Emily was unimpressed. She regarded him sternly. “But you also ignored my plea for help when our father died two years ago. Surely you were not still overwrought at the loss of the countess then?”

He shook his head. “I have no excuse, other than your appeal arrived on the anniversary of her death. It was not an auspicious time, as you can imagine, and opened old wounds.”

Emily jumped to her feet. She had heard enough of his feeble excuses. “On my father's death you became the head of our household, my sisters and my legal guardian. You have shamefully shirked your responsibilities. If we were not in such desperate straits, believe me, sir, we would not be here now.”

Her grandfather pushed himself up out of his chair. He towered over her, his face thunderous. “I shall not be taken to task by a chit of a girl; I am the Earl of Westerham and your grandfather and I expect to be treated with respect, at all times. Is that understood?”

She felt her courage desert her. She knew she had overstepped the mark and sincerely regretted her impertinence, however true her intemperate words had been she should have held her tongue. Then her spine stiffened and her head came up. She returned his glare, unbowed. “I sincerely apologize for my incivility, my lord. You are quite right; I should never have spoken so rudely.” Her eyes flashed dangerously and her nostrils flared. “However, I do not retract my words for they are the truth. I merely regret the way in which they were spoken.”

The Earl's face became redder and for a horrible moment Emily thought he would fall to the ground with an apoplexy. It was time to take her leave. She dropped a small curtsy and spun, her skirts flying out revealing her trim ankles, and walked briskly across the acres of polished boards and scattered rugs, praying she would reach the door before the explosion came. She did not.

“Come back here, miss. I have not finished with you yet.” The roared command bounced off the walls. She could not in all consciousness pretend she had not heard. She stopped, and slowly turned back to face him. He waited, stony faced, for her to retrace her steps.