“It is?” Belle asked.

Emma gave her cousin a cutting glare. “Well, if it isn’t exactly long, it’s kind of complicated.”

“Oh?” asked Sophie, eyes wide with interest. “Then I definitely want to hear all about it.”

“Actually, it isn’t even all that complicated,” Belle mused.

Emma managed to poke her troublesome cousin in the side as she quickly explained how they were trying to avoid her aunt’s preparations for the party. “It was either the kitchens or flower arrangements,” she concluded.

“A perfectly dreadful fate,” Sophie agreed. “However, I can’t imagine what Caroline had to say about your adventure.”

“The thing is,” Emma said meaningfully, “I can’t imagine either.” She and Belle turned to Sophie with identical nervous smiles pasted to their faces.

“Ohhhh,” Sophie breathed, nodding slowly. “I see. Well, you can certainly be assured of my silence. It’s the least I can do after you saved Charlie’s life. As I said, I’ll be forever in your debt.”

Emma quickly produced Sophie’s stunning emerald and diamond earrings. “So you see,” she explained, “considering my true circumstances, I couldn’t possibly accept these earrings. Please take them back. They so suit your green eyes.”

Sophie’s eyes welled with unshed tears. “But I would so like you to have them. They’re only trinkets compared with my son.”

“I think Emma would feel uncomfortable,” Belle said softly.

Sophie looked back and forth between the cousins, her gaze finally resting on Emma. “I do want to give you something in thanks.”

“Your friendship will be more than enough.” Emma’s voice was quiet and deep with emotion, for she knew that Sophie would prove to be a true and loyal friend despite her rather unnerving brother.

Sophie took both of Emma’s hands into her own “That you will have always.” And then, as if than wasn’t enough, she suddenly let go of Emma’s hands and embraced her in a warm hug. “Oh! Where are my manners?” Sophie suddenly exclaimed “Please sit down,” she said, motioning towards the golden-hued sofas. Emma and Belle smile as they made themselves comfortable. “Now, let’s get down to what’s really important,” Sophie said emphatically. “Gossip. I want to hear everything about last night.”

“It was marvelous,” Belle exclaimed. “I tell you, if Mama wanted to show the ton that she considered Emma as dear as a daughter she surely succeeded. She introduced her to absolutely everyone.”

“How exciting for you,” Sophie commented.

Emma murmured her agreement.

“But also how wearying,” Sophie added more sympathetically.

“Oh yes.” Emma nodded.

“And everyone was there, simply everyone,” Belle continued. “Except you, of course. As you know, even your brother made an appearance. Everyone was incredibly surprised. People couldn’t stop talking about it.”

“Yes, I too was a bit surprised—” Sophie began. And then she suddenly remembered that her brother had been with her the day before, and, whipping her head around to face Emma, she exclaimed, “Oh my goodness! Whatever did you say? Whatever did he say?”

“Actually, I think I said something along the lines of ‘How do you do? ’”

“After he kissed her hand for twice as long as is proper,” Belle added excitedly. “Once people finally stopped talking about how shocked they were at his appearance, they couldn’t stop talking about the way he was pursuing Emma.”

“Really, Belle,” Emma said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I think he was just poking fun at me. He seemed a little upset that he had been so surprised by my true identity. I imagine he likes to feel that he’s in command of every situation.”

“That’s for certain,” Sophie grumbled. “Imagine being related to him.”

Emma found that prospect rather unsettling. “Anyway, he really wasn’t paying me that much attention. I didn’t think he did anything untoward.”

Belle snorted in a most unladylike manner. “Really, Emma, your face was the same color as your hair when you were dancing with him. You were either extremely embarrassed or extremely angry.”

Emma shrugged her shoulders, preferring to let Sophie and Belle draw their own conclusions. “I’m sure that’s all over and done with. Pardon me for saying so, Sophie, but if your brother is anything like his reputation—which was described to me in excruciating detail—I don’t imagine I’ll be running into him at many more events.”

“Pity,” Sophie said softly, the matchmaker’s gleam sparkling in her eyes.

“What was that?”

“Oh, nothing at all. Would you like some tea?” Sophie said quickly, ringing for a maid. She’d been nagging Alex to settle down for years now, and in Emma Dunster she’d found her most promising possibility for success. Emma was strikingly attractive, obviously intelligent, and a genuinely nice person. And most importantly for anyone who was about to get paired up with Alexander Ridgely, Duke of Ashbourne, she was very, very brave. Sophie decided she couldn’t have dreamed up a better sister-in-law. Emma’s sharp tongue would serve her well, too. Alex needed a woman who wouldn’t scurry to do his bidding every time he started acting in his domineering manner, which, Sophie had to admit, was most of the time.

“Please do tell me more about your ball,” Sophie continued, eager to prolong the visit now that she’d decided she and Emma would soon be related. A servant brought in tea and biscuits, and Sophie quickly got to the job of serving.