Proper Secrets (35 page)

“And…?”

“Once again I apologize.
 
I should have told you what happened during Emily’s first visit to Dunbarrow.
 
I could rationalize that I didn’t think you’d want to hear it, but in truth I was afraid of what you would do,” said Mr. Annesley.

“Spit it out man, enough of your stalling!”

“He tried to kidnap her with the help of my cousin Dinah.
 
They got Emily all the way to the docks before I intervened, hoping to get her on a ship to Tadoros.”
 
Edward Annesley had never before feared for his life quite like he did when Elijah Wingrave grabbed his collar and
 
yanked him off his feet, though Elijah was several inches the shorter.

“And you rode like the Devil from Dunbarrow to tell me…?”

“He’s coming.
 
Jude found out in town that both Emily and Mary are back in Tripton.
 
I had a man follow him to be sure.
 
Their magnetism is drawing him here.
 
I don’t know when he will arrive.
 
His course seemed to be in this direction, but it wasn’t straight,” said Mr. Annesley.
 
Capt. Wingrave let out a curse that he wouldn’t even utter in Jonah’s presence and set Edward to rights, though his collar was permanently rumpled.

“This problem goes away when he arrives, do you understand?” said Elijah.
 
Mr. Annesley nodded, accepting the verdict.

“I have recognized that I cannot change him, and that Jude delights in causing misery.
 
I do not know when he came upon this pastime, but I admit that he is warped beyond repair.”

“And you will tell Mary yourself,” said Elijah, turning on his heel and marching into Reddester.
 
They found Mary in the drawing room and startled her greatly by arguing at high volume all the way down the hall.

“That’s not possible Wingrave, not without alerting everyone at Charlton,” said Mr. Annesley.

“Then Peter, at least, must know,” said Capt. Wingrave.

“What is the meaning of this?
 
Edward?
 
Are you mad?” asked Mary.

“If only I were the most far gone of my family,” said Mr. Annesley as he expressed his purpose in coming to Reddester, with several offhand remarks by a pacing Elijah.
 
Mary listened with the utmost attention.

“Oh, no.
 
If he hurts Emily…
 
Elijah we should leave.
 
You have to know that he’ll target whomever we befriend,” started Mary, before Edward held up a hand.

“It’s too late, Mary.
 
He’s crazed, fallen into the true terror of his illogical and destructive ways.
 
It’s Emily he wants now.”

“Could we persuade Emily to visit Landhilton with us then?” said Mary.

“She would want to know why, and if she knew the reason, she wouldn’t leave,” said Elijah, more quietly than anything else.
 
Mary gritted her teeth.
 
She’d resolved to imitate Emily’s strength until she could muster some of her own.
 
She would not wilt under the fear of Jude.

“You’re right.
 
Very well, we stay here.
 
Keep close to the Worthings, Elijah, invite Emily to dinner as often as you think will be accepted when the time draws near.
 
I will prepare myself for the worst.”
 
The two men nodded their agreement, acknowledging that she was the only one who should make the decision.
 
Capt. Wingrave sent Mr. Annesley with the butler to find a suitable room.

“Sister, are you certain?” Elijah asked of her when Edward had gone.

“We have run.
 
Now we stand, and I will accept my fate.
 
You have been the best brother, and I can ask you no longer to go against what you deem right and true.
 
This is the end.
 
Promise me, though, that if Peter shuns me, you will say that I loved him above all things?”

“In truth, I can hardly guess what that trickster is thinking half the time, but I do not fear for you.
 
In his eyes, you are the life he came close to having.
 
But I promise, if the ocean turns red and the sky evergreen, I will tell him.”
 
Mary hugged Elijah and kissed his cheek.

“I swear, Capt. Wingrave must be working Peter to the bone these days.
 
He’s here when the sun rises, and leaves well after dinner.
 
Ouch!” yelped Bridget when Emily pulled her corset.
 
“That is unnecessary!
 
I am not going out today!”

“You should always look your best, my dear,” mumbled Emily.
 
She and her two sisters dressed for the day, Bridget still in her undergarments, while Genevieve and Emily waited for their hair to be done.
 
After being secured, Bridget took an opportunity of Emily’s inattention to shove her onto the bed.
 
Emily shrieked as she bounced once and fell to the floor.

“Bridget Worthing!
 
Of all the…!” said Emily as she got up and started shaking her sister.
 
Bridget and Genevieve laughed so hard that Emily could not resist and joined in, tugging at Bridget’s braid and ears until she apologized.
 
Even more astonishing, the door was flung open, Peter and Capt. Wingrave ready to do battle on the other side.
 
Bridget quickly slid behind Emily to hide, looking over the elder’s shoulder, still giggling with abandon.

“What are you doing, barging into a ladies’ room?” asked Emily.
 
Capt. Wingrave blushed and looked elsewhere, while Peter sternly reprimanded his sisters.

“We thought you were in trouble, but apparently screaming is standard for you silly women,” said Peter.
 
Emily handed Bridget a blanket to cover herself, then approached Peter.

“Silly women?
 
I beg your pardon, but what were you expecting?
 
An intruder to have gotten past all the servants this busy morning?
 
We appreciate your efforts, gentlemen, but we don’t appear silly here, you do,” said Emily.
 
Capt. Wingrave looked down at her, blushed again seeing her hair undone and sweeping across her shoulders, and pursed his lips.

“Take care that you only raise alarm when it’s needed,” was all he could say.

“You’ll know when Emily needs help.
 
I still remember how she screamed when we got the letter about Peter…
 
Oh!
 
I’m sorry, Emily,” said Bridget, realizing her error.
 
The remembered pain washed away the color from Emily’s face.

“Thank you, Bridget.
 
If you men are done peeping, could you please leave?” said Emily.
 
Peter frowned down at his sister, then unexpectedly embraced her, crushing the air from her lungs.

“Oh really,” said Emily, “Have all my siblings forgotten their propriety today?
 
We are not in any danger, so get yourselves back to work.”
 
Peter released her, and bowed, grinning a bit.

“We would do anything to protect you, even invade your dressing room,” said Peter, “Isn’t that right, Captain?”

“You’ve a crude sense of humor, Worthing.
 
Let us leave these ladies in peace.”
 
When they’d gone, the three sisters laughed all the more at Capt. Wingrave’s blushing.

The next few days passed with Emily convinced that Capt. Wingrave became more anxious around her.
 
Peter even invited her to sit in on their work and advise them.

“What on earth do I know about schools or the military?
 
I would be of no use,” said Emily.

“You’ve run this house.
 
You know about the supplies it takes to feed and care for everyone.
 
We can design the training program, but it will take a master manager to get us started on the living infrastructure,” said Peter.

“For that you will have to hire people anyway, you may as well do so and get their opinions now,” said Emily.

“We don’t have time for that right now.
 
Will you do me this favor or not?”
 
Peter scowled at her obstinance.

“Fine, I will be in after breakfast,” said Emily.
 
With grudging steps, she went to the library, the last to finish her meal.
 
Capt. Wingrave and Peter leaned over plans, diagrams, and papers of all sorts.

“There you are, Em.
 
Would you like to see the plans?” asked Peter.

“I suppose,” she sighed.

“I thought you’d be more enthusiastic.
 
We are building a legacy here.
 
And I will get to work close by Charlton,” said Peter.

“I am very excited for you, Peter, but I do not see how I can contribute.
 
I know how to manage a domestic household of no little means.”

“I’ve heard from the shopkeepers that all the orders from Charlton are sensible and not more extravagant than would be expected.
 
I asked for your help, to be transparent.
 
You are a very clever person, and I think you can adjust your ideas to our needs with no trouble,” said Capt. Wingrave.
 
Emily narrowed her eyes at him, sensing a grain of falsehood.

“Did you not manage Fort Jennings?
 
Shouldn’t this be your specialty?” inquired Emily of the Captain.

“I delegated a lot of our resource management so that I could focus on training and personnel,” he explained swiftly.

“Oh, then why not send for those delegates?”
 
Capt. Wingrave smirked, knowing she asked the correct questions.

“It is spring, and the war is back on.
 
Those delegates are otherwise engaged.”

“Really, Emily.
 
You’re being cantankerous,” said Peter.

“Where are the plans?” she sighed.
 
Emily spent most of the afternoon avoiding eye contact with Capt. Wingrave.
 
She made suggestions and told them what she knew, surprising them both with her extensive logic.

“Mama was ill for two years.
 
More than one crucial servant had days off, during which I had to figure out how things would work, especially with Papa gone during the day.
 
You didn’t really expect to get anything useful from me, did you?” inquired Emily.

“It’s not that, it’s just as you said.
 
We weren’t sure how much would translate to a large school,” said Peter.
 
Still suspicious, Emily made no reply.

“I will need more help tonight, but I fear I have trespassed too many times at your dinner table, so at the behest of Mary who would also like to see you, Emily, I am inviting you both to dine at Reddester this evening,” said Capt. Wingrave.
 
Being in his company had already unsettled Emily enough for one day.

“Peter may go, but I shall stay.
 
All of this work has made me eager for retirement,” said Emily.

“Excuse us,” said Peter, leading Emily out of the room, “You wouldn’t make me go by myself?
 
Not to Reddester?”

“Come, Peter, I have been at your convenience all day, despite my feelings.
 
You would ask for more?” said Emily.

“Just today, Em.
 
I cannot refuse to dine with him, but I do not want to be in her company with no one on my side.”

“So now I’m on your side?
 
I thought you and the Captain were content as brothers?
 
You’ve agitated your own blood for him.”

“I have not insisted you marry him against your objections, I’ve merely provided the opportunity for you to have a change of heart,” argued Peter.

“I do not want your opportunity.
 
I will go, but only because I am truly loyal to my actual siblings,” said Emily.

“Be careful, Emily, of the word actual, it permits no room for the gray areas,” said Peter, mystifying her completely.

“What does that mean?”

“Nevermind.
 
I will tell Capt. Wingrave, you may change or ply your feminine arts or what have you.”

Mary warmly greeted Peter and Emily and led them into the dining room, already set for the meal.
 
Emily met Capt. Wingrave’s stare first, then she noticed their other guest.

“Mr. Annesley?
 
I did not know you had come to Tripton,” said Emily.

“Aye, Miss Emily.
 
It is a short visit, bringing news to Wingrave here,” replied Mr. Annesley.

“Oh?
 
I should like to hear news of Dunbarrow over dinner,” said Emily.
 
The two gentlemen looked away from her in discomfort.

“You are beautiful tonight, Miss Worthing,” said Capt. Wingrave.

“Thank you, Captain.
 
I was able to dress in peace,” said Emily.
 
Mary gave her brother a puzzled frown.