Page 55 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

Joane turned up her nose.

“Uncultured girl,” Joane said playfully.

“Thank you, the queen of poise and culture,” Emma replied.

Joane saw Emma’s expression change. She could tell she wanted to say something serious.

Probably unsavoury too

“You should have forced him to answer your question,” Emma said.

Joane knew what she was talking about but refused to behave as if she did.

“What question?” Joane asked.

“He should have told you what he wanted,” Emma said to her.

Joane saw the light of the lamp drop a bit. There seemed to be something on the wick. She raised her head to look closer, it was nothing.

“Are you scared of what his response will be?”

“Scared? Why would I be scared?” Joane replied.

She felt her heart chill after the warmth that thoughts of William had brought. Emma was right, as she was most times, but Joane would not admit it to her.

I don’t want to know what he wants. What we have is enough.

She felt Emma’s fingers wrap around hers, her middle finger rested in her palm.

“Your father disgraced the man, Joane. What do you think he wants?” Emma said, looking directly into Joane’s eyes, holding her gaze such that Joane could not look elsewhere.

Joane felt her voice catch in her throat. She didn’t know what to say. She was scared of what the answer was or what it looked like.

I don’t want this ride to end.

“This man cannot have honourable intentions. Under these conditions, no man can.” Emma said.

“You cannot prove that. You are just making far-fetched assumptions,” Joane said. Even to her, her voice was harder and more confrontational than she wanted it to be.

Emma smiled when she said that.

“What if I prove it to you?” Emma said.

Joane looked into her friend’s eyes. There was no jest there. Emma wasn’t playing. She was serious.

Chapter 14

What William wants.

Joane stood up, she was desperate to hide the fear she knew was now evident in her eyes. She walked to the window and tried taking her mind off the current line of discussion.

Surely he would be home now. Was he thinking of her at this moment too? Was he looking outside his window to the direction he felt she was?

Emma’s voice brought her back inside her room.

“It is obvious your heart has been captured by the wiles of Mr. William. There is no person more delusional, more protective and more inexplicably blind than a woman in love,” Emma said.

Joane grew angry at her friend’s harsh words. She turned back and looked at her, grateful for the anger that was sure to hide the fear.