Always Come Home (Emerson 1)

by Maureen Driscoll

  It was rather insulting, really.

  She snuggled closer to him and his unconscious response was to erase the last remaining space between them.

  She’d long ago resigned herself to never marrying. She had no dowry and it would be inappropriate in the extreme for a governess to hunt for a husband. But for the moment, she imagined what it would be like to lie with the man she loved. Ideally, it wouldn’t be in the back of a bumpy cart filled with scratchy hay. But with the right man none of it would matter. She suspected she could endure much in order to be with the man she loved.

  He would not be the earl, of course. Even if they weren’t from different classes, he’d made it known he had to marry an heiress. She hoped he would find love as well as a fortune.

  On that thought, sleep did find her. She drifted off, with Colin’s pleasant scent and warmth to comfort her.

  *

  Colin was jolted from sleep by what felt like his arse hitting a stone floor after being dropped from the turret of a castle. While he tried to shake the sleep from him, he became aware of two things. One was that a soft female was lying so close to him she might as well be on top of him. It was a pity she wasn’t. She smelled of lemons and her soft brown hair cradled his cheek. He realized it was Ava and thought what a shame it was that they would never be in this position again.

  The other fact he was made aware of was that the cart was slowing to a halt. He couldn’t see much from his vantage point and did not want to wake Ava by sitting up. He looked over to see that Maude was still asleep, but Stemple was also looking around as best he could. They caught each other’s eye. It was a bit embarrassing for both men to be used as human mattresses, but there was nothing for it but to nod and never speak of it again.

  When the cart lurched off the path, it was a big enough jolt to awaken both ladies. Colin wondered how long it would take Ava to realize on whom she was lying. It turned out to be about a minute. She jumped up and almost fell onto Maude in her haste to be away from him.

  “From your reaction, I can only imagine you saw a spider,” said Colin.

  “A spider, my lord?”

  “It would be too lowering to think you wanted to get away from me with such haste, so I was hoping a spider had braved the cold and given you a start.”

  “I assure you that had a spider been as strong as you….I mean, as big….I mean….”

  “Yes?” asked Colin with a grin.

  “I cannot be expected to make sense, my lord. I have only just awakened.”

  “You are welcome to sleep on me at any time, Ava.”

  She was on the verge of some tart response when Carl spoke to them. “This is where I have to turn, my lord. But I expect you should be able to find some sort of wagon to take you the rest of the way home.”

  Colin moved stiffly out of the cart, helping Ava and Maude after him. Stemple had already disembarked and was surveying the small village.

  Colin approached Carl. “I cannot thank you enough for the service you have done us, sir. Please let me pay you something for your efforts.”

  “Think nothing of it, my lord. It’s nearly Christmas, after all. Besides, how many farmers can brag that he had an earl in his cart?”

  “Only one that I know of,” said Colin with a grin. “Then take this for your sisters, for I am sure you are a good brother.” He pressed coins into the man’s hand before he could object again. “Your kindness will not be forgotten, Carl.”

  “Thank you, my lord. And a Happy Christmas to each of you.”

  They bid farewell to Carl as he left, then it was time to learn how best to continue onward.

  “Where are we?” asked Ava.

  “We are but eight miles from my estate.”

  “Will we walk there?” asked Ava.

  “I certainly hope not,” said Colin. “But why don’t we discuss our next steps at the tavern, in case anyone must use the necessary.”

  No one opposed the idea, not even Maude, who likely had a keg of ale tucked away somewhere on her efficient person and would no doubt protest the purchase of anything in a tavern. But twenty minutes later, they were gathered around a small scratched table and Colin had ordered them hot soup and bread.

  “Before you protest, Maude,” said Colin, “we saved enough by not renting a carriage that we can afford this small meal.”

  “Yes, milord,” said Maude, who looked happy enough to eat her soup.

  “My lord,” said Stemple, “I took the liberty of inquiring at the stable about possible conveyances to rent. Unfortunately, they do not have any available.”

  “Please do not tell me we’ll be walking,” said Colin.

  “I do not believe it will come to that. They had two horses to rent.”

  “Are you leaving Miss Conway and me behind?” asked Maude.

  “Maude, do have more confidence in me than that,” said Colin. “Besides, I was looking forward to more of your meals. We can double up two to a horse as long as we do not go above a trot.”

  “I am not much of a rider,” said Ava.

  “I promise to not let you fall off,” said Colin. “Unless I grow too cold at the slow pace, then I shan’t hesitate to leave you in a snowbank.”

  “You, sir, are gallantry personified.”

  Half an hour later, the four of them set off for the last part of the journey.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Not two hours later, the horses started up the long, familiar drive of the Ridgeway estate. Colin had mixed emotions as he contemplated what lay ahead. This estate – his estate – was the source of many nightmares. He’d hated growing up here. Eton and Oxford had been welcome respites from the hell his life had been with an abusive father and a cruel, distant mother. But both of them were gone now. They had been for years. Now it was the place where his sisters lived.

  His beloved sisters.

  He hoped he would be able to do right by them. He would do whatever it took to make it so. He also had an obligation to help Ava, Maude and Stemple. There were times when his responsibilities seemed almost overwhelming. But he couldn’t think that way now. Quite frankly, right now he was most interested in seeing his sisters, followed by a hot bath and sleeping in a soft bed.

  He reined his horse to a halt in the grand circular drive. He was a bit surprised his sisters weren’t there to greet him. But it was a cold winter day. He hoped they were warm beside a fire.

  However, he became even more curious when no footman left the house to come to their aid. He knew they didn’t have many left. Most had chosen to find employment elsewhere and he hadn’t blamed them. But he thought at least one would be there.

  Finally, the door opened and their longtime butler, Marvins, came outside. Marvins had been at the estate for decades. He was in his late fifties and had been a favorite of the old earl. The butler had even held Colin down for more than a few beatings. When Colin’s father had died, he’d wanted to dismiss the man. He’d looked forward to doing so for years. But, when Marvins could not find other employment, Colin had kept him on for two reasons. One was that he hadn’t wanted the man to starve – he didn’t want anyone to starve – and the other was he wanted Marvins to see that Colin was not his father.

  “Marvins,” said Colin, still atop his horse. “As you can see, I have brought guests. As soon as I’ve introduced them to my sisters, do be so good as to send up hot baths and have dinner ready soon thereafter.”

  “My lord,” said Marvins with the smallest of bows. “There is something…”

  “Where are my sisters? I hope they are not from home.”

  “No, my lord. They are at home.”

  “And they have not at least appeared at the window? I would take this as a personal insult were I not too tired and frozen to be affronted.”

  “My lord,” said Marvins, raising his voice just a bit. “As I was saying, they are at home. But not here.”

  “I do not take your meaning.”

  “They are at their new home. The dower house.”

>   “I do not understand. Are they to live there while I take up residence here alone?”

  “No, my lord. You and your sisters live at the dower house. The new tenants now live in the manor.”

  “But I did not arrange for tenants.”

  “No, you did not. I suggest you speak with Lady Rosemary.”

  Colin stared at the butler, not comprehending what was happening. Perhaps the cold had frozen his brain. But then he felt a light touch on his arm.

  “My lord,” said Ava, from in front of him. “Perhaps we will get more answers at the dower house.”

  Had it really come to this? Had his sister taken matters into her own hands and now Ava was guiding him as if he were one of her charges? He wouldn’t contemplate it further. He simply turned the horse around and set out again.

  His three companions were maddeningly silent for the ten minutes it took to reach the dower house. And all the while Colin could not quite comprehend what was happening. He had any number of questions he wanted answers to. No, needed answers to.

  But finally, the dower house came into view and even before they’d reached the end of the drive, his two sisters had run outside, gratifyingly excited by his arrival.

  Rosemary was eighteen years old. She had the Emerson black hair and dark brown eyes. Her hair was curly, and as a girl, it had been impossible to tame. Now as a young woman she wore her hair up, but tendrils were continually escaping to float about her face.

  Leticia, known to everyone as Letty, was eight. And unlike every other Emerson, she had bright red hair and dark blue eyes. She was, as their mother had boasted to anyone who would listen, not the late earl’s get. She had been conceived during a period when Colin’s parents had lived on different continents. He believed his mother had deliberately chosen a lover so different in looks from her husband that there would be no doubt as to the child’s parentage. Indeed, the old earl had had little use for Letty, often ignoring her existence all together. But their mother had neglected the girl, as well. All she’d wanted was to use the child as a weapon against her husband. Once that became boring, she simply moved on.

  However, Colin loved Letty. Everyone did. He did not know if she yet understood why she looked so different from her brothers and sisters. But Colin and his siblings were resolved that she would never know anything but love from them.

  Colin had barely dismounted when Letty raced across the drive to hug him.

  “You’re finally here!” she said. “I was so afraid you wouldn’t make it home in time for Christmas. Rose didn’t know what to do with me because I kept running to the window searching for you. But you have finally come and it shall be a happy Christmas because of it. Who are your friends?”

  “Dear Letty,” he said, as he bent to kiss his sister. “You are a sight for sore eyes. But do let me greet Rose before you ask too many questions.”

  He hugged Rosemary, as Letty grinned at the visitors.

  Rosemary held on to him tightly. “I am so glad you have come, dear brother. But let us get all of you inside before you freeze.”

  Colin looked at his sister. She’d grown into a beautiful young woman and he was gripped with guilt again because he knew she should have a Season. But he just couldn’t afford it. He motioned to the door. “Is there no footman to come help or groom to take our mounts?” He reached up to help Ava dismount.

  “Here are the grooms now,” said Rose, smiling at the two servants on horseback, who must have followed Colin from the manor. “Gordon and Miller, how nice of you to come take his lordship’s horses. Please take them back to the main stables. I’m sure his lordship can give you instructions on what should be done with them later.”

  The two servants bowed, then took the horses from Stemple.

  “Rose?” asked Colin. “Where are the footmen? And why did Gordon and Miller come from the manor stables and not the ones here? For that matter, what are you doing in the dower house?”

  “Let us all go inside. Then you can introduce us to your guests.”

  “Rose?”

  “There are no footmen,” she said quietly. “And we have no animals in the dower house stables.”

  Colin’s heart fell. He’d left his sisters alone, without even footmen to help them. He turned away, unable to face her. He tried to find his luggage, only to see Stemple and the others had already taken everything inside. He took Rose’s hand, then entered their new home.

  The dower house was of Tudor design with eight bedrooms on the upper floor and a sitting room, dining room and library on the first floor, with the kitchen and servants’ quarters in the back. It had been unoccupied since Colin’s grandmother had passed away when he was ten. He had often taken refuge there after one of the earl’s beatings. It had always been a welcome sanctuary.

  As he looked around, he saw that much of the furniture was still under Holland covers.

  “Rosemary, what is going on?” asked Colin.

  His sister hesitated, not knowing where to begin.

  Ava broke the silence. “My lord, perhaps you would like to introduce us to your sisters, lest they think their home has been invaded by wrinkled travelers. I mean, it has been. But, at least they will know what to call us.”

  “Of course,” said Colin. “Forgive my rag manners. Lady Rosemary, Lady Leticia, please allow me to present Miss Ava Conway, formerly a governess for Viscount Clayton’s sisters.”

  “Welcome to our home,” said Rosemary, as she and Letty made their curtsies.

  “Thank you. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rosemary and Lady Leticia.”

  Colin turned to the others. “This is Maude Anderson, formerly a cook’s assistant in Lord Clayton’s household and my valet, Victor Stemple.”

  It was obvious when Rose and Letty got their first look at Stemple’s scars. Colin wanted to kick himself for not preparing them.

  Rosemary quickly averted her eyes from where she’d been staring, while Letty took her sister’s hand and moved closer to her skirts. It was a reminder of just how young she was.

  Stemple bowed, turning his scarred half away from them.

  “Welcome to our home,” said Rose with a smile.

  “Thank you, my lady.”

  “Stemple served in the war,” said Colin quietly.

  Rose regarded the man for a moment, then extended her hand to him. “Thank you for what you did for King and country, sir.”

  Stemple hesitated before extending his right hand – the scarred one. But Rose took it tenderly and shook it, smiling gloriously. Then Letty stepped forward and did the same thing. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Colin had never been so proud of anyone as he was of his sisters at that moment.

  He cleared his throat. “It has been a long journey – a tale I’ll tell you as soon as I’ve changed. I believe there are one or two things you have to tell me, as well. All in all, there should be no shortage of conversation. Can you please have Cook prepare a meal for us?”

  Letty looked at her sister.

  “Colin,” said Rose. “There is no Cook.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “There is no Cook. Just as there are no other servants. We let out the manor house to an American family and all of the servants chose to remain there.”

  “Do you mean to tell me you have no one in this house, save yourselves?”

  “We do not.”

  Colin was hit with intense anger at his servants for deserting his sisters. For would it not have been possible for even one of them to remain? He would have done anything to make it up to the man. He was also angry at his forbears for being so careless with the family fortune. But most of the anger was directed at himself for not realizing it had come to this.

  “What about your governess?” he asked. “Surely she did not go to the manor.”

  “I dismissed her,” said Rose.

  “Why would you do that?”

  Rose darted her eyes at Letty, who was occupied with their cat, Jasper. “I do not need a governess since I am
eighteen. Letty and I get along quite well on our own.”

  “How long has it been this way?”

  “For a week.”

  “Have you been eating at the manor house all this time?”

  “No, I have been cooking, though I confess I am not very good at it. It has mostly been meat and cheese.”

  “I think she’s a wonderful cook,” said Letty loyally.

  “I am sure she is,” said Colin with a smile for Letty. Well, at least this was one problem for which he had a ready solution. “Maude, I have no money to pay you now, nor do I know when that will change. But I would be even more indebted to you than I already am if you would consider being the new cook here, even if it is only until you find a better paying position. Which I assume would be anywhere else.”

  Maude’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “My lord, I cannot be your cook. A cook needs to know how to read.”

  “Maude, a cook needs to know how to cook. And you are learning to read, are you not?”

  “Yes, sir, but I have much to learn.”

  “As do we all. Miss Conway, you will help her, will you not?”

  She smiled. “As long as I remain in this house, I will.”

  “I should also like to be of service,” said Rose.

  “Excellent,” said Colin. “And Stemple, I assume you’d be willing to step in when necessary?”

  “Of course, my lord,” said the valet, who looked, frankly, elated by the thought that Maude would remain at the house. “Perhaps, Maude and I should go to the kitchen now to see what we can make for a meal.”

  “An excellent suggestion,” said Colin.

  Rose smiled at them. “Letty, can you please show them where everything is?”

  “Are we really going to have a cook again?” asked an excited Letty. “Not that your meals aren’t good,” she quickly added.

  “It looks like we shall have a cook at last, thanks to Maude,” replied Rose. “And I shan’t be that disappointed to relinquish the task.”

  As Letty led the two servants to the back of the house, Ava spoke. “I should leave you two alone. Perhaps I can be of assistance in the kitchen, as well.”

  “No, please stay,” said Colin, as he put his hand on her arm to keep her from leaving. He knew the coming conversation with Rose would be difficult. But somehow it would help to have Ava by his side.