“No. I can’t leave the house.” Her mother pulled from her embrace and scooted forward on the window seat, as if to secure she couldn’t be removed.
“Of course you can.” Emily dared a soft chuckle hoping to ease her mother’s agitation even though at the root of her mother’s confusion was the belief she’d somehow see her love again. Emily didn’t dare suggest that day would never come. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.” She offered her mother’s hand an encouraging squeeze.
“That doesn’t matter.” Squaring her shoulders, Bianca snatched her hands free. “Stop. You don’t understand and you never will.”
Like a swift blow to the stomach, Emily caught her breath, aware once again she hadn’t handled her mother’s melancholy properly. She’d wished to console and had angered instead. “No, I’m sure I don’t. I’m so sorry.”
Whispered in resignation, she stepped away, each stride taking her closer to the door and away from a battle she couldn’t win. She hurried to the stairwell, grabbed her pelisse from the drawing room and dashed out the door. Fresh air, distance, anything to wipe away the remembrance of her father and her mother’s misplaced wretchedness would be welcomed. There was a time when she wouldn’t leave the house, scared and consumed with worry for her mother’s harsh words. As years passed, things had changed. Emily had hardened her heart and hired a trustworthy housekeeper, allowing Emily a bit of freedom and perhaps, sanity too.
Now she couldn’t walk fast enough, her mind a jumble of memories, her slippers carrying her farther and farther from the town house. Only when she entered the bustling center of London did she slow, allowing the city noise to swallow her up and suffocate the pain inside.
Out of breath and tears, she glanced toward the corner surprised she’d walked so far, all the while lost in the heart-wrenching disparity of her mother’s beliefs and the truth Emily kept hidden. She met the eye of a passing shopper, aware she must look a fright without a bonnet or gloves, her cheeks tear-stained. With forced composure, she swept a palm over her hair to smooth the loose strands then continued at a modest pace toward Bond Street. The sight of the office, her victory and glimmer of hope, the one place she could replenish her soul and find peace for a few minutes, buoyed her spirits.
The league didn’t meet on Thursday and focused on respite, she spared not a glance to the lower office. Confident she’d found privacy, she crossed the street and approached the welcoming door. Emotion still had a strong hold and her hand trembled as she sought the key in her reticule. In her hurry, she dropped it, her eyes chasing the key as it bounced against the cobbles before she stooped to pick it up. Again she moved to insert the key, but an arm reached from behind, a brown glove placed over her bare hand. A beat of panic squeezed her heart. She startled, anxious until a familiar voice near her ear reminded Jasper St. David occupied the office downstairs. He was the last company she wished for now. She looked wretched and her emotions were scattered.
Surrendering the key to his grasp, as there was no use in objecting, she twisted and glanced over her shoulder, at once aware he stood inches from her back, a mere step and she would be flush against him, caught in his arms.
“Miss Shaw. What a pleasant surprise during a rather dismal day.” He flicked a glance in her direction then turned the key and opened the lock.
With an awkward step, she avoided his broad chest, careful her skirts didn’t trail against his legs.
“You’re having a poor day too?” She strove to hide the tremor in her voice but didn’t succeed.
“Let’s label it as wearisome and leave it at that. It’s rather early to be out and about. Is there a meeting this morning?”
He extended his arm so she could pass through the door and into the small square foyer before the stairs led upward. Sunlight permeated the space otherwise it would be unusually dark within.
“Not today. The League of Virtuous Equality meets on Tuesday and Friday.” She started to climb, careful to go slowly; casting an occasional glance toward Jasper so were he to follow, his boots would not step on her hems.
He followed, seemingly aware of the same concern for he focused intently on her skirts.
“And what exactly does the league discuss at these meetings?”
He asked the question with intelligent curiosity and none of the usual skepticism or mockery that accompanied inquiries from less enlightened people.
“My hope is to bring women together and empower them to succeed in the same manner as gentlemen. Males rule society, yet there is so much more females can offer if allowed. Women should be permitted to live and act independently without being labeled a spinster or bluestocking. We are equally as intelligent and resourceful.”
They’d reached the top of the stairs and she opened the secondary door and walked inside. If anything Jasper had distracted her from the tormented emotions of the morning, and she found she enjoyed their conversation. Clever, how he’d managed to fill a little of the empty feeling she always carried within.
“I see.”
She wondered if he truly agreed, but then he continued.
“All visions of beheadings and tribal dancing have been cleansed from my brain.”
She giggled despite herself.
Jasper smiled and began to move about the office. “Equality is all right and good, but people need one another at times. No one is completely independent.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Shall I remind you of our waltz, Miss Shaw? And by the way, are you hiding a hideous moniker or do you feel uncomfortable with me addressing you by your given name? I rather thought we were becoming friends.”
He punctuated his little speech with another smile that distracted her more than anything else. Did he really need to look so dashing? His eyes spoke volumes of emotion and his carefree congeniality was contagious, no matter she had little intention of knowing him better. And those long lashes…
Unsettled, she pushed for more sensible conversation. “You mention our waltz, and in that you’re correct, but you’d be hard pressed to supply another instance when a woman couldn’t succeed in a task without the assistance of a man.” She watched as he removed his gloves and placed them on the table beside the vase of fiddleheads. The arrangement looked inordinately fresh despite they were nearly a week old. How peculiar.
She trailed her eyes after him as he lit two lanterns and started a fire in the hearth. Whatsoever was she doing? Standing around like a brainless bird-wit while he assumed the role of protector. It chafed against everything she believed in…that the league signified.
“Another example?” His evocative grin declared she’d taken his bait and he stepped in her direction, pausing when a mere stride separated them.
Time stood still as they faced each other in the slanted sunlight from the large glass window. In wait of his answer, her eyes wandered to his mouth although some secret part of her whispered the question; What would it be like to kiss Jasper St. David? And from there she became a lost cause.
As all females do, she’d fantasized about her first kiss. Not having ever had one, her prodigious imagination had created the ideal first encounter. In her mind’s eye, the gentleman would look at her face with genuine sincerity, his eyes searching deeply for the connection that led them into each other’s arms. He would touch her cheek, a slight caress that sent shivers through her bones to settle in her heart. In this daydream, night dream, she would allow her eyes to fall closed so sight would no longer have control, but instead, her other senses would discern each nuance. She would feel his fingertip tilt her chin,