Before He Was Mine (Before Series, Book 2)

Back To Before

Emilia heard the front door creak open just moments after Lord Trevor had left. At first, she wondered if he'd come back. She did not exactly want to see him again but did wish to convey, somehow, that she wasn't precisely looking for any gentlemen callers.

But as soon as the door had opened, it slammed shut again, and Emilia jumped.

She supposed that was not Lord Trevor and bit her lip nervously.

Will spun into the room, slamming the parlor door behind him as well. Then he leaned back against it, allowing himself to catch his breath. His face had gone rather white, and Emilia began to worry that something had gone terribly wrong with...well, any number of people. Adelaide or Theo or King Ernest.

When he straightened, Will assessed her carefully. "What the hell was Lord Trevor doing here, Emilia?" he asked with a strained voice and bright eyes.

Emilia straightened too, not one to wither beneath an accusing stare.

"It isn't as though I invited him, Will. It was just as much a shock to me as to you, I am sure."

Will simply rose his brows in response before pushing himself off the door, approaching her with tightly measured movements.

"Are you alright?" he asked carefully. "Did he bother you?"

"I'm quite fine. His lordship simply came by to check on me, for whatever reason. If you do not trust my word, ask Lloyd. He refused to leave the room during our visitor's stay."

"Good man," Will muttered. "Remind me to give him a raise."

Will sat down next to her, glancing at the needlework in her hands questionably.

"I needed something idle to do, for once. I could barely handle the wait for you to return home," Emilia explained.

In response to that, Will tilted his head up toward the ceiling and closed his eyes. Emilia wouldn't have thought that needlework would evoke such a reaction, but it had been a very trying day, after all. Slowly, Will blinked and addressed her gently.

"Your brother is fine. Addie is fine. The king is fine," he reassured her. Reaching up, he brushed the loose strands of hair away from her face. "It is over now, Emilia. Theo wishes to have you back at Kingfield House immediately. I am certain he's counting the seconds since I've left." He held out his hand to her. "Are you ready?"

Emilia thought about that question, finding it difficult to answer. Was she ready to return to Kingfield House? Did she wish to go back to the life she had led for the last two years?

She supposed she would have to find a new book to read. Or perhaps find new card partners, but those were in short supply. Of course, her horses would welcome her back, granted she came with apples and carrots in tow. Emilia looked down at her needlework. Dear God, it was awful. Maybe it was time that she improved at that, as well.

Emilia would need all those hobbies and more to distract her from thoughts of the man before her. Emilia surveyed Will's face, tracing his jaw's sharp lines with her eyes before sweeping up to meet his gaze.

She searched for clues in the depths of his gorgeous, soulful eyes. She looked for anything that would help her understand how he was feeling.

But they were unreadable.

"Are we not going to talk about it first?" she hedged.

Will dropped his hand, realizing that she was not, in fact, ready.

"About what Emilia?" he asked softly.

"About...everything." Emilia did not know how to adequately sum up all that had happened between them.