“I would give my life for my sister,” I stated because, in truth, I was doing just that. Choosing to marry was giving up the dreams I had for myself. The life I had wanted I would give up so that Whitney could have the one she deserved.
“I have no doubt and I must say I am shocked by it,” he replied, still studying me as if I were something strange. “I think you can’t be any more intriguing Miss Bathurst yet, with each moment I spend in your presence, I find I am wrong.”
His words were flattering I would admit, but again, I was never sure if I was but a pawn in his game. I dare not take his words to heart for they could become something to hurt me in the future. I was not in London for myself. I was here for my sister. I best remember that.
“I assure you I am as common as the next girl,” I replied then took a sip of my tea. In the future, it would do for me to be careful how much emotion I laid bare for others to see. Especially the likes of Nicholas Compton. His beauty was not something to be blinded by, for his inside did not reflect his outward appearance.
Chapter Seventeen
Earl of Ashington
I wasn’t sure how long I could remain in the city before going back to Chatwick Hall and dealing with pressing matters of business. Emma loved the country and would be more than happy to return, but I had yet to decide on a wife. Perhaps we could be gone but a fortnight and the time away would give me time to clear my thoughts.
A blur of yellow ran past me then skidded to a halt beside the library door before turning and darting inside. It was as if I hadn’t been standing here at all. I waited and it was but a moment before I heard the heavy footsteps of Alice coming down the hallway.
“Miss Emma, if you stain one piece of furniture,” she called out in a warning tone.
Stain? What had the child done now?
Alice spotted me and stopped. “Have you seen her?” she asked me, looking weary.
I pointed to the library door.
Alice raised her eyebrows. “Pray she hasn’t touched your priceless collections with her jam covered fingers,” she said then made her way to the library.
Concerned for my books, I followed Alice. The library was normally dark with the drapes closed, but I had been in here earlier and had them opened. I would remember next time to close them to keep naughty little runaway girls out.
“I know you took the jar of jam from the kitchen, Miss Emma,” Alice began. “If you touch anything with the jam, you will ruin it. There are priceless books in this room.”
I was scanning the area for any sign of small feet hidden under or behind something.
“I licked my fingers clean,” a small voice called out.
I sighed in relief.
“There will be no jam with tea ever again for you if you don’t come out,” Alice warned.
That was enough to draw the well-hidden Emma from behind a bookcase containing all of Shakespeare’s plays. One small white slipper appeared then a small body slid out with it as she looked at both of us solemnly. Berry jam was smeared around her mouth and a touch on her nose. She may have cleaned her hands, but her face was quite a mess.
“Come, we must clean you up. Then to rest for you. No tea today. It seems you’ve had enough jam already,” Alice said.
Emma’s shoulders fell. “But I love the tea,” she replied.
“No, you barely drink the tea. You eat the biscuits covered in jam. However, you’ve eaten the entire jar of jam meant for our tea today so there will be no jam at tea.”
Emma sighed. “Don’t we have more jam in the kitchen?” she asked with the smallest touch of hope in her voice.
Alice shook her head. “The only jam left is for Lord Ashington’s biscuits.”
Emma turned her attention to me then. I could see her already planning and strategizing in her eyes. There was such intelligence in her tiny face and I was proud of it. “Do you want your jam, Ashington?” she asked it as if it were a challenge. As if I said I did, she would take it from me by force.
“Yes, Lord Ashington wants his jam,” Alice stated before I could respond. Apparently she did not trust my response to Emma in the least.
Emma ignored her as she often did and continued to size me up. Waiting for me to respond. As fearsome as she was trying to look, I was more afraid of Alice than I was of her. “I would very much enjoy jam with my biscuits,” I told her when it was clear she wasn’t moving until I gave her a response.
Her shoulders fell then and she looked forlornly back at Alice. “You are sure there is no more jam in the kitchen, Alice? Perhaps Mrs. Barton could run to the market for more?”
Alice shook her head vigorously. “Absolutely not. You have eaten an entire jar of jam, Miss Emma. It will be a miracle if you do not have a stomach ache because of it. Now, come with me and take your rest.”
Emma finally made her way over to Alice with the slowest of steps as if I would come up with a solution while she was walking.
“Remember this when you are missing tea today. Ask yourself was it worth it?” Alice told her as Emma reached her side.
Emma looked up at her then and her eyes went wide. “Oh, Alice, it was worth it. I love jam,” she replied honestly.
I covered my chuckle with a cough and covered my mouth as Alice hurried Emma out of the library.
Once they were making their way up the stairs, I turned to go back to my office when there was a knock at the door. I paused and watched from where I stood as the butler opened it. I wasn’t expecting anyone and rarely did visitors stop by so late in the afternoon. Tonight was Lady Witherington’s ball and I was attending.
When Charles, the butler, stepped back to allow entrance to the guest, I froze at the sight of Nicholas, as he took off his hat and his eyes met mine. “Hello, Brother,” he said jovially. “How kind of you to come greet me.”
We both knew that was not the case and his presence in my home so close to Emma made me tense. He wasn’t welcome here and although I had never stated such, it was an understood fact just as I would never appear on his doorstep. Emma’s safety was my ultimate priority. Nicholas was a threat to that.
“Why are you here?” I asked, moving toward him to keep him from coming any farther into the house.
“To see you, of course. We rarely have a moment to talk. We have much to catch up on,” he said as if we were truly brothers who enjoyed one another’s company.
“Then you need not come any further. I do not wish to see you and I have business of which to attend,” I replied then turned my back to walk away. He was not welcome here if for no other reason than to protect Emma. It was not time for him to know of her existence. My staff was loyal. They also adored the child. Their silence wasn’t for my benefit but for Emma’s and I knew it. Charles would understand this and he would make sure Nicholas came no further. I was the Earl now and there was no claim on this house for Nicholas.
“I’ve just been visiting with Miss Miriam Bathurst and her aunt. She is a rather charming lady, is she not?” Nicholas asked, stopping me from my retreat which was indeed what he had intended to do.
Turning back around, I looked at my brother. He thought I didn’t know what he was doing, what his plans were, but I was older. I understood his hatred for me. His need for revenge. I had humiliated his mother and the fact not once in my life had she shown me one small token of kindness even as a child made no difference to him. He expected me to treat her with respect. He would forever be sorely disappointed. That woman was inherently evil but then there were times I was sure my father had been equally so.