Understanding dawned on Crawford’s face. He swallowed hard and ran a finger around his neckcloth.
‘Well, I blush to tell you, Miss Smythe, and you too, Julia.’
Emma’s eyes hardened. Whatever it was, and it seemed it was bad enough to unsettle a seasoned military man, she needed to know.
‘I think we may dispense with the formalities, Major,’ she said cordially, ‘especially now that you know all our family secrets. You may call me Emma. And please don’t worry about shocking me with your tale. I’m no wilting violet.’
Crawford’s eyes sped to Richard before he answered. ‘I’d be honoured, Emma. Please call me Nate.’ The major took a breath. ‘My father told me that Frederick Smythe had a particularly poor reputation. The strong rumour was that he’ – here Crawford cleared his throat – ‘well… he got a very respectable young lady into trouble, if you understand my meaning.’
‘You mean he got her with child?’ interrupted Julia, not mincing her words.
‘That’s it exactly.’ Crawford mopped his brow. ‘I do apologise for distressing you with this sordid tale.’
‘I’m not distressed,’ Emma reassured him. ‘Well, only for the young lady involved. What happened? Uncle Frederick didn’t marry.’
‘That’s correct.’ Crawford’s voice held a tone of disapproval. ‘He denied any involvement. Even accused her of lying. Nobody believed him, though. According to Father, the young lady was beyond reproach.’
Emma nodded. ‘Now I understand why my father had little time for his brother.’ Her mouth tightened. Here was yet another instance of a man ruining a woman’s life. Both her father and her uncle had been the cause of great unhappiness to a female in their orbit. It also explained her grandmother’s cryptic remark about the trouble sons brought. A crease furrowed her brow, and she looked quizzically at Richard.
‘But what does this have to do with the gentleman you met this morning?’
Crawford rapped his cane on the floor, startling everyone. ‘Of course! You think it’s Francis!’
‘It seems obvious,’ answered Richard flatly.
Crawford’s face wrinkled in concentration. ‘I suppose that could explain everything. He is about the right age.’ He shook his head. ‘Father must have known, but he never mentioned Francis when he told me about Frederick’s death. I suppose he didn’t want to spoil our friendship.’ The major snorted. ‘As if! I’m loyal to my friends. What a blockhead I am!’ Crawford hauled himself up and started to awkwardly pace the floor. ‘I still can’t see Francis being behind all this. He told me he was illegitimate years ago, but his father was never mentioned. I doubt he even knows his father’s identity.’
‘Well,’ said Richard, ‘we must find out.’
Chapter 13
The following morning, an apprehensive Emma made her way to the breakfast parlour. She would have to tackle Richard about his plans. Make him see that she needed to be involved. The way that he and the major had huddled together after the revelations of the previous evening had infuriated her. How dare they exclude her from matters directly connected to her and her brother? It was indefensible. And if she provoked him, as she surely would, would his mask slip and reveal another side of him entirely? It’d be as well if it did, she thought ruefully. At least it would put to an end to this terrible attraction she felt towards him and prove she was correct to heed her mother’s warning.
Steeling herself, she walked into the breakfast parlour. It was empty. Her shoulders slumped. He’d probably eaten and departed, and she’d not see him again till this evening. Why did that make her feel flat?
Emma went to the laden sideboard and helped herself to a slice of toast. After last night’s sumptuous meal, she wasn’t really hungry. The tempting aroma of coffee drifted past her nose. Yes, coffee might restore her. Spying the source of the smell, she stretched out her hand to grasp the handle of the elegant silver coffee pot.
‘Stop!’
Emma froze where she stood at the sound of the harsh command.
Richard had entered the room silently. She turned her head. Goodness, he was right behind her. Her skin prickled as his hand grasped hers and nudged it away from the coffee pot. The warmth of his breath on the back of her neck sent delicious shivers down her spine. He smelt of soap and fresh linen.
‘Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,’ he said in a husky voice. ‘Julia has burned herself before now doing just that. The handle gets too hot. I’ll ensure it’s replaced. Been meaning to tell Mrs Wilson.’
Emma turned her head to find herself inches away from his face. So close that she could see where his valet had nicked his chin with the razor. Just in time, she restrained herself from stroking it better. Drawing her gaze up past his mouth, she saw the gleam in his dark eyes, and she couldn’t pull away. She heard him breathe and unconsciously licked her lips. His eyes flared wider.
A cry of “Fresh milk!” from the street outside broke the spell. Richard blinked as if coming out of a trance and took a step back. He was still holding her hand. Could he tell how fast her heart was racing?
‘You gave me a shock, but thank you all the same.’ She looked pointedly at his hand holding hers. He released it.
‘Sorry,’ he murmured, stepping further away. ‘Let me pour your coffee.’
Emma sat down and tried to regain her equilibrium. Perhaps he hadn’t noticed her racing pulse. She watched as Richard poured the coffee. The cup rattled in its saucer as he passed it to her. At last, he sat down to face her from across the small breakfast table.
Emma took a deep breath and started. ‘As I’ve mentioned to you previously, I’d like to be a part of solving this mystery. I was just going…’
Richard’s knuckles whitened around his knife and fork.
‘I’m listening,’ he said through gritted teeth.
Emma couldn’t fail to notice the lines of tension on his brow. She swallowed and started again, keeping her voice emotionless.
‘Please let me finish what I was about to say.’
‘I apologise. Please continue.’
He sounded on the brink of exploding, and she hadn’t even told him what she planned. She took another deep breath.
‘Well, as you know, I managed to get back home to Minster Lovell with Jamie. I admit I had help for part of the way, that’s true.’
Richard’s eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched, but he remained silent.
‘The very fact that I’m sitting with you now demonstrates that I overcame those dangers. Nothing too awful happened, and I wasn’t injured in any way, apart from a few cuts and bruises…’
He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again as she held up her hand to silence him.
‘We were running away from a situation, and I slipped and scraped my arm. Nothing serious at all.’
‘You were lucky then.’
She ignored his growled words and continued.
‘Ariadne, our housekeeper in Gytheion, ensured I was prepared. She arranged for me to have lessons… training, if you will, in defending myself. We lived in a coastal village that was in the past subject to attacks by pirates, and therefore the village girls had learned how to protect themselves. It was part of their lives, especially as their menfolk were often away and there was no-one else to defend them.’ She chuckled. ‘You’d be amazed at how resourceful they were and how many ways a slightly built woman can overpower a stronger man, leaving him incapacitated enough to make her escape.’
He was leaning forward now, absorbing her words. Different emotions flickered across his face. Some she recognised as shock and horror; others puzzled her. At one point, his intense gaze was somewhat reminiscent of the heated look his friend had given her the night before.
She decided to get to her point, keeping her voice firm so he would not suspect how nervous she felt.
‘In short, I am no simpering miss wh
o will faint at the first sign of trouble, and I will accompany you when you undertake any further investigations and when you visit the Duke of Wheatley.’
Richard’s knife and fork clattered down on his plate, and his words came out with all the force of an exploding volcano.
‘What? Are you serious? How on earth would we explain away your presence? You don’t know the types of places I might be required to go.’
Her chin jutted out. ‘There’s no need to shout.’
He shook his head and muttered something that sounded like an apology. Emma spoke quickly before he could think of any more objections. ‘I’ve thought of that. I propose to accompany you in my disguise as a young man.’ Richard sucked in a breath, but she carried on. ‘I’ve put on a little more weight, I know, but I’m still very slender and my hair is quite short. I’m sure I could pass for David. I understand he hasn’t spent much time in London, so it’s unlikely I will meet anyone who knows him.’
Richard rested clenched fists on the table and leaned forward. A nerve twitched in his cheek.
‘No. No, it’s too risky. What if you were discovered? Think what a scandal it would be.’
It was Emma’s turn to explode.
‘If that’s all you’re bothered about then I’m definitely coming. A little scandal like that is nothing if everything that’s been said about Uncle Frederick is true.’ She gave a scornful laugh. ‘He’s created more scandal for my family than anything I could do. And it’s not as if I’m planning on looking for a husband, so there are no other parties to be concerned about.’
‘What?’ said Richard, an arrested expression on his face. ‘But what if you get hurt? I’d never forgive myself.’
‘That’s a risk I’m prepared to take. And if I’m prepared, so should you be. I’m not one of your responsibilities, Richard. If anything happens, it will be because I chose to take a risk, and you’d have nothing to forgive yourself for. Besides, I’ve just explained that I can defend myself. I can use a knife or a pistol if necessary.’
Richard opened and closed his mouth but no sound came out, then he continued to stare at her in brooding silence.
She was on the point of getting up to check his pulse when he moved his hands to cup his face. He regarded her between his fingers with steady eyes.
‘You’ll be the death of me, I’m sure,’ he said at last.
Emma knew she had won.
Richard sighed like a man who was resigned to his fate.
‘I agree to your involvement, but only on certain conditions.’ He gave her an unwavering look. ‘And I won’t be moved on those.’
Emma suppressed her excitement. ‘Thank you, Richard. What are your conditions?’
She hoped they wouldn’t be ridiculously stringent.
Jabbing his finger at her, he said sternly, ‘You may accompany me on condition that you obey me while we are out. If I tell you to run, you must. No argument.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘Also, my second condition is that you do not speak. Not unless someone addresses you directly. Leave all the talking to me.’
‘But what if we get to see the duke?’ she asked impatiently. ‘I must talk to him. Surely you can’t object to that?’
He frowned as if considering. ‘Well, that is the only exception. If we get to see Wheatley and I judge the circumstances to be safe enough, you may speak with him.’
Emma kept her elation hidden.
‘Very well,’ she answered meekly, ‘I agree to your conditions. But if I judge that I can be of more use to you by remaining at your side, be sure that I’ll ignore your instruction to run.’ A determined gleam appeared in her eye, and she fixed him with a stare. ‘I never left Jamie’s side and, so help me, I’ll not abandon you. Now, what have you arranged?’
Chapter 14
Later that morning, a missive arrived for Richard from the dowager informing him that she intended to pay him a call. He read it and pulled a face. He’d barely recovered from his bruising dealings with Emma, so he wasn’t looking forward to an encounter with another termagant member of the Smythe family.
The day had started so innocuously when he’d entered the breakfast parlour and seen Emma about to injure her hand. Before he knew it, they were pressed up against each other and he was drowning in her limpid grey eyes. Luckily, he’d come to his senses before things had gone too far. Good Lord, he’d nearly kissed her! And what did she mean by saying she didn’t want to get married? Wasn’t that every female’s ambition? He shook his head, trying to rid his mind of the scent of her and the feel of her body close to his and recalled instead how exasperated she’d made him feel with her unreasonable demands. His stomach churned. How had she contrived to get his agreement to her outlandish plans? Anxiety coiled his insides at the thought of what they were contemplating.
The clock struck the hour, and Richard hastened to join Emma in the drawing room before the dowager arrived. Emma looked up from her book when he entered and gave him a bright smile. He couldn’t help smiling back. She might be infuriating, but when she looked at him like that all his misgivings about her melted away.
He was feeling rather nervous about his first encounter with the dowager. Julia had warned him that, behind her fragile façade, the old lady was as spirited as her granddaughter. Richard paced up and down, straightening ornaments, rearranging cushions, and ensuring that the seating was perfectly aligned. Emma, meanwhile, sat reading her book, only occasionally looking up as he nudged yet again the Jasperware vase to a more perfect location on the mantelpiece.
At last the dowager’s presence was announced by Grimes. After kissing her granddaughter and being formally introduced to Richard, the dowager allowed herself to be guided over to a seat near the fire. Attired in a simple robe of purple velvet with a matching Amazonian helmet adorned with a curled ostrich feather, she was the epitome of matronly elegance. Once they were all settled and served with tea, Richard braced himself. He was sure there was more to this visit than the social niceties. He was not mistaken.
The dowager scrutinised him with intelligent eyes, then, after what seemed like several minutes, she started to speak.
‘Well, my granddaughter seems happy now she’s back in England, and I only want her happiness.’ The dowager cocked her head to one side, making her jet earrings sparkle in the light. ‘I’ve met your sister, Mr Lacey. She speaks very highly of you… but, of course, she would. You seem to be an honourable man. However, I feel I must clear the air.’
Richard’s insides coiled. What did she mean by “seem”? He was an honourable man! He glanced at Emma, whose hands were now clenched in her lap. If the dowager insisted on her removal to her own house, it would put paid to all her madcap schemes. Maybe not such a bad thing – but, then again, he wouldn’t be able to keep her safe. His mouth twisted as the dowager continued.
‘I took the liberty of looking into your background, Mr Lacey, once I was advised that you were the heir.’ The dowager delicately sipped her tea, watching him with narrowed eyes above the rim of her cup.
He gave an outraged gasp. ‘You suspected me of foul play?’
‘Grandmamma, really!’ uttered Emma.
‘Of course! What else was I to think?’ the dowager answered reasonably. ‘There were too many coincidences. And then you were named as the heir. I didn’t know who to trust. However…’
The dowager’s cup rattled as she placed it back onto its saucer, a clue that she was not as composed as she wanted him to believe.
‘Well, I realised when you wrote to me about Emma and James arriving at Easterby Hall that you couldn’t possibly be involved.’
‘Well, that’s a relief,’ muttered Richard.
The old lady continued, ignoring his pointed aside. ‘You could have disposed of them easily and I’d be none the wiser.’
Richard quelled his seething fury at this outrageous remark, and the dowager cleared her throat.
>
‘Erm, my solicitor also undertook some investigations into your background at my behest.’
His lip curled sardonically. ‘And?'
He guessed she was going to bring up his lack of a title and connections with trade. Not many members of the ton involved themselves in the business of mining and engineering.
Her next words floored him.
‘You’re that rarity, Richard. A man of integrity. My man could find no-one with anything bad to say about you.’
For the second time that day, Richard could think of nothing to say.
‘Furthermore,’ the dowager blithely continued, ‘you’ve taken on the responsibility of your siblings since the death of your father. You’ve maintained and improved his business holdings. Even your employees think highly of you – not something you tend to hear about mine owners.’ Her blue eyes suddenly filled with uncertainty and she leaned forward. ‘Will you forgive me, Richard, for not trusting you from the start?’
‘What’s to forgive?’ he said, stretching out to take her hand in a reassuring grip. ‘I’d have done the same in your place.’
The tense lines on the dowager’s face relaxed.
‘That’s very generous of you, young man. I was half-afraid that you’d take umbrage at my confession.’ Smoothing the skirt of her velvet robe, she added pointedly, ‘Now, I’m sure I don’t need to say it, but I trust you to behave honourably while my granddaughter resides here. It is only under the strongest pleadings from your sister that I have given my consent.’
‘You can be sure of that, my lady,’ he answered. No, he was more likely to throttle the headstrong miss than kiss her, if the truth were known.
The dowager beamed. ‘Then I have only one more thing to say to you, Richard.’
Richard wondered what was coming.
‘Welcome to the family, my dear boy.’
A Gentleman’s Promise: A Regency Romance (Gentlemen Book 1) Page 15