The Star-Crossed Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

health, I assure you."
    "Star-crossed, indeed!" the countess put in indignantly. "What a notion, girl. It was not you. You come of good stock and could never be at fault." He heard a scuffling noise as she spoke. "So good of you to come and ease her mind, my lord. As my note said, it is just an attack of nerves. I know that your presence will ease her. I can see that she has already begun to regain her head. Please, retire now in comfort and we will talk more of this in the morning." The door snapped closed on Granbury's sound of protest.
    Emily began to tremble next to him and Valentine wondered what was upsetting her, now that her mother was ridding the room of Granbury.
    "You wicked, ungrateful child!" The countess's voice was not loud enough to carry into the hallway where the marquess might still lurk. But as she was standing directly over the half of the bed where Valentine huddled, he heard her clearly. "Why are your sheets hanging out the window?"
    His heart began to thud. Would Emily reveal him now, now that Granbury was gone? But no, her hand was pressed hard against his shoulder.
    "You were trying to escape. Do not deny it. Where did you think you would go, you foolish girl?" The countess practically snarled, her rage had grown to such a fevered pitch. "Never mind, I can guess who has encouraged your selfish inclinations to ruin your reputation. I will have the grounds scoured for that reprobate and have him whipped out of Scotland."
    "No! I had no help, Mother." Emily's voice was sharp with fear, and her hand clenched tightly upon his shoulder. His muddled mind tried to make sense of her panic. How much worse could it be that Valentine might have helped her escape if he were found here now? Emily continued quickly, "It was my intention to escape, Mother, I do not deny it. I . . . I could not, however. It is too far to the ground. I was afraid of falling and so I remained here, as you can plainly see."
    The countess was silent for a moment, but Valentine could imagine the searching gaze pinned upon Emily. "You had no help?"
    "No, Mother. I swear it. Please do not think any of the servants would have." Emily's voice shook, as if she were close to tears. Her body trembled against his, as well, and he realized that she was terrified of her mother and had no intention of revealing his presence.
    "Servants! They wouldn't dare help you. No, I thought . . ." The countess left her sentence unfinished, apparently unwilling to speak his name. At least, she seemed suddenly to believe her daughter. Valentine's arm was fast going numb, but he was not about to destroy the scenario that Emily had cleverly set up. She had her mother believing that she had tied her bed sheets together and then had not been daring enough to risk breaking her neck in a fall. As well, she had neatly disarmed her mother's suspicions that Valentine had encouraged her escape.
    "Star-crossed." The countess had returned to Emily's earlier topic. Her anger was still explosive. "I tell you that you will not know the meaning of the term as intimately as if you go haring off with the scoundrel."
    Valentine had no doubt in his mind that she meant him. He thanked whatever gods had prevented Emily from trying to compromise herself from one marriage into another. The countess would have never agreed, and Emily would have been locked away in Scotland for the rest of her life. Emily's body jerked away from his in shock as she leaned forward and gasped, "Mother I did not."
    "Don't bother to deny it, Emily. I know you have not accepted that he is not suitable for you, despite all I have done to convince you." The countess's anger had cooled just enough that her words were sharp and carrying. "Let me be clear with you now, child. If you do not marry the marquess, your cousin will not supply the dowry your father has set aside for you. Your prospects will be much diminished and you will be fortunate to find a husband with a minor title and enough money to feed you