Improper Miss Darling

by Gail Whitiker

  Glynnis sighed. ‘He is much more than that.’

  ‘Yes, I’m sure he is.’ Alex smiled and bent down to kiss the top of her head. ‘Or you wouldn’t have fallen in love with him.’

  ‘And what about you? How are you going to resolve your situation with Miss Darling? And with your father? He won’t be pleased when he learns about this. You saw how he reacted to Peter’s engagement to Linette. He will be furious when he hears that his heir has decided to cast aside discretion and follow his heart.’

  Yes, he would, Alex acknowledged. But right now, that wasn’t his biggest concern. His biggest concern was in finding out if Emma still wanted him. Once he knew the answer to that, there would be plenty of time to decide how he would deal with everything else.

  * * *

  Two days later, Emma sat in front of her easel, trying to muster the enthusiasm to continue with her painting. Ever since Alex had gone back to London, it was as though a light had gone out in her world, immersing her in a Stygian darkness from which there was no escape. She wouldn’t have believed it possible to miss a man so much, to feel as though even the effort of living wasn’t worth the trouble, but, clearly, that’s what losing love was all about.

  She gazed at the stone angel in front of her and sighed. ‘I would trade places with you if I could,’ she murmured, dipping her brush into a pot of paint. ‘Stone angels don’t have hearts that can be broken.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ a man said quietly. ‘Have you ever considered that someone did break her heart and maybe that’s why she’s not smiling?’

  Emma stiffened. It couldn’t be. He had no reason to come back to Dove’s Hollow. And why had he come back now? This was the worst possible time for him to be here. She wasn’t strong enough to see him. She couldn’t talk to him rationally when it was as much as she could do just to breathe.

  She stretched out her arm and carefully touched the flat side of the brush to the canvas. ‘Angels don’t fall in love. They live in heaven where all is bliss and harmony. Love is part of this world. Or of hell.’

  ‘It doesn’t have to be.’

  ‘Sadly, it is. At least for this family,’ Emma said, feeling the onset of unwelcome tears. Oh, yes, that was perfect. Now she was crying. Why couldn’t he have just stayed in London and left her alone? ‘What do you want, Alex? I thought you had gone back to London for good.’

  ‘No.’ She heard the crunch of his boots on the gravel path. ‘I went back to London because there was something I had to do. Someone I had to see.’

  He stepped into her peripheral vision. Emma turned her face away so he wouldn’t be able to see her tears. ‘Am I supposed to know who you’re talking about or are you going to make me guess?’

  ‘You probably already know.’

  ‘Lady Glynnis.’

  ‘Yes.’

  Emma stabbed paint against the angel’s wing. ‘Have you set a date for the wedding?’

  ‘There isn’t going to be a wedding,’ he said, forcing her to draw back her arm as he moved to stand between her and the canvas. ‘At least, not between Lady Glynnis and myself.’

  Emma’s gaze flew up to his. ‘But…you are engaged!’

  ‘Not any more. We talked about it when I was in London and we both agreed it wasn’t going to work.’

  Wasn’t going to work? Emma thought her heart had been pounding before. It was close to exploding now. ‘I don’t understand. You asked her…to marry you. She said yes. It was a long-standing arrangement.’

  ‘Yes, it was. But I asked her before I knew she was in love with another man. But you knew that, didn’t you, Emma?’ he said gently. ‘You knew all about the relationship between Glynnis and your brother.’

  Emma jumped up, knocking over the water jar. ‘How did you find out?’

  ‘Glynnis told me. Why didn’t you?’

  ‘Because it wasn’t my place to say anything,’ Emma said, flustered. ‘It wasn’t my secret to reveal.’

  ‘Maybe not, but surely I deserved to know that the woman I was marrying was in love with someone else.’

  ‘Of course you did, but Glynnis asked me not to say anything. She asked that it be our secret.’

  ‘How fortunate for all of us then, that it isn’t a secret any more.’

  Emma looked at him. Was he furious—or devastated? He didn’t appear to be either, but a man like Alex was good at hiding what he was truly feeling. He only let a person see what he wanted them to. ‘You don’t seem overly upset,’ she said cautiously.

  ‘That’s because I’m not upset. I am delighted to know she is going to marry the man she loves.’

  ‘Marry!” Emma gasped. ‘Lady Glynnis is going to marry Ridley?’

  ‘That was her intention when I left London.’

  ‘But…what will her parents say? What will society say? He is an artist. She is the daughter of an earl!’

  ‘Yes, but she is also a woman in love. And now that she is free to be with the man she loves, nothing is going to stand in her way. Very determined is Lady Glynnis when she sets her mind to something.’

  ‘She must be,’ Emma said in bewilderment. Because she would be going against the tide of popular opinion; doing something frowned upon by society and likely by everyone else she knew. All because she wasn’t willing to live without the man she loved.

  And then, an even more daunting thought occurred to Emma. ‘What is your father going to say when he hears about this? He adores Lady Glynnis.’

  ‘Yes, he does. And I hope that when he realises how much she loves Ridley, he will be able to find it in his heart to wish her well and to forgive me.’

  Emma bit her lip. ‘What do you think the chances of that are?’

  ‘Realistically? Not good,’ Alex admitted with a shrug. ‘But he will have no choice. Unless your brother changes his mind, he and Glynnis are going to be married. They probably won’t end up living in London, but I don’t think either of them cares about that. Ridley will find work elsewhere and, knowing society the way I do, this notoriety will only add to his cachet and people will seek him out even more. Glynnis’s only concern is that they be together.’

  Emma looked up at him, struggling to grasp everything he was saying. ‘Is this what you came to tell me?’

  ‘One of the things.’

  ‘There’s more?’ she squeaked.

  ‘Yes. The other reason I went to London was to tell Glynnis I could not marry her.’

  ‘Yes, I know. Because she was in love with Ridley.’

  ‘But I didn’t know that when I went there, did I?’

  ‘Then why…?’

  His smile had a slightly wicked edge…and suddenly, there wasn’t enough air in Emma’s lungs to finish the sentence. Her mouth opened, but the words didn’t come.

  Alex just smiled. ‘I did a lot of thinking after our last conversation, Emma. And I realised you were right. I had no right to interfere in Peter and Linette’s relationship. Your sister is a sweet, gentle woman and she is marrying my brother because she loves him. And he loves her. I don’t think I realised how much until I saw his face after he received her letter breaking off their engagement.’

  ‘But they aren’t getting married,’ Emma whispered. ‘Linette is in London with Aunt Dorothy.’

  ‘Yes, I know. I thought Peter would have gone to see Linette before she left, but apparently he went to see Mr Tufton instead to ask him about employment within the church. But Peter is in London now, intent on trying to change your sister’s mind.’

  ‘What? But you said they should not—’

  ‘I know what I said and I was wrong. I told Peter as much, too,’ Alex said. ‘I told him to go after Linette and beg her to marry him because I couldn’t bear knowing that I was the one who had caused those two dear people so much heartache.’

  Emma had no idea what to say. She was hard pressed to believe what Alex was telling her; though she was de lighted for her sister and Peter, she couldn’t believe that Alex would change his mind so completely, even to allowi
ng Ridley and Lady Glynnis to marry.

  If only…

  No, that was asking too much. Cupid had only so many arrows in his quiver and he had already expended more on her siblings than any one family had a right to expect.

  ‘To say I’m happy would be putting it mildly,’ she said finally. ‘I never thought it possible that matters would turn out like this. I had hoped Linette and your brother might have an opportunity at finding happiness together, but I never dreamt there was a chance for Ridley and Lady Glynnis as well.’

  ‘We don’t ask to fall in love with the people we do, Emma,’ Alex said quietly. ‘Sometimes it’s the last person in the world we expect to fall in love with; sometimes it is the last person we should fall in love with. But none of that matters because when you find that person and when you know it’s right, you’ll move heaven and earth to try to be with them. You will defy your family and fly in the face of society because all that really matters is being with that person.

  ‘Sometimes, it doesn’t work out,’ he said. ‘Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, the odds are too great and the sacrifices too high. But I have come to believe that if the love between two people is strong enough, they will find a way. A piece of iron only becomes stronger the more time it rests in the fire. I think that’s true for relationships. When put to the test, love either gets stronger or melts away entirely.’

  Emma nodded blindly. Tears were filling her eyes as fresh pain welled in her heart. She had never loved this man more than she did at this moment. He had done everything he could to facilitate the relationships between Linette and Peter, and Ridley and Lady Glynnis. He had swept aside duty and obligation to help them be with the people they loved and he had done so without thought or consideration for himself. She had no doubt he would receive a chilly reception from his father and from society for the part he had played in bringing those two couples together.

  ‘And what will you do now, my lord?’ Emma asked softly. ‘You will find things very difficult in London for a time, I think.’

  ‘Perhaps, but it has been on my mind to leave London for a bit,’ Alex said. ‘I told Peter I would take over the lease of Ellingsworth Hall, and that he and Linette could live there until they are able to make arrangements for a place of their own.’

  ‘You would do that for them?’

  ‘Of course. He is my brother. I would do all that I could.’

  ‘But…what will your father say?’

  ‘I don’t know, but, whatever it is, he will have to resign himself to the situation. I dare say when he sees his first grandchild, those resentments will fall away, as they should.’

  ‘What about the state of his health? This might be more than he can tolerate.’

  Alex smiled. ‘I am convinced he will outlast us all. I told Mother as much and I stand by my claim. But I’ll speak to the doctor once I return to London and find out exactly how things stand.’

  ‘Then, you will be living here. In the area,’ Emma said, wondering how she would bear it.

  ‘Yes. I find I rather like Little Moreton. It has a charm I didn’t expect, but then I suspect that has much to do with the people who live here. Especially with the Darling family, who seem to have made such a lasting impression on every member of my family. By the way, I never did tell you what I wanted you to paint for me.’

  The abrupt change of subject left Emma frowning. ‘I was hoping you had forgotten all about it.’

  ‘I haven’t. Fortunately, the picture is almost completed, so you can finish it for me now.’

  ‘Finish it?’ Emma said. ‘I haven’t even started it.’

  ‘Yes, you have. It’s right there in front of you.’

  Emma stared wide-eyed at the painting. ‘The stone angel?’

  ‘Yes. I’ve grown rather fond of this particular angel,’ Alex said, looking down at the canvas. ‘But there is one thing I would like you to add. One word. But only the right word will do. Otherwise, I don’t want it.’

  Emma gazed at him in bewilderment. ‘You want me to paint a word. On this painting.’

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘Why would you want a painting with writing on it?’

  ‘As a memento of the day.’

  ‘Why? Is today special?’

  ‘I’m hoping it will turn out to be, yes.’

  ‘And what is the word?’

  ‘You will have to be the one to tell me that, Miss Darling.’

  ‘I cannot read your mind, my lord.’

  ‘You won’t have to. Now, if you wouldn’t mind sitting down again.’

  Emma frowned, but resumed her seat in front of the easel. Alex picked up her brush, dipped it in a bright blue blob of paint and handed it to her. ‘Now, somewhere on the painting, I would like you to write the answer to a question.’

  ‘I still don’t understand.’

  ‘You haven’t heard the question yet.’

  ‘Oh, very well.’ Emma turned to look at the painting. ‘What is your question?’

  ‘Just this. Emma Darling.’ He slowly dropped to one knee on the ground beside her and said, ‘Darling Emma, will you marry me?’

  She dropped the brush.

  Patiently, he picked it up, wiped the gravel off the bristles and, dipping it in the blue paint again, handed it back to her. ‘Would you like me to repeat the question?’

  ‘No…yes, that is, I heard the question. I just don’t understand—’

  ‘I shall explain later. Just paint your answer.’

  Emma faced the canvas. This was impossible. It couldn’t be happening. He wasn’t really asking her to marry him, was he? She turned back to look at him, but he sat without moving. Waiting.

  She glanced back to the canvas. He was asking her to marry him. He was waiting for her to write her answer, yes or no, on the painting of the angel. He wasn’t teasing her. He was very serious.

  And ever so slowly, Emma began to smile. She smiled until she thought her face would split. So, this was how it felt. This was how you knew when it was right. When the world seemed a brighter place and no problem seemed insurmountable. This was how you knew you were in love.

  She took a long, deep breath and slowly pressed her brush to the canvas. He had given her paint enough for one short word. And there, right where the stone angel’s heart would be, she carefully, and lovingly, painted the word ‘yes’.

  Beside her, Alex made a sound. It might have been a murmur of joy, or relief, or a combination of the two. But whatever it was, Emma knew she had given him the answer he wanted.

  ‘I love you, Emma.’ He slowly got to his feet and drew her up with him. ‘You know that, don’t you?’

  ‘I do now.’ Aware that she was still holding on to the brush, she set it down, and then looked up into the face of the man with whom she would be spending the rest of her life and whispered, ‘I love you too, Alex. With all my heart.’

  His mouth covered hers hungrily, demanding a response, and willingly Emma gave it to him. She held nothing back, kissing him with a passion that surprised her and a depth of sincerity that could leave him in no doubt as to her feelings. A passion that was echoed deep within her soul.

  Yes, there would be challenges. Their life together would not be as easy as some. But as long as Alex loved her, Emma knew she would be able to face whatever came her way.

  ‘There might be one small problem,’ Alex said when he finally, reluctantly set her away.

  ‘Other than your father and most of society, you mean?’

  ‘Yes. Do you think your Mr Tufton will agree to marry us?’

  Emma blushed and laughed softly. ‘He is not my Mr Tufton.’

  ‘Of course he is! He’s besotted with you.’

  ‘Really? Then why did he ask Miss Cynthia Brown to marry him last Tuesday?’

  ‘He did?’

  ‘So Mrs Connelly informed us. And if Mrs Connelly says it’s true, it must be.’

  Alex smiled. ‘Perhaps he did that because he knew you were mine.’

 
; ‘You did a very good of keeping that a secret, my lord.’

  ‘Only from you. I’m sure Mr Tufton knew exactly how I felt. But it is just as well. At least now I won’t feel the need to glare at him as he pronounces us husband and wife.’

  Emma tutted. ‘There would never have been the need for that. You are the only man I have ever cared about, Alex. You must have known I was falling in love with you?’

  Alex bent his head to kiss her one more time. ‘I didn’t. But I shall never get tired of hearing you say it. Now, shall we go and tell your father the good news?’

  Emma nodded and, with Alex’s arm tucked around her waist and the other holding his newly acquired painting, they walked back to Dove’s Hollow as the real stone angel smiled her crooked smile and the warm spring rain gently began to fall.

  Epilogue

  Ellingsworth Hall—September, five years on…

  It was a happy crowd that gathered to celebrate the fourth birthday of Michael Richard Percy Taylor, son and heir of Lord and Lady Stewart, and grandson of the Earl and Countess of Widdicombe. Peter and Linette arrived first, bringing with them their three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Mary, followed by Ridley and Lady Glynnis, the latter suffering through the early stages of her pregnancy, but joyous nonetheless.

  Next came the grandparents: Lord and Lady Widdicombe, the Earl and Countess of Leyland, and Emma’s father, who had become even closer to Emma during the weeks and months following Michael’s birth. Only the two aunts were missing, Aunt Dorothy having written to say that she and Augusta were travelling in Switzerland as they had reconciled in the weeks following Augusta’s separation from her husband.

  A tent had been set up on the grounds of Ellingsworth Hall to offer protection in case of rain, but as the day had dawned clear and bright, no one sought to use it—except to procure refreshments from the magnificently laden tables set out within. Emma fondly watched her husband prepare a meal for her, smiling when she saw him place an extra piece of chicken on an already heaping plate.