“Unless you marry Emma, I do not believe that day will ever come.”
He laughed then sobered. “Miss Drake, why do you think he offered to pay Ainsley to stay away from you?”
She shrugged and departed for home.
THE NEXT DAY LOUISA and Emma walked in Hyde Park, discussing some of what happened over the past three days. Louisa still felt weary since she’d done little but think of Harry even in the middle of the night. She’d tossed and turned until dawn when she finally rose and tried to think of something other than Harry to no avail. Nor had an answer to Mr. Kingsley’s question come to her.
Why would Harry offer to pay Ainsley not to court her?
It made no sense. Ainsley was a better man than Collingwood. Ainsley was Harry’s friend. When his inheritance came through, he would have more than enough money to sustain a family.
“Louisa, did you and Worthington...”
“What?”
“You know what I’m asking. Might you be with child?”
Louisa sighed. She had thought of little else last night. The scandal of her being with child would eclipse the deaths of Tessa’s husbands and the duke’s suicide. Lady Bolton would insist her son break the engagement. Louisa shook her head. Oh, what a mess she’d made of things.
“I won’t know for some time, Emma.”
“Oh, dear,” she whispered before leaning closer. “What was it like? Did it hurt dreadfully?”
She smiled, thinking about how happy she’d been for that short time. “No, it didn’t hurt much. A pinch and then...”
“What?” Emma asked eagerly.
“I don’t think Mamma would approve of me speaking to you of such things.”
“Mamma will never tell me what it is truly like. She told me that I must lay there and let Bolton do what he must.”
“Mamma said that to you?” Louisa could not believe what a hypocrite her mother was when it came to such matters.
“Yes.”
“Very well, it was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced, Emma.” At least it was until the next afternoon when her world fell apart.
“Oh my,” Emma whispered. “He was very big? I’ve heard some men are bigger than others.”
“Emma!”
“Susan told me. She has four brothers and knows these things.”
“Harry was...well...perfect,” she admitted slowly. He was her weakness. The man who could anger her one second and touch her heart so deeply the next.
“Oh, my,” Emma said again.
A carriage pulled to a stop near them. They stopped to see who had blocked their path. Lord Collingwood jumped down from the coach with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Good morning, Miss Drake,” he said with a nod toward her and then added, “Miss Emma,” with a nod toward her sister. “Would you mind if I interrupt your walk with your sister? I need to speak to her for a moment.”
“Of course not,” Emma said with a worried look toward Louisa. “I will be right here.”
Collingwood held out his arm toward Louisa who took it hesitantly. “I am so happy you have returned from visiting your sister.”
Thank God for Emma’s lie. “Yes, I haven’t spent much time with Tessa lately, and it was lovely to have a few days with her before the baby arrives.”
“Have you thought about my proposal? It’s been almost a week.”