“Thank you, Frances. You may leave us now.”
“Certainly, my lord.”
The maid swiftly exited the parlor, leaving Emma alone with Lord William, but neither of them uttered a word. Despite the small part inside Emma that wished to apologize for yesterday, she didn’t want to be the first one to speak, as it was not her place, according to Lord William. She inwardly rolled her eyes at him and lowered her gaze.
“Frances, come here please,” Lord William demanded and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Frances hastily entered the parlor and stood beside him.
“This cup is filthy, and the tea is cold. Bring a new pot, and ensure it is hot.”
“Right away, my lord,” Frances nodded as she hastily retrieved the pot of tea, as well as the cup Lord William had referred to, and left the parlor.
Emma sighed and shook her head. She hadn’t been wrong about him after all.
Arrogant. Rude. Conceited.
“Is there a problem?” Lord William inquired.
“Clearly, there are a few,” Emma said.
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“I think you know, my lord, and it is not necessary for me to point it out,” Emma glanced up at him.
Lord William scoffed and shook his head. “I see we are on opposite ends of the table—quite literally.”
Emma scoffed as well and glanced at Francis, who had re-entered the parlor with a fresh pot of tea, and another teacup. She placed it down on the porcelain saucer and poured the tea. The dark beverage was visibly hot, with steam cascading into the air.
“My sincerest apologies, my lord,” Frances curtsied and turned to Emma. “Do you wish for me to replace the cold tea as well, my lady?”
“My tea is perfectly fine. Thank you, Frances.”
Frances nodded and turned to Lord William once more. “My apologies once again, my lord.”
“Ensure it does not happen again.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“You may leave now.”
Emma’s anger increased with every curt and cold word Lord William spoke to Frances, and she watched as the maidservant rushed out of the parlor once more, clearly upset by Lord William’s harsh words.
“That was completely unnecessary,” Emma said, unable to hold back a moment longer.
“In your wrong opinion, perhaps,” Lord William answered.
“My lord, we both are well aware there was nothing wrong with that tea, nor the cup, for that matter.”
Lord William narrowed his eyes and glared at Emma. “Are you insinuating that I purposely scolded and inconvenienced the maid, my lady?”
Yes!
“It was unnecessary to direct your anger and agitation toward someone who does not deserve it,” Emma answered.
“I am most certainly not misdirecting anything.”
Emma shook her head. “I have always been aware of the fact that men are stubborn fools, but your behavior proves it more than ever.”
“I am a stubborn fool?” Lord William exclaimed and stood from the chair. “My lady seems to be under the impression that speaking your mind and humiliating someone is perfectly acceptable. Is that right?”
“I humiliated you, my lord?” Emma asked as genuinely as possible. She was well aware that he’d been embarrassed yesterday. Humiliated was quite overstating it.
Lord William’s face changed into many hues of crimson and she stifled a giggle.
“I do not understand why you find this amusing,” Lord William scoffed angrily.
She shrugged. “Perhaps you should not be so white knuckled, my lord.”
“You insulted me!” he roared.
She narrowed her eyes and threw back, “You deserved it!”
All manners flew out the window as they glared at one another, eyes flashing with anger.
“If you knew your place—” Lord William began.
Emma cut him off as quickly as possible. “Once again, you know not of what you speak.” She slowly rose to her feet. “Women were not put on this world to simply submit to men. We are our own people, and the fact that you think we are only meant to be quiet wives, waiting on your every whim, upsets me severely. We are not an object for men to own, much less do we deserve to be treated the way you treated Frances.”
“The servant? We’re arguing about the maid now?” Lord William exclaimed with his eyebrows high and raised.
“I can tell a lot about a man by how he treats the people around him, and from what I have seen, you are not a good person,” Emma said.
“You know nothing of me, or how I was raised.”
She didn’t need to. The proof was in the pudding. “You are an entitled, spoilt brat who is under the distinct impression you can treat people in whichever manner you wish, my lord. I do not require any more evidence to support my theory.”
“It is most certainly not a theory,” Lord William crossed his arms. “You do not know me well enough to make such assumptions.”
“And I do not intend to, either.”
“Perhaps you should leave.”
“Perhaps I shall,” Emma exclaimed and threw her hands in the air.
“Good riddance,” Lord William muttered under his breath.
“Perhaps I shall inform the duchess and the duke how rude and uncouth you are towards their guests,” Emma turned to Lord William. “Or perhaps I do not require their assistance in this matter. I am perfectly capable of handling it myself.”
“You are a woman, and not nearly strong enough to enter a battle with me,” Lord William growled.
“Do not threaten me, my lord, or I will be forced to—”
“That is quite enough!” A voice echoed through the parlor, even louder than their own, which caused them to turn towards the door. Emma pressed her lips together as a childhood memory flashed before her eyes of her mother scolding her for sneaking off into the garden during a snow storm.
She felt small for a moment, her stomach twisting with guilt, especially when she noticed the hint of disappointment in Kitty’s eyes.
Whether it was directed at herself or Lord William was still to be determined.
Chapter Four
“What on earth is going on here?” James exclaimed, his annoyed voice booming into the dining room.
Will was not used to this tone, and it made panic flutter in
