“I am sorry,” Sir Preston apologized. “I should not have said that. But I still do not think he should stay.”
“You don’t know anything about him!” Lady Emily cried. “He could be the kindest person in the whole world. You can’t just toss him out.”
“Of course I can toss him out,” Sir Preston said. “He is in my house.”
“But…” she said. “You don’t know him yet!”
“I don’t think I would like to get to know him,” Sir Preston said. “I think I would like him to leave as soon as he is able. Possibly before. I will be asking the doctor what he thinks.”
“You can’t!” Lady Emily cried. “He might die on the street and then what will people think of us?”
Sir Preston raised his eyebrow.
“Emmie, you are very dramatic tonight,” he said.
“I am not being dramatic,” she said. “I am telling you the truth. He was very injured, and he might not even remember his own name.”
“It was not even proper for you to discuss that much with him,” he said. “I do not think that you should go to his room again.”
“The door was open,” Lady Emily protested. “I did nothing improper.”
“I am not saying you did,” Sir Preston said. “But you never know with these Americans.”
Lady Emily glared at her father. She felt like she was at a stalemate in the argument and she didn’t really know what else to say.
“I think he should stay,” Catherine said, which surprised everyone. All heads turned towards her and Catherine tried to look brave. Lady Emily was the most stunned, as she felt she knew Catherine very well, and her friend did not often speak up about anything.
“Really?” Sir Preston asked. “Why is that?”
“Because he’s...well, he’s hurt and he’s in need of help,” she said. “And I always thought of your household as kind and generous, Sir Preston. I had always thought of you personally as a caring person, and that Lady Emily follows in your footsteps. Therefore, I would be very surprised if you turned the poor man out on the street.”
“Really,” Sir Preston had clearly not considered such a thing. “Well, Catherine that is a very kind thing to say, but…”
“And you have invited me and Lord Reginald into your home,” Catherine said. “Without even asking us for a penny of compensation. What a kind, caring person you are.”
Lady Emily snorted silently at that. Catherine was clearly trying to butter her father up, and while she appreciated it, she did not think it would work.
“What do you think, Lord Reginald?” Sir Preston asked his house guest.
Lord Reginald looked startled. “I…” he said, and then paused. He looked like he didn’t want to say the wrong thing, and Lady Emily felt bad for him. “I suppose we should wait and see.”
“Wait and see what?” Sir Preston asked.
“Well, until we know more about the man,” Lord Reginald replied. “As of right now, we do not know whether or not he poses a threat. We should at least wait until we know his full name and his details.”
“I agree,” Lady Emily said. “Father, if that is the compromise you are willing to make, I am ready to accept it.”
“I did not realize we were arguing such a deal,” Sir Preston replied, and then sighed. “Yes, I suppose that is the most reasonable option. I would not want to be accused of being heartless. But I am quite sure, Emmie, that this will not work out.”
“Thank you,” she said, and looked down at her soup, which was now growing cold.
Lady Emily looked to Catherine when her father looked away and gave her a smile. She wanted to let her friend know she was grateful for the bravery she had shown.
Catherine gave her a tiny nod back, but it wasn’t until after dinner that the pair were able to speak.
“Thank you,” Lady Emily said to her, as they sat by the window. “Without you speaking up, I don’t know that my father would have been swayed.”
”I’m sure that he would have,” Catherine said. “I was just reinforcing your argument. You seemed so passionate.”
“Do you not believe it to be true, though?” Lady Emily replied. “After all, we know nothing about the man. And I cannot believe that all Americans are scoundrels.”
“I understand,” Catherine said. “I think that we should at least know his name. But if I am honest...Emmie, it does make me a little bit nervous.”
“Why?” Lady Emily asked, confused. “You said that…”
“I know what I said,” Catherine replied. “But if I am honest, I said it for your sake, not your father’s or the Americans.”
“Myles,” she said. “His name is Myles.”
“Myles,” Catherine said. “Yes. I just...I am staying in the same house as him. What if...he is the type to…”
“No,” Lady Emily shook her head. “Catherine, you must not speak of such things.”
“I am not trying to be rude,” Catherine said. “Or even to judge him. I just think, that as young ladies, we have to be a little cautious, Emmie.”
“Of course we do,” Lady Emily said. “And if there was anything to be cautious of, I would let you know. But I do not feel that is the case here. I feel...I don’t know, perhaps it is silly. But I feel such a sense of peace with him. I do not feel he is a man that can do harm. If anything, I think he is a man who is looking for a new start.”
“That is interesting,” Catherine said. “Did you have a conversation with him beyond his name?”
“We spoke a little,” she replied. “He is a silversmith, or at least, he was in America. I believe that he is looking for something different, here in England. It must be such an adventure, to cross the ocean.”
“I think it would be terrifying,” Catherine said. “I do not think I could ever do that.”
“But you don’t know that,” Lady Emily said. “At least, not until you try. For all you know, you’d find it lovely.”
“Perhaps I would,” Catherine said. “Or perhaps I would have nightmares every day of the journey”
“Well, I’d love to see America,” Lady Emily said. “Imagine how different it must be to here.”
Catherine raised an eyebrow.
“I cannot,” she said. “It sounds barbaric, if I’m honest.”
“Barbaric?” Lady Emily said in surprise “Have you been speaking to my father?”
“No, no,” Catherine replied. “I’ve just heard stories.”
“Stories are just that,” Lady Emily said. “Folk create stories when they are bored.”
“Perhaps,” Catherine said. “In any case, we are not completely alone in the house. I'm sure everything will be fine.”
“I guarantee everything will be fine,” Lady Emily said, as the men came into the room. The baroness had been ignoring them until that point, and Lady Emily wondered whether she had an opinion on the American.
“Gentleman,” Lady Emily greeted them. They usually took their whisky at the table while the ladies took their coffee in the parlour. Today, it seemed that they had been gone much longer than normal. Lady Emily knew they must have been discussing their new guest. “Welcome back.”
“Would you play the piano for us, Catherine?” Sir Preston asked. “It is always a joy when you are here to do so.”
“Oh,” Catherine said, as she stood up. “I would love to.”
Lady Emily would have enjoyed it if anyone but Lord Reginald sat down beside her. However, Catherine’s open seat seemed to be an invitation, and so he did so without Lady Emily even glancing at him.
“Supper was lovely,” he said to her. “I am very lucky to be here for such a long time. I will be spoiled by the end.”
“Indeed, our chef is quite good,” Lady Emily replied, politely. The more she interacted with Lord Reginald, the more she was confused. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why she wasn’t interested in him. She just knew that she wasn’t, and she hoped that he would pick up on that. Surely, he wouldn’t keep trying to win her affect
ion if he knew there was no attraction?
She hoped he wasn’t attracted to her, and he was just being polite. After all, it was possible that he was as uninterested in the marriage as she was. She wondered what had prompted him to accept the invitation to stay for such a long time. Was he interested in her at all? Did he want to stay out in the country for other reasons? Was there nothing else to do in the life he had come from?
Of course, these were not questions Lady Emily felt she could ask. Instead, she focused on Catherine at the piano. Her friend really was quite talented, and she always enjoyed when she played.
“Did I hear you mention that you would like to see America some day?” Lord Reginald asked her, and Lady Emily reacted in surprise
“Oh,” she said. “I...Who told you that?”
“I overheard you,” he said, and she wondered if that was entirely true. She didn’t want to accuse of him as such, so she simply smiled. She may not be like other ladies, but her father had at least taught her to be polite when it was called for.
“Oh,” she shrugged. “I mean...yes. I think I would like to have an adventure.”
“But America?” he asked. “What is there?”
“Well, that is exactly my point,” she said. “Who knows what is there? I don’t know, aside from the stories I have heard that may not be entirely true. So I’d like to see for myself.”
“My understanding of America,” Lord Reginald said carefully. “Is that it’s a barbaric place, full of those who did not want to be loyal to the crown.”
“Oh,” she said. “That may have been the case many years ago, but I do not think it is the case now.”
“You don’t?” he raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“Simply because...times have changed,” she said. “I understand that they are quite a prosperous society these days, and are starting to carve an identity for themselves.”
He chuckled and shook his head.
“Perhaps that is what the stories say,” he said. “But think of it. They have no king they have to prove loyalty to, and therefore no one to govern them. Who knows what rules they live by, if anything?”
“I do believe they have set up their own government,” she said, which made him react in surprise.
“You have been talking to many people if you know that,” he said. “I did not know that your interest in America ran so deep.”
“It’s...just my interest in a sense of adventure,” she said. “And in a place I do not live. It is not that America is particularly drawing me. It’s more that anywhere else would be interesting.”
“Such as?” he asked, and she shrugged.
“I believe we have already had this conversation, my lord. Rome, Greece, Egypt, all of these places hold my interest. Do you not like to travel?”
“Not particularly,” he said. “As you know. So I am afraid we will have to compromise.”
“Must we?” she asked. She didn’t like the fact that he assumed they were going to get married, when she hadn’t given any indication of her consent yet.
“Yes, of course,” he said. “Perhaps some small day trips may suffice?”
“Uh…” she said. She didn’t want to be rude and say she would never consider such a thing, but that did not appeal to her.
“Or perhaps we could get a country home?” he offered.
“I do not see why we need to have such conversations tonight,” she answered. “I am tired, and this is quite a thing to discuss.”
“Indeed,” he said, seeming relieved. “We can discuss it another time. I will be on the lookout for such a property though.”
“Oh,” she said. “Perhaps not yet. I’m sure there will be plenty of time for that.”
“Indeed,” he said, and then turned his attention to Catherine at the piano. Lady Emily breathed a sigh of relief and caught Edward’s eye across the room. He raised his eyebrows at her, and she widened her eyes and shook her head slightly, to indicate that the conversation was not exactly going well.
Edward smiled, and tipped his head, and Lady Emily rose to join him at the coffee cart. With Catherine’s music playing over their hushed voices, they felt they could speak freely.
“She plays like such an angel,” Edward said, referring to Catherine.
“Indeed,” Lady Emily said. “She always has, but I do not believe you have stayed late into the evening very often when she is here.”
“I hope I will do so more often,” he said. “Especially if she notices me smiling at her.”
“Did you not see me frantically waving at you with my thoughts?” Lady Emily asked. “Lord Reginald is already planning our summer home.”
“Your summer home?” he asked. “You want a summer home?”
“No,” she said. “No, I most certainly do not, and that’s the problem.”
“Ah,” he answered. “Because you want to travel.”
“Exactly,” she said. “But he clearly finds that idea scandalous.”
“Did you offer to travel with him?” Edward asked. “Or were you proposing to go alone?”
“Neither,” she said. “I was simply saying that I wanted to see a few different places, and he said that we must compromise. And then he suggested a summer home.”
Edward looked confused.
“How is that a…?”
“Exactly,” she said, as she poured herself a fresh cup of coffee. “So I don’t know what to say to him. It is clear that this isn’t going to work out.”
“Lady Emily,” he said. “If I may offer a word of advice?”
“Hmm?” she asked.
“I know you may not feel Lord Reginald is for you,” Edward said. “And maybe he isn’t. But a marriage is for a lifetime, and so it may take some time to...adjust to the idea of living the rest of your life with someone.”
She paused. For a moment, she wondered if her childhood best friend simply didn’t understand her. She thought that Edward knew her soul much better than that. But then, she got a flash of inspiration.
“Are you talking about Lord Reginald and I?” she asked, with a raised eyebrow. “Or you and Catherine?”
“Uh…” he said and looked guilty. “Maybe both?”
“That is what I thought,” she said. “I’m sure Catherine will notice you.”
“Perhaps,” he said, and then looked back to the small group that had gathered. “We should sit again, before people get suspicious.”
“Perhaps they are already suspicious,” she said. “Perhaps Lord Reginald will lose interest and go home.”
“Lady Emily, I have never known you to be mean spirited,” he said, with a grin. Lady Emily simply smiled and returned to her seat, as Catherine finished playing. She really did enjoy her friend’s music, but she enjoyed it even more when Catherine finished playing and Lord Reginald got up to play cards with the rest of the men. Lady Emily lowered her voice, so no one would overhear her, and told her what Lord Reginald has said.
“Oh,” Catherine said. “If I am perfectly honest, that sounds quite lovely.”
A Lady's Taste For Temptation (Historical Regency Romance) Page 12
