Page 55 of The Unfortunate Debutante
“Oh no, he would have locked me up in my room if he even got wind of me sneaking out of my bedchamber,” she responded.
Rachel gave her a look of wry disapproval. “That thought may have crossed my mind, as well.”
“I’ll be safe,” she rushed to assure her. “What harm could possibly come to me at a peaceful demonstration?”
Simeon let out a chuckle. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Emma scowled at him. She wasn’t worried. The Anti-Corn Law rebels weren’t ruffians. They were planning a peaceful demonstration. Besides, she had full confidence that no harm would befall her with Simeon by her side.
10
Simeon was findingEmma to be a vastly entertaining partner. Her eyes would light up with excitement every time they turned the street corner. She found the storefronts fascinating, the street urchins entertaining, and she even stopped to buy wafers from a street vendor. How was it possible that she found such mundane things amusing? Whereas he found the storefronts to be tedious, the street urchins to be horridly filthy, and the street vendors to be pesky.
They had started their march with their chapter of the Anti-Corn Law rebels from The Tubby Wench, and they were about to reach Templeton Square. Along the route, hundreds of people joined their protest, eager to show their support.
With her arm tucked safely into the crook of his arm, Emma was chatting with Miss Janet as they walked side by side. He didn’t even attempt to follow the conversation, because he was fairly confident that they were speaking about womanly topics. Whatever those may be. Besides, Simeon was too busy scanning Templeton Square and the growing crowd.
The square was filled to capacity, and everyone was facing a large, wooden stage that had been constructed in the middle. Men and women stood side by side, and some were even carrying signs about repealing the Corn Laws.
As their chapter of the Anti-Corn Law rebels started making their way closer to the stage, Simeon stopped on the outskirts. “We stay here.”
Emma looked at him with curiosity. “Why are we so far away?”
“It’s safer this way. We’ll be less likely to be trampled,” he informed her. “Don’t fret. I have no doubt that we’ll be able to hear the orator from here.”
Rather than argue with him, Emma just nodded and turned her gaze back towards the stage.
Not quite ready to look away, Simeon’s eyes roamed the curls that framed her face perfectly to the radiant glow on her face. He noticed how long her black lashes were, and her lips were parted in exuberance as she fixed her eyes on the square. Tarnation! He shifted his gaze away from Emma. What was he thinking, ogling her? She was his responsibility, nothing more.
A smile was still on her lips as she turned to face him. “When do you think Mr. Hatcher will arrive?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I suppose anytime.”
Her eyes landed on his lips, and he felt rooted to his spot. Could she feel his growing urge to kiss her, to feel her lips on his own?
“I can’t hear you!” she shouted as the crowd grew more boisterous.
Did he say something? Oh, yes. He leaned closer to her and raised his voice. “I suppose Hatcher could come at any time.”
A slight blush came to her cheeks. It was barely noticeable, but he caught it nonetheless.
“Is this peaceful demonstration everything that you thought it would be?” he teased, enjoying their nearness.
Her eyes left his and scanned over the people, and she nodded. “Yes. If Luke and Rachel hadn’t rescued me from my situation, I could have easily been in many of these people’s situations.”
“Is that so?”
She nodded. “I was fortunate enough to inherit my father’s shop in the village, our cottage, and property surrounding our home. However, working for an income is not beneath me.”
Simeon gave her a quizzical look. “You would have had to work?”
“Frankly, I don’t know,” she replied. “Lockhart insisted we wed so he could take care of me. He said that my income was too meager for me to support myself.”
He pressed his lips together to prevent a vulgar word from slipping out in the presence of Emma. He had no doubt that Lockhart was trying to force her to marry him. But why? Was it just because she was beautiful, or did she have something that he wanted?
“And what of now?” he asked.
“Pardon?”
