Of Night and Dark Obscurity

He pulled her into his arms then. “Emme, I care for you deeply.”

“Nigel.” She seemed to be caught off guard, and even as her hand moved to his chest, he kissed her, their lips touching only briefly.

Nigel realized at once how awkward the situation had become. He had not intended to kiss her. He didn’t want to move forward with this serious conversation in a moment that had become so clumsy.

He suddenly wanted to be away from the cellar and from Emme. He needed to regroup. “I only wanted to tell you how much I care for you. I always have. Should we return to the party?”

She seemed to take in the contrition on his face and nodded. “Yes. Can you take these bottles up? I need to fetch two more.”

He took the bottles and disappeared, leaving Emmeline in the semidarkness.

***

She turned back to the wine rack. Pulling another bottle out, she brushed the label free of dust and studied it thoughtfully.

“That didn’t seem like much of a kiss,” a voice said lowly.

Emmeline whirled around in fright, dropping the bottle. The figure moved forward quickly, catching it before it shattered on the floor.

“Everett,” she said softly. “You were spying?”

He shook his head. “Not at all. I asked the maid where our lovely hostess was, and she directed me here.” He placed the bottle on the table and leaned against the door frame.

“I see.”

“Imagine my surprise to find you in my brother’s arms.”

Emmeline studied Everett carefully. Whereas Nigel favored their mother with curling blond hair and pale blue eyes, Everett’s black hair and dark blue eyes favored their father. “I wasn’t in his arms.”

“And he kissed you.”

“He’s had too much to drink, that’s all.” Emmeline pulled the second bottle from the rack.

“He’s in love with you, Emme.”

“That’s not true. He’s fond of me. He said as much.”

“I think that’s as passionate an admission to being in love my brother will ever make.”

She shook her head. “You’re mistaken.”

“If you were in my arms, you would not blame it on drink,” he said huskily.

“What would I blame it on?”

“Should I show you?”

Emmeline smiled. “No. I’m not going to taunt you. You’re too dangerous.”

“Dangerous? How so?”

“I’ve heard about your escapades, Everett.”

“Escapades? You shouldn’t believe everything you read in those scandal sheets.”

“I don’t usually. But I do believe what they write about you.”

Everett smiled. In the dark it seemed sinister and not at all revealing. “Now why is that?”