He pursed his lips and said nothing, only taking a step back. The movement caused a shift in the air and she smelled his cologne. It caught her breath. She swallowed hard.
“Is there anything else?” he asked at last.
There wasn’t a thought in her head. Isabel found herself nodding, grudgingly stepping out into the hall. She had been so poised, so ready for him a second ago. And then there he was, closing the door and leaving her alone.
She tapped her forehead. “Whatever are we doing?”
But it couldn’t be helped, it seemed. Isabel didn’t see him later that evening, nor the following morning. She sent out a groom to scout the area for a carriage and he returned before noon with the announcement someone would be there just in time for supper.
Isabel could hardly wait. She confirmed the preparations and then paced about the drawing room without needing a fire. Walking in excited circles was enough to keep her warm. Andthen when the carriage rolled up, she hurried out into the snowy weather without so much as a shawl.
“Emilia!”
A bundle of green cloth and red hair tumbled happily out of the carriage with wide arms. “Isabel!”
The two women met in the middle. They laughed, hugging each other tightly while dancing around in a merry circle. Emilia’s chin clacked against Isabel’s head due to their height difference but Isabel didn’t mind one bit. Chatter fell over each other and they erupted in giggles once more.
“I can hardly believe you’re here,” Isabel cried out. “Is it really you?”
“The one and only, my dear! And look at you. Oh, you look frozen. And what a grand house! I can hardly believe my eyes!”
“Come in, come in. You’ll love the gardens––”
Already Emilia was talking again. “Those stairs are slippery.”
“Be careful, then––”
“You won’t believe the storm I left behind me––”
“Are you hungry? We have the most delicious––”
“Starving, really, it was just like––”
They stopped in the doorway and burst out laughing. Warmth fluttered through the air and Isabel felt more at home than she had in a long while. She couldn’t resist hugging her friend again. A contented sigh escaped her while Emilia chuckled.
“I have missed you awfully. Why do we ever part ways?”
Isabel mirrored her friend’s pout. “That is a very good reason. You’ll stay forever, won’t you?”
“I am tempted,” Emilia responded with a teasing smile. “What a grand house! Oh, you must let me change out of this awful habit and then show me every room in this stunning house. Won’t you?”
“Only if you hurry.”
Time flew as Isabel settled her friend in the house. Everything felt a little brighter and a little warmer with Emilia there. That fiery red hair and cheery personality had always felt more healing than any cup of tea Isabel had enjoyed in all her life.
There was a house tour the first day, which took them hours. Emilia insisted on trying painting in Isabel’s room. A horrendous artist, the redhead could still make them laugh for hours. They laughed until they cried. Time didn’t exist until one of the footmen came for them.
“Oh, dear, what is the time?” Isabel inquired when she saw the young man peeking in the room. She waved him in, then glanced toward the dim light from the windows. “Is supper ready?”
Bowing, the footman murmured, “Yes, Your Grace, it is.”
“Thank you. We’ll be right there,” Isabel said while wiping her eyes.
Emilia was doing the same. “Good lord, my handkerchief is dripping wet. I haven’t laughed this much in ages. But I am starving. Do tell me the fare is decent here?”
“Of course it is decent. Delicious, even. Come with me to supper. We don’t need to change,” she added.
“Will your husband be in attendance? It has been ages since I was anywhere close to him.” Emilia paused. “He danced with me, you know. Three times when I had just come out.”
