Emma feared she had pushed him too far. He had never given her any indication he would hurt her. Would he strike her now for her insolence? Would he take out his frustration and anger on poor Hugh? She did not know.
All she did know was that she had been in a terrible state of dread from the moment she had agreed to the hated auction. And then, after meeting Hart the day before, she had been in a different state. Not dreading. Instead, she had been anticipating. She could not say why. Perhaps it was in her nature to be wicked. Perhaps it was Hart Sutton himself who inspired these feelings. Or mayhap it was the curiosity to know more, now that she had intentionally thrown herself from the ledge of propriety.
Whatever the reason, she knew she could not bear another day hidden away in his room, alone, awaiting him. She wanted to put an end to this stalemate.
She wanted him.
His kiss. His touch. His body on hers. Only, he had yet to give her that.
“No, curse you,” she returned, feeling just as heated.
Perhaps even a bit wild. But then, how was a lady meant to feel when everything she had known had been shattered and ground to dust, including her future?
Before anything else could be said between them, the sound of approaching footsteps intruded. It was Hugh, who took one look at Emma and Hart and lurched to a halt.
“Mr. Sutton, sir,” he began, “I didn’t intend for the lady to find ’er way down ’ere.”
“I reckon not. You’ll be thankful to the lady for trying to save your arse.” Hart nodded his head in Emma’s direction. “She tells me it was all her conniving and not your stupidity for forsaking my orders.”
Hugh winced. “It was my stupidity, sir. I never should’ve done it.”
“See to the entrance now, and I’ll deal with you later,” Hart ordered. “For now, I’ve business with the lady.”
“Right you are, Mr. Sutton.” With a brief look in Emma’s direction, the guard darted away, leaving Emma and Hart alone.
He turned back to her. “To my room with you, milady. Now.”
There was a hardness in his tone that told her it would not be wise to argue, so Emma went.