“But what about the children?” Emily asked.
“A day trip here and there will not hurt them, and their fathers dote on them.” Rose made a dismissive gesture.
“Besides, you are just as important.” Jane said, emphatically, adding in a stage whisper, “and sometimes it is nice to get a break from it all.”
Emily laughed.
“And I do not have any children. So it will be much easier for us to visit each other.” Natalie bobbed up and down with excitement. “And I will need your help for my first season.”
“I am not sure that you want my help, my dearest Natalie, after all, I am hardly the shining example of success.” Emily felt shame threatening to overcome her again.
Natalie made a warding off motion with her hand. “I can think of no one I would rather at my side. Perhaps we can be spinsters together!”
Before anyone could say anything else, there was a knock at the door.
“That is probably Lucy with breakfast.” Emily’s stomach gave a disgruntled gurgle.
“I’ll let her in.” Natalie rushed over to the door, opened it and let out a startled gasp. “Lord Baine?”
Emily’s head whipped around. Sure enough, there was Lord Baine, standing in the doorway. His cheeks were flushed, and he was shifting from foot to foot.
“I wondered if I might have a word with Miss Pembleton. In private.” Lord Baine flushed as he said the last part.
Rose gave Emily a curious look. She knew that if she asked, her sister would deny Lord Baine’s request. She looked at the man, then back at her sisters.
“We will always support you.” Jane smiled encouragingly at her. “We trust you.”
Emily nodded. “Very well Lord Baine, let’s talk.”
The others filed out of the room, and as Emily watched them go, she felt an odd peace settle over her. She was loved. And she would be supported, no matter what she decided.
It is time to choose for myself.
Chapter Thirty
The ticking of the grandfather clock broke through the eerie silence of Luke’s study.Has it always been so loud?He frowned at the clock over the mountain of paperwork spread before him.
He had arrived at Warren castle several hours ago, and thrown himself into work. Rodger had remained at Emberly, claiming he had some important business to attend to.
“Do not think of that.” Luke muttered.
His voice echoed in the silence around him, mingling with the ticking clock. The sound made a dull, grey line in his mind.How had he not noticed it before?
“The library. That will be better.” He stood up, pulling his papers towards him.
He walked through the halls of the castle, his steps resounding in the silence. The servants were all perfectly orderly, there was not a single thing out of place.
An urge to set a nearby painting askew bubbled up in him, and as he walked past he brushed against it. He felt an instant’s satisfaction, walked a few steps, and then walked back and straightened the painting.
“What is wrong with me?” he sighed.
He moved into the library, carefully laying his papers on the table. Sunlight filled the room, and he could hear the distant sound of birdsong.
He sighed, and picked up one of the documents. His eyes slipped in and out of focus, the line before him seeming to jump around. He had read the same line nearly five times, and still it made no sense to him.
He picked up one of the other stacks of paper. It was numbers. The annual accounts. He nodded, trying not to think about the satisfying grey of the number four as he read over the estate’s profit.
His investments were thriving, he would have enough to easily cover improvements to the houses of his tenant farmers.Perhaps we might buy new livestock.That was good. He made a note of a few changes, settling into a rhythm. The numbers were soothing, predictable and simple.
