“Actually, Mother, I think everyone is somewhat afraid to open his—or her—mouth.” Alex smiled widely at his mother as he rose to give her an affectionate kiss on the cheek.

Eugenia looked at her son accusingly. “You haven’t been brutalizing our guests, have you?”

“Only me,” Emma chirped bravely, causing her aunt to shoot her a remonstrating look.

Alex chuckled, delighted at Emma’s barb. “Perhaps I could escort you to supper, Miss Dunster,” he said graciously, walking over to her and extending his arm.

“Of course,” Emma murmured. What else could she do with such an avid group of onlookers? Smiling prettily at her audience, she rose and tried to take a step toward the door, but Alex’s iron grip held her firmly in place.

“I believe we’ll bring up the rear,” he stated, a little too obviously.

“If none of you mind,” Emma hastened to add, feeling her cheeks pinken.

“Oh no, we don’t mind at all,” Eugenia exclaimed, practically hauling her daughter out of the room.

Within seconds the room had been vacated.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again!” Emma burst out, wrenching herself from his grasp.

“Do what?” he asked innocently.

“I trust your stay has been pleasurable, Emma,” she mimicked, imitating his tone perfectly.

“Oh, come now, Emma. You cannot begrudge me a bit of fun.”

“Not at my expense. I was mortified.”

“Don’t be so angry, love. You know I was only teasing you.”

“I know no such thing. It seemed to me that you were merely having a bit of revenge because you didn’t get what you wanted this afternoon.”

Unable to bear the broken look in her eyes, Alex took her by the shoulders and pulled her against him. “Oh, darling, I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I never meant to make you feel that way. Believe me, I got exactly what I wanted this afternoon.”

“But—”

“Hush.” He placed his forefinger on her lips. “All I wanted was to make you happy, and it seems all I’ve managed is to make you sad. I was teasing you just now because if I can’t have happy, then angry at least is better than sad.”

“Well, I’d prefer you didn’t resort to such tactics again,” she mumbled into his chest.

Alex dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I promise. Now then…” He searched for a new topic. “Have you ever seen a room empty out so quickly? It seems that I was not the only one desirous of a private meeting between the two of us. I’d be willing to wager that my mother made it to the dining room in under ten seconds.”

“I’ve certainly never seen my aunt move so quickly before,” Emma returned with a wobbly smile. “And I thought Uncle Henry was going to take Belle by her hair.”

“Funny, but I’d have thought him above this.”

“You must be joking. Aunt Caroline can be quite formidable when she’s in a temper. He wouldn’t want to provoke her. He’s much too fond of his peaceful existence. Besides, everyone is most anxious to see me settled. Not,” Emma said quickly, “that we—I have any plans to settle down soon. I have a business to run back in Boston, you know.” She felt a sinking feeling in her stomach even as she spoke the words. Hadn’t she just decided that Alex was far more important to her than Dunster Shipping? “You shouldn’t allow yourself to feel pressured, you know.”

Alex looked down at her with a strange expression on his face.

“Although I imagine one would find it difficult to pressure you into anything,” Emma continued, looking slightly forlorn.

Alex smiled wryly, wondering how much pressure would actually be required at this point to get him to settle down. “Are you feeling better?” he asked simply.

Emma kept her eyes downcast. “I made quite a spectacle of myself, didn’t I?”

“To which spectacle are you referring?”

She blushed at his obvious reference to her passionate behavior. “Actually, I was referring to my rather acute embarrassment after the fact.” She paused, forcing herself to look into his eyes. “I think I overreacted,” she said softly. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t upset you.”

She looked up at him, her violet eyes wide with trust. At that moment, something inside Alex melted. He couldn’t believe that she was apologizing to him for her embarrassment over their lovemaking earlier that afternoon. Proper young ladies were taught that any kind of premarital intimacy was akin to eternal damnation, and now that Alex no longer felt as if his body were about to explode, he was really quite impressed that Emma hadn’t taken to her bed for a week.

“It’s quite natural to feel confused by a new experience,” he said, feeling that he ought to say something to comfort her.

“Thank you for being so understanding,” Emma said, a faint smile touching her features. “Although I do think it would be wise if we restrained ourselves for the time being.” At Alex’s raised eyebrow, she explained, “I really cannot describe how awful I felt this afternoon.”

“Guilt?”

“That, and confusion, too.” Emma turned away and idly examined a small clock that sat on an end table. She was proud of herself for being so honest with Alex, but all the same, such plain speaking was somewhat disconcerting.

“I wish you wouldn’t feel that way.”

“I wish I wouldn’t, too,” Emma replied, still directing her words to the clock. “But I’m afraid that I can’t control my emotions very well, and I would rather avoid the state of turmoil I was in earlier today.”