Unsure what to do, I simply followed Lord Henry straight into the library.
“Ah, there you are, Henry. What kind of mischief have you been up to this time?” the earl said by way of greeting when we walked into the room.
What kind of hello was that? He hadn’t quite noticed me at first but even when he did he paid little attention. He looked nothing like Lord Henry. He was easily half a foot shorter and significantly wider. Perhaps a life of indulgence. His fine tailored clothes bulged ever so slightly as he paced by the unlit fireplace. Heavily salted mutton-chop whiskers flanked his face.
“Good evening to you too, Father. I trust you had a nice journey from London.” Lord Henry didn’t wait for a response. “I thought you were due to arrive tomorrow. Why the change of plans?”
“I received some alarming reports that you’ve gotten yourself into some trouble and thought I should come straight away to help clean up your mess. This is not a good time for rumors and scandal, you know.” The earl wasn’t able to contain his impatience even in front of strangers.
It was starting to feel awkward, but without the ability to make myself invisible, I pretended to be examining the upholstery.
“May I introduce Miss Emma Clayton.” Lord Henry gestured in my direction. “And if by trouble you mean the accident, I have done everything in my power to see that Miss Clayton has received a doctor and hospitality while she recovers.” He had been holding his hands in tight fists, but now adjusted his jacket cuffs. Was this a nervous habit?
The earl glanced in my direction. Our eyes met briefly and I gave him a sheepish smile.
“She looks quite recovered to me.” He was now looking at his son. It was a strange feeling to be talked about while I was standing right there. This felt like a bad reality TV show unfolding right before my eyes where the audience squirmed with discomfort. The only difference I was unable to change the channel and seemed to be the subject that was causing the issue.
“With a severe blow to her head, she has been unable to remember much. Not only of the accident but where she was staying and who we might contact.” Lord Henry was struggling to keep calm.
“How very convenient indeed,” muttered the earl under his breath, but loud enough for both of us to hear. “Are you sure this woman is not simply mad?” He gave me another quick onceover like I was a dirty street urchin.
“Oh, please, I’m quite certain,” Lord Henry said impatiently. “I’ve already canvassed the nearby estates in search of anyone who may have a missing person.”
Shaking his head, the earl studied me. He ran his tongue along the inside of his lower lip as if he were contemplating his next move. His hand brushed against his whiskers.
“Sir… I mean Lord… umm… Pembrooke.” My palms were sweating but I couldn’t bear another second of this.
He looked at his son now.
“An American?” He softened a little. Not exactly the reaction I’d been anticipating. Usually Americans were met with contempt but in England during this period I had imagined there was even less tolerance given the few decades since the most recent war of 1812.
“I am so sorry for the inconvenience,” I continued. “I would love more than anything to go back home.” They had no idea how far that really was or how on earth that could even be accomplished. “Your son—Lord Henry, I mean—has been very kind and I wish to thank you for the hospitality I have been shown here.”
Something shifted in the earl. Perhaps I’d surprised him somehow. Lord Henry wore that same expression on occasion when I’d done or said something unexpected.
“Well, Miss Clayton”—his bad temper was slowly dissipating—“I am glad to hear you have been comfortable at Dormer House. We are at your service until you are recovered and your relations found.”
I smiled at this, but what was going to happen next? How long did I have before I would overstay my welcome? This man had a very short fuse, it seemed.
“Father, I thought I should take Miss Emma to Oxwich tomorrow to see if she might recognize anything or perhaps someone might know her. She may well have traveled through there at some point.” Lord Henry waited patiently while the earl mulled this over.
“Very well, you can take the carriage in with Harris, as he will be going to collect Mama from the train. You will need to ride back though, as there won’t be room on the return. Your brother and sister are returning with her.” The earl walked away from the fireplace where he had been standing and sat down behind a large mahogany desk which contained unopened letters, blank paper and a selection of quills with ink pots. “I will send out some letters tomorrow and make some more inquiries. Meanwhile, Henry, send for the doctor to drop by in the morning so that I might have a word.” With that we were both dismissed as the earl started to pore over a small stack of letters.
We moved out of earshot.
“That went a little better than I expected.” Lord Henry was visibly more relaxed.
“Is he always like that?” I wondered out loud.
“Much worse, I’m afraid. You’ll think him a lamb compared to my stepmother.” The thought made us both shudder. “I am dreadfully sorry for the mess you now find yourself in.”
“Don’t be. I would never have delivered a foal if it weren’t for you.”
His eyes brightened and I turned to go to my room. It was time to get out of these clothes and start to make a plan. What was I to do? Invisible hands kept my feet planted in place. Why did I feel so good with this virtual stranger?
“Do you feel up to the journey to Oxwich tomorrow? It may be a long shot, but if it sparks anything it would be worth it.” Henry looked hopeful and eager to help. His dark hair had fallen down over his right eye, giving him a mischievous look. Why was he trying so hard to help me? Maybe he was just eager to get rid of me.
“It’s worth a shot.” I tried to mimic his optimism but I knew this would be another dead end. My heart sank a little with this knowledge. On the bright side, I needed to enjoy as much of this experience as I could because once they realized this was hopeless and I became more of a burden on the family, where would I be then? “Can I ride Angus again?”
“Only if you promise to behave.” There was a hint of reprimand in his tone before he smiled. His smile was contagious and I found myself unable to turn away from him and walk up the stairs.
I was starting to wonder if spending more time with Lord Henry was the wisest move. I needed his support while I figured out how to get back to my old life. Without his kindness, I would be out on the street. The more I got to know him though, the more difficult it became to weave this web of lies.
“Ah, umm…” Phoebus the butler had been observing our exchange. “A letter has arrived for you, milord.”
“Thank you, Phoebus.” He took the letter and opened it right away. It seemed like the perfect time to make a break for my room so I turned and headed up the stairs unnoticed.
“Have McCleary ready my horse, would you, Phoebus?” Out of the corner of my eye I watched Lord Henry walk towards the great room with urgency.
Chapter 11
A Thief
Miss Barnsby was already waiting for me at my door.
“What the devil have you been up to?” she said, waving a hand near her nose. “I hope you haven’t gone and ruined your clothes.” I floated into the room while she scolded me. “There better not be mending to do.”
A bath had already been drawn for me. Just as one would salivate with the smell of food, my body ached with the anticipation of warm water to soothe my sore muscles. Between the accident and the day of riding today, I was a wreck. What I wouldn’t do for a Korean spa at this very moment. The thought of 1850’s English women naked together, going through the equivalent of a human car wash, made me chuckle.
Miss Barnsby in turn gave me a stern look, indicating I had completely lost my mind. The sun was just starting to set, bathing the walls and furnishings in a rich warm glow. It was my favorite time of day. Everything always looked bette
r in those orange tones.
Lavender and honeysuckle soaked in the water, giving it a subtle, sweet floral scent. Miss Barnsby busied herself with undoing my corset a little more aggressively than was necessary. Had I not needed her help I would have been more than happy to undress myself.
The water did not disappoint. For the first time in what seemed like the longest twenty-four hours of my life my body relaxed. Miss Barnsby finally took her leave after I assured her that I would not drown in the bath and that I would be staying in my room for the night. Now I was finally alone, my mind drifted to Lord Henry and I found myself smiling. When I closed my eyes I pictured him looking at me as he had after we’d delivered the foal and I felt a flutter of excitement in my belly.
Guilt washed over me as I thought of Ben. The man who loved me—my fiancé, no less—was probably worried sick. How would I ever get back? Guilt was quickly replaced with despair and the tears started to flow without warning.
I wasn’t sure how long I stayed that way, but when the numbness wore off I realized that the water in the tub was now cold and the sun had set, leaving me with only the silvery light of the moon. My face tingled from the dried tears, which I rinsed before stepping out of the bath. On my bed, Miss Barnsby had laid out a nightie similar to the one I had worn previously, except for the intricate blue flower pattern around the neck. It looked more like a sister-wife outfit from one of those Mormon compounds Utah was famous for. A far cry from the tank-and-boxer-shorts combo I loved to wear. If she could see me now, my friend April would be rolling on the floor. “You have to be kidding me!” she’d say, as she always did when she didn’t approve of something.
Once I got dressed, my stomach started to growl. Crying always left me ravenous. When I poked my head out the door, it seemed as if everyone had retired for the night. Most of the oil lamps had been turned off except for a few positioned near the staircase and in the great hall. I tiptoed down the steps in search of something to nibble on.
The large grandfather clock which sat on the staircase landing indicated it was quarter past eleven. Fortunately the dining room was set for tomorrow’s breakfast and they’d already put out a bowl of fruit, which sat on the buffet table near some additional glasses and silverware. Taking a napkin off the table, I wrapped an apple, some grapes, an orange and a small sharp knife in a makeshift hobo sack and turned to go back towards the stairs.
“Ah-ha! Stop right there, you thief!” yelled a male voice.
Startled, I nearly dropped my fruit. It was impossible to make out who the booming voice belonged to, as they were standing in the doorway backlit by the only light. At first I had no idea it was directed at me so I looked around the room for the real perpetrator.
“Put down the silver this very instant,” he demanded when I didn’t move.
“What?” Confusion led to fear as I realized he was in fact talking to me. By now, I could hear movement somewhere in the house followed by footsteps. “What are you talking about?” I stammered. “I was just…”
“Phoebus? What is the meaning of this?” Finally a voice I did recognize. Although I could only make out his silhouette, I recognized his tall lean body.
Phoebus, so convinced that I was about to flee, came rushing towards me, grabbing at my bag.
“This woman is nothing but a common thief!” He succeeded in wrenching the bag out of my hands and as he did the fruit went tumbling free, with the apple rolling all the way to Lord Henry’s feet.
Anger. Humiliation. I wasn’t sure which I felt more strongly but as I opened my mouth to defend my honor, Lord Henry beat me to it.
“Phoebus, you absolute imbecile! Remove yourself from my sight before I have the police remove you for assaulting this woman.”
Phoebus’ comb over was disheveled. His long features drooped like a hound dog’s in this light. He looked to Lord Henry as a child would after being put on a time-out for bad behavior.
“My deepest apologies, Miss Clayton,” Phoebus mumbled behind gritted teeth. Without making eye contact, he bowed to Lord Henry and walked briskly from the room.
Even though he had been an ass, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. It was humiliating to watch a grown man get in trouble. Especially with someone half his age.
“I cannot convey to you how desperately sorry I am for my servant’s behavior.” Henry was already stooping down to pick up some of the discarded fruit.
“You know, I was sort of skulking around foraging for food. Don’t be too hard on Phoebus. He was just defending your property from a stranger, even though he did sort of scare the shiii… I mean… pants off me.”
I was still shaken by the ordeal. It had all happened so quickly. The grapes were smushed into the carpet and I bent down in an effort to pick them out as much as I could.
“We’ve had some difficulty with thievery of late, I’m afraid, and Phoebus has taken it upon himself to act as watchdog.” He was holding my apple and a squashed orange in one large hand. “Are you hungry then? Shall I ring for something?”
“Oh, hell, no. I don’t want anyone else waking up for me.” When I stood up Lord Henry quickly averted his eyes as he noticed for the first time that I was in a nightie. “I would settle for a glass of wine, though, if that’s not too much trouble.”
Before I’d even finished, Lord Henry had wriggled out of his own jacket and was putting it over my shoulders. His concern over my modesty was sweet and my body responded to the heat of his jacket and the smell of him all over it.
“I think we could both use one.” He took the grape carnage from my hand and with his hand gently on my back guided me through the great hall into the ‘great parlor’, the name I remembered from the tour. It was the largest and most public of the rooms but used primarily as a family sitting room.
A coal fire was burning on the other side, giving it a smoky, sulfury smell. Pulling Lord Henry’s jacket tighter around my shoulders, I collapsed into a hard, uncomfortable armchair and tucked my feet up under me.
When he returned with two glasses of red wine he glanced only momentarily at the way I was sitting. Okay, maybe it wasn’t so ladylike, but I couldn’t be bothered to move. The wine smelled delicious, with a hint of blackberries. I had to make an effort not to down the whole thing in one go.
“So tell me about this ‘thieving’. That is, if you don’t mind.”
He waved it off. “Not much to it, really. It’s quite normal in a house this size that the odd thing goes on a walkabout. Phoebus just takes it very personally, as it is the butler’s job to lock the valuables up every night.” Lord Henry looked tired.
“Oh, you think that things were just misplaced then? Is that why he’s always hovering around in corners?” In the last day I’d been up and around the house, I often walked into rooms completely unaware that the butler was standing somewhere until I got up to leave and there he was like a statue. Very creepy.
“Well, as head of all the staff he does carry a great deal of weight on his shoulders, I suppose, and he certainly keeps an eye on the carryings-on throughout the house. He’s been with the family for a long time so he’s gotten quite good at skulking around.” Henry laughed at this. He too had noticed how creepy the guy was. “As for the things that have gone missing, they are really just trivial things that could have dropped on the floor over dinner or been knocked under tables. I’ve misplaced cufflinks and pocket watches before and I’ve only got myself to worry about.” There was a hint of heaviness in the tone of his voice when he said this last bit, but I could have misinterpreted.
“Are you happy with your life?” I wasn’t sure what possessed me to ask this, but I had gotten so used to asking myself this question lately that it flew out before I could even censor it.
There was a very heavy silence and I started to wonder if maybe I had overstepped my bounds. I chugged the last of my wine, not knowing what else to do and unsure where to look.
“That’s a very odd question, Miss Emma.”
Okay, here it
comes. He’s going to tell me how inappropriate I am.
“Not one person has ever asked me that. Am I happy with my life? Well, most would consider me fortunate. I have wealth and a title but what does that really all mean? I am bound by those obligations. The idea of following my heart and pursuing what I love is forbidden to me, so tell me, what happiness could there truly be left for me? No”—he shook his head—“I’m afraid it is a luxury a man in my position isn’t afforded—so I don’t even entertain it.”
Not quite the answer I was anticipating. Lord Henry was looking to me for answers now. I had opened a Pandora’s box without realizing.
“That’s just crazy! Why couldn’t you be an earl and do the things you enjoy? You love to heal, don’t you? Watching you with that mare, you just seemed to have an incredible instinct. And what about the way you took care of my injuries?” I held my arm up to prove a point. “Most people struggle their whole lives looking for things they’re good at.”
“A nobleman with a trade? My father forbids it. I am to follow in his footsteps in politics, the only thing suitable for an earl.” He spat this last bit out with contempt.
My heart broke for him. We had opposite problems. He knew exactly what he wanted but couldn’t have it and I had all the options but couldn’t settle on any one thing. We were both paralyzed. His passion was inspiring though, if I could even just have a thimbleful.
“Couldn’t you just talk to your dad… I mean, the earl? Make him understand?”
He had grabbed the bottle of wine and was now refilling my glass.
“Ha. You have met my father? He would disown me and I would be turned out with nothing and no means.” Lord Henry drained half his glass in one gulp. My legs were already feeling the effects of the wine as it navigated through the rest of my body. A dull painkiller and a welcome one.
“Practicing medicine is a very acceptable career. You’re good at it, Henry.”
He looked at me when I said his name.
“Maybe you should just follow your heart and screw everybody else. What is all the wealth in the world without happiness?” That last bit sounded like a Hallmark card. Now I was making myself gag.
The Wayfarer: A Time Travel Romance (The Wayfarer Series Book 1) Page 6