agar without knowing his identity."

 

Lady Sophia sighed. "And they are so much in love still. You will get the opportunity to see them for yourself."

 

"I greatly look forward to it."

 

"Have you told Adam about your presentation?" Lady Sophia asked.

 

Emma turned to her husband. "Did you know Lord Devere has sponsored my presentation?"

 

"That's wonderful."

 

"And Lady Sophia was kind enough to take me to Madame De Guerney's for her to create my gown. I hope that's all right with you."

 

He chuckled as he placed his arm around her, drawing her even closer to him. "You know I will refuse you nothing, dear one."

 

Lady Sophia rolled her eyes. "I declare, Adam, you're every bit as besotted as Lord Agar is over Verity."

 

"He and I are most fortunate," Adam said.

 

If only he meant it.

 

"Selecting Emma's dress rescued your dear wife from having to entertain those odious callers like Lord Drummond."

 

Adam stiffened. His brows lowered. "Did Drummond call?" he asked Emma, his voice icy.

 

She solemnly nodded.

 

"You have no fears," Lady Sophia said, "that just because Emma's inexperienced in ways of the ton that she would preen under Drummond's attentions. She could barely tolerate the horrid man and was only barely civil to him. We couldn't get out of there too soon. The last thing your wife wanted was to sit there with lecherous men of that sort."

 

"Then you were there?" he asked Lady Sophia.

 

"Yes. And I stressed how much you two love each other."

 

Emma could feel her cheeks burning.

 

He took Emma's hand and spoke softly. "I'm happy you and Lady Sophia found a way to extricate you from having to be with that man."

 

She smiled. "I get very vexed with that bank of yours. I would rather have you with me day and night."

 

"You shall learn—as Lady Fiona has—that you must share your husband with a mistress. A mistress that's a brick building," Will said.

 

"I cannot wait to commiserate with Lady Fiona." Emma wondered if Adam would know she spoke the truth, or would he think she was playacting to convince others theirs was a normal marriage.

 

"As grateful as I am to Lady Sophia for taking you to Madame De Guerney's, I can see that it's time you got your own carriage, my dear one."

 

She pouted. "I much prefer having you take me everywhere I need to go." She was almost certain her husband would think she was portraying a devoted wife. Little did he know she really was a devoted wife.