That he’d simply happened on her in the conservatory and decided to kiss her because he wanted to? Even more unlikely. A man like Alexander Harland always had an ulterior motive. Maybe he’d been hoping to befuddle her so much, she’d blurt out her crimes?
Either way, she’d been granted an unlikely reprieve, and she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She caught Luc’s eye across the ballroom, and he made his way over to her.
“Run into trouble?” he asked casually, raising his brows as he noticed her different coiffure.
Emmy fought a blush. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Oh, she’d handled Harland, all right. And he’d handled her. Most proficiently.
Mortification mixed with frustration coiled inside her. Thank heavens they’d been interrupted. She’d been shamefully close to giving herself to him. Instead of thinking of ways to get away from him, she’d kissed him back, then lost herself in the taste and scent and feel. She could still recall the texture of his hair under her fingers, the incredible sensation of his hands on her breasts. His mouth on them.
Camille bustled up. “Are we ready to leave?”
Emmy could only nod.
When the carriage arrived home, she went straight up to her room. She barely glanced at the ruby, throwing it carelessly onto her bedside table before she collapsed facedown on her bed with a groan of dismay.
What a night. She was exhausted from the sheer range of emotions she’d encountered, from nervous excitement to dread, elation to panic, then guilty, reckless pleasure. Kissing Harland had been the real triumph, not successfully stealing the ruby. He’d warned her not to play with fire, but sparring with him was so full of paradoxical pleasure, it was hard to stop.
Chapter 21.
“He’s back,” Sally said ominously.
Emmy glanced up from her solitary breakfast and her heart started to pound at the thought of seeing Harland again. “Who’s back?” she croaked.
Sally sent her a dire look. “Danton, that’s who. He’s down in the hall, cooling his heels.”
Emmy’s spirits plummeted and dread replaced anticipation. “Where’s Luc?”
“Out for his usual walk around the park.”
Emmy cursed. Hellfire. She didn’t want to have to deal with Danton on her own, but Camille was still upstairs asleep, and she didn’t want to rouse her.
“Show him up. And leave the door open.”
When Danton entered, Emmy studied the man who’d made her life a misery for almost a full year.
Sally had described him well. He was of average height and of stocky build, perhaps a decade older than Emmy herself, and his features had a childish, petulant cast to them. He reminded her of a baby about to have a tantrum, except for the calculating gleam in his eyes. There was nothing innocent in his gaze. His eyes roamed over her face and figure, lingering lasciviously at her bosom and lips as if he had the right to examine her. As if he owned her.
Emmy felt a chill sweep over her skin when he smiled. This was a man who knew the cost of everything and the value of nothing. And he clearly relished his role of puppet master, making her family dance to his tune.
“Miss Danvers. We meet at last.” He inclined his head. When Emmy sank back into her seat, he settled himself in the chair opposite her, making himself at home with a familiarity that made her bristle.
“I have been all curiosity to meet the thief who took up the Nightjar’s mantle.”
Emmy nodded stiffly.
He picked up a butter knife and toyed with it between his fingers. “I will admit to a certain hesitancy when I heard a female would take his place, but I own I have been delighted by your success. You have, I believe, recovered the Regent’s diamond and the French blue?”
Emmy nodded again. She didn’t trust her tongue. It would be foolish to antagonize this man, but she couldn’t think of a single thing to say that wouldn’t make her lose her temper. What gave him the right to force her to do things? And how dare he suggest that as a woman she was somehow less capable of doing the job than a man?
She was glad Luc wasn’t here. He might have been goaded into doing something foolish. Like trying to stab him with that butter knife.
Her cool silence didn’t seem to affect Danton. He raised his brows and helped himself to a bread roll. “And what about the ruby?”
Emmy found her voice. “I have that too. I retrieved it last night.”
If Danton had come to collect