“Excellent!” said James. “Were you able to speak to him?”
“Unfortunately, no. But I have a source at the docks – you may have run into him on your way in to the office this morning. And he had the passenger manifests of every ship to dock in England over the past month. Mr. Adams arrived in Portsmouth ten days ago. And, fortunately for us, he is currently in the county gaol on charges of disorderly conduct.”
“Given his current location I assume he was a good friend of Lord James,” said Irene pertly.
James had to stifle a laugh. “Only an acquaintance, I assure you. And might I remind you Cedric was once a friend of mine?”
She tried ineffectually to glare at him.
He grinned in response, then reached to wrap another scarf around Anna – since it was rather cool in the office. Irene, however, took it out of his hands and placed it on the other side of her.
“Yes, well,” said Olson as he cleared his throat. “I am afraid Adams will not remain in gaol forever. If you wish to get a statement from him, we should send someone immediately. Unfortunately, I cannot go because I promised Lady Riverton that I would personally see to the embarkation of her next ship to America.”
“Then Anna and I will set out immediately,” said James.
“And I will join you,” said Miss Wallace.
“Absolutely not!” said James. He was attracted enough to the chit. He certainly didn’t want to spend more time with her than necessary. Especially on a journey that would likely require four nights spent at inns.
“But I cannot allow you to meet this Mr. Adams on your own.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“It is not that, exactly,” said Irene carefully. “But your own solicitor said you cannot ever truly know another person. How can I be certain that you won’t pay this man off to say what you want him to?”
“For one thing, I have precious little blunt, courtesy of your brother. For another, I am a gentleman. I would never do such a thing.”
She studied him for a moment, then slowly said, “Nonetheless, I shall be going with you.”
“Impossible.”
“Few things are truly impossible, sir. I would think you would have learned that in your travels. I am going.”
“I hardly think your father will allow you to do so.”
That stopped her for a moment.
But only a moment.
“I shall simply tell him I am visiting a friend.”
“Unaccompanied?”
She shrugged. “My maid is always looking for an excuse to see her family. She will not give me away.”
“What if your father writes to your friend and asks about your trip?”
“He will not. He does not care enough to do so.”
And just like that, Irene Wallace edged ever closer to his soul. James could not imagine how a father would not care about the well-being of his daughter, though his own had been that neglectful – and worse. Yet Irene was certain he would be none the wiser. James could not imagine allowing Anna such latitude, regardless of her age. He loved her too much.
“How do you know you can trust me with your safety?” he asked. “You just said you can never truly know someone.”
She considered the question for a moment. “I do not know what you are capable of in business, my lord. But I have seen enough of your character to know I would be safe with you.”
How could she believe she was safe with him when he didn’t know if she’d be safe with him? He obviously would never force his attentions upon her. But he would be tempted to seduce her. Very tempted, despite the fact that the only way that course of action could end honorably would be though marriage.
Thankfully, Mr. Olson spoke up. “Miss Wallace, I must ask you to consider your reputation. If you are seen travelling with Lord James, you would be ruined.”
“But you are in his employ. You would say anything to dissuade me from going.”
“It is true that I am in his employ, but I am also an ethical man. I fight for the protection of women and go to great lengths to ensure that no one – and I mean no one….” Here he looked pointedly at James. “…takes advantage of them.”
“An admirable sentiment to be sure,” said Miss Wallace. “But I will not be dissuaded.”
“If you are ruined, Miss Wallace – and there is a very good chance you will be seen by at least one person you know – I shan’t marry you,” said James with perhaps more confidence than he felt. While he didn’t want to marry anyone, he wasn’t sure he could ignore her plight if she really were ruined. Perhaps he could help her find a willing husband. But that wouldn’t work since he knew no one worthy of her.
Except Nick.
Damnation! She was just the type of female Nick liked. And she’d said earlier that she’d quite liked Colin the few times they’d met, which hadn’t set well with James in the slightest. At least Colin was now married. But Nick was all too eligible. That would be a fine thing, having to see her at family events. Listening to her pert tongue and watching her play with Anna and wondering what her fair hair would look like draped across his chest after making love.
“I want Miss Wallace to come,” said Anna.
Great. It was a conspiracy of females.
“Thank you, Anna,” said Miss Wallace. “I would like to become better acquainted with you, as well. In fact…” Miss Wallace’s entire face lit up. “…I could disguise myself as your governess. That way no one would be the wiser.”
James shook his head. “You are forgetting, Miss Wallace, about the likelihood of encountering someone you know. Simply saying you are Anna’s governess will not make it so. If anything, it would raise even more questions.”
“Mayhap you missed the portion of my statement that said I would disguise myself.”
James snorted his disbelief. “No household would ever hire a governess as beautiful as you.”
She looked her surprise. “Why, Lord James, I believe you just complimented me.”
“She is beautiful, Papa,” whispered Anna.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” said Miss Wallace as she squeezed Anna’s hand, while laughing at James with her eyes.
James turned to see Olson studying Miss Wallace and him intently. “Perhaps she should accompany you, Lord James.”
“Not you, too! Why in heaven’s name should she? And don’t say it’s because she’s beautiful.”
“She is, of course,” said Olson, who then blushed and cleared his throat again. “But from a purely strategic viewpoint, I was thinking that the best way to keep this out of the courts is to gain Miss Wallace as your ally. For I believe that once she talks to this Mr. Adams and learns you have been telling the truth, she will persuade her father to do the right thing.”
“You place a great deal of faith in me, Mr. Olson,” said Miss Wallace.
“I am only following Miss Emerson’s lead, as she seems to be an excellent judge of character.” He smiled at Anna. “But I do suggest that you take great care with Miss Wallace’s disguise for it wouldn’t do for her to be recognized. Unless you would like me to draft a marriage agreement while you are away.”
“Certainly not!” said Miss Wallace rather too quickly and with far too much vehemence for James’s taste.
It was one thing for him to forswear marriage, but for Miss Wallace to do so was most insulting.
“I believe we can muddle through,” said James. “And I must confess myself curious as to how long Miss Wallace can masquerade as a servant without letting her tongue run loose.”
Miss Wallace narrowed her eyes at him and James would have laughed if he hadn’t been quite so pre-occupied with thinking of Miss Wallace’s tongue.
For the life of him, he still could not believe this was Cedric’s sister.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“You do not have to do this, Miss Wallace,” said James, as they stood outside Gunter’s, the famous confectioner’s in Berkeley Square.
“It is my pleasure. And since we are de
parting first thing in the morning for Portsmouth, this might be our only opportunity to introduce Anna to the wonders of ices and sweets.”
“Isn’t it a bit too cold for an ice?”
Miss Wallace shook her head and tsked. “It is never too cold for an ice, Lord James. Besides, we can discuss our travel arrangements while we eat.”
“I do wish you’d reconsider your decision to accompany us.” Especially since she was much more tempting than anything Gunter’s had to offer.
“I have already made my decision, my lord. Even your solicitor said the idea had merit.”
“Yes, well, I’m going to have to talk to Nick about Mr. Olson’s ideas.”
“I would talk to your brother about Mr. Olson’s odd clientele.”
“You mean, the, uh….” Here he covered Anna’s ears. “Working ladies?”
Miss Wallace’s eyes danced at him. “No, my lord, I was referring to you. Shall we enter?”
“Yes, minx. We shall,” said James as the doorman ushered them in.
They were immediately assailed with the smells of cinnamon, chocolate and baking bread as the warm fragrant air wafted toward them. The tea room wasn’t as crowded as it was on a summer’s day, but at least a quarter of the tables were filled with ladies of the ton enjoying their tea and desserts.
Well-dressed ladies of the ton.
James had paid little attention to fashion in America. Not only were there more pressing matters to attend to, but American fashion was of a different sort than that in London. Plainer. Less costly. More practical.
But as James looked at the ladies in the room – who were now staring at the new arrivals – he realized just how underdressed he and Anna were. He wasn’t sure if any of the ladies in the room recognized him. He certainly didn’t seem to know any of them. But there was no doubt that those who looked at his clothes found him wanting.
Worse than that, he could see the way the ladies were staring disapprovingly at Anna.
“Oh, dear,” said Miss Wallace with a smile she put on for show. “I am so sorry. I should have known it would be like this, but all I thought about was giving Anna a treat. Can we please ignore them and allow Anna to enjoy an ice?”
James was torn. He was not a man who backed down from challenges easily and had it just been him, he would have paid the old cats no heed. But he did not want Anna to be the recipient of their hisses.
Two matrons with their children in tow passed by them to reach the exit. Both women pulled their children behind them so they would not go near Anna. James heard one of them say “heathen.”
He could hear other whispers in the room. Though he could not make out the words, he had a feeling they were all the subject of gossip. Anna was certainly the subject of their stares.
He took a deep breath to keep from losing his temper. He did not want to embarrass either Anna or Miss Wallace. But he was finding it more and more difficult to remain silent. He was trying to figure out the best course of action when a little girl walked up to Anna.
She had black hair and green eyes and was dressed simply but elegantly. And she was staring at Anna. James prayed the girl would not be too unkind as he wondered where the devil her parents were.
The girl, who looked to be a year or two older than Anna, leaned into his daughter and said “You’re beautiful!” Then she grinned.
“Violet!” said an attractive woman in her forties with blonde hair and blue eyes, as she joined them. “I believe you are supposed to introduce yourself before striking up a conversation.” The admonition was a gentle one and the lady clearly loved the little girl. She looked to be the girl’s aunt or possibly her grandmother.
The little girl then curtsied quite properly. “I am Violet Kellington. What’s your name?” she asked Anna.
Anna darted a look at her father to see if it was all right to speak to this girl who was almost a stranger. When he nodded, she smiled shyly and whispered, “I’m Anna Emerson.”
Violet grinned again.
“Miss Kellington,” said James, who could not help being enchanted by the girl, “who is your papa? No, let me guess….you must be Lord Edward’s daughter. For you look very much like him.”
“I am!” she said with a grin, before curtsying again. “Do you know my papa?”
“I do. Along with your uncles. I went to school with them and we were all friends. I am Lord James Emerson,” he said, bowing. “Please allow me to introduce you to Miss Irene Wallace.”
Irene curtsied, even as James bowed to the woman he now recognized as the maternal aunt to the Duke of Lynwood and his family. “Miss Prudence? I had the pleasure of meeting you and Miss Maria several years ago.”
“How good of you to remember, Lord James, and what a pleasure to see you again, Miss Wallace.” Prudence Hamilton was the younger sister of the late Duchess of Lynwood. Her nephew, William Kellington, had become the Duke of Lynwood when he was but nineteen years old after the death of both of his parents.
“It is a pleasure, indeed, Miss Prudence,” said Irene with a warm smile.
“Miss Kellington reminds me very much of Ned,” said James. “Though, of course, a much prettier version. My brothers and I have very good memories of being at school with the Kellingtons. In fact, I’m not sure any of us would have made it through without their friendship.”
“I’m very proud of my nephews and my niece. Please join us so I can tell you what they have been doing since you last saw them. This past year alone is quite a tale to tell,” said Miss Prudence, as she motioned to a table where a brown-haired lady about her age waited.
Another group of ladies passed by, looking decidedly like they’d swallowed lemons. But this time they did not stare at Anna, but turned their disapproving glares to Miss Prudence and Miss Maria, instead. James heard one of them mutter “unnatural.”
There had always been allegations that Miss Prudence and Miss Maria were much closer than employer and companion. They’d been together for as long as James had known the Kellingtons. In fact, he’d first gotten to know the brothers as they were fighting older boys at school who’d said cruel things about the ladies’ relationship. He’d fought alongside the Kellingtons and it had forged a friendship that he remembered fondly.
At first, he hadn’t understood the older boys’ accusations. It had simply been enough that the brothers were protecting their aunt’s honor. But once James became aware of the reality of same sex love, he fought even harder at the Kellingtons’ side. As someone who’d felt so little love from his parents, he was angered that anyone would attack it where it did exist, regardless of whether it violated society’s rules and even the law itself.
Miss Prudence ignored the ladies with a dignified silence. However, once they had passed, she spoke quietly to Irene, “Perhaps I should not have invited you to join us. I have a feeling your grandmother would not approve.”
“And I have never forgotten the kindness you and Miss Maria showed me during my debut Season and in the years since,” said Irene. “We would be honored to join you.”
“Aunt Prue!” said Violet.
“Yes, sweeting?”
“I just asked Anna if she wanted to be my friend and she said yes!” Violet looked overjoyed, and even Anna seemed excited.
“Well, that settles it, then,” said Prue to James and Irene. “You simply must join us. A second generation of Kellington-Emerson friendship has formed. We must celebrate that with an ice or two.”
With that, James ushered his party to the table where Miss Maria sat. James remembered her as a shy woman who rarely spoke. She must have recognized a kindred spirit in Anna, for she engaged his daughter in conversation as they discussed different flavors of ices.
The ladies at neighboring tables continued to gossip about them. James knew Miss Prue and Miss Maria were both under the protection of the duke and his family. But he wondered what life would be like for them if that were not the case.
“I had heard you were in America these past several years,
Lord James,” said Miss Prue. “That must have been fascinating.”
James gave the ladies a much abridged accounting of what life had been like on the frontier. It was a tale suitable for ladies and children, which meant it bore little resemblance to reality. Violet was in awe of the story and asked to learn a few words of the Algonquin language. James was surprised when Anna taught them a few phrases, when she was normally shy with those she did not know well. But the two ladies and Vi were so kind it was hard to think of them as strangers.
When Anna’s chocolate ice arrived, she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. She stared at it for a moment, inhaling the sweet aroma.
“You should take a bite, love, before it melts,” said James.
Anna, watched closely by the entire table, picked up her spoon, dipped it into the creamy dessert, then tentatively brought it to her mouth. She tasted it, then her whole face lit up in a smile. It was enough to make the ladies laugh. It was enough to bring James to the verge of tears.
Such a simple treat. But he’d been unable to provide it for his daughter.
“Papa,” said Anna. “Would you like some?”
And how like his daughter to want to share something she obviously loved. “No, thank you, poppet. It is for you.”
Anna in turn asked everyone else if they wanted to share. Even Violet said no, though it was obvious she was tempted.
“You said you have news about the Kellingtons?” James asked Miss Prue.
“All of them married in the last eight months, which caused no end of disappointment among the matchmaking mamas, just as Lord Ridgeway’s recent marriage did – though no one will admit it, of course.”
“Even Lynwood married?”
“Even Liam. To the former Miss Rosalind Carson, who was bosom friends with Lizzie, though I don’t know if you would have met my niece.”
“I did not have the honor before leaving for America.”
“She married someone else you may know, Lord Riverton.”
That made James grin. “I imagine Liam was surprised to learn his best friend was marrying his sister.”
“Surprised, Lord James, is much too tame a word to describe it. And you may be interested to know that Ned and his wife Jane just had a baby.”
Always True to Her (Emerson Book 2) Page 8