close to four glasses of whisky before he removed you from Hell.”
“Kingsley brought me here?” Why didn’t he just take her home? Or better yet, have one of his employees do it.
“He thought you needed someone to look after you last night.”
“Oh God, did I kiss him?” Why was she certain there had been some talk of kissing last evening? If only her head didn’t ache so horribly, then she might be able to remember everything. Even as foxed as she’d been, she would never have let her guard down enough to allow him to kiss her.
Louisa laughed softly. “I don’t believe you did. I’m quite certain Simon wouldn’t take advantage of a woman so deep in her cups.”
After witnessing Kingsley with that barmaid in his office, Emma wasn’t quite as confident as her sister. Emma struggled to sit up in the bed without losing her stomach. “Why do you always defend the man?”
“He is not the man he lets most people see.” Louisa smiled fully. “Simon Kingsley will always have a place in my heart. And he is my husband’s brother.”
Half-brother, Emma thought. The scoundrel half.
A light rap hammered the door in a beat, much like the pounding in her head. Louisa walked to the door and let in a maid with a tray. The smell of food wafted past Emma’s nose, causing her stomach to roil.
“Please, no food for me,” Emma said, clutching her stomach.
“Cook has a wonderful cure for a night of excess,” Louisa explained. “You will have to trust me on this.”
“I’ll eat on one condition.” Emma swallowed back nausea as her sister placed the tray on her lap. “May I please have a bath and change of clothing?”
“Of course. I already asked a maid to go to Mamma’s house and get your clothing.”
Emma’s eyes widened. “Mamma! What did you tell her?”
“Only that you came over to talk and had a headache, so I forced you to sleep here.”
Emma’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank you, Louisa.”
“It’s what sisters do for each other.” Louisa walked to the door. “I must check on George now. Please eat and ring the bell when you’re ready for your bath. I’ll have a maid get the water warming.”
Emma forced herself to eat the meal Louisa’s cook provided. After finishing, she decided that her stomach felt slightly better. She rang the bell for her bath. As the footman came in with the tub and water, so did Harry.
“How are you, Emma?”
“Better than I expected,” she said with a smile. “The food helped more than I thought it might.”
“Come sit with me while the footmen ready your bath.” Harry took a seat by the window and waited for her.
He must be here to give her the scolding she’d anticipated from her sister. She hadn’t thought Harry would be the one to deliver it. She eased herself down into the floral chair across from him.
“Emma, I was hoping you might do me a favor.”
“Of course, Harry, whatever you need.”
Harry looked down at his hands. “Louisa and I are going to Worth Hall for a fortnight because I prefer to be alone at this time of the year.”
Emma nodded, remembering that his father had committed suicide in late April. “I understand.”
“I was hoping you might join us there and keep your sister company. I know it would mean not attending any balls for two weeks but—"
“I’ll come to Worth with you both,” she interrupted him. Emma reached over and clasped his hands. “You and Louisa are my favorite people. If my being there with Louisa will help you, then I will spend a fortnight in Worth.”
“Thank you, Emma.” He squeezed her hands and then released them. “It looks like your bath is ready. I will leave you in peace. We will leave on Friday.”
“Oh,” Emma said with a hint of disappointment. “I promised Susan I would attend the Comstocks’ ball on Friday.”
He smiled over at her. “That will work perfectly. Louisa insists that George must travel with us and not his nurse, which, with all his things, leaves little room for another passenger. I shall have another carriage sent to your mother’s home to pick you up Saturday at noon, so you might still attend Lady Comstock’s ball.”
“Thank you, Harry.” A fortnight with no poor suitors trying to impress her with their skills at courtship and no mother trying to marry her off. It was no hardship indeed to go to Worth.
SIMON ARRIVED AT THE ducal estate on horseback Saturday morning. Monday was the third