“Emma, I know we have just recently met, but I . . .” Sebastian paused and inhaled while she stared down at their joined hands and focused on how they shook.
This is not good.
“I…” He bent down on one knee and looked up at her face. Love radiated from the depths of his eyes, and her stomach knotted in anguish. How can I hurt this man?
“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Emma could do nothing but stare at Sebastian. When she opened her mouth to speak, words failed her. Inside her head too many words screamed at once, fighting for purchase. Accept his proposal. He is a wonderful man and he loves me. He is kind, considerate, and would never hurt me. These things she knew in her heart. But another part of her, not responding to reason, screamed, ‘No!’
Sebastian rose, pulling her numb body into his arms and brushing a kiss against her temple. “You need not answer me today. Take your time. But know I love you.”
The lump clogging her throat made speaking difficult. “Sebastian, I . . .”
“Please,” he whispered into her ear. “Please think on it. I can be patient. I know this is sudden, but I know how I feel.”
The library doors opened with a resounding crash. Emma jumped away from Sebastian, pivoted around, and found herself face to face with the duke. He obviously had not left for the day.
“My, my, this is cozy.” Wentworth glared at them both, his eyes flashing with dark anger. “Please excuse me; I would not want to interrupt your little lovers’ vignette.”
With a damning look at her, then at Sebastian, Wentworth turned and strolled out of the room, slamming the doors behind him and sending footmen scurrying out of his way.
Sebastian pulled her back onto his arms. “You are shaking. Do not worry about my brother. I already asked for permission to marry you.”
Emma pulled back stunned. “You what?” she squeaked.
“I asked him. He did not give his consent. He recommended I think upon it.” Cradling her head between his hands, he dropped his lips to hers. Emma tried to turn her head, but he held it firmly in place. His lips were warm and soft, but they were not Thomas’s. Nothing magical happened when Sebastian kissed her.
Her heart did not race. Her hands did not itch to touch him. Her lips did not want to be touching his. Her body did not yearn for things unknown. Emma actually wanted to back away from the embrace. God help her, she did not know what to do. She did not know how not to hurt the wonderful man who held her in his arms.
She pushed him away and took several steps back. “Please, Sebastian, this is so sudden. I need time to think.”
Like the true gentleman that he was, Sebastian bowed and smiled even though the smile did not reach his eyes. “Take all the time you need, my love. I will await your decision.” Then he too turned and left her alone.
Emma blindly reached out her hand and felt for the nearest piece of furniture to sink her weary self into. Of all the dilemmas in her life, she never imagined two brothers vying for her attention. How had she attracted these two mind-meltingly gorgeous men?
She knew they could have any gently bred lady of their choosing, so why had they chosen her? She had no experience with the opposite sex and couldn’t think how she’d encouraged them… until Wentworth’s kiss. Yes. Once their lips met, she’d definitely encouraged that…
And he’d just stormed out of the room like a spoiled schoolboy.
Someone should add learning about males to every young lady’s studies. How was she to recognize what was sincere, false, or just plain roguish behavior?
The doors to the library creaked opened behind her, and every muscle in her body coiled up tight. She held her breath again. Please, let it be either Bella or Amelia.
“Emma?” Thomas’s soft voice filtered into the room from behind her and caused her pulse to spike. “May I have a word with you?”
She closed her eyes, letting his deep voice penetrate her soul, and sighed. “Yes.”
His footfalls moved across the thick Persian rug, making little sound as he joined her on the settee. When his thigh brushed hers she moved over to give him more room. Any kind of physical contact with him did things to her she did not understand, glorious things.
Emma knew their bodies should not touch intimately because just being this close took away her ability to think. Coming to England and behaving scandalously was not proper behavior.
He turned to face her and took both her hands in his.
Emma’s eyes dropped to their joined hands. His large, masculine, ungloved hands swallowed up her small delicate ones. The realization sent delicious shivers up her arms.
“I want to apologize for my behavior. I had no right to take my frustration out on you––or my brother.” He raised her hands to his mouth and brushed his moist lips across her naked knuckles. “Please, forgive me.”