“Of course I’m staring,” he said easily.” You are the most beautiful woman in the room. Probably in all of London.”
She blushed lightly. “Idiot.”
He watched her again when she turned to someone at her elbow who demanded her attention as hostess. She was only twenty-five years old, but she handled the room like a matron double her years. Her father was a successful solicitor with many high-profile cases over several decades. Her mother was dead, and she had been raised by her father and his sister. She had not yet married, which Nigel found interesting.
He had made her acquaintance when he had taken a law class at Cambridge and her father had been a lecturer. That had been over ten years ago, when Emmeline had been only fifteen. He had found her delightful then, and as she aged into womanhood, he realized he cared for her and wanted her for his own. He had been unable to broach the subject and found himself in a quandary. He didn’t want to ruin their friendship, but he didn’t want to remain as they were.
He sipped the champagne and continued to watch her as she moved about the room, filled mostly with her father’s business associates and not people normally known to Nigel.
“Nigel, my boy. How are you this evening?”
“Good evening, Cyprian. I’m well. Lovely party.” Nigel shook the older man’s hand.
Cyprian smiled. “They usually are. Of course, I leave all the organization to the women. Between my daughter and sister, they manage well enough. I’d only be in the way.”
They both turned to look at Emmeline, who was busy speaking to an older couple.
“You are a fortunate man,” Nigel said, “to have such an accomplished daughter.”
“I am indeed,” Cyprian acknowledged. “However, I don’t mind telling you that I would like to see her married and settled before I get much older. “
Nigel cleared his throat. “Would you?”
Cyprian patted him on the back. “Indeed, I would.”
The older man moved away, and Nigel took another glass of champagne. He would approach Emme tonight and declare his feelings. She would have him. He knew that he was aiming lower than he should, but he was a second son. He would never inherit the title, so there was no need to worry about that headache. And Emmeline was lovely and they would have attractive children.
He watched her move out of the room, and he followed her discreetly. She spoke briefly to the maid, and he heard the word champagne. She picked up a lantern, and he realized she must be heading to the cellar for more champagne.
“Emme!” he called to her softly.
She turned. “Yes, Nigel?”
“Might I be of some help? I heard you speaking to the maid.”
“Yes. We are running low on champagne and the footman is busy, and the butler is getting too old for such work.”
He took the lantern from her. “Allow me.”
Together they took the stairs down into the small cellar. He put the lantern aside as Emme looked for the champagne among the racks.
“Emme?”
She bent over and retrieved a bottle of champagne, placing it aside to take upstairs.
“Yes?” she asked over her shoulder.
“I wanted to speak with you. Since we’re alone now.”
“Of course. Let me get this bottle.” She pulled the bottle out of its resting place and set it beside the first one.
“I-I’m very fond of you, Emme. I hope you know that.”
Emmeline smiled at his words. “I’m fond of you, Nigel.”
“I’ve watched you grow and mature. Into a w-woman,” he said awkwardly.
“Yes?” she asked, puzzled.