“Emma?” And then when she didn’t respond, Alex said it louder. “Emma?”

Emma turned around quickly, her bright hair settling about her face in soft waves.

Alex touched his fingers to her chin, tilting her face upward so that he could peer into the soft violet depths of her eyes. “I’m still going to try to kiss you, you know.”

“I know.”

He leaned in closer. “On every possible occasion.”

“I know.”

His lips were nearly touching hers. “I’m going to try right now.”

Emma sighed, caught in the sensual web of his voice. “I know.”

“Are you going to stop me?” he murmured against her mouth.

“No.” Emma’s soft reply was lost as Alex’s mouth slanted over hers. Heat poured from his lips, and Emma simply closed her eyes, losing herself in the warmth of the moment.

Alex was painfully aware that he and Emma had precious few moments together. He really would not put it past his mother to come barging into the parlor, declare Emma ravished at the sight of one kiss, and demand that he marry her on the spot. With a groan, he tore himself away from her and took a deep breath.

“This is going to be a long weekend,” he muttered, still holding her chin in his hand.

“Yes, I know,” Emma said in a very strange voice.

A light smile touched Alex’s face as he looked over at Emma. She seemed to be caught in a daze, and her eyes were fixed on a point slightly to the left of Alex’s elbow.

“I would love to know what is going through your mind right now,” Alex said softly, brushing a wisp of hair off of Emma’s forehead.

Emma shook her head slightly as she tried to refocus her eyes. “What?” She blinked a few times. “Do you promise not to laugh?”

“I promise nothing of the kind.”

Emma blinked a few more times at that unexpected reply, and then she gazed up at his face. He was smiling at her in a rather indulgent fashion, and his green eyes glowed with the warm promise of love. “Well, I suppose I might tell you anyway,” she said softly. “I was thinking that…well, that is I was wondering…”

“Yes?”

“Actually, I was wondering how on earth I managed to remain standing when you kissed me just now.” An embarrassed smile crossed Emma’s features, and she looked downward, where her foot was tracing half circles in the carpet. “I felt as if I were melting.”

Alex felt something unfamiliar flicker inside him, and there was no way he could deny the comforting warmth that suddenly suffused his body. He leaned over and briefly brushed his lips against hers. “You cannot imagine how happy I am to hear you say that.”

Emma was still running her slippered foot along the carpet, absurdly pleased at his words and unable to keep a wide smile off her face. “Perhaps you could take my arm and escort me to dinner?”

“I think that could be arranged.”

When Emma and Alex arrived in the dining room, their families were already seated around the long oak table. Because their party only numbered seven, Eugenia, preferring good conversation to formality, had seated everyone toward the head of the table, leaving the other end empty.

“I took the liberty of sitting at the head of the table,” Eugenia announced. “I know that propriety dictates that you sit here, Alex, but we are an informal group, and I must admit, it prickles my pride to give up my seat to my son.”

Alex raised an eyebrow as he held out a chair for Emma, shooting his mother a look that said that he did not believe a word that flew out of her mouth.

“Besides, I rather thought that you and Emma would want to sit next to each other.”

“As usual, you are very astute, Mother.”

Eugenia’s smile didn’t waver one bit. She turned to Emma, summarily dismissing her son. “Did you have a nice time this afternoon, my dear? Caroline tells me that you love to ride.”

Emma smiled indulgently as she sat down between Belle and the empty seat that was reserved for Alex. Eugenia was the third person that evening to ask that question. The fourth, if she counted Belle, who had been a bit more direct. “I had a lovely time, thank you. Alex was a most gracious escort.”

Belle started to cough. Emma shot her a withering glare and gave her a swift kick under the table.

“Really?” Eugenia breathed, enthralled by the scene taking place down the table. “Just how ‘gracious’ was he?”

This time it was Sophie who did the kicking, and her foot connected soundly with her mother’s shin.

“I was extremely gracious, Mother,” Alex said in a tone that put an end to the entire subject.

Just then Caroline let out a little yelp as Henry kicked her in the shin. “Henry!” she demanded in hushed tones. “What on earth was that for?”

“Actually, darling,” he murmured, gazing warmly into her eyes. “I was feeling left out.”

Chapter 14

The next morning Emma found that love had another symptom: she couldn’t eat. Or rather, she couldn’t eat in front of Alex. She didn’t seem to have any trouble at all when he wasn’t in the room.

When she arrived downstairs for breakfast, Sophie, Eugenia, and Belle were already eating. Emma was famished, and she sat down, ready to devour what looked like a scrumptious omelet.

Then Alex arrived.

Emma’s stomach began to flutter as fast as a hummingbird’s wings. She couldn’t manage to get down a bite.

“Is the omelet not to your liking?” Eugenia asked.

“I’m not very hungry,” Emma replied quickly. “But it’s delicious, thank you.”