A Companion for the Count: A Regency Romance by Britton, Sally (open ebook TXT) 📕

man would be a fool if he didn’t see all that is good and lovely in Emma Arlen.”

Folding his arms again, Sir Andrew leaned against the mantel. “You love her. Admit it.” He sounded less shocked now and more entertained by the prospect. “And I thought you were after Josie when we first met.”

Heat crept up Luca’s throat, but thankfully the darkness and cravat would hide that telling reaction. “I admired Lady Josephine, I will not deny that. Yet it did not take long for Emma to gain my full attention. I have debated for some time what to do about it, but this last week has made everything more difficult. If her feelings have changed, and she no longer wishes to consider us friends, what am I to do?”

“Why do you think you’ve done something wrong? It could just be a female thing. One hears how changeable a lady’s mind can be.” Sir Andrew shrugged, his concern having apparently melted away once he realized Luca posed no threat to his cousin’s well-being.

Shaking his head, Luca took up pacing again. “This is not that.”

“Then you need to ask her directly what you’ve done, and I would suggest you apologize for it.”

“Ask directly? How? When I cannot even speak to her alone…”

“I might be able to help you with that.” A devious smile spread across the other man’s face. “If Emma isn’t in the usual public rooms, or the personal suites that belong to the dowager, the duchess, or Josephine, she’s in the duchess’s Japanese garden.”

Luca rubbed the back of his neck, remembering the way those garden walls had protected them from the stiff wind. Despite the chill in the air, she might be comfortable in such a place. Especially while the sun shone to warm the stones.

When he asked, he no longer cared that he sounded desperate. “When is she normally there?”

“Every morning when Josephine is taking lessons with her grandmother. I would think around eleven you would find her, if the weather is dry enough.”

“Thank you.” Luca’s shoulders fell. “I will try to find her. I am sorry to have disturbed your rest.”

“Not at all. I look forward to seeing how things play out between you.” Sir Andrew walked Luca to the door, far too cheerful for Luca’s liking. “I really did think you meant to pursue Josephine. Nearly everyone does, you know. I cannot think that Emma has ever had a suitor. Most men aren’t interested in the companion.”

“Most men are stupid, then,” Luca muttered as he stepped out the door. “Good evening, Sir Andrew.”

“I hope so, Lord Atella.”

The door shut behind Luca, leaving him in darkness. He made his way back to his own quarters and fell into bed, planning what amounted to ambushing Emma. While planning a confrontation wasn’t exactly what he wanted, it would be for the best if he could clear the misunderstanding between them and determine if they might continue in their friendship—or possibly make it into something more.

* * *

The Japanese garden, tucked away from the world and protected by its stone walls, perfectly suited Emma that cold autumn morning. She wore her favorite chocolate colored spencer, with her gloved hands tucked deep into a muff, and she followed the path that looped around the edges of the garden. The exercise refreshed her, and the quiet allowed her to think without distraction.

Most of the time.

She had made only one complete lap when Emma became aware of another person in the garden. The one person she had wished to avoid. The ambassador from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

He had already seen her and paced toward her, his long stride quickly halving the distance. She briefly contemplated climbing up the wall to escape, but she was no longer a child of ten capable of such ludicrous behavior. Best to stand still and smile, she knew, and have whatever discussion he wished to have with her.

Even if it proved unpleasant and focused on Josephine.

Luca’s approach set off a reaction inside her she had yet to grow used to—it felt as though she had swallowed dandelion puffs, which then fell to pieces and floated about inside her causing all manner of disquiet in her stomach.

“Emma, I have searched for you all over the castle.” He wore a smile as he spoke, as though performing such a task had proved a delight rather than a bother. “Your cousin told me I might find you here.”

Oh, he had? She would deal with Andrew later.

“Yes, well. The day is fine, and this is one of the best gardens during the fall. Even if it lacks its usual color.” She gestured to the trees which had lost most of their leaves. She spoke quickly. “The icy wind stripped the Japanese magnolia of everything, making it almost impossible for one to imagine how beautiful the tree will be in the spring when it sprouts its pink blossoms again. It is my favorite tree in all the gardens.”

She hated when she babbled, but Emma couldn’t stop herself. “The duchess is certain that the fascination with everything from Asia will grow in popularity. Now it is all Indian shawls and Chinese silk, but the beautiful plants will follow. She planted this tree the same year she married the duke.”

Luca’s expression had gone from open to confused, though he dutifully studied the tree every time she waved her hand toward it. “Fascinating. And it is your favorite?”

“Yes, my very favorite.”

“The color—is it like the dress you wore to the harvest race?” he asked suddenly, his gaze fully upon her.

Emma swallowed her surprise and shook her head. “No. Lighter. Almost like cherry blossoms.” She tucked her hand securely in her muff with the other, clasping them tightly together. “You ought to talk to Mr. Gardiner about the subject. He is fascinated with the idea of transplanting species from one side of the world to the other.”

“Perhaps I will. But Emma, I didn’t come out here to speak to you about trees.” He