"Then I will."

He made a move as if to step around the bed, but Jane jumped up and stopped him. "If you wake her, sir, you'll only frighten her. I don't believe even you would be so callous to a child sleeping so peacefully under your roof. Even if it is someone you despise so much as your own daughter."

"I do not despise her."

Jane stood her ground, watching her husband, wondering what he would do. Phillip, for his part, found his rampant desire quickly fading as he faced Jane's ire and pondered the prospect of waking Emily.

He'd simply wanted a tender tumble with his wife. Not another fight with her. It was too late, and he was too fatigued by the past days.

"Go, milord. To your own bed. You're not welcome here."

Phillip eyed her dispassionately. He could not remember when a woman had ever refused him. With his pride sorely wounded, he vowed that his wife would not persist. "We will speak more of this in the morning. I will accommodate you on this occasion, but not again. You'd best prepare yourself." With that, he turned and strode from the room.

Jane let out the deep breath she'd been holding and sank back onto the bed.

Chapter Nineteen.

Emily skipped into Jane's room in a wild burst of energy, bringing with her smiles and excitement. "Jane, Jane," she stated breathlessly, "you'll not believe this."

"What, dear?" She'd been up for hours already, riding the grounds, inspecting the gardens, had barely slept after her nocturnal encounters with Wessington. Exhaustion was wearing her down, and she had to stifle a yawn.

"You'll not believe it."

"Calm yourself, Emily. With all your jumping about, you'll never quiet long enough to tell me the news."

"Father wishes to see me! At eleven. In the morning parlor."

She rose and hugged the girl, even as she breathed a sigh of relief at Wessington's decision. "See, I told you he was simply busy yesterday. Now, we must hurry if you're to be ready. We'll pick out the prettiest of your new dresses."

"How about the pink one?" Emily asked, as they rushed down the hall toward her room.

"I was thinking about the blue. It brings out the color of your eyes in such a lovely way." Two maids joined them, and along with Meg, they spent the next hour preparing her for her presentation to her father.

Promptly at eleven, Jane followed Emily into the parlor, crossing her fingers as the girl entered in the hope that Wessington would notice the changes. Her naturally curly hair was perfectly ringleted about her pretty face. Her new dress, with its crisp petticoats, swished delightfully as she moved. The girl had a bearing and charm which belied her young years.

Poised and confident, she walked straight to the Earl and made a perfect curtsy. "Hello, Father. Welcome home."

"Hello, Emily. Thank you for being prompt." He motioned for her to take a seat, then turned and indicated they had a guest. "Master Morris has come to call." Wessington, seeing Jane hanging in the back, motioned her to a seat also. He looked at Morris. "Have you met my wife, Lady Wessington?"

"Yes. I've had the pleasure."

Morris flashed Jane a look of triumph as though to tell her that he would have his way in the end. He rose and bowed over her hand, then Emily's. Jane watched carefully, giving him no opportunity to linger near the child.

The four of them sat in the sunny room, sipping tea and munching on the delicious scones Cook had prepared. The two men talked about various affairs they'd attended in London and various people with whom they were acquainted. Occasionally, Morris would ask Emily a question which she answered politely. The rest of the time, she stared at the floor, looking sullen and morose.

When the hour ended, the Earl excused them, and they left together. Throughout the entire ordeal, he had not made a single comment about Emily; he'd not asked any questions about how she'd been doing; he'd failed to notice her dress or deportment Jane was furious. "I'm sorry, Emily," she offered as they reached the stairs and were sufficiently out of earshot. "I know you expected something else."

Emily had managed to hold back the tears until that moment. They flowed freely now. "Father hates me," she cried softly. "He always has. What a fool I've been, thinking it wasn't so." She whirled and started up the stairs, two at a time. "It's no use. It's no use pretending anymore ..." She disappeared around the corner.

Jane heaved a heavy sigh, wondering how many more upheavals were going to occur due to Wessington's presence. Once Morris departed, the Earl headed to the library, and she followed. He looked up from the desk as she closed the door.

From the determined look in her eye, he couldn't help but wonder what the matter could be. Perhaps she didnat like Morris any more than he did himself. The man was a dreadful bore, but also a wealthy, respected neighbor, and they could hardly send him packing when he came to call.

Resolved not to fight with her, he tried to start on a better foot. "I can't remember when I've seen Emily quite so prettily turned out You've done a good job with her."

"She was hoping that you would notice . . ." She wearily shook her head, letting the thought trail off, unable to come to grips with her emotions over the entire issue of her husband. Would she ever understand this man?

Looking down, her eyes settled on the papers on the desk, and she was greatly disturbed by the few words she managed to read upside down. "What's that you have there?"

Her direct gaze irked him, for he felt himself ten years old again and being scolded by his tutor. How did she manage that so well? He reached to take the papers away, but she stopped him by grabbing them first.

"So it's true then? You plan to wed her to that man?" She quickly scanned the pages. "She told me you'd decided, but I was certain she had to be mistaken." With great effort, she sat back in the chair, the papers gripped in her hand.

"She told you about it?"

"Yes."

"I've never spoken to her or anyone about ita"except Thumberton. How did she hear?"

"Morris told her some dme ago. The news frightened her terribly."

Phillip scowled. "Well, I haven't decided any such thing. He made an offer, and I told him I'd think about it. That's all."

"Is that why he was here today? To see if you'd made up your mind?"

"One of the reasons. He also wanted to call on Emily. He said you won't let him."

"Of course, I won't. It's improper."

He pointed to the contract in her hand. "What would you have me do?"

"Simply tell him no. She's too young."

Phillip had never passed much time thinking about Emily's marriage prospects, so he didnat realize how silly he sounded when he asked, "What if she never receives another offer?"

Jane laughed, incredulous that he could be so blind.

"Have you never taken a look at her? She is exquisite. You will have dozens of offers from which to choose. In fact, I would lay bets that you'll be fighting off suitors with a stick, but it will happen in a few more years when the time is right." Without pausing to wonder if she dared raise the subject, she continued softly, "I know you harbor a great deal of animosity toward Emily because of what happened with her mother."

"What di you say?" Phillip rose slightly from his chair, his eyes flashing angrily. "Who has spoken to you of such private matters?"

"Calm yourself, please. What happened between you and Anne, between you and Richard, is well known. I could hardly not have heard the gossip.''

"The relationship I had with Anne is none of your concern."

"But it is, milord. Her betrayals changed you." He opened his mouth to protest, and she silenced him with a raised hand. "Because of her, you trust no one; you care for no one. She continues to overshadow your relationship with me and with Emily."

Phillip shook his head in violent disagreement. No matter what others thought or said, Anne had no continuing effect on his life. "You're wrong."

"Am I?" Jane's piercing gaze looked far into his hardened heart. She stood and rounded the desk, taking his hand in hers as she dropped to her knees. "Please do not punish Emily simply because you hated Anne. If you feel she's too much of a burden, relieve yourself by giving her care completely into my hands. I couldn't love her more if she were my own child, so I aska"no, I bega"you not to do this to her. If you will grant me this one favor, I'll never ask another thing of you as long as I live. I swear it."

Phillip was terribly moved by her devotion to the girl and couldn't help wondering what it would be like to have the full force of Jane's affection focused on himself. If he wasn't careful, he might almost find himself jealous over his wife's feelings for his daughter.

After hearing her plea, he sighed. How could he resist such a heartfelt request? "I'll tell him no."

"Please swear it."

"I swear it."

"Thank you."

He reached for her other hand and helped her to her feet. "Get up, now. I need to speak to you of another matter. The one which brought me here."

"What is it?" she asked, not at all certain she wanted to hear the answer.

"I have some news of your family."

"My family?" Jane's thoughts were instantly confused. Her family was the farthest topic she could imagine the Earl wanting to discuss. "What about them?"

"It's your father, Jane. It appears he's suffered an attack of apoplexy."

Her eyes widened, her mouth formed a silent O. She swallowed hard. "Is he still alive?"

"He was when last I saw him."

"Oh, dear." She looked down, suddenly very interested in the cameo pinned to her bodice.

"I meant to tell you yesterday, but I never seemed to find the proper moment. That's why I came out from London."

"And his condition?"

No sense lying. "Very grave. The doctors were not hopeful."

She walked to the window, staring off across the gardens and wringing her hands. The news was incomprehensible. Charles was such a vibrant person. In thinking back on her entire life, she couldn't remember a single day when he'd taken to his sickbed. The idea of him stricken down was impossible for her to process.

One of Wessington's comments came back to her. "You said you'd seen Father?"

' 'Yes. He was in London with Gregory and your sister, Gertrude."

"Whatever were they doing in the city?"

"They were discussing business matters. I ran into them at a society affair." Phillip hoped the explanation would suffice, for he didnat want to reveal the true reason for their London visit unless it was absolutely necessary. "I was with your father when he was laid low. We were speaking privately."

"Did he . . . did he ask about me?"

She looked so young and vulnerable that he didnat have the heart to shatter any illusions about her father. "Of course, he did." Phillip smiled. "He wanted to know all about you. How you were doing. How I was treating you."

His eyes had that mischievous twinkle she'd only witnessed a few times. "And what did you say to that?"

"I said I was being the very best of husbands."

"You're impossible." Wessington's slight attempt to lighten the moment was her undoing. Tears welled in her eyes, and she turned away. "I need to go home."

He moved to the window and sat on the sill facing her, resting a hand on her waist. Her eyes were glistening emeralds, and he longed to kiss away the lurking tears.

I don't think it's such a good idea for you to go home right now."

"Why? He's my father. I belong at his side."

"Have you communicated witih them since we wed?"

"No. When I left home, my father asked me not to, until six months had passed. I obeyed his wishes in the matter."

"So you have no idea what they were doing in London?"

"You said they were there on business."

"Yes. They were there talking to bankers and making pronouncements about a new branch of the family business. An import business." Phillip waited for the facts to sink in.

Jane's eyes widened. "But I've never spoken to Father about my idea."

"Who else knew about it?"

"Gregory." Jane couldn't believe how guilty she felt at simply mentioning Gregory's name in her husband's presence.

"Would he have told your father about it?"

"Of course not. He knew I was still planning it." Phillip gave her a hard, assessing look, daring her to realistically assess what he was implying. She lowered her eyes, looking at his chest. "What are you saying? That Gregory stole my idea?"

"All I know, Jane, is that your father told me it was Gregory's idea."

Her brow furrowed, and her head suddenly started aching fiercely. She rubbed her temples.' 'You're wrong. You must have misunderstood."

Seeing her obvious torment, he had no desire to press the point, but he'd seen enough of her family to know that they bore her no goodwill. "Perhaps I di," he agreed. With a gentle tug, he brought her closer and she rested against his thigh. In her unsettled state, she didnat appear to notice or care that he held her in the circle of his arms, that a buttock rested against his leg. He cradled her face in his palm and edged her cheek to his chest. She accepted the silent offer of comfort.

After a time, she looked at up him. "Is he still in London?"

' 'No. Your sister insisted on taking him back to Portsmouth."

"But that's ludicrous."

"The doctors all advised against it, but she was adamant. I didnat feel I was in a position to stop her."