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one of Emma’s hands and clutched it in her own. “If there is any way I can help you, please let me know. My name is Sophie Leawood, and I’m the Countess of Wilding, and I will be forever in your debt. Here,” she said, thrusting a card in Emma’s hand, “take this. It’s my address, and you can call me day or night if you’re ever in need of anything.”
    Emma could only stare at Sophie as the green-eyed woman paused for breath.
    â€œOh, my,” Sophie continued. “Where are my manners? What is your name?”
    â€œHer name is Meg,” Alex answered smoothly. “And she hasn’t seen fit to share her surname with us.”
    Emma fumed. He hadn’t even asked for her surname.
    â€œNever you mind, my dear,” Sophie rambled. “You don’t have to tell us anything if you don’t want to—”
    Emma looked at Alex triumphantly.
    â€œâ€”as long as you remember that I will be your friend for life and you can count on me for anything.”
    â€œThank you very much, milady,” Emma said quietly. “I will remember that, indeed. But I really would like to be getting back. I have been gone a long while, and Cook will be wondering about me.”
    â€œPerhaps you could tell us where you work?” Alex inquired.
    Emma looked at him blankly.
    â€œYou do have a job somewhere? You weren’t planning to eat all those eggs yourself?”
    Oh, blast, she’d forgotten her masquerade again. “Um, I work for the Earl and Countess of Worth.”
    Alex knew the address and instructed his coachman. Sophie kept up a steady stream of chatter during the short time it took the carriage to reach the Blydon mansion.
    Emma nearly ran out of the carriage.
    â€œWait!” Alex and Sophie called out in unison.
    Sophie reached her first. “I must thank you properly. I’ll have nightmares for weeks if I don’t.” She reached up to her ears, quickly took off her diamond and emerald earrings, and thrust them into Emma’s hands. “Please take these. It’s just a small token, I know, but perhaps they will help you if you’re ever in need.”
    Emma was dumbfounded. She couldn’t very well tell this woman that she was the only heir to a giant shipping business, but at the same time, she could see that Sophie desperately needed to give something to Emma to show her thanks.
    â€œGod bless you.” Sophie kissed Emma on the cheek and climbed back into the coach.
    Emma turned to the coachman and took the eggs from him. She smiled at Sophie and headed toward the mansion’s side entrance.
    â€œNot so fast, love.” Alex suddenly appeared at her side. “I’ll carry these in for you.”
    â€œNo!” Emma said, a little too sharply. “I mean, I’d really rather you didn’t. Nobody will mind that I’m late once I explain about Charlie, but they won’t like my bringing a strange man into the kitchen.”
    â€œNonsense,” Alex said, reaching for the eggs with the supreme assurance of one who expects his orders to be obeyed.
    Emma backed away from him. All hell would break loose if he escorted her into the house, and Belle—to whom he’d most likely already been introduced—started calling her by her true name. “Please,” she pleaded. “Please just go away. There will be trouble if you don’t.”
    Alex thought he saw true fear in her eyes and wondered again if she was being mistreated. Still, he didn’t want her to get into any trouble on his account. “Very well.” He bowed curtly. “It has been a pleasure knowing you, my dear Meg.”
    Emma turned and scurried into the service entrance of the mansion, feeling Alex’s hot gaze on her back the whole way. When she finally burst through the door into the kitchen, she felt as if she’d been delivered from purgatory.
    â€œEmma!” everyone cried out in