Abernathy nodded in satisfaction, and Alexander mentally chided himself for slipping out of his role so easily. It was a good thing he hadn’t posed as a servant. Apparently he had no talent for acting. He needed to accomplish his goal, so that he could return to London as soon as possible and quit this stupid charade. His father would certainly never expect him to pursue a lady whose affections were already engaged by another. He just needed to verify his suspicions and present his father with the evidence. Miss Emily Smithfield would be the perfect accomplice in his endeavor. Not to mention a most attractive one.

Emily was at that moment peering speculatively across the room at Alexander, thinking much along those same lines herself. She was very conscious of the fact that Lord Wesleigh could appear any day, and there was still nothing resolved between Lydia and Sedgewick. If he were to arrive tomorrow, Emily doubted she could do anything to prevent the match from proceeding as planned. And in addition to her own selfish reasons for wishing to stop her sister’s marriage, she truly loved her sister and did not want her marrying one man when she loved another. But Emily was accomplishing nothing on her own. She needed Mr. Williams’s help. He was Sedgewick’s good friend and could ascertain if Sedgewick returned Lydia’s regard. He had told her earlier that evening he had no experience with matchmaking, but Emily was sure he was a quick learner. He didn’t seem the sort who was unfamiliar with romance. She would wager he’d been an eager participant in quite a few affaires de coeur. Alexander saw Emily looking at him and smiled. Emily caught her breath before smiling shyly back. He got up to walk toward her, and Emily was held, captivated by his stare. It was as if they were the only two people in the room. She jumped when Lady Abernathy turned to speak to her.