Proper Secrets (22 page)

“Mary,” he said in defeat.
 
The confirmation of her darkest fears was not just another hammerblow, it was an earthquake.

“And the father?” she said.
 
He cringed and stared into the fire.
 
“The mystery is gone then, why you disowned your brother.
 
You should know, we would never think the worse of you for his actions.”

“I have done what I can to make amends in his place.
 
Will you keep this to yourself?” said Mr. Annesley.

“I shall.
 
I would not spread such a thing,” said Emily, “Please, make my apologies to Mr. Corey and your family, for I need rest after our travels.”

“Thank you, and goodnight,” he said, bowing out of the room.

Emily did not remember how she found her quarters in the dark hallways, but eventually they were found and made use of to hide the second breaking of her heart.
 
The Wingraves would not allow anyone close enough to find them out, to find that Mary had an illegitimate child.
 
In truth, if it became common knowledge, Miss Wingrave would be forever known as a fallen woman, and the family tainted with the association.
 
Without some mitigating circumstance, their family would have to do the same as the Annesleys, disown her, and then where would Mary be?
 
A penniless woman with no trade skills often fell to the worst work.

Elijah had been protecting his sister, and yet…
 
He must have known that Emily would not hold him accountable for Mary’s mistake, just as Bridget would think no less of Mr. Annesley.
 
It led Emily to a cold conclusion--Elijah had not trusted her as she’d trusted him.
 
His love for her was not so great as she and her acquaintances had imagined.
 
This, of all things, wrung tears from her eyes.
 
She had been foolish to believe a man who admitted to deception.

The next day, Mr. Corey came to call, and since Bridget and Mr. Annesley were busy with Mrs. Annesley, it fell to Emily to entertain him.
 
Mr. Corey made it fairly effortless, since he had only come to see her anyway.

“I missed you last night at dinner,” he said.

“I apologize for my absence, sir.
 
The hours of travel overwhelmed me,” said Emily.
 
They sat in a guest parlor on the ground floor, grand as the rest of the manor.

“I hope you will be recovered by tomorrow evening.
 
There is a ball at Karina Hall, and Mrs. Annesley will surely attend, being a good friend to the Sharps, who are throwing it,” said Mr. Corey.

“I should be.”

“Then, I will take this opportunity to ask if you would reserve the first two dances for your particular friend?”
 
Emily smiled.
 
Mr. Corey thought himself extremely charming, and though he was not incorrect, such obvious overtures merely amused her.

“I would be delighted to.
 
But I must warn my particular friend that I have not danced in some days.
 
I may be out of practice,” she said.

“That can be no deterrent, Miss Worthing.
 
Your beauty will astonish all, and conceal any slips you may make until you regain your footing.”

“True, mistakes are more forgivable when one is pleasant to look at.”

“Not at all.
 
They just go unnoticed, nothing to forgive.
 
You said you play the pianoforte, might I persuade you to tutor me, during your stay?” said Mr. Corey.

“I am always happy to teach others music.”

“Good, then perhaps we shall play together one day.
 
A duet?
 
What a grand idea, now it must be.
 
Tell me of your family, Miss Worthing.”
 
They spoke at length of her parents and sisters.
 
When it came to Peter’s commission, Mr. Corey scoffed.

“One woman breaks his heart, and he leaves his family for battle?
 
An odd decision,” he said.

“What is so odd about it, sir?” inquired Emily.

“Why, Peter is the heir of Charlton is he not?
 
He’s a bit too important to go galavanting about with a sword on some quest for dignity.
 
As a gentleman of such rank, with a large inheritance to secure, I cannot believe he would bother with a decades-old border war.
 
That occupation is quite beneath him.”
 
Emily had no answer that would not be a short and sweet end to their friendship.
 
Indisposed to lose one of the only people in Dunbarrow who wanted to speak with her, Emily glossed over his rudeness.

“I think Peter will do just fine.
 
Are you in a mood for learning?”
 
She directed him to a drawing room with an instrument, and bestowed her knowledge on an all too willing pupil.
 
Thankful to find he had some training, and that they would not be starting with scales, Emily procured the music for a duet in a nearby cupboard.
 
She knew it, but Mr. Corey still slowed down the difficult passages.
 
He tried many times to brush her hand with his, but Emily always
 
moved away.
 
Continuing to be Mr. Corey’s particular friend would have tested her patience normally, but the departure of love from her spirit dulled any irritation into stubborn resistance.

The arrival of Miss Dinah Canton may have been the only thing that could hasten Mr. Corey’s departure, though Emily did not know which she preferred.
 
Mr. Corey took his leave and the two ladies claimed seats in the parlor.

“Miss Worthing, I’ve been wondering, how did you come to know Mr. Edward?”
 
Other than their being distant cousins, Emily thought it strange for Miss Dinah to refer to Mr. Annesley this way.
 
They’d not spoken at all during the dinner party, but then again, Emily had left early.
 
Bridget came to the room at this moment, carrying her artist’s case and a fresh canvas.

“Oh, hello Miss…?
 
I’m sorry, I met so many people last night.”

“Miss Dinah Canton.
 
I’m not sure we were introduced, Miss…?”

“Miss Bridget Worthing, pleased to meet you.
 
Mrs. Annesley has requested a painting so I thought to work in here.
 
Shall I disturb you?” asked Bridget.
 
Though Miss Dinah did not seem pleased, Emily shook her head.

“We are just talking.
 
Please, continue.”
 
As Bridget set up and began, Emily answered Miss Dinah’s question carefully, “We were introduced to him by our neighbor at a party in Tripton.”

“Which neighbor?” asked Miss Dinah.

“Mrs. Barham, of Barham Park.”
 
Emily didn’t know why she avoided mentioning the Wingraves other than the name made her uncomfortable.

“Splendid.
 
I heard though, that you also met his brother, Mr. Jude Annesley?”
 
Miss Dinah fished, but for what, neither Emily nor Bridget could interpret.
 
Bridget quietly pretended to ignore them, hoping that the false privacy would draw out Miss Dinah’s purpose.

“I did, though the acquaintance did not last.”

“Oh?
 
Why is that?”
 
Genuine surprise threw even Emily off balance.
 
Was Miss Dinah ignorant of his behavior?
 
That could not be; he had been disowned.
 
Everyone in Dunbarrow had to know.

“Um…” Emily cleared her throat, “He made himself unwelcome in Tripton.”
 
Miss Dinah thought about this, much longer than Emily would have deemed necessary.

“Oh well, ’tis a sad thing.
 
What is your favorite pastime, Miss Worthing?”
 
And for the rest of her visit, Miss Dinah questioned Emily on all of her favorite things and opinions on this or that.
 
Winded from answering, and exhausted from deciding how much information to give, Emily bid Miss Dinah farewell just before dinner.
 
Despite the shaky start, she did seem truly interested in what Emily had to say.
 
Emily sighed and hoped that Miss Dinah would eventually have no more things to ask about.

“An odd girl,” said Bridget on their way to change for dinner.
 
“She’s taken a liking to you.”

“So she has.
 
I hope she knows I will not be a social stepping stone worth all the trouble she’s gone through.”
 
Bridget laughed, and they forgot all about Dinah Canton in speculation about Mr. Annesley and when he might propose.

Mr. Corey kept his word about the first two dances at Karina Hall, and proudly introduced Emily around the room, taking great pleasure in watching the dismayed faces of other young gentlemen.
 
One young man did not allow Mr. Corey to claim Emily without a challenge.

“Miss Worthing, this is Mr. Sharp,” said Mr. Corey, “He is the heir of Mrs. Sharp, whose ball you currently enjoy.”
 
Mr. Sharp appraised Emily as one appreciates fine art.

“Let this day stand in history as the day I first saw one of the most beautiful women in Endland.
 
It is the greatest honor to meet you, Miss Worthing,” said Mr. Sharp.
 
Emily nearly laughed at his ridiculous flattery.
 
Just within touching distance, several beautiful women resided.
 
Her novelty, she assumed, enhanced her beauty, along with the knowledge that many of the women present were attached already, or related to the two gentlemen who waited for her response.

“Thank you, I think your mother has thrown a very fine ball,” said Emily.

“Indeed she has!
 
We should be dancing, Miss Worthing, if you would consent to be my partner,” said Mr. Sharp.
 
With no engagements, she accepted.
 
Mr. Corey gave a huff of agitation before Mr. Sharp led her away to the floor.

“Mr. Corey has monopolized your attention all evening, Miss Worthing.
 
One might think from across the room that you have attached yourself to him,” said Mr. Sharp.

“Is that a question, or merely an observation, sir?” said Emily.
 
Mr. Sharp gave her a wry smile.
 
Some years over thirty, his manners had the polish of one afforded access to the highest society.

“Both, if you’ll oblige me.”

“I have no attachments in Dunbarrow.”

“And elsewhere, is there an attachment back where you come from, perhaps?”
 
Emily thought, and realized she had been thinking too much of her answers since coming to the Annesleys.
 
Her honesty had taken leave in the wake of feeling so vulnerable.

“No, I have no attachments, and am not likely to make any,” said Emily.
 
Her mysterious statement intrigued her dance partner.

“Some would consider that a challenge, Miss Worthing.
 
I would not advertise it.
 
Regardless, you are far too charming for Mr. Corey.
 
You should vary your attentions.”

“Oh?
 
Who else should receive my attentions?
 
Perhaps old Mr. Canton, if he is present, or another aging man of fortune, to secure my future?
 
I have no need to travel the high circles of the city, for my motivations are not what is expected or appreciated in such a circumstance.”

“You need not choose an aging man to find fortune,” said Mr. Sharp, delighted with her candor and wit.

“You are correct.
 
I should draw up a list of the richest young bachelors in Dunbarrow, and present myself to them, a high bidder with a handsome face wins.”
 
She and Mr. Sharp chuckled at the dissection of antics so popular in society.

“You are very different from other young ladies,” said Mr. Sharp, “I wonder that you have not married.”

“I wanted to be, but my prospect had other obligations.
 
I have no inclination to marry now.”

“Mr. Corey will be very disappointed.
 
Or at least, discouraged.”

“That is all the better, for him.”
 
Mr. Sharp led her away after the dance concluded, and so began the battle of suitors.
 
Mr. Corey and Mr. Sharp took turns asking her to dance and bringing her punch.

“Mr. Sharp, I have heard it said that you do not enjoy reading, is this true?” said Mr. Corey.

“It’s true that I prefer the company of people to books.
 
I appreciate the real qualities of a complex individual rather than a character designed to demonstrate some folly or virtue,” said Mr. Sharp.

“I give you that most people have a depth that cannot be replicated, but a closer examination of follies and virtues can lead to rich self-discovery.
 
But, of course, I am a voracious reader,” said Emily.
 
Mr. Corey nodded in satisfaction.