“You wouldn’t do that to your niece.”
“To her? Never. To you, in a heartbeat.”
“I would think you’d be much more welcoming. I have, after all, been gone for several years.”
“Yes, well, perhaps Maude can make a pudding for your return. But Ava is not your present. Now get your sorry arse in the house before I kick it all the way back to America.”
“I would like to see you try.”
But they were, unfortunately, interrupted before it could be attempted by Rose, who’d stepped outside. “Colin, James, come in the house. It’s freezing out there.”
“She’s grown into a bossy chit, hasn’t she?” said James, grinning.
“Intolerably so. Who do you think took the initiative to get us moved to this place? If left to my own devices, I’m sure I could have solved our financial problems in only another two or three decades.” He kissed his sister as he reached her. James put his arm around her waist.
“This is turning into the very best of years,” said Rose, as she entered the house with both her brothers. “And I think it was most clever of James to bring me such a lovely niece.”
When they reached the foyer, Letty was still happily chatting away. Apparently, her plans had evolved into swims in the lake during summer and hikes through the hills.
Ava was removing Anna’s wet things. She took off her own shawl, placing it around Anna’s shoulders to warm her up, all the while smiling and making her feel at home.
A man James did not recognize bowed, then helped divest him of his things. He was badly scarred on one side of his face, probably as a result of the war.
“James,” said Colin, “this is Stemple, my poorly paid valet in London, who has been promoted to unpaid butler at the dower house.”
“Lord James,” said Stemple as he bowed. “Welcome home, sir.”
“Thank you, Stemple. It is a pleasure to meet you. If you suffered through as my brother’s valet, I can only assume you are a hearty soul impervious to boredom. Well done, sir.”
“Ignore him, Stemple,” said Colin.
Stemple ignored Colin. “Lord James, I shall take your luggage upstairs. Do you have any thoughts as to where Miss Emerson shall sleep?”
James considered the question. “It has been quite some time since I was in the dower house and I remember it only vaguely. I care little for where I will sleep, but would like my daughter close to me, not in any type of nursery.”
“Currently four of the bedchambers are occupied. But the two at the end of the hall are vacant, if you and Miss Emerson would like to stay there. If I might suggest it, your daughter may also wish to share a bedchamber with Lady Leticia.”
James and Colin looked over to where Letty was in alt chattering. This time she’d made it all the way to next Christmas, where she was talking about making snow angels. Anna had not said much, but at least she did not look frightened, a sight James had seen all too often in the past. He turned back to the butler. “Thank you, Stemple. I believe my daughter would like that, as long as it pleases Letty, as well.”
“Very good, my lord, I shall see to the arrangements straight away.”
Colin approached Anna carefully, bending to greet her. “I cannot imagine a better day than the one in which I get to meet my niece. I’m your uncle Colin and I am so happy you’ve come home.”
Anna smiled shyly at him as she clutched Ava’s shawl about her. She wore her black hair in two long braids. James’s heart warmed at the way his entire family – as well as Colin’s betrothed – had taken to Anna right away. But he’d expected nothing less. For, despite the bad example of their parents, his brothers and sisters were good people and tolerant of those who were different.
He didn’t have the heart to tell his brother that they had not truly come home. Home was an ocean away where he still had the dream of being his own man. But he would not spoil the day with such a comment. Especially because he feared he would still cry – actually cry – with the joy of seeing his family again.
He cleared his throat, instead.
“Ava,” said Colin, “please allow me to introduce you to my brother the prodigal.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord James. I have heard so much about you.”
“Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to learn about you from Colin, so I look forward to doing it firsthand.” James could see Colin watching him warily. “But please allow me to give you a brotherly kiss.” He kissed Ava’s cheek. Approximately one second into it, Colin inserted his arm between them.
“That’s enough of that,” he said.
James almost laughed with relief. Colin had found himself a love match after all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The wedding of Colin Emerson, Earl of Ridgeway to Miss Ava Conway was unusual in many respects. Some said he was marrying beneath him in wedding the daughter of a university professor. Lord Ridgeway refused to dignify that remark with a comment, though in private he said he liked having the new Countess of Ridgeway beneath him, atop him and any other way he found her.
Another unusual aspect of the wedding was that the ceremony itself was shared with their two servants – the only two servants employed at the dower house. It was simply unheard of for an earl to do such a thing. But since Ridgeway hardly had enough funds for a special license, he and his bride had had no choice but to wait for the banns to be called. It was rumored that he’d suggested the double wedding to his servants, who’d then postponed their own vows for another week to accommodate them.
Miss Conway had no relations at the wedding, though she had both Lady Leticia and Miss Anna Emerson as her attendants. That alone had scandalized the village, to have not one but two children who were all but bastards, even if the family did treat them as if they were, well, family.
Very few members of the ton were in attendance. That was to be expected, it was noted by some of the more vicious gossips, since it was hardly like the Emersons would be able to accommodate guests in the dower house.
Lord James was there, of course, with his little girl from America, whose skin was a most embarrassing tan color. Of course Lady Rosemary and the new Lady Ridgeway had been treating the little girl like a princess, even going so far as to tell everyone they encountered just how beautiful she was.
The oldest Emerson sister, Mrs. Pierce, had sent her regrets. But that was to be expected since it had been an age since she’d traveled to the estate. She hadn’t even come for the old earl’s funeral.
As for the ton, it was rumored that the former Lady Evelyn Williams, who’d rather scandalously married a Bow Street Inspector and even more peculiarly preferred to be called Mrs. Stapleton, had sent their congratulations, along with a present. None other than the Duke of Lynwood and his family, the Kellingtons, had also sent their congratulations. Apparently, Ridgeway had done some sort of service for that Bow Street chap, who happened to be friends with Lynwood. And it was well known that the Kellingtons were loyal to a fault.
The one attendee from London did create a scandal. Nicholas Chilcott, the Earl of Layton, was there. While it had never been formally acknowledged, everyone knew he was the family’s half brother. The old Earl of Ridgeway had made one too many visits to the Layton family estate one county over. The handsome earl, with the Ridgeway dark looks, was even the same age as Colin Emerson.
Given the family’s scandals which were all on display in the church and the fact that there would be no wedding breakfast since Ridgeway’s cook and butler were also getting married, it was speculated no one from the village would even attend the wedding.
Of course, everyone did.
Everyone except for the Babcock family.
But it was said those Americans always did have ideas above their station.
*
The two happy couples, along with the rest of the Emersons, arrived back at the house immediately following the ceremony. Maude had baked a cake the day before. And Colin raided the wine cellar for champagne.<
br />
“If there’s one thing we can thank the old earl for, it was his love of wine,” said Colin, as he poured everyone a drink.
Nicholas, the Earl of Layton, kissed Maude on the cheek and congratulated Stemple. Then he moved on to Ava. “Welcome to the family, my dear,” he said as he kissed her cheek.
“And that’s enough of that,” said Colin as he inserted himself between them.
“If I’m playing host to Anna, Letty and Rose for the next month to give you and the other happy couple time alone here the least you can do is let me kiss the bride,” said Nicholas.
“Where will I be?” asked James.
“The stables,” said Colin and Nicholas at the same time.
“My love,” said Ava, as she kissed her husband, “why don’t you enjoy some time alone with your brothers while I help Anna, Letty and Rose pack?”
The three men took her suggestion, grabbing a decanter of brandy and retiring to the library where they opened the French doors to mask the cigar smoke they were about to indulge in. The three of them sat in chairs with their feet up, looking for all the world like the brothers they were.
“You chose well, Colin,” said Nicholas. “I like her.”
“She’s a very good woman,” said James. “I’ve come to like her very much in the past three weeks.”
“James, I’m warning you…”
“In a brotherly fashion, of course,” said James.
“Colin,” said Nicholas. “If there’s anything you need, do not hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you, but I cannot take money from you.”
“I don’t see why not. You’re my brother. You have the care of two of my sisters and now my niece. I would do anything for you and James. I’m already frustrated enough that I can’t do anything for Win.”
“How often do you see her?” asked Colin. “I was turned away at the door each time I tried. I was on the verge of breaking in when I learned she and that bastard she’s married to were on the continent. Damn father to hell for making her marry that man.”
“I’ve tried time and time again. I’m not giving up, but I do have to spend some time at the estate. Simon is doing everything he can to make it seem like I’m neglecting my duties.”
Simon Chilcott was Nicholas’s cousin and heir.
“Simon Chilcott is a horse’s arse,” said James. “Unless he has changed a great deal since I last saw him.”
“He has not,” said Nicholas as he blew a smoke ring.
They sat in companionable silence for a moment.
“Nick,” said James. “I may need help with something.”
Both of his brothers looked at him in surprise. James was a fiercely independent man. It was what had driven him to America in the first place.
“I have a deed to some land. It’s not a large parcel, but it is important. It’s being contested in London since the other man claiming ownership is a peer. I need a good solicitor and was hoping you could help me find one.”
“Of course.”
“But if you have land in America,” said Colin slowly, “does that mean you’ll be returning?”
“Yes,” James said quietly. “As long as I settle this deed there is every reason for me to return.”
“But you’ve just come home,” said Colin.
“But I must do what is best for Anna.”
Colin wanted to object. He wanted to chain his brother to a post to keep him from leaving. But in the end, the three of them simply sat in silence. And he prayed that the future would take care of itself.
EPILOGUE
Colin and Ava had been married almost one month. They’d spent that time alone in the dower house, other than for Stemple and Maude, who spent most of their time in Stemple’s rooms.
Colin had just finished drawing up a plan for the spring planting, when Ava entered the library. She was wearing her brown dress, a gown he’d seen countless times before. She had an apron over it and there was a bit of dirt on her cheek from whatever she’d been cleaning.
No other countess would spend part of her day cleaning. No other countess would ever look this beautiful doing so.
“Something arrived for you in the post,” she said, as she gave him the missive.
“Perhaps it is an inquiry about leasing the manor house.” They’d told their solicitor to look for another tenant.
“I do not believe it is,” said Ava.
Colin looked at the return address. “It’s another publisher, no doubt to reject me. If I did not have you, dear Ava, to tell me what a splendid husband I am, I do believe these rejections would make a humble man of me.”
“I have my doubts about that,” said Ava as she kissed him.
“Minx,” said Colin, as he opened the letter and began to read. Then re-read. Then he sat up and read it again.
“What does it say?”
“It’s from an old friend from Eton days. Clayton and his gang used to beat him regularly until I put an end to it. And he says he wants to publish my book.” He shook his head in disbelief. “He wants to publish my book. He wants to publish my book!”
He hugged Ava and spun her around, then kissed her.
“That is wonderful! And wholly unsurprising. I knew someone would have the good sense to do it.”
Colin continued reading. “It says I shall get an advance of £100 and upon its publication I will receive…” Here he looked decidedly dejected. “…£1000. More if the book does well.”
“But of course it will do well.”
“£1000 for an entire book! That’s not much.”
“It is much more than we have now.”
“But how will I ever be able to shower you with the presents I want to give you with only £1000? Rose needs a Season. And I’d like to take Letty and Anna to London and…”
“Lord Ridgeway!” said the stern governess.
“Yes, Miss Conway?”
“Do not make me complain of you to your ancestors’ portraits. That is enough money to live on and we can even pay Maude and Stemple their back wages.”
“Do you not want your back wages?”
“My love, all I want is you.”
They kissed.
And all was well.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, my heartfelt thanks to the amazing Melanie Friedman at Bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com for being the first to believe in me and for giving me the encouragement to keep going. And she did a great deal to make this book better. Anabel Vazquez dropped everything to assure me she liked Colin. And thank you, always, to Terree Nelson Lyman, Linda Thurmond DeCristofaro, Amal Chaaban, and Janice Minsberg. Janice doesn’t even like romance novels, but she always reads mine.
Jennifer Omner at Allpublications.com did another amazing cover and makes this so much fun.
As always, thank you to my mom, who made me a reader and a writer. She has given me a lifetime of love and encouragement.
I hope you liked the first installment of the Emerson series. James is up next as we find out just what he’ll do for the love of family. (Answer: a lot.)
Thank you to all of you for being so supportive. Please take the time to pursue your own dreams. They are within reach. You just have to keep moving forward.
Copyright © 2014, by Maureen Driscoll
Cover design by Jennifer Omner, Allpublications.com
Author photo by JBC Images, JBCimages.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Author, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
It is also a violation of copyright law to place any copyrighted document on a file sharing service without express permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales are strictly coincidental.
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