by Miers, Fiona
Emma was a wonderful person, very much adored by all who met her. She had accepted Charles wholeheartedly and respected him enough to always support him in public, regardless of his decisions.
Behind closed doors, however, she was not afraid to speak her mind, which also resulted in disagreements between the two. Nevertheless, Emma was loved by the entire Melton family, which included Joseph as well, it seemed.
Charles’ hand clenched into a fist on the top of his table as he continued to listen to the conversation several yards away. His blood seethed in his veins. Every soiled word spoken of his wife drove him deeper into a fit of rage he knew would explode shortly.
As the men continued to converse, Charles angrily rose to his feet and stomped to their table. They stared at him in shock as he snarled at them, “Where did you hear such balderdash?”
“The streets of London are filled with tales of Lord Lundham’s antics with Her Grace,” one man said shakily.
“Those are lies! My wife would never do such a thing,” Charles said.
“It is merely what we have been told by various people.”
“It is utter rubbish. How dare you besmirch my wife’s good name all for the sake of sensational satiety?”
“Calm yourself, Your Grace,” the other man said and rose to his feet. “These rumours are certainly not true.”
“Then why do you insist on discussing them while I am in the very same room? Did you not think it would upset me?” Charles asked, theatrically waving his arms in the air.
“Your Grace, we meant no harm.”
“We are well aware of Her Grace’s impeccable character and it was not our intention to besmirch her name—or yours, for that matter.”
“Perhaps you should think before you discuss other people so openly and with such little respect,” Charles said, his voice echoing through the dinner hall.
He paused for a moment, realising he had once again caused a ruckus and engaged himself in another spectacle due to his mood.
Angered by his inability to control his emotions in public, Charles stormed out of the dinner hall and pushed through the doors of the club.
The sky was full of thick, dark clouds and large drops of rain fell from the heavens. It was truly a gloomy day in London, and it perfectly matched Charles’ mood.
Frustrated with himself, he began walking, striding through the streets of London in no particular direction. His anger drove him, and he was too blinded to notice his surroundings.
His stubborn nature had certainly gotten the best of him, and he came to an abrupt stop on the pavement. He drew in numerous breaths as the rain drenched his clothing, penetrating through to his skin.
“Oh, Emma,” he said, muttering her name over and over again.
He didn’t wish to believe that his wife was capable of being unfaithful but if she had been, he was certainly the one at fault. Although he had done everything in his power to ensure she was well cared for, there was one thing he had never been able to give her, and that was his heart.
Charles ran frustrated fingers through his wet hair and closed his eyes to compose himself. Perhaps he was overreacting? He had been told on numerous occasions by his brothers, as well as by Emma, that it was an unfortunate habit of his. Things may not always be as they appeared.
He stood motionlessly in the rain, hoping he would be able to compose himself shortly. But not even the summer downpour was able to extinguish the anger and suspicion within him.
There was only one thing left to do, and that was to return home to his estate and confront Emma and Joseph.
“MORE TEA, YOUR GRACE?”
The young maidservant’s voice made Emma refocus her attention on the table on the terrace where Abigail and Rebecca sat with her, along with Thomas, who had joined them for tea.
Emma nodded and the maid filled her cup before stepping away.
“You are awfully quiet, Emma,” Thomas said as he studied her for a few moments. “In fact, I have never seen you quite as pensive before.”
Emma forced a smile and picked up her teaspoon. “Pensive is not quite the word I would use, but I do commend your observational skills.”
“Emma sits with a dilemma,” Rebecca said.
Emma narrowed her eyes momentarily at her sister-in-law, urging her not to disclose any more details but Thomas noticed it straight away.
“What is the matter, Emma?” he asked, shifting in his chair.
“It is not as intriguing or serious as Rebecca makes it appear,” she said, trying to dismiss the inquiry.
“Emma, I have known you for many years,” Thomas said, “so please excuse me if this appears rude. You are not a skilled liar.”
Emma exchanged glances with Rebecca and Abigail and with a weary sigh, she turned to Thomas. “I would ask your discretion on the matter.”
“Of course,” Thomas said and placed his hands on the table.
“I have been receiving rather unwelcome attention from your cousin,” Emma said.
“Joseph?”
“Indeed,” Emma said.
“Why do you sound surprised?” Rebecca asked, narrowing her gaze at Thomas.
“I’m not. I was merely asking,” Thomas said.
“And that is all you have to say of it?” Abigail asked with a furrowed brow.
“Calm yourself, my love. I was simply pausing for a moment, collecting my thoughts,” Thomas said, addressing his wife. “Joseph is known for being a rake, and notorious for being a dandy. I have heard he’s had countless illicit affairs with married women all over the county, as well as in London.”
“What a reprobate. He should not be permitted in respectable company. Or in any company that includes women, for that matter,” Abigail said.
“He was not the sole perpetrator in the affairs,” Thomas said, casually pointing out something that would offend most of the ladies at the table.
“Are you insinuating that it is the fault of the women?”
Thomas held his hands in the air. “I am just saying that those married women chose to engage in illicit activities with him. They are not completely innocent in the matter and should not be treated as victims. They were of sound mind and were fully aware of the repercussions.”
“After being influenced by a manipulative rake,” Rebecca said.
“I understand your intentions, Thomas. He may have instigated it, but the women agreed to it, although I do not quite understand why they would,” Abigail said with a scoff.
After a brief pause, Emma sighed and shook her head. “I am not certain what to do. I don’t care for the attention he gives me, and I wish to avoid him without seeming rude. He is Charles’ cousin and partner in business, and I do not wish to cause a rift between them.”
“Charles doesn’t know of this, does he?” Thomas asked.
“He does not, and at the moment it is nothing for him to fret over,” Emma said.
“But if you are disturbed by his attentions, do you not think it’s best...” Thomas’ voice trailed off as he apparently realised what words would follow and he pursed his lips.
“Charles is not a mystery to any of us, and we are all aware of how he will react if he were to hear of this,” Emma said. “At the moment, I do not feel the need to inform him. I do, however, require everyone’s assistance in keeping this conversation to yourselves, as well as advice on how I can avoid Joseph as much as possible.”
“You may use Lilly as an excuse. She is still very much attention-hungry, and always requires her mother,” Abigail said, speaking of Emma’s youngest daughter.
“You may even insinuate another child is on the way,” Rebecca said with a grin.
“That is clever, but Charles would be furious if he had to hear it from others, especially from Joseph.”
“If I may, I would like to ask a personal question, Emma,” Thomas asked.
“You may ask me anything, Thomas. You have never requested my permission, as your questions are always asked freely, which is quite daring
.”
“My apologies,” Thomas said and glanced at Emma. “Why do you not merely tell Joseph his attentions are unwelcome, and you are uncomfortable in his presence?”
“As I mentioned, I do not wish to appear rude. I am the duchess, after all, and I have prided myself in being honest and forthcoming. But by speaking freely to Joseph, I fear that I will only make matters worse. Men such as he thrive on attention, whether positive or otherwise. I certainly do not wish to give him the satisfaction of a reaction as well. He deserves none of it.”
Thomas exchanged glances with Rebecca and Abigail and nodded. “I understand. Avoid him as much as possible. Perhaps he will focus his attentions elsewhere if he is simply ignored.”
“Or it will only motivate him to be more persistent,” Abigail said.
Emma bit her bottom lip and lowered her gaze.
Thomas cleared his throat. “Regardless of what you choose to do, Emma, I do believe you should speak with Charles. Brace yourself for his theatrical reaction, of course, then you can pick up the broken pieces from the floor afterwards.”
“That sounds rather volatile, but it is sadly true,” Emma said with a resigned sigh. His brother knew Charles well, it seemed. “I will speak with him upon his return.”
“And what will you do before then?” Rebecca asked.
“I will use any excuse I can think of to avoid Joseph,” Emma said. “I ask for your assistance, all of you. If you notice him approaching—”
“Gladly,” Thomas interjected and gallantly nodded.
“We will come to your rescue,” Abigail said. “Always.”
“Thank you,” Emma replied and smiled, feeling much more at ease within her heart.
She wished for the days to hastily pass in order for Charles to return, but she also feared for the moment she told Charles of Joseph’s behaviour. She would delay it as much as she was able to, but eventually she had to tell him.
In fact, she would deign to think of it from a different perspective. It was her obligation as his wife to inform him, even if it meant causing a rift not only with a family member, but with a business partner as well.
Chapter Three
Charles paced around his office at Parliament House, his thoughts in turmoil due to what he’d overheard at the club the previous evening.
He was in an even more foul mood than last night, thanks to the fact that he had been unable to sleep. All three of his brothers, his mother—in fact, his entire family—were well aware of his unpleasant demeanour if he did not sleep well, and they would stay as far away from him as possible. Perhaps it was a blessing that he was not surrounded by his family at this moment, as it would only result in an uncomfortable altercation and a heated argument.
Charles could scarcely believe that Emma had the absolute audacity to do behave in such a manner. It was most certainly not her place to accompany Joseph to any social event without his knowledge. Had her correspondence been lost in the mail? She certainly did not require his permission to attend events, but Thomas and Rebecca were still at the estate in addition to Abigail. Why did Emma not simply allow them to escort her?
Why on earth had she chosen to accompany Joseph?
If this was an attempt to ensure he cut his visit to London short due to her feeling lonely, it was rather pathetic as well as futile.
He had a large amount of work to attend to in London, and the two tall stacks of documents on his desk proved he still had much to read and sign today. He had no time to pace around his office, further upsetting himself by thinking too deeply about the situation.
Thanks to the spiral his head was in, he had not done anything productive the entire morning, only pacing around his office, pretending to read through the papers on his desk when the clerk collected documents from him. He had not even examined the Parliamentary documents he was supposed to review, and he was most certainly not in the mood to do so.
Frankly said, he was not in the mood to do anything but overanalyse a situation that he knew very little about. Perhaps that was why it caused him so much discomfort and distress?
Even before he and Emma were married, he had never felt a hint of jealousy when she conversed with other men. Emma was loyal and had great integrity as a person, as well as a wife. He always assumed that she would not behave in any manner that would reflect badly on herself or the Melton family, or Charles for that matter. She was a respectful woman who had always considered his feelings in the decisions she made.
Upon reflecting on their marriage, Charles knew that he’d made many mistakes, and had oftentimes come across as selfish and inconsiderate. Boorish, even. But he had always tried ensure that Emma and their daughters had everything they required.
Why would he suddenly feel jealous of with whom Emma decided to spend her time? They had been married for nearly eleven years and not once had he felt threatened by anyone.
Now he wondered, was socialising in public the only activity they shared?
Charles silently scolded himself for even thinking such a ludicrous thing, but for an unbeknownst reason, the musings lingered in his mind. The only other solution was...
A knock on the door echoed through his office, causing his whirling thoughts to halt, but he did not stop pacing. He was much too irate to stand still and as the door opened, he glared over his shoulder at his clerk. The young man carried a small stack of documents in his hands, which caused a headache to form between Charles’ brows.
“Did I not distinctly say I wish to not be disturbed?”
“I sincerely apologise, Your Grace, but Lord Hunt and Lord Barry requested your signature on these documents.”
Charles shut his eyes, pressed his index finger against his brow bone and flicked his free hand towards his desk. The clerk scurried forward, placed the documents with the others and hastily stepped away. “Is there anything you wish me to do, Your Grace?”
Charles’ eyes opened and his hand dropped to his side. He paused for a moment and glanced at the man, who seemed even more jittery than he had an hour previously when Charles had impatiently shouted at him.
“Yes. Indeed, there is,” Charles said after a brief pause.
The clerk stared at him expectantly and clasped his hands together.
“Arrange a coach for me, Colin.”
“A coach, Your Grace? Where to?”
“To Dorset County.”
“Dorset County? That is a two-day journey, at best.”
“I have made the trip many times. I am aware of how long it takes.”
“With all due respect, Your Grace, Lord Barry is expecting your attendance at the Parliamentary sitting later this afternoon.”
“I do not care. I must return back to my country estate.”
“Is it a family emergency?”
Charles’ jaw clenched and he lowered his gaze for a moment. Lord Barry was a well-known family man, and he would be more accepting of Charles’ absence in the meeting if he thought Charles had to immediately return home due to family matters.
“Indeed, it is. Her Grace, the duchess...” Charles’s voice trailed once more and he turned away, unable to complete his words.
“I understand, Your Grace. I will arrange the fastest coach, with enough changes of horses to ensure arrival in Weymouth in half the time,” Colin said.
“Thank you, Colin,” Charles said, and he watched his clerk rush out of his office and slam the door behind him.
Charles had never been comfortable telling lies but in essence, he was not being untruthful. He did, in fact, have an urgent family matter concerning Emma. Now, he simply had to return to Weymouth.
THE LATE MORNING BREEZE was cool and refreshing on Emma’s cheeks as she and Lady Westmond and Lady Dunbar promenaded along the stone walkway around the beach. Rebecca had not been feeling up to the jaunt, and Thomas had stayed with her at the estate.
Abigail was immersed in a novel she had purchased the day before and was much too preoccupied to join Emma for a leisurely stroll along the beach.<
br />
Thus, Emma had called upon two lady friends to join her. The children were being looked after by their governesses.
The escape from the estate had become necessary, as the walls inside Finlay Hall were beginning to suffocate her. The situation with Joseph made the feeling even worse. She was reluctant to be at the estate, as he might arrive without the good manners to send a calling card first. She certainly did not wish to find herself in a situation such as that, although she was assured by the knowledge that her sisters and brother-in-law would come to her aid if necessary.
Nevertheless, it was lovely to spend time beyond the estate walls with Lady Westmond and Lady Dunbar.
“You are awfully quiet, Emma,” Lady Westmond said.
“Perhaps it is due to His Grace’s absence. The estate must be terribly quiet without him,” said Lady Dunbar.
“I am not entirely by myself at the estate, although Charles’ absence is certainly noticed,” Emma said with a smile.
Her smile certainly did not linger, and she stared pensively into the distance.
“It must get rather lonely when he is in London for such extended periods of time and the other Melton brothers and their families are not in residence,” Lady Dunbar said.
“It does, but luckily I have the children to keep me company,” Emma said.
“Have you ever considered moving to London, making it your permanent home?” Lady Westmond asked.
“Weymouth has become such a large part of my life, and I cannot fathom spending most of my time away from it. It would certainly be better for the children to see their father more often, but London seems too harsh and grey. I feel as though it would stifle their curiosity. Weymouth is beautiful and I simply adore seeing the children frolicking around the gardens. I doubt I would be able to leave,” Emma said. “I most certainly do not enjoy myself fully without Charles, and I do miss his presence at the estate. But I also cannot expect the man to simply withdraw his seat from the House of Lords.”
“He is a highly respected member and has been for numerous years,” Lady Dunbar said. “It would be a shame for him to step down.”
