by Lucy Langton
Looking out of the window, she could see that the day was not going to be as bright and gay as it had been on the days preceding. Storm clouds were brewing, and Emilia was quite convinced that rain would be upon them soon. But the dark clouds would not dampen her spirit. She was in love. The earl and she had shared their first kiss just the night before, and each time she thought of it filled her with delight. Was it true that the earl could be in love with her as well? The look in his eyes certainly seemed to suggest that he was.
“There shall be no need for studies today,” the earl said, taking a sip of his tea.
In shock, Emilia felt her eyes grow wide. The earl had never suggested such a thing since she’d been at Glastonbrook.
“Are you teasing?” Deirdre asked, in equal shock.
“I am not. It’s high time that you had a day off, and today shall be that day.”
“But, M’Lord, I do not want us to get behind on our lesson place,” Emilia protested.
“Nonsense. There is plenty of time to catch up. And besides, there are a few things I will need your help with today.”
Deirdre looked utterly confused, and Emilia felt her heart begin to beat.
“What kinds of things?” Emilia asked.
“Certain things that I need your presence for. Perhaps for the entirety of the day.”
Although the earl’s voice sounded stern, Emilia could insinuate what it was that he truly meant. His thinly veiled attempt to keep Emilia by his side throughout the day was not lost on her, even though his statement filled Deirdre with confusion.
“Will you need me by your side as well?” his sister asked, slightly disappointed that she would be robbed of her brother and her governess.
“No, you are free to do as you wish. Winnifred will oversee your whereabouts,” the earl explained.
That was that. There was no arguing with the earl. Emilia shook in anticipation, thinking of what it was that the earl would want from her throughout the day, and what kinds of situations they would find themselves in.
Just then, Hugh abruptly entered the dining hall, apprehension on his face. M’Lord, there is a visitor for you,” he said.
The earl turned to Hugh, scorn in his eye. It was apparent to Emilia that, not only did the earl not like receiving servants, he was particularly infuriated to be interrupted whilst he was dining.
“You know full well that I have not received visitors in some time,” the earl remarked, taking an angry sip of his tea.
“M’Lord, I feel strongly that you should receive this visitor,” Hugh went on, anxiety in his voice.
Emilia looked to Deirdre for re-assurance, but all she found was the same blank, confused expression. Emilia looked back towards the earl, who was considering Hugh’s words. Finally, he threw his napkin down upon the table and stood from his seat.
“I’ll meet them in the parlour,” he relented.
“The visitor would like to come in at once,” Hugh said, only intensifying the earl’s anger.
“What the devil? Who is it? Show them in!”
Hugh abruptly left the room and the earl seated himself, again looking calm and steely. He would not be upset, no matter who the mysterious person was who came to pay a call.
Moments later the door to the dining room opened again and in walked a fashionable woman of considerable height. Her hair was raven black and from Emilia could see, her eyes were the colour of sapphires. Eyebrows sharp and lips a deep red, the woman was of intimidating beauty and stature.
“Lady Spencer,” the earl said, not standing from where he sat.
Emilia knew that the gesture was improper, but it seemed as though this Lady Spencer was someone the earl did not care for enough to stand.
“Lord Joshua,” Lady Spencer said, not moving from where she stood.
Emilia was in awe of the lady’s cool and commanding presence. She turned to Deirdre yet again for re-assurance and saw that the girl’s eyes went wide with surprise and dismay.
“May I be seated?” Lady Spencer asked, her voice deep as honey.
“Of course,” the earl replied, motioning towards a chair.
Hugh quickly rushed over to the chair that the earl was referring to and pulled it out so that Lady Spencer might be seated. She wafted into her chair like a cloud sinking into a misty valley, then calmly placed her gloved hands in her lap.
“Have you dined?” the earl asked.
“Some toast and tea would be ideal,” Lady Spencer replied.
Within no time, Winnifred was in the dining hall with a silver tray of perfectly cut toast, and a fresh cup of tea. These were placed before Lady Spencer, who inspected them like a diamond merchant.
“Good morning,” Lady Spencer finally said, turning towards Deirdre.
“Good morning, Lady Spencer,” Deirdre replied dutifully.
Next, Lady Spencer turned her head as though in slow motion towards where Emilia sat. There was confusion written on her face, but still she seemed nonplussed.
“Good morning,” Lady Spencer finally said. “And who might you be?”
Before Emilia had a chance to speak, the earl spoke for her, as though protecting her from the elegant intruder.
“This is Miss Stewart, Deirdre’s new governess.”
“How charming,” Lady Spencer replied, buttering a piece of her toast. Silence followed, and all that could be heard throughout the hall was the scraping of toast with Lady Spencer’s butter knife, back and forth.
“May I ask for what reason we are enjoying this unexpected call?” the earl asked. His voice was cold, colder than Emilia had ever heard it before, and he glared at Lady Spencer.
“I was in the area, and I realised how long it has been since we’ve last seen one another,” Lady Spencer said with equal coldness.
The windows to the dining hall were directly behind where Lady Spencer sat. Emilia thought it fitting that the dark storm clouds were brewing right behind her, as though she brought them with her upon her arrival. She was quite sure that by the time Lady Spencer departed, the clouds would break open and a vigorous rain would fall.
“Odd that you had never done that on a previous occasion,” the earl remarked.
“Isn’t it funny, but I’m never in this part of town,” Lady Spencer said with a tight smile. “I suppose I should come around this way more often. I generally prefer other parts of Castle Comb, or even better, I find myself often in town.”
At the mention of London, the earl visibly bristled. Not only was it difficult for him to leave Glastonbrook at all, but the very notion of going to town seemed abhorrent.
“I trust that the duke and duchess are well,” the earl said.
“They are in good health, yes,” Lady Spencer replied.
Emilia could only glean that the duke and duchess were Lady Spencer’s parents, making her a woman of considerable social status and, no doubt, wealth.
“M’Lord,” Lady Spencer went on, placing her toast daintily on her place, “would you mind if we had a few words in private?” she asked.
The earl looked annoyed yet again. Not only had the woman infiltrated his breakfast, but she was also asking in no uncertain terms for the other ladies in attendance to leave. Although Emilia did not think that the earl should relent, she found that he did as Lady Spencer suggested.
“Deirdre, Emilia,” the earl said, indicating for them to leave.
Emilia felt her breath catch in her chest again. Not only had the earl said her given name once more, but he had also done so in public, for the others in the room to hear.
“Very well,” Deirdre said, getting up from her seat.
“As you wish, M’Lord,” Emilia said, doing the same. The earl shot his gaze her way before she exited, and she read disappointment in his eyes. Was he disappointed that she was leaving, or that he had to speak with Lady Spencer in private?
Deirdre exited through the main door, no doubt going to the library. Emilia, on the other hand, made her way towards the kitchen. Although she hat
ed the very instinct inside her, she thought she might have a better vantage at the kitchen door in order to be able to listen to the conversation in the dining room. Although Emilia could not be accused of being a snoop, her curiosity was getting the better of her yet again.
Upon entering, she was delighted to find that Winnifred was nowhere in sight. Perhaps she was out in the garden, hoping to pick some vegetables for supper before the storm began to rage.
Emilia gently closed the door behind her and then placed her ear against it. The conversation on the other side was clearly audible.
“I was told that you attended the Hutchinson ball last night,” Emilia heard Lady Spencer say.
“That is the truth,” the earl replied curtly.
“So unlike you, Lord Joshua.”
“Occasionally I surprise people.”
“So you’re re-entering social life, I take it?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that.”
“I was hurt, Lord Joshua, I must admit.”
“And what hurt you?” the earl asked.
“I was convinced that once you entered proper society again, you would have me accompany you.”
Emilia froze where she stood. Was Lady Spencer the earl’s former liaison? Was she the woman the earl was to marry before the tragedy with his parents? Emilia was desperately trying to put the pieces together in her mind.
“Lady Deirdre is turning into a fine young lady,” Lady Spencer said. “I was told that she danced with many eligible young gentlemen when she was at the ball.”
“There were a few partners that I approved of, yes.”
“I think it’s marvellous that you’re trusting her out in society. It is inevitable, you know.”
“It’s an inevitability that I’m forced to face, but not without help.”
“Help?” Lady Spencer asked.
“What do you think that you’re doing?” Hugh’s voice said, and Emilia jumped away from the door.
“I apologise,” she immediately said, clutching her pounding heart with her hand.
“You surprise me, Miss Stewart. I did not think that you would go to such lengths.”
“Such lengths?”
“Indeed. You can’t possibly think that I don’t know what you’re up to. I can see it as clear as day.”
“And what is that?” Emilia asked, unsure what Hugh was referring to.
“I see the romantic notions in your head, and I’m in no way surprised by them. I’ve seen other servants come to Glastonbrook as well. They take one look at the earl and of the sudden think they’re in a romance novel. I can see that dreamy look in your eye.”
“Not so,” Emilia replied, wishing to defend herself. It was not that she came to Glastonbrook with romantic notions. Quite the contrary. She feared that the earl himself had planted those notions in her head of his own volition.
“And what’s worse, I suspected from the start that you’re a climber.”
“A climber?” Emilia asked.
“Indeed, a social-climber of the worst kind. Can you not admit to that?”
“Hugh, I can in no way admit to that. I have never dreamt of social climbing in my life.”
“Hogwash!”
Emilia stifled a laugh. Such a ridiculous word. Yet it was said with so much fervour that Emilia would not let herself crack a smile.
“You do realise,” Hugh went on, his diatribe seemingly endless, “that a woman of your station could never pin down a man of the earl’s stature and wealth.”
“Of course I realise that,” Emilia said, thinking it stupid that Hugh even had to mention it.
“And even if the earl is transfixed with you, which is quite apparent to all, it’s only because you dressed yourself in his mother’s gown last night, and in all respects appeared as a society lady, if only in disguise.”
Was it apparent to all that the earl was transfixed by her? It seemed so silly to her. Did Winnifred see the earl’s amorousness, and what’s more, did Deirdre? She assumed that the longing between her and Lord Forest was only clear to themselves, a hidden affection. But from what Hugh was saying, it was as clear as day at Glastonbrook that something was going on, and most found it unsavoury.
“Sit, so that I might have a serious word with you,” Hugh said, motioning towards the table in the kitchen.
“Have not all your words been serious already?” Emilia asked, her voice indignant.
She sat herself anyway, as the rain began to gently roll down the glass. Within minutes, those gentle drops would become a torrent, Emilia was quite convinced of it.
“I have seen this kind of inanity before,” Hugh said, seating himself across from Emilia and leaning back in his chair. “You do realise, Miss Stewart, that once the earl becomes bored with you, it ruins your reputation and not his. If you choose to engage in this foolishness, you are the only one that suffers the consequences; not Lord Joshua. Your reputation will be sullied and, what’s more, it will ruin any future prospects you might have. In short, that means that you shall never find employment in a proper home and will be laid to ruin.”
Emilia did not wish to be frightened or intimidated by Hugh, but she could not help but allow his words to sink in. After all, he was right. There was no one that would suffer more from the situation than herself. In fact, the earl would have no consequences whatsoever.
“And lastly, keep in mind,” Hugh went on, “that the earl’s actions might be without thought or care.”
Emilia could hold her tongue no longer.
“Hugh, here I must protest! I do not believe that the earl is without thought or care. He may be a man of proper society, but he’s also a man, and human. As am I, as is Deirdre, as are you,” she went on, becoming fiercely protective of the earl and his history. “This house is full of secrets and I’m well aware that history plays heavily in Glastonbrook. We are none of us perfect, that includes the earl and also yourself. I take responsibility for my actions, and I do not regret anything that I have done thus far under this roof.”
Hugh seemed utterly taken aback by Emilia’s words. His brows were raised high, and for a moment it seemed as though he did not know what to say in response. Finally, he looked down at his hands, which were clasped on the table, deep in thought.
“I know that deep down you’re a man of humanity and compassion, sir,” Emilia went on, and Hugh looked up at her indignantly at first, and then softened, “but I fear that you have forgotten how to use these tender emotions. Perhaps you too have been struck by the tragedy of Glastonbrook, in ways you do not yet understand. But I call on you to summon the best part of yourself and be accepting of what goes on here, understanding that everything is done with the best of intentions.”
Again Hugh seemed dumbstruck, as though he’d never heard such an impassioned, heartfelt speech before. He looked out of the window and, sure enough, the rain began to pour down.
“I beg you to think over these words today, sir. We all need to be courageous at this time, and to open our hearts.”
It was as though Hugh had been struck down by a great lightning rod of empathy and could find nothing further to say.
“If you’ll excuse me,” he finally said, “there is work to be done.”
With that, he abruptly got up from the table and retreated to his office in silence.
Emilia did not feel vindicated but, rather, empty inside. She had given everything in her impassioned speech and had to admit that she had no idea what the future might hold. Emilia also could not stop thinking about what was happening in the other room with Lady Spencer.
Chapter 15
Emilia escaped to her room, which had become her hidden sanctuary, albeit one that the earl could enter at any minute.
Lady Spencer was beautiful and refined, that much was certain. But there was also something about her that troubled Emilia. It was the way the woman looked at her, dubiously and with veiled scorn, that gave her pause. Could Lady Spencer see right through her? Could the lady tell, just from
being in Emilia’s presence, what was going on between her and the earl? Emilia was horrified to think so, yet at the same time had to admit that her feelings for the earl were growing so strong that, perhaps, it was best to feel no shame. Could someone truly turn their back on love?