"May I admit something?" Emilia whispered over her teacup as she sat in Lady Worthington's sitting room.

"Of course, my dear," Lady Worthington replied as she stirred her sugar cube into the steaming liquid.

"I am not certain if I should like to court Lord Trevor," she admitted. Emilia had called upon the countess to see if she would be willing to attend the card game with her the next evening. Theo was unsure if there would be any other ladies present at Lord Farrington's home, and Emilia was trying desperately to maintain some sense of respectability and decorum. At least as much as a lady could do while attending a private whist game in the home of an unmarried gentleman.

Surprisingly, Lady Worthington agreed to attend the game, declaring that the event seemed titillating, indeed, and she did not wish to miss such an occasion.

"Naturally, you are not certain," Lady Worthington said in a very perfunctory way that surprised Emilia. "You went through a trying ordeal in your last courtship, and I should expect that you would be hesitant to engage in another."

Emilia nodded in agreement, though Lady Worthington's words did not precisely illustrate why she felt the way she did.

"And I can see," Lady Worthington said knowingly with a smile, "that it is not the same as it was with your Lord Trotten, before, you know."

Her Lord Trotten, indeed. A little shiver worked its way through her spine.

"I know," Emilia said quickly. Except to her, it felt as though it was still like that with Will. She supposed that was the problem.

"But I do believe that is a good thing," the countess continued.

"You do?" Emilia questioned, taking another sip of her tea.

"Oh, of course!" Lady Worthington exclaimed, rearranging her skirts on the settee. The matron appeared her very best this morning, with a silken crème gown and matching gloves, even though she likely would not leave her sitting room for the remainder of the day.

"A match for convenience will ensure that you will never go through the heartbreak that I know you suffered after Lord Trotten did what he did. You must remain detached, darling." Lady Worthington tapped the table with her hand to accentuate the words as she spoke. She sounded a bit like a military veteran, and Emilia suppressed a smile.

God save the enemy that ran into the formidable Lady Worthington in battle.

Emilia then contemplated the women's words for a moment before saying, "I do suppose I agree with you."

Then Lady Worthington peeked at Emilia above her own teacup with wide eyes. "I saw you looking at him yesterday, you know. Lord Trotten."

Emilia felt her cheeks flame. "I—"

"Oh, it is quite alright," Lady Worthington said. "You might not realize it, but you should know that I have experience in that kind of thing."

Emilia tried not to groan. She did not want to know about any of Lady Worthington's prior experiences in love and love lost. She had been a widow for over ten years, and Emilia did not wish to imagine how she had used that time.

"The man clearly still wants for you," Lady Worthington went onto continue. "Oh, the look on his face," she said, waving her hand across her own face dramatically.

While Emilia was relieved that Lady Worthington did not detail her prior experiences, she was unsure if this was a conversation she wished to have either.

"But," the countess said, sticking a finger up as if to lecture Emilia. Which, she supposed, was precisely what the lady was doing. "He rather missed his opportunity there, did he not? I would not trust that one to have honorable intentions where you are involved. Marriage is likely far from his mind, as he has demonstrated in the past. And you need a gentleman to marry, Lady Emilia."

Emilia bit her lip, unsure. She did want to marry. She desperately wanted children of her own and a home of her own, with her horses and books and man. She was not afraid to admit that. Could a marriage of convenience possibly give her everything that she wished for? Was it possible that Lord Trevor be that man?

Emilia thought that perhaps it was.

But if there was even a chance with Will...

An idea came to her. She tilted her head, glancing at Lady Worthington.

"Do you think it possible that Lord Trotten will attend the whist game tomorrow?"

"Hm," Lady Worthington pondered the question. "It is difficult to say. He and Lord Farrington had quite the falling out after your scandal."

Emilia could not help but notice how Lady Worthington referred to it as her scandal instead of Will's.

"Yes, this is true," Emilia admitted. She'd forgotten that Lady Worthington had no idea of the recent events which had pushed the group of them together once again. Emilia resolved that when she returned to Kingfield House, she would interrogate Theo on what he knew of it instead.

It was possible that respectability and decorum would have to wait.

****

So far, Leo and Will had found nothing. They had found absolutely nothing. Will could see the look of defeat in Leo's eyes as if his friend realized that perhaps Will had been correct in saying it was impossible.

He would never free himself from King Ernest.

The knowledge did not put Will in the mood for cards. He had resisted going to Leo's home to play, but the man was resilient, and finally, Will gave in. Leo assured him that it would merely be a game among friends. And what more could Will need than friends at a time like this?

However, after arriving and surveying the room, Will was unsure that among friends was an accurate way to describe it.

It was moody and dark, with candles flickering against the walls. He saw Theo standing in the corner, speaking to Weston and...Lady Worthington? Will shook his head, wondering what the elderly matron was doing here. However, that was not his concern at the moment.

No, his concern drew from the group to his right. Will turned to give them his attention as he heard a voice drawl.

"Lord Trotten, I shouldn't be surprised to see you amongst this gathering of people, but I admit that I am."

Lord Trevor stood near the corner of the room. Next to him was Leo. And Emilia.

Will's blood began to boil as his eyes raked over the sight of them. Trevor was a mere pace from Emilia, who stood there looking ravishing in a dress that was entirely inappropriate for the occasion. It was a scarlet satin, hugging her willowy body so tightly that Will was practically immobilized by his desire for her.

But he couldn't simply just be in a room with her and remain unaffected by that dress.

By her.

Trevor followed his gaze and gave Emilia's revealed features a good long look.

Will's hands clenched together at his sides, and he forced himself to approach them casually.

"Yes, well, Lord Farrington and I are old friends," Will said smoothly. He knew it did not answer the question in Trevor's eyes, but Will didn't deign to appease him. He could wonder all he wanted.

Except...

"Farrington, may we speak?"

Leo flashed a sly grin and followed Will back into the hallway.

"Why would you do this?" Will asked harshly when they were alone. "What should happen if Trevor opens his huge trap and announces to the world that I am spending my time amongst old friends. Old friends that include enemies to the king."

"I, an enemy of the king?" he exclaimed, pretending to be shocked.

When Will glared, Leo merely shrugged, and his nonchalance drove Will crazy. "You shall be blackmail-free soon, remember?"

"Leo, there is absolutely no reason to believe that," he ground out.

Farrington clapped a hand on Will's shoulder, and Will resisted the urge to shove it off. "Trevor does not give a damn about you, Will. The man is here for Emilia," Leo said.

With that comment, Will did shove Leo's hand off. "Yes, and that," Will said emphatically. "What the devil are you trying to accomplish here?"

"My only agenda is to get you out of that damn house of yours," Leo said.

"I do not think all of this is worth that," Will said and turned to leave. He couldn't risk it. And he couldn't watch Emilia with Trevor all night. Even though he had chosen for them to be together, that did not mean he had to be a spectator to it. Especially when she looked like that.

Which reminded him of something he must do prior to leaving. Will whirled back around, ignoring Leo's inquisitive look.

He popped his head back into Leo's den, grateful to find that Lord Trevor had crossed the space, busy at the drink cart. Emilia, on the other hand, stood by herself in the corner. Her eyes were bright as they scanned the room. Will quickly approached her, tugging on her elbow. He urged her to follow him out into the hallway, and though Emilia did not protest, her brows drew together in confusion.

Upon seeing Will and Emilia leaving the room together, Farrington flicked his eyes between them in interest before stalking away.

Will waited until he was sure no one else was near before rounding on her. "What are you doing, Emilia?" he hissed.

Her features scrunched together. "What precisely do you mean by that, Will?"

"What are you doing wearing that dress?" he clarified, pointing at her outfit.

"And why would I not wear this dress?" she shot back in a hushed tone. But there was a taunting lilt to the side of her mouth. "I do like to wear it when I mean to make a point."

Will took a step toward her so that there was only a breath between them.

"What kind of point, Emilia?" Will asked.

"I think you know," Emilia said flippantly. Her eyes sparkled playfully, making Will's insides tumble about.

"You're wearing it for him, aren't you?"

Emilia shrugged and began to walk away. Will watched her saunter into a room across from the one they had left. Without thinking, he followed her. As if he were on a string attached to her.

The room they walked into was Leo's study, all dim and brooding. The mahogany shelves surrounded them, filled with books that had doubtless sat unread for years. One would never be able to tell, of course, as Will was sure that a servant dusted them to perfection weekly. Emilia strode directly to the center of the room until she stood right before the enormous desk.

Will's eyes didn't leave her as she traveled across the space. The back of Emilia's dress seemed even more revealing than the front. It dipped scandalously low, exposing her soft skin. Will groaned.

"God, you shouldn't be wearing that here, Emilia. You've made your point. Take it off," Will begged once they were in the room together, even though he knew the request was ridiculous.

But then Emilia stunned him by saying, "Alright then."

He sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair. "Alright? You brought an extra garment? Well, thank goodness." He began to turn toward the door again, not waiting for an answer to the questions he had rattled off. He didn't need to know how or why—simply that she would be changing. His job was done.

But then Emilia's voice stopped him.

"No," she said softly, and Will whirled back to see her peeling off the shoulder of her gown, slowly revealing more of her décolletage in the process.

"Shit, Emilia. That is not what I meant."

"Are you quite certain?" she asked, arching a brow at him. Her hand stayed in its precarious position; her fingers were hooked in her sleeves, and it would only take one tug to bare everything.

Will forced himself to step backward, running into a bookshelf. He clenched the edge of it as he ground out, "No."

Emilia flashed a sultry smile, and Will realized she was enjoying herself.

He swallowed hard.

"We should not be here," Will said, grasping at straws. "Aren't you courting Trevor?"

Emilia smirked and took a step toward him. "You are the one who pulled me out of that room, Will."

"Yes, well—"

"Do you wish for me to court Trevor? Marry him?"

"Of course," Will bit out, perhaps too quickly. "He would be a good husband. I expected that you would marry one day, Emilia."

It was hard to get the words out without choking.

"Truly? That is what you wish?" she asked, her gaze curious. Hurt dangled behind her eyes, but she blinked it away.

"Yes," Will said in a strangled voice.

Emilia lifted one bared shoulder. "Fine."

"Fine?" Will repeated, an odd sort of feeling coming over him.

"Yes, but only if you win the wager."

"The wager?"

Emilia smirked. "Yes, I could have sworn we had made a wager, did we not?"

Will could not help but laugh at how this woman insisted on playing games with him. Apparently, whist was not enough for her.

"What is the wager, Emilia?"

She stalked toward him, and Will found himself trapped by those mischievous eyes. Round, hazel, and beautiful, they cast the most alluring spell. Emilia glided up, coming close enough that she rested each of her hands on either side of Will's hips, bracing against the shelf. Her dress hung limply on her chest, threatening to fall.

Will wanted nothing more than to yank it down and then crush her to him.

But he did not move a muscle.

"If you can make it through tonight without touching me, then I will marry Trevor," Emilia revealed lowly.

A tight laugh released from Will's throat, but it was cut off when one of her fingers trailed down his chest. She was a temptation Will could hardly resist. "But you can touch me?" he choked out.

"This is not about me, Will. This is about you," Emilia replied, dropping her hand and twirling around to walk away. Will watched as she kept her back to him, pulling her top back up and over her shoulders.

His feet itched to move across the carpeted floor until they were planted directly behind her. He longed to wrap his arms around her waist and draw her into him. Will would kiss the back of her neck as his hands touched...everything. God, he would touch everything. He would make her feel everything.

Will closed his eyes for three heartbeats before he trusted his voice not to shake. Then he said, "Why are you doing this, Emilia?"

She spun around, and the look on her face had hardened. And yet, a playful eyebrow lifted when she replied. "Because I wish to be very clear, Will. I am not going to be the one who walked away. Not unless you make me. Not unless you prove to me that you still do not want me."

Emilia cocked a hand on her hip and said, "It is called one more chance—one last one. And it ends at midnight."