Emma looked ahead, remaining silent, too. She turned her head to teh side slightly, away from him. Her horse was skittish, disliking walking beside another horse. Emma turned her horse down the road that led her home. She slowed the horse, not wanting to lead Jack to her house. Warily, she cleared her throat. "Mmm, m'lord?" She said when they came upon her mansion. "I'm afraid this is where I must leave you. You see, my mother...Well, I must go inside now."

When she slowed down he barely noticed it. As she spoke he stopped the horse and turned it to hers. "Hmn?" he asked her a bit impolitely. He was always relaxed around people, treating them as friends rather quickly. "Ah...I see. Well, have a nice day and evening, M'lady." he said bowing his head to her slightly.
When he had said that he just turned the horse back onto the main road and walked away from her. It was just all too weird for the young Lord.

Emma tried not to rush as she rode her horse towards the stables. Lord Macgaven really made her uncomfortable. And she didn't know why. She had always been so open with young men. Emma hurriedly wiped down the horse and went inside.

"Emma? Is that you?" Her mother called from the other room. Emma stepped into the room, to be greeted by the sight of her mother and another young man. She paused. "Oh good," her mother said. "It is you." Turning to the young man, Emma mother introduced him. "This is Lord James Connors." she said matter-of-factly. Emma groaned inwardly. Her mother's match-making made her so angry sometimes.

"Nice to meet you," Emma said, faking a smile. James reached forward to shake her hand. Emma shook it quickly.

"Oh, James," her mother interupted. "Are you going to that ball tomorrow evening? Emma is going." Emma gagged. Sometimes her mother could be so difficult. James nodded.

Jack had rushed off back home, why was he rushing? He had been away since early morning.
Maybe it was because he was organizing a ball himself? He had invited a few people, told them personally to take friends and family with them. And well...It promised that it would be a very busy night.

Once at home Jack immediately set work to supervision the people that helped him with the decorations and so on.
He was actually quite busy and didn't take one break until the work was done. (which took quite some time)

After James left, and it was decided that he would be escroting Emma to the ball, Emma sat at the dinner table with her mother. THey ate in silence for a short while. Then, Emma asked, "Who is hosting the dance this time, Mother?"

"Why, Lord Jack Macgaven. I don't think you know him. He has long red hair, and is one of the more handsome of eligible men out here," her mother answered.

Emma tried not to show any emotion. She did not want her mother to know. Emma did not talk the rest of dinner, and went to bed soon after that.

The young lord had worked until he dropped. Completely exhausted he sank in a chair. It didn't take too long before he fell asleep in that same chair.
A maiden who found him made him comfortable, knowing better than waking him.

It was the next morning that the young lord woke. Groaning he stood, his neck and back were awefully sore. It was obvious he wouldn't dance that night.

With a frustrated sigh, Emma pushed the last strand of her hair into place. She really didn't want to go to this dance, but she had no choice. HEr mother had already made certain she was going with Lord Connors.

She lighted down the stairs. James was already waiting for her by the door. Without a word, she placed her hand on his arm and let her lead her out to the carriage and help her in. They rode to the dance, Lord James asking questions, and Emma answering them without giving much thought. She wasn't really listening any way.

The young Lord was as a good host, waiting for his guests to arrive. but it was rather obvious that he had some health issues. He was pale and had his hand constantly on his back for support. He did however greet everyone that walked in.

It was already filling up with people. Jack just smiled at the sight of humans socializing.

Emma clung to James's arm, as if that would save her from the look that she was sure to receive from Jack when they entered. James seemed to like having her so close to him. They climbed the steps. As they approached teh door, Emma took a deep breath and put on the fake smile she had been practicing lately.

They knocked gently and waited for them to be allowed in.

The young lord was answering the door himself now. Once he heard the knocks he opened the heavy wooden doors and smiled at the couple in front of him. "Welcome to my annual ball, please, enjoy your stay. " he said while he bowed. That bow had been hard to make that day, and right now, something snapped.

Jack fiercely grabbed to his back with his left hand and held it while he tried to stand up straight. He was groaned in pain and even cussed under his breath.
"Ah, excuse me...for my odd behaviour....A small incident had occurred..." he explained.

Emma had fully planned on completely ignoring Jack when she entered. Or at least not showing that she knew him in any way, shape, or form. But when she saw him doubling over in pain, she couldn't stand it. She rushed forward, jerking free of James. James stood there dumbfounded as Emma helped Jack. She placed a hand on his back and took his hand, gently pulling him up.

When the lady shot to him for help he kindly took it and smiled at her. "ah, thank you." he whispered to her before he slowly stood back up. "Welcome, Lady Emma, please, have a nice evening. " he said as he bowed only his head that time.

Emma backed away, back to James, who was eagerly awaiting her. "My lord," Emma said, not looking at him. James and Emma entered the ballroom, leaving Jack out by the door. James pulled her immediately into a brisk dance, not giving her a chance to even find her bearings.

"Emma," James said, leaving off the formalities, as though they were long time friends. Emma looked up at him, not expecting him to talk.

"Yes, m'lord Connors?" she asked.

"Please," he said. "Just James." He smiled. "Emma, sweet, you are beautiful tonight." Emma blushed, but didn't respond. She could feel where this was going. "I barely even know you, I know nothing about yourself, but I feel as though I've known you for years. Please, let us go somewhere where we can get to know each other."

Emma's eyes widened. She did not want to be alone with this man. Smiling, she said, "Let's just stay here and dance."

Soon enough Jack didn't expect more guests and he moved to the ballroom where he managed to pull out a chair and sit down with a soft grunt. His back was awfully sore and he had trouble with sitting, he'd shift and move every minute, his eyes however rested upon young Lady Emma and her 'friend'. He had a strange feeling about that James.

"Ah," sighed James. "A woman after my own heart. Please, Let us find a more private place to talk. The garden maybe?" Without waiting for Emma to respond, he pulled her away from the ball room. They took a side door, not the one they came in to begin with.

Out in the garden, James helped Emma onto a bench. Emma found it pointless to resist, so she went along with him.

"Emma, sweet, dear Emma," James began. Oh, gosh. I've known him one day and he already thinks I like him. He took her hand and knelt in front of her. "I know this isn't the most conventional way, as we've known each other a short time, but it would please me if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife."

Jack had a servant to check up on the couple, he really was thinking that James was an unpleasant man and that he would harm young Lady Emma.
The young man had nodded to his lord and ran off quickly, only to find the two in the garden, he stayed hidden behind the huge bushes full with roses.

Jack himself was too impatient to wait for the servant to return so he went out to search them. He watched them from a window. His sensitive hearing made it able to hold the window shut.

Appalled, Emma stood up and wrenched her hand from him, slapping him with her fan. "My Lord Connors. I do not think that proposing to a woman with whom you have nothing in common and know nothing about, let alone have only known her for a day, is the proper way to do things," she said sternly. Then, she said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, but I have a ball to get back to. And I do not need an escort." She stomped off, going back in teh side door. She hoped no one had witnessed her humiliation. She tried to compose herself before reentering the ball room. Her face was red, and she was fuming. How could a man do that? Did he really think it was that romantic? Emma hit the wall with her fan, imagining Jack's...no James. She was angry at James. She was imagining James' face there, not Jack's. Emma shook her head and took a deep breath.

Jack grinned evily before he noticed his back was better than before. He did a little washing up and made sure his hair was dry. He wasn't wearing it up that evening, no need to.

Soon he walked down the hallways back to his party where his best servant announced him all of a sudden. The young lord was really surprised, but none the less made a deep bow to his guests, who had all stopped dancing to see the gorgeous lord there. Even the music had stopped.
"Thank you all, for attending to my ball. Please, enjoy yourself!"

Emma heard Jack announced, and looked across the room at him, from her doorway, as he welcomed all his guests. She leaned against the door, watching him.

"Emma," a voice behind her startled her. She turned. James. "Emma, please, let's not fight. It's not healthy for our relationship."

Emma scoffed. "Relationship? What relationship? I don't even know you!" James reached for her, grabbing her arm. Emma tried to pull away, but this time he held firm. "Leave me alone!" she screamed, jerking her arm.

Jack had seen the scene in the back and frowned. It took him a while before he realized that James was actually holding the lady quite firm.
The scream that Emma made was the last drip. Jack hurried over to the couple and grabbed James' arm and forced the man to let go of the lady. "I will not allow this." he said before he gently pushed Emma back to get in between that. "If you can't hold yourself back I'd prefer that you take your leave!"

James brushed off his coat and glared at Jack. "I will take my leave, Macgaven. I know when I'm unwelcome." He looked past Jack. "Emma, you made a big mistake. No one else would ever want you. You just lost the last person who would ever be kind enough to even consider making you his wife. And I do not pity you." He turned on his heel and strode out of the house.

Emma leaned against the wall after he left and rubbed her arm where he had gripped her. She was too exhausted to be angry at Jack for interfering. She had it under control, really. She closed her eyes, trying to regain a calmness.

The young lord smirked. " It's good to know you're a gentleman at some points, however, you're wrong. Lady Emma is a fine young girl and I'm sure there are a lot of dashing gentlemen would beg her to be their husband, and not the other way around!" he demanded.
He then glared at James as he left, there, that was that.

He then looked at Emma and tilted his head slightly. " Would you like to rest in private?" he asked her softly, knowing this was quite embarrassing. He offered her his hand so he could take her to the library, where he would serve her some tea and wrap a blanket around her.

Emma nodded and silently took his hand, letting him lead her away. She smiled, slightly. "Thank you for defending my honor, m'lord, but it was not needed. I can handle myself." Despite what Jack had said, there was still a fear deep down in Emma telling her that what James had said was true. It frightened her. Unconciously, she fingered the necklace around her neck.

Jack smiled at her and gently guided her to the library, as he passed a servant he ordered to bring a tray with tea to the library. Once they were there he offered her a seat. " You're welcome, I know you could have done it on your own, but that wouldn't be nice of me now would it?" he asked her before he got a plaid and gently draped it around her shoulders.
" That James is nothing but a scam. He's desperate to get a wife. " he said before he sat down across the small table and looked at her.

the library was a dark room, filled with books and a few comfy chairs and of course one desk and the small table they were sitting at.

Emma fidgetted in her chair. She didn't like Lord Macgaven staring at her so. She sipped her tea quietly. She knew coming to this party had been a bad idea. She nodded when he asked her a question.

Finally, when she had finished her tea, Emma stood up. "M'lord Macgaven, I thank you for your hospitality, but I would really like to go home now, if that's at all possible."