by Rose Pearson
Emily, thinking that since her father would not sit down, she may as well do so, took a seat carefully and tried to consider what she should say in response. The knowledge that she had no requirement to do as her father asked brought her a great sense of relief, allowing her to breathe at a fairly normal rate. She let the silence grow between them, looking at her father and seeing his face begin to darken. She would not allow herself to be afraid of him again, not when she had nothing to fear. He could not come near her. He could not demand that she obey him. There was nothing between them now.
“It is rather tiresome, I will admit,” she said, softly, looking up into his face and finding her hands tighten in her lap at the sight of the rage in his expression. “The rumors are nothing more than that, however, and I will not permit them to keep me back from society.”
“Not even if they are true?”
His words bounced off the walls, making Emily lift an eyebrow. “But they are not true, father, as I am certain you must believe,” she replied, a twist to her gut reminding her that, most likely, the whispers about her behavior had come from him in an attempt to have her return to his household with the shame and sorrow of it all. “I am, therefore, ignoring them entirely.”
“That will not do!” her father exclaimed, beginning to pace back and forth in front of her. “You are behaving irrationally, Emily. You ought to be keeping to the shadows and not pushing yourself forward in amongst society. In fact,” he continued, his voice still overly loud as he turned to look at her. “You should return home, as I have suggested.”
Emily’s hands tightened together at once, her lips thinning as she watched him pace. She had known that this was his intention and yet the pain of his disregard for her bit at her all over again.
“Whom is it you have promised me to this time, father?” she asked, sharply, arching one eyebrow as he stopped pacing and turned to look at her. “You need not pretend that you have not done so, for I am well aware that the only reason you are urging me home is to set me up as wife for someone else.” This had never been confirmed by either Emily’s mother or father but she did not need to hear the words from their mouth to know that this was the truth. The arrested look on her father’s face proclaimed that she had been quite correct in believing this to be his goal. A long sigh escaped her lips as she shook her head in his direction, her sadness weighing down her soul for some moments. Why did he care nothing for her? Why was his only consideration the wealth that he could gain from her marriage to a gentleman of his choosing?
“You are a repugnant little brat!”
Emily flinched and drew back sharply as Lord Chesterton suddenly threw himself forward, one hand raised to slap her. She closed her eyes, cringing, her hands tight on the chair arms as she waited, only for another, authoritative voice to ring across the room.
“I do not think that is wise, Chesterton.”
Her eyes flaring with surprise whilst her heart flooded with relief, Emily looked behind her father’s frozen stance to see none other than Lord Havisham walk into the room. His eyes were darker than she had ever seen them, his brows low and his hands planted firmly on his hips.
“H- Havisham, is it not?” Lord Chesterton said, making no move to step away from Emily. “This is none of your business, sir.” He turned back to Emily, his face a deep shade of red, only for Lord Havisham to stride forward and grasp Lord Chesterton’s arm, thrusting it hard behind his back. Lord Chesterton let out a howl of pain and staggered away, leaving Emily free to rise from her chair now that her father was no longer standing directly in front of her.
“It may be so that this conversation has nothing whatsoever to do with me,” Lord Havisham stated, coming to stand between Emily and her father. “But I shall not permit you to harm Lady Smithton in any way.”
Emily swallowed hard but took a small step to her right, so that she might see her father completely. “And I will not do as you ask, father,” she stated, clearly, despite the fear curling in her belly. “I have lived that life and I need live it no longer. I am a widow of independent means. I have no need to live by your requirements any longer.” Her voice grew louder as her determination grew. “I may have once been the mouse, easily enough directed where to go, but those days are long gone from my mind now. You have no business demanding what I should do, father.”
Her father shook a pointed finger at her. “You have made an excellent match, have you not?”
“Only for Lord Smithton to pay you for me!” she exclaimed, hearing the expulsion of air that came from her father’s lips as she told him what she knew. “And now you would wish me to do the same as I have done before and subjugate myself to another, so that you may find a little more money from the sale.” Her anger began to burn, her fear fading away. “You care nothing for me, father. You have never done so. All you see is the money you could make from me.”
“And that is why you started the rumors,” Lord Havisham added, with a quick look of sympathy in Emily’s direction. “You wanted Emily to be so shamed that she would return to you – and you would then treat her as you had done before and marry her off to whomever you chose. For a good deal of coin, I would suggest.”
Lord Chesterton’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Lord Havisham. “You have no say in this, Lord Havisham!” he declared. “Might I suggest that you depart this house –”
“Whilst you may think that you have some say in my life, father,” Emily interrupted, loudly, coming to stand a little closer to Lord Havisham, “I can assure you that you have no right to demand that Lord Havisham quit my house. It is not the case. I wish for Lord Havisham to remain and so he shall.” Lifting her chin and finding a good deal of courage within her heart as she glanced up at Lord Havisham, Emily prepared to speak what she hoped would be her final words to her father. She did not want to see him again, did not want to have him interrupt her life in any way. He had to understand that she would never again do as he urged.
“Father,” she began, taking a step closer to him and seeing the way that his eyes turned back to her, their dark orbs threatening and malevolent. “I am not the girl you once knew. I shall not return to your house, nor shall I ever again acquiesce to your demands.” She held herself steady, her shoulders firm and her eyes lifted to his without fear nor anxiety within her. “I have done as you bade me once before and yet, despite the troubles I have faced, I have discovered myself to be courageous and strong. I am able to do as I wish now, able to behave as I choose. I shall never again be the child you believed me to be, the one who had no choice but to do as you bade her for fear of the consequences that would follow if she did not. You do not know me any longer, father, and I have no desire to allow you that opportunity.” She drew in a long breath, seeing her father about to speak and held up one hand in a sharp, deft motion that had her father gasping with the shock of her audacity. “Now, you will quit my house, father, and return to your own abode. If you do not, then you shall find yourself physically removed by my footmen. And have no doubt of this: you shall never be welcomed in my presence or even in this house again.”
She did not wait to see how he responded but instead turned on her heel and walked to the window. Her stomach tightened as silence washed over the room, closing her eyes as she prayed that her father would do as she had bidden him. Much to her relief, some moments later, the sound of his footsteps reached her ears. The door was pulled open and his footsteps began to fade as it closed tightly behind him.
“He is gone.”
Lord Havisham was beside her in a moment, his hand resting on her shoulder. Emily put her hand up to his, feeling both relief and fondness filling her.
“Thank you for your support in this, Lord Havisham,” she murmured, too afraid to look up into his face for what she feared would follow. “Never have I been so glad to see your face.”
“I am glad to hear it, Lady Smithton,” came the gentle reply. “If it is not too bold to say, I am truly proud of your conduct towards your father. You were gracio
us yet determined and it is your courage that has forced him to obey your requests. I do not think that you need fear him again.”
Emily sighed and dared to look up into Lord Havisham’s face, seeing the affection in his eyes and finding herself lost within them. “I am glad of that,” she admitted, softly. “And I am glad to find you here now, Lord Havisham.”
A beat passed before Lord Havisham responded. It was as though her words had been too much for him to immediately accept.
“Does this mean, my dear Lady Smithton, that you have forgiven me my past misdemeanors?”
She nodded, a smile spreading across her face as Lord Havisham closed his eyes and let out a breath of relief. “It does, Lord Havisham,” she told him, feeling the wounds in her heart finally healing completely. “I have forgiven you completely. There is nothing else that needs to be said.”
Chapter Twelve
“What am I to do with them?”
It was the day after Emily’s father had marched into the house and demanded that she return to his household. The day after Lord Havisham had stood by her as she had spoken to her father, and since she had finally told Lord Havisham that there was nothing left for her to forgive. The freedom that came with such a thing had been quite overwhelming and even though no more had been said between them, Emily knew that the possibilities were now fully open to her. She did not need to decide immediately what she would do about the future as regarded Lord Havisham but would rather enjoy the happiness and the joy that now came with setting the past aside. Now, they would be able to start to rebuild their acquaintance.
However, Emily did not want to forget about Miss Bavidge and Miss Crosby. Whilst she wished to aid them, she found it more than difficult to think of what she might do in order to encourage them to engage with any gentlemen that came to greet them. She did not know how to teach them what to do when it came to a gentleman’s flirtations.
And then, an idea caught her. Rising to her feet, she began to pace excitedly about the room, realizing that this might be the perfect way to align both of the difficulties in her life – the two ladies, Miss Bavidge and Miss Crosby – and the other being Lord Havisham. If she were to manage this correctly, then not only could she do her best to find happiness for Miss Bavidge and Miss Crosby, but it would also give herself the opportunity to get to know Lord Havisham all over again without truly committing herself to anything more than a furthering of their acquaintance.
Clapping her hands in delight, Emily rang the bell at once, hurrying to her writing desk. She had three notes to write in very quick succession and the staff would need to know to expect three guests for late afternoon tea. She could hardly wait to see them.
A few hours later and Emily rose to her feet as the butler opened the door to her guests. However, it was not only Miss Bavidge and Miss Crosby who appeared but, instead, they entered with two other ladies alongside them. Miss Bavidge, who was blushing furiously and worrying her lip, curtsied beautifully before clearing her throat to speak.
“I was just about to write a note to you when I received your summons,” she said, her voice rather timid. “I am terribly sorry to be so rude all over again but I have two further acquaintances who wished to know you and to see if they might, perhaps, join our little endeavour.”
Emily shook her head, her lips quirking as she looked at them all, seeing four rather scared looking young ladies all glancing at one another nervously. So, she had gone from two young ladies to four – but what did that matter? It would only mean that there might be a little more work to do on her part and it could certainly take a little more time to aid them all, but that was of no concern to her. She herself had no eagerness to rush into any kind of courtship with Lord Havisham and this would bring her the time she needed.
“Indeed, I can see that you have brought some friends with you, Miss Bavidge,” she murmured, allowing a small smile onto her face as she turned to greet the two ladies whom she believed to be ages with Miss Bavidge. Both were just coming out of a deep curtsy. “And do you both consider yourselves spinsters too?”
There was one young lady with very dark hair and piercing green eyes who, at first glance, appeared to be something of a beauty but it was only when she moved forward to curtsy that Emily noticed she limped just a little. Her heart swelled with sympathy. The ton did not take kindly to imperfections.
“Lady Amelia Ferguson, daughter to the late Earl of Stockbridge,” she murmured, her head still low as the second lady came forward. She was not hiding her face as the other did but looked directly at Emily before curtsying again, as if to make up for her rudeness in appearing without invitation. She was neither plain nor pretty, with mousey brown hair and warm hazel eyes that seemed to take everything in.
“Lady Beatrice Thornton,” she said, stepping back. “My father is the Marquess of Burnley.”
“And, as I asked, you both consider yourself spinsters?” Emily asked, a little uncertain as to why Lady Beatrice would be so, given that she was the daughter of a marquess.
Lady Beatrice nodded, as did Lady Amelia. “My father has recently declared to his fellow gentlemen, under the influence of a good deal of liquor, that my mother played him false before she carried me. There is now some question over my lineage and thus, I am rejected.”
Emily shook her head, indicating for them all be seated. “How terrible. I am sorry, Lady Beatrice.”
Lady Beatrice nodded but looked away, clearly battling to remain perfectly in control. Emily could not help but feel sympathy for her – for them all.
“You do not mind, Lady Smithton?” Miss Bavidge whispered, still looking terrified that they might all be suddenly thrown from her house. “I am sorry to have done so without your knowledge but – ”
Emily waved a hand, cutting her off. “No, not in the least. Four ladies is a perfect size for ‘The Spinsters Guild’.”
Four pairs of eyes looked back at her in astonishment and Emily could not help but laugh.
“That is what we shall call this little endeavour,” she explained, as they all looked back at her wordlessly. “To anyone who asks, we simply meet to sew and discuss and the like. Those who are betrothed or already wed are not a part of our circle and I shall make it quite clear that you have all been carefully chosen.” She tilted her head and smiled. “But, of course, we shall, in actuality, be discussing your futures and I shall help you where I can. I am sure that, by the time this Season ends, you shall all find yourselves in a much happier situation. And, if you do not, then I shall simply return next Season to do the same!”
There was a short, stunned silence as the four ladies looked back at her, their expressions all ones of surprise.
“Thank you, Lady Smithton,” Miss Crosby whispered, blinking back a sudden flurry of tears. “You have brought hope back into my heart.”
Emily smiled at her gently. “You will not be alone any longer, my dear. You have my word that I will do all I can to help you.”
The room was then filled with the sound of the three other ladies thanking Emily profusely and Emily felt her heart grow warm as she looked at them all. This was working out wonderfully.
“Oh,” she said, interrupting them as there came a scratch at the door. “Do excuse me for a moment. I have another guest that I must speak to in private, although he is to aid us in this.”
Silence filled the room.
“A – a gentleman?” Lady Beatrice enquired, carefully. “A gentleman is to assist us?”
A smile tugged at Emily’s lips. “He does not know it yet but yes, he will assist us all. After all, we will need a gentleman to show an initial interest in you, to dance with you and the like and I am quite sure that Lord Havisham is up to the task.” Walking to the door, she opened it and saw the butler waiting outside. “Do excuse me for a few minutes.”
There was a knot in her stomach as Emily opened the door and walked into the parlor to see Lord Havisham waiting for her. He was standing with his back to her, his hands clasped loosely beh
ind his back as he looked out of the window onto the London street below.
“Lord Havisham,” she began, as he turned towards her. “Thank you for coming.”
He remained exactly where he was, although his eyes, so blue and intense, fixed on her own and a gentle tug of his lips told her that he was truly delighted to see her. “I would do anything you wish, Lady Smithton.”
That brought a smile to her face. “I am glad to hear it; Lord Havisham for I have a proposal for you. Please, be seated.”
A look of curiosity on his face, he did as she asked and sat down carefully, his hands resting loosely on the arms of the chair. Emily felt herself grow a little nervous as she spoke, wondering what he would think of it all.
“Lord Havisham, you have made it very clear that you intend to try and win back my heart. After yesterday’s meeting with my father and my decision to forgive all that has gone before, I must tell you that I have given the matter a great deal of consideration.”
Heat flared in his eyes. “And what have you decided, Lady Smithton?”
Pausing, she looked at him directly. “I have decided that I cannot accept your offer to court me as yet, Lord Havisham.”
He crumpled almost at once, his shoulders slumping as he sank back into his chair. The look of disappointment in his expression caught at her heart for a moment, but she dismissed it outright. This was perfectly fair on her part, for trust took time to rebuild.
“Lord Havisham, I do not yet know how to trust you,” she said quietly. “The deep friendship and intimacy that was there before has gone entirely, although I will not pretend that my heart is without any affection.” She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “However –”
Lord Havisham’s head shot up; his eyes filled with a sudden, fierce hope.
