Chapter 46
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Sponsored chapter by LC (5/5) ❤️
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The next day. Emily made her way to Duke Karnus's residence, looking more put together than ever.
"I apologize for my unexpected visit, my lady."
Emily's polite greeting was indeed that of a countess. Laura gazed at her in wonder, then squeezed her hand warmly.
"Of course not. It's not nice to see a lady who will soon be a member of House Karnus so lowly."
Laura welcomed Emily and had her set up a tea table on the newly opened balcony of the parlor. A light breeze blew in.
"My mother was worried, too, that I might be a nuisance."
"Be sure to let her know she was worried for nothing."
Laura laughed, holding out her hand. Emily smiled thinly and scanned the quiet manor out of the corner of her eye.
"Is the Count still out riding?"
"Oh."
For a moment, Laura's expression twisted strangely. But it quickly returned to its usual graceful expression. She slowly set down the teacup she had been sipping from.
"He'll be back soon, my lady, for, as you know, the Count has enough bodies for two."
Laura smiled as she said it, but frowned again as she remembered how that damned son of a bitch had once told her it was hard to have only one body.
"I hope I get to see him today."
Emily said.
"In fact, the reason I've come so rudely to see him today is because I want to spend a little time with the Count, because I can't remain estranged from him forever."
There was an unexpectedly pleasant topic. Laura said with a twinkle in her upturned eyes.
"I, too, would like to see you two get engaged sooner rather than later, but the Count is a bit of a workaholic......."
She tugged at the corners of her mouth as she said that.
"I hope the Lady will make some effort to-day, and if he won't listen to me, will he not listen to his fiancée?"
Emily's lips curved upward as she heard the words. A chill filled the air at the entrance to the secluded mansion as the two women planned the details of their future engagement.
Khaled quickened his pace as he gazed up at the second floor, where his study was located.
Reconstructing an already existing townhouse into a hotel was going to be a lot of work. He was prepared for that. So much so that he'd pushed the project to the point where he'd given them all that money, but now it was impossible to accomplish in time. Khaled regretted that he hadn't punched the men in the mouth on the spot, for a wad of money would have gotten them to listen.
"Count."
Khaled’s brow narrowed at the sight of the woman who stood in his way. Her lustrous blond hair fell to her chest. White face and rosy cheeks. It was Emily Ravant in all her finery. For a moment, Khaled wondered if he was in the wrong house, but then he let out an exasperated sigh.
"What is it?"
He sighed heavily, then asked. Emily smiled but clenched her molars.
"Would you like to have tea with me, if you don't mind?"
What the hell with tea when it was hot as hell. Khaled wanted to say that right then and there. He pressed down his cup, swallowed hard, and looked up. Behind Emily, he could see Laura sitting on the balcony with equal grace.
"I'm afraid I can't stay long, is it okay?"
"It’s fine."
Eventually, Khaled invited her into his study.
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His study was new to her. Emily had left the balcony open and looked around the open study with curiosity, her eyes searching for any sign of Aubrey. Khaled scanned his surroundings with tired eyes. He was looking for a place to give Emily a seat.
Sure enough, there was a couch in the corner. A couch he hadn't even used himself, and therefore hadn't given up to Aubrey Sandalwood. Suddenly he remembered the woman who had come to this desk and cried. A short, hollow laugh followed. Soon a steaming mug of tea was placed between them as they sat across from each other. Laura's instructions.
Khaled watched the woman across from him, his teacup untouched. Emily lifted her teacup gracefully and sipped her tea. She looked like any other noblewoman.
His stepmother, Laura, and the nobles he had once admired, drank tea like that. Khaled waited, saying nothing. There must be a reason for her unexpected visit, but Emily drank her tea very slowly. It must have been rather hot, he thought.
"It's nice and cool in the Count’s study."
"I tend to have a lot of heat."
"Hot?"
He hated this kind of conversation. He'd invited her in to talk to him, and he had sat down with her. Khaled was getting a little annoyed now. The visions of the other woman that had taken over his head and wouldn't leave.
"I'm sorry, but do you mind if I ask what brought you here today?"
Khaled asked, running a frustrated hand through his hair. Emily looked directly into the pair of blue eyes that peeked through his disheveled hair and slowly scanned him from head to toe. His languid appearance had become a minor fad among his peers.
The bastard's apparently successful appearance drew as much attention as his origins. Less ripe men would clumsily imitate his disheveled hair and untied collar. By all accounts, he was even featured in the fashion sections of weekly magazines with descriptions of his unique fashion choices.
A man to be desired, indeed, but a man with a definite hole in his heart, and she was the only one who could fill it, and therefore the only one who could bring him to his senses. Emily had set her teacup down by then.
"I heard you've resumed working on your screenplay, and that you've rehired my sister."
Emily said, trying to imitate Barbara's gentle, easygoing voice.
"I'm sure that was something that came to an unavoidable end before, but what made you suddenly change your mind?"
At Emily's question, Khaled reached for his cigar out of habit, then gave up and sighed.
"It was just that things got sorted out faster than I thought they would. That's why I rehired Miss Sandalwood."
"Is there a reason you insisted on her?"
"I've told you before, I prefer amateurs to professionals."
"Why would......."
Emily trailed off. It was intentional. Khaled caught the end of her sentence as she was leaving it hanging.
"You're not sure I’m comfortable with hiring Miss Sandalwood?"
"Of course not. I'm just worried."
"Worried?"
Emily quirked an eyebrow.
"My sister might be getting married soon, and I'm afraid it might interfere with her screenwriting."
Now Khaled stiffened, his mouth slightly open.
"Did you say marriage?"
Innocent. A one-night stand that wasn't as hot as it looked. Emily clicked her tongue in disbelief.
"It's already a foregone conclusion, though no one else knows yet because my parents are so tight-lipped."
"..."
"In any case, it's obvious that losing her would be a disruption to your business, so I'd suggest you hire someone else, or if not, you can put off the work for a while."
Emily straightened her posture even more stiffly.
"Don't you have your own work to do, Count?"
Khaled's gaze snapped back to Emily, his eyes now looking a little angry, and Emily was stunned. Was this man not thinking straight?
"How long are you going to keep me waiting?"
So she just said it. She was a lady, and had dignity, but she couldn’t help it, because you have to know when to pull a man's leg. But what she got back was a really, really unexpected answer.
"Did I ever tell you to wait?"
Now she was speechless with disbelief. Emily took a sip of her warm tea and said.
"Do you have any idea what I'm talking about, do you really have to do this?"
"You mean the engagement?"
"Yes. That's right. How long are you going to keep me......."
"Miss Ravant."
Emily, who seemed to have gotten the hang of things now, shut her mouth, as his voice heavier than ever.
"You do realize, don't you, Miss Ravant, that I never accepted this engagement."
"...."
She knew. That it had been pushed through by the two Houses, or rather, by the ladies of the two Houses, but she had agreed. There was a certain glee in knowing that the man everyone looked up to would be her mate. But then she heard his answer.
"I have never been engaged to Miss Ravant."
How inconsiderate of him. Emily was a little embarrassed; the Khaled she knew was a gentleman, albeit a flawed one. A gentleman so perfect that the stain of his illegitimacy was pitied, but what was all this talk about? How could a gentleman bring shame to a lady?
"But, but, but, we all do, don't we? How many marriages do you think are arranged on one's own terms?"
"I'm pretty sure that 'we' doesn't include me."
Khaled smirked.
"That's not for you to say, Miss Ravant, but since you're here, I'll say it."
"....."
"I have no intention of getting engaged, let alone marriage, to anyone or Miss Ravant."
There weren't any more madmen like him in the world. Besides, every marriage and conjugal life he'd ever seen was just that. Nothing special, nothing happy, just a boring life. He didn't intend to live like that either.
"I'll take care of this, and I'll see Countess Ravant to clear things as soon as possible. ......."
"No."
Emily stood up hastily. She didn't want to hear any more. How dare he refuse her with his lowly origins?
"I'll be up first, and I want you to pretend this never happened."
She stormed out of the study. As she stomped out, Emily suddenly realized one thing: the man she'd been trying to make into a full-fledged aristocrat, the man she thought would never be in her lifetime, and the woman who'd blown this golden opportunity must be the one to blame. Aubrey Sandalwood, the scorched earth bitch.
Back at the mansion, Emily ordered her maid, who had been her ear ever since, to find out everything she could about Aubrey in secret. A few days later, a rumor emerged that set the slowly dying social scene ablaze.
Aubrey, the beautiful and reputed patron of the Count of Ravant, was to become the third wife of Murfrio Hemburg.
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Write a comment
Virginie (Saturday, 23 November 2024 08:26)
Oh Emily is not going to let go of Khaled ! But Khaled knows better and he is smitten by Aubrey, i think he likes her a lot ;) thank you again LC and Dora for all these chapters !! :):)