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very
proud of you, John. You work hard at the things you believe in and even at
those you don’t. I have always felt very lucky that we share an honest and open
relationship. It is very unusual for a son, especially one who is an earl, to
ask his mother’s opinion on a business deal or a political question. I have
enjoyed our debates when we disagree as much as our discussions when we’ve been
in agreement.”
    He grinned. “I expect that I would be laughed out of the
House of Lords if they knew how many times you swayed my opinion, especially on
questions of the rights of women.”
    “Yet you continued to seek my counsel,” she said.
    John got up came around the desk before taking his mother’s
hand and kissing it. “Who better to ask on that subject than an intelligent
woman?”
    Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Thank you, John.” She stood
up. “In answer to your question, I have not felt neglected. I have noticed in
the last few years you have not been happy. I wish I had broached that subject
with you.”
    He kissed her cheek. “I appreciate you saying that, Mother.
You should know that it would not have changed my course of action. I am a bit
stubborn, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
    She laughed and dashed the unshed tears away. “I think that
you and Emma will be very happy.”
    He smiled. “And you are always correct, Mother.”
    “Of course.” She gave him her sternest look, but the smile
was still in her eyes as she left the library.

Chapter Four
     
    Her head was spinning. Two days ago, she thought she’d be
lucky if she could find a hack that would take Oliver and her to Plymouth
without them being killed in the street. Today she was to be married to an
earl. “I must have been hit on the head by some thug in the street and this is
all a strange dream.”
    “Pardon me, miss?” The gown the maid was pressing had been
sent over by a modiste that the countess used. It was stunning in dark green
with a cream underskirt.
    “Nothing.”
    Emma was supposed to be making a list of things she needed
for her wedding, now to be held on Christmas day at St. George. How on earth
the countess had managed that was beyond her comprehension. The parchment in
front of her remained blank as she stared out the window.
    “Shall I help you into your dress, miss?”
    Emma turned toward the lady’s maid. She held the stunning
dress up as if it was a prize. “I suppose you should.”
    She barely noticed the process of dressing and having her
hair trussed up in an ornate fashion. All she could think about was getting
married. Was she making the right decision? She didn’t even know John Scarborough.
He was a stranger. She had taken tea with his mother many times, but all she
knew of him was that he was never at home. He spent all his time in Parliament,
sitting in his family seat and arguing politics.
    She knew little about the subject. What would they talk
about? Her body trembled with fear. She had lost her good sense.
    Once they were married, she would never see him. Thoughts of
his warm brown eyes and soft kisses flooded her mind. She would be alone all
the time. This should have made her happy. After all, she would have the
countess for company and Oliver would still need her. So why did it trouble her
that John would never be home? It wasn’t exactly the dream marriage she’d
imagined as a young girl. She should, at her age, be happy with any marriage.
Yet she still longed for something more.
    Love. She sighed.
    “There you are, miss.” The maid sounded exuberant, and with
good reason. When Emma looked in the glass, she barely recognized the woman
staring back.
    “Thank you. You have done a lovely job.”
    “I’m pleased you like it.”
    The room felt as if it were closing in. She rubbed and
twisted her fingers together until her knuckles turned white. She stood. “Do
you know where his lordship is?”
    The girl looked confused. “You don’t like your hair,” she
said.
    Emma thought the maid might