The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh (24 page)

Anna's eyes widened. “I don't know, my lord. How much did you have to begin with?”

Rutherford considered his affianced wife. “How hard of a bargain did you drive?”

“You know, it is so vulgar to speak of bargains. I shall only say we shall always buy from Plum's.”

“That good?”

“Hmm.”

Harry, who'd stayed behind to pay the shot, joined them.

“You've been in a very good mood today,” Anna said to him. “Exceptionally good. What's the occasion?”

“I took your advice and wrote to Grillon's. I should have an answer by Monday.”

Anna squeezed his arm. “Oh, Harry, that's wonderful! I hope we meet her soon.”

E
mma woke to sun streaming through her window. She'd been so tired the previous night, she'd barely looked at her room. It was pleasant enough. Though Lady Rutherford was not much of a housewife. The drapes needed replacing, and numerous other small items popped out. Emma wondered what the new Lady Rutherford would be like. She rose when Molly came in with her wash water.

“Miss, I'll have a bath set up before dinner.”

“Thank you. How are you being treated?”

“It's fine. I've heard a great deal about Lord Rutherford's intended. People here seem to think she'll make a lot of changes. She lives not too far away. All the children and Lord Rutherford are staying with her family right now. Seems like her brother's recently returned.”

Emma nodded.

“We're all expected at church this morning. It's to be the second reading of the banns.”

“Yes, of course. Please get out the Parisian green cashmere gown with the wool spencer. I'll wear my dark brown cloak.”

“Which hat, miss?”

“The poked one with the gathered silk.”

Dressed in a simple wool morning dress, Emma descended the stairs and asked directions to the breakfast room. She ate alone and returned to her room to dress. Forty-five minutes later, she was in a coach with Lady Rutherford being driven to Thanport.

The church was a lovely old stone Norman building. Unfortunately, the service had already begun when she and Lady Rutherford arrived. Emma was truly grateful that, due to the brim of her hat, she could not see if people stared at them for being so late. She followed her godmother to a pew where a fashionably dressed, dark-haired gentleman and three girls were seated. He opened the door for them.

The girls moved to allow Emma and their mother places on the benches. Emma shivered and was thankful to see warming boxes for their feet.

“I'm happy to see you here, Mother,” Lord Rutherford whispered, and nodded to Emma.

The girls smiled at her. Emma smiled politely in return. How awkward this all was. She was tempted to look around, but the walls surrounding the pew were so high, she could only see the vicar.

Once the service ended, the children piled out of the box. Emma had her back to the door, retrieving her prayer book, when she heard a familiar deep voice.

“Are you still planning to take your dinner with us today?”

She turned so quickly she almost tripped. Her heart stilled as joy burbled up inside her. Standing before her was Harry, in a discussion with a beautiful dark-haired lady and Lord Rutherford. The only problem was Harry had his back to her. How was she to attract his attention?

Lady Rutherford, impatient to leave, took Emma's arm and steered her down the aisle toward the doors.
Drat
. Even if he looked, he wouldn't recognize her.

“Well, my dear,” Lady Rutherford said, “I'm very sorry, but we will be joining Sir William and Lady Marsh for dinner today. I had hoped to have a quiet family dinner at the Priory.”

Emma's heart thumped wildly, and she tried to keep her voice from trembling. “Is that Lord Rutherford's betrothed's family?”

Her godmother sighed. “Yes.”

Emma grew impatient with the slow moving crowd in front of her. “The one in which the son has recently returned?”

Lady Rutherford patted her hand. “Yes. I'm not at all sure what happened. It was reported that he'd died on the Peninsula somewhere. To think of the
Gazette
making such an error.”

Emma's stomach tightened. “Will we go there directly?”

“As soon as we've had a word with Mr. Thompson. I think the sermon was particularly good today.”

By then, they'd reached the vicar. Emma thanked him for a excellent sermon and stood next to her godmother while Lady Rutherford talked. It seemed like an age before Emma was in the carriage again. Her stomach did a flip at the prospect of meeting Harry again.

Thankfully, her trembling hands were hidden in her muff. How much more had he remembered, and would he still want to see her?

The trip seemed to take forever, but finally, they turned on to a tree-lined drive. When they stopped in front of a large manor house, a footman helped her down, and a butler took her cloak and hat. Emma gazed around the large, light-filled hall. What a homey place.

“Emma, come along, dear.”

She followed Lady Rutherford to a drawing room, where a tall, broad-shouldered gentleman and a small, slender lady waited to greet them. Lady Rutherford made the introductions.

Sir William bowed. “We are very happy to have you visiting us, Miss Spencer-Jones.”

“We are indeed.” Lady Marsh warmly welcomed her. “We'll have to introduce you to our daughter and son.”

Emma curtseyed. “Thank you. I'm very happy to be here. I haven't seen much of your county, but it seems very nice.”

“You'll have to take a ride to the cliffs,” Lady Marsh said. “They are quite famous.”

“I'd like to see the Channel.” Emma replied. Would Harry notice her? She hoped it wouldn't be awkward. “I'll have to see about buying a hack.”

A large presence suddenly loomed behind her. Her back grew warm from his heat. Emma's breathing shortened. She made herself smile. For good or bad, now she'd know.

“Miss Spencer-Jones?”

Emma turned and gazed up into Harry's impossibly blue eyes. Her heart skipped. He was grinning. “Harry.”

“It looks as if I won't need to worry about receiving an answer from Grillon's after all.”

“No.” Her heart raced so quickly, she couldn't speak. He was here, and he still wanted her.

He took her trembling hand. “Come. Let me introduce you to my sister. I understand you've already met Rutherford.” He lowered his voice. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, oh, yes.” Better than all right. “I'm perfect.”

“By the way, I have to tell you, I'm not at all fond of the hat you were wearing.”

“No?” Emma asked, confused. “Why is that? It's supposed to be all the crack.”

“No, don't get me wrong,” Harry said. “It's very fetching. However, I wasn't able to recognize you in it. Thankfully, we'd already made arrangements for you to dine with us.”

“I'd wondered how long it would be before you'd know I was here.”

He gave a short laugh. “It might have been a while. Lady Rutherford referred to you only as a duke's granddaughter. I only told Rutherford and Anna your name was Emma. You will have noticed, Lady Rutherford is not enamored of the notion of my sister's marriage to her son.”

“I'll tell you she doesn't try to hide it either,” Emma said. “I wasn't in her ladyship's company for an hour before I knew she didn't like the match. She is looking forward to my making a brilliant one.”

Harry frowned. “Harumph.”

Emma summoned up her courage, and said softly, “But perhaps.”

He gazed down at her, his eyes warm. “Yes, perhaps.”

His response warmed her. “I can see your family loves having you back.”

“Yes. My father wants me to run for Parliament in the next election.”

“Harry, I think that's fascinating.”

The room was long, and he'd stopped them half-way between the parents and his sister and Rutherford. “Emma, we need to talk. Will you walk with me after dinner?”

“Of course I will.”

He squeezed her hand. “Thank you. My sister, Anna, is very excited to meet you. She and Rutherford were going to help me search for you.”

Emma trilled with light laughter and covered her mouth. “And all the time I was coming to you.”

Harry glanced down at her. “Why didn't you write?”

She gave an aggravated sigh. “I didn't know where we were going until I arrived. Lady Rutherford refused to give me the direction.”

As he and Emma reached his sister and Lord Rutherford, Harry said, “My search is over before it began.”

Miss Marsh's eyes opened wide, and she held out her hands in greeting. “You're Emma?”

“Yes, I am.” She took the outstretched hands. “I am so glad to meet you.”

Miss Marsh's eyes were the same color as Harry's, and her gaze was welcoming. “Thank you for helping Harry.”

Emma blushed. “Miss Marsh, I really didn't do that much. He was bound to have remembered once he was back in a familiar setting.”

“Please, call me Anna.”

Emma smiled. This was the type of greeting she'd hoped for. “Then you must call me Emma.”

Lord Rutherford bowed. “We're very pleased you're here.”

“As I am to be here, my lord.”

“I would be honored if you'd address me as Rutherford,” he said.

“In that case, you must call me Emma.”

“How are you settling in at the Priory?” he asked.

“I really haven't spent much time there, and it's dark so early here. I'd like to walk around the house and grounds.”

“Why don't we go to the Priory after dinner?” Harry suggested. “I can show you the gardens.”

“Very well, if that is what you wish.” Emma wondered what he would say, and desperately wanted it to be something she wanted to hear.

 

The meal was excellent and everyone, with the exception of Lady Rutherford, had plenty to say. Lady Rutherford continually glanced at Anna and Rutherford. Emma was thankful her godmother hadn't yet seen her interest in Harry.

After almost a week spent in Harry's company, Emma knew she had fallen in love with him. A different love than she'd had with her deceased betrothed, more mature. As much as she wanted to race ahead, Harry needed time. The question was, how much time would he need?

“Miss Spencer-Jones.”

She looked around to find Miss Rutherford addressing her.

“Please call me Emma.”

The girl blushed. “Thank you. I am Althea. May I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“How long of a trip was it from the West Indies?”

“It took us two months. Because of the season, we sailed north before crossing. Then I spent a week traveling from Weymouth to London.” Emma laughed as she answered more questions from the girls.

“That's enough,” Rutherford said. “She's staying with us. You may bombard her with your queries later.”

“Harry told us you know Lord Marcus Finley,” Anna said. “He's the Earl of Evesham now.”

“Yes, I've known him for years. Marcus was a good friend. How sad for him that his brother died, even if it was expected. When did it happen?”

Rutherford pressed his lips together. “He died immediately after the wedding.”

Curious, Emma asked, “Married? Tell me, did he find his Lady Phoebe?”

“Oh, yes, that's who he married,” Anna said. “The wedding was a few weeks ago. Rutherford stood up with him.”

“Wonderful!” She was so happy for Marcus. “Do you know, years ago he named his ship after Lady Phoebe? We all wondered what would happen if they didn't marry. It's very bad luck to change a ship's name.”

“He must have been very sure of himself,” Anna said. “What a surprise that must have been for Phoebe.” Anna grinned. “They took the boat to France on their wedding trip. I know he hadn't told her the name before they left.”

Harry placed his hand over Emma's. “I didn't remember it at the time, but Marcus, Rutherford, and I were all at Eton and Oxford together.”

They finished eating and got the carriages organized. Emma turned to her godmother. “I've been asked to accompany the others back to the Priory.”

“You go, dear,” Lady Rutherford said. “It is good for you to be around younger people. I shall wait for the girls to be ready and take my coach. I have some household matters I need to deal with this afternoon. Please ask them all to stay for tea.”

“Yes, ma'am. I'll be happy to relay your invitation.” There was something distinctly off about Lady Rutherford, but Emma didn't know her well enough to know what it could be. “Are you quite all right, my lady?”

Lady Rutherford patted Emma's hand. “Yes, child, I'm fine. I just have something on my mind.”

“Very well, I'll see you later.” Emma swept a curtsey and joined the others in front of the house.

They made a merry party as they traveled to the Priory. Harry, Rutherford, and Anna decided to have a curricle race on the only stretch of road wide enough to accommodate them.

Emma held on to her hat and the carriage. Anna drove Rutherford's carriage and won by a small margin. Even though Harry lost, he bragged about his sister. It was the most fun Emma had had in months.

When he helped her down, his face had the same warm expression she'd seen during their last day in London. Then, it had been mixed with uncertainty. Now, it was not. For no reason she could think of, her throat became dry. “Harry, I . . .”

He squeezed her hand. “Not here.”

Emma swallowed and nodded curtly. “Yes, of course.”

Harry led her into the main hall where Anna and Rutherford were discussing window hangings.

“When do you think they'll be ready?” Rutherford asked.

“Mrs. Thurston assured me there are two seamstresses working on them. We'll replace them in order of room importance. I have also discussed with her the need to keep all the chambers in good condition.”

“I want your rooms done first,” Rutherford said.

“In that case, my lord, you will have to see to it. You know perfectly well . . .”