Page 93 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

“Emma. She’s coming,” William said.

Joane turned her neck and saw Emma as she made the turn around the trees. William had seen her before she made the turn, breaking them off just in time. Joane drew her gown down and tugged gently at all the creases. William just redid one open button. Joane looked at the bulge in his trouser, it wasn’t going down. She suspected he would not stand up anytime soon, it would only be embarrassing. Joane blushed.

“Am I breaking up an important meeting?” Emma asked.

Joane turned completely, facing her friend. Emma wasn’t smiling, there was a snarl pasted on her face.

“Are you alright?” Joane asked, standing up.

She was standing right in front of Emma and looked down to her friend.

Something is wrong.

“The dance is ending although I think the ball is still going to continue for a while. I think we should go home,” Emma said.

Joane turned back to glimpse at William. And his eyes mirrored her thoughts.

Leave now? No.

“Emma tell me what is wrong, we haven’t even been here an hour,” Joane told her.

“Everything is wrong. You sitting her alone with this man, who just admitted to lying to you, is wrong. What else would you discover about him as time goes on?”

Joane shook her head.

“That is a very unfair thing to say. And to say it right in front of him, is just despicable behaviour,” Joane chided.

“Of course, Joane to the rescue, as always,” Emma retorted.

Joane looked at her friend’s face. Emma was pained.

“I think you should listen to your friend Joane, maybe you should leave,” William said.

Joane turned back to face him. His eyes were pleading.

He knows something is wrong with her.

Joane faced her friend.

“Okay madam, let’s go,” she said.

Emma said nothing; she just turned and walked away. She walked quickly as if she was barely restraining herself from breaking into a run. Joane turned back to look at William.

“I’ll come see you at Buckingham,” William said.

Joane nodded her head. She was delighted she had come to the Bedford ball.

And right in front of me, lies the person who convinced me to come. She’s my guardian angel. Now, I have to find out what is wrong with her.

*******

Emma had said nothing since they left William at the Bedford orchard. Joane looked at her friend who was keeping her eyes outside the window. The coach went slowly, so much that it was easy to forget it even moved. Joane looked through the small window in front; Mr. Bruce was, as always, keeping his eyes on the road. If the man ever heard anything she and Emma said in the coach, one could never tell.

The man is as secretive as an owl.

Joane brushed away a few strands of hair that tingled the side of her cheek. She extended an arm and held Emma’s left forearm tightly. Emma attempted to draw her hand away but Joane held tight. She was not going to let her go till she told her what was wrong. She drew to Emma, giving her no space between herself and the wooden wall of the carriage.

“I know you want to lash out Emma. I’m your best friend; no one can take it better than me. I thought you were just angry at me allowing William talk to me but I can see there’s more to this. What is wrong?” Joane asked her.