Chapter One

"I don't think you quite understand…" Emma tilted her head forward and proceeded to speak slowly. "I know that you will inherit your father's title. You could be King George for all I care. I'm not kissing you." She narrowed her eyes and placed her dainty gloved hands on her hips, waiting for Hudson to fully understand her refusal.

His muddy brown eyes studied her intently, as if trying to discern if there was any weakness in her adamant statement. Slowly, he leaned back and glanced to the ground.

"T'was all in good fun." He mumbled the words as he dug at the dirt with the toe of his boot.

"So, had I said yes, you would have simply laughed at me? Now—"

"No! I wouldn't have ever laughed at you… kissed you perhaps…" He glanced back up for a moment and gave her a grin that made his eyes twinkle with mischief. Emma felt the strangest stirring in her belly. His gaze no longer reminded her of mud, but seemed to take on the color of chocolate, the kind that was deliciously drizzled over shortcake. She shook her head to dispel the strange sensation.

"My answer is still no. You mustn't go about asking ladies to kiss you!" She pointed her finger at him and shook it — much like her own mother did to her when she was being properly scolded.

Hudson rolled his eyes and blew out an exasperated breath.

"T'was a mistake to ask you for a kiss. I'm man enough to admit that." He puffed out his scrawny chest and nodded.

Emma's eyebrow rose as she questioned whether to challenge his statement. Shaking her head, she decided that she would keep her peace. Just this once.

"But just so you know, Emma Kingsly, one day you will beg for me to kiss you. You'll watch me from across the room at some party, or at Almack's, and you'll remember this day. And you'll wish you had said yes." He had the arrogant smirk of a thirteen-year-old boy.

She narrowed her eyes and shot back. "Or perhaps I'll watch you from across the room and be thankful I said no." How dare he! She would grow up into a beautiful lady, like her sister. She would be the talk of the ton and it would be Hudson who would beg for dances!

"Perhaps… but the difference is… the next time we have this conversation you will be asking me. You will be holding your breath for my answer, and you know exactly what I'll say." With a wicked gleam in his eye and a devious twist of his lips, he backed away. His large feet almost tripping him up on the soft grass of her family's country estate. After a few paces, he turned around and loped back to the large house.

Emma waited, sniffing indignantly at his strange speech. Her own sister had turned down a suit from Hudson's brother. Surely she would do the same. Indeed, in a way, she already had! The thought lifted her rounded cheeks in a mocking grin. Kiss him! Ha! As if any nine-year-old girl would want to kiss a boy!

"Emma, dear!" Her mother's voice called to her. Emma ran toward the house and as the door shut behind her, she forgot all about Hudson and his ridiculous ideas.