“Two of whom?” Louisa asked as she entered the room. She snatched a snifter and then poured herself some brandy.
“Two of you, darling,” Harry answered. “I said Emma’s recent behavior was so unlike her.”
“And more like me?” she asked indignantly.
Harry and Simon stared back at her.
“I realized that, too,” Louisa admitted unabashedly. “It’s not like her. I do think she has taken Bolton’s rejection harder than she wants to admit.”
“Still, should she wish to marry, she needs to keep her reputation intact,” Harry commented before sipping his brandy.
Louisa’s blue eyes widened. “Do you think she no longer wants to marry?”
Harry waved his hand at her. “Of course she wishes to marry. She has always wanted a titled gentleman.”
“But this is so unlike her. She’s always been so careful of her reputation and what others think of her. An example to other ladies,” Louisa said, staring at her hands.
“And you the example of what not to do,” Simon said with a laugh.
“Hush, Simon. This is serious. Besides, I got exactly what I wanted,” she said with a pointed look at her husband.
“How did you get her changed and in bed so quickly?” Harry asked, changing the subject.
Louisa shook her head with a smile. “The poor dear fell asleep before I could even get her a night rail.”
“Hmm, I remember another Drake sister who drank too much and wanted to kiss me,” Harry said with a smile.
Simon loved the way they looked at each other as if no one else was in the room. But not now when they had important things to discuss. “I am here, you two.”
“Of course you are, Simon. You’re just not as handsome as my husband, or I’d be looking at you.”
Harry looked over at him. “Perhaps you need to find a woman like Louisa to marry, Simon.”
“There are no women like your wife, Harry. And thank God for that.”
“Simon!” Louisa exclaimed with a laugh. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Back to the problem at hand. What are we to do with your sister?” Simon asked before picking up his snifter of brandy. “Something needs to be done before she completely ruins herself.”
“We? Simon, thank you for your concern, but this is our problem, not yours.” Louisa shook her head. “I wish I knew what she was about. Our mother is of no help being too concerned with keeping Lord Hammond enticed.”
“Your sister said that she could scratch off numbers two and three. Does that mean anything to you, Duchess?” Simon asked.
Louisa shrugged with a frown. “Not at all. But I will endeavor to find out tomorrow when she awakens.”
Simon rose, reluctant to leave the comfortable atmosphere, but knew he should let them get some sleep. “I should take my leave now.”
“Thank you again for bringing her here and not home,” Louisa said softly.
“Get your sister under control before she does something that ruins you all,” Simon replied.
Harry laughed. “There is no getting a Drake sister under control, Simon. They always do as they wish.”
Chapter 8
Emma awoke the next morning with a hammer pounding in her head. She groaned as she rolled over but kept her eyes closed. Her stomach roiled from the movement. What had she done last night? She remembered entering Hell and playing roulette with a glass of whisky. Kingsley had approached her, but that was all she could recollect.
Did she ask him for a kiss?