into good Society ever again.”
“I’m barely accepted now even though I have done nothing wrong!” She was tired of the right thing. She wanted to do all the wrong things for once and break free of Society’s confines.
“But you will lose all your friends.” Susan stared at her with those big brown eyes that reminded Emma of her mother’s pug. “And you are my only real friend. If I cannot speak with you, I don’t know what I shall do.”
“It will not be as dreadful as all that, Susan. You are assuming I will be caught doing all these things. I have no intention of that. I am doing this to have a few adventures and a little fun. If I am completely ruined in the process,” she shrugged, “then that is a bonus, I suppose. No longer will I care what Society thinks of me.”
“You are doomed,” Susan cried. “For surely someone will see you racing a carriage. And whoever you introduce yourself to will speak of it.” She laid down on the bed again. “And rakes love to tell of their conquests!”
Emma hadn’t considered that aspect of this lark. They both had heard stories of young ladies who had taken up with the wrong sort of man—despicable scoundrels—who left the ladies’ reputations in shreds by speaking of their liaison. “Then it shall be part of the bargain. Whoever kisses me must remain silent, and that goes for seducing a rake too.”
“Do you even know which man you will choose?”
Emma went silent in thought. She needed someone who, out of honor, wouldn’t speak of what happened between them. Lord Ainsley might do. He was a friend of her brother-in-law, and that alone might keep his lips sealed. And he was a handsome man with his dark blonde hair, green eyes, and broad shoulders. Hmm, Lord Ainsley might be the perfect rake for the job. Except, Ainsley might insist on marriage, which was not what she wanted from him. This idea might take more thought.
“I have eight other items to complete before number nine. That will give me plenty of time to determine who to seduce.”
Susan sighed and then held her hand out. “Let me review the list.”
“Are you going to rip it up or toss it in the fire?”
“No, and stop scowling at me like that,” her friend said with another heavy sigh.
“Very well.” Emma scanned the list once more. “Number ten is bothering me. What else could I do after seducing a rake? That does seem like the worst thing.”
“I should say so. You might get with child, and then what?”
When did the whimsical Susan become the voice of reason? Susan always danced with the wrong sort of man, saying inappropriate things, and always unpredictable. But for once, she had thought of something Emma hadn’t.
“There must be ways to prevent it from happening. I suppose I will have to investigate those possibilities before I decide to take a man to bed.” She wondered who might have such information. No one of her acquaintance came to mind.
“Oh, Emma,” Susan whispered. “If you get with child, you will be forced to move to the country and live as a poor widow. Even your family will ostracize you. Please have a care.”
“I will.”
Why did Susan have to ruin her fun with thoughts of bastard children? Emma knew she would need to consider with care who to seduce as getting with child was not an option. Of course, if she took after her sister Tessa, it might not happen anyway. Tessa had been married for two years before she finally conceived. Emma scowled. Her luck, she would take after Louisa, who most likely was with child as she took her vows with the duke.
Susan glanced over at the clock. “I must take my leave now. I promised Mother I would be home by four such that I can be ready for Lady Leicester’s ball on time tonight.”
Emma nodded and slowly smiled as she grabbed her list back from Susan. “I might be able to cross one thing off my list tonight.”
Susan rose, straightening her skirts. “Just remember that the dowager countess is Raynerson’s grandmother. You wouldn’t want to embarrass your sister or her husband’s family.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t want to hurt Tessa,” she said to appease her friend. Her eldest sister was one of the reasons Emma’s reputation was on the verge of objectionable. It was Tessa who, with the help of their mother, had befriended the late Duke of Worthington. He