Emma said conspiratorially, “Such is because they have not seen a woman as beautiful as you.”
“More likely, as beautiful as you, young lady,” the woman corrected. “Not even the elderly gentleman at the other end of the table pretending to read his newspaper has removed his eyes from your person.”
Emma quickly ducked her head. “Do you think they can tell I have these bruises?” she asked, feeling quite on display.
“We touched them each up with the powder,” Mrs. Ottoway reminded her. “Even if they saw the bruises, they would look past them. You are quite lovely, my dear.”
Emma’s emotions had her tearing up. “No one has spoken so kindly to me in years,” she whispered, but before she could say more, the hotel’s porter bowed before them. “Pardon, my lady. Mrs. Ottoway. Lords Graham and Orson have asked permission to join you. The choice is yours, my lady.”
Emma was half tempted to send Lord Orson away, but such would only embarrass Lord Graham, and that particular gentleman had shown her very tender care. “Assuredly so,” she said. “We would be happy to welcome our relation and his steady companion, would we not, aunt?”
Mrs. Ottoway grinned widely. “I can think of nothing more pleasant than family, my dear.”
Within a minute, the two earls were bowing to her and Mrs. Ottoway, and an audible groan of disappointment could be heard in the large private room used for meals and entertaining. Somehow, Emma enjoyed the frown marking Lord Orson’s features, for it meant his feelings for her had not waned. She motioned the gentlemen to their seats and was happy when Lord Graham chose the one closer to Mrs. Ottoway. Emma might be thoroughly irritated with Lord Orson, but such did not mean she wanted him too far removed from where she sat. Like it or not, he was the only man with whom she wished to spend the remainder of her days.
“Thank you for accepting our company,” Lord Graham said as the hotel’s footman held his chair.
“If we had known you meant to return so soon, we could have planned our supper with you,” Mrs. Ottoway told Graham.
Graham shot a quick glance to Lord Orson. “We were worried that you might find dining in the company of strangers troublesome.”
Mrs. Ottoway said with a smile. “Actually, we were both simply enjoying the attention.”
Emma said to Lord Graham, “I did not realize the rooms must be let by the month rather than a shorter stay. A whole month is quite an extravagance. I shall gladly refund you the expenses, my lord.”
“Nonsense!” his lordship declared. “I wanted you safe. As did Lord Orson. A few pounds would not do harm to either of our purses.”
Emma was not confident what Lord Orson wanted, but she did not speak of her doubts. Instead, she said with a smile, “Mrs. Ottoway wishes to sample foods she has never tasted, but I convinced her we should also have some we know. Would youlike to view thecarte de jour?” she asked with a smile as she held the evening’s menu in her hand. “We studied it before we came down to supper, did we not, my dear?”
“It was exciting to learn how the French eat,” Mrs. Ottoway said with a bit of satisfaction.
Lord Orson replied, “I, personally, would be satisfied to permit the ladies to choose. Would you not agree, Graham?”
“Oh, you should not do that, my lord,” Mrs. Ottoway warned. “I do not believe we have chosen wisely. Perhaps tomorrow we shall be more sensible. Instead, we permitted our curiosity to influence our decisions. There is no rhyme or reason to our selection. Lady Emma and I shall both likely be asking for a tonic for our stomachs later.”
Graham chuckled. “I must have whatever you have, Mrs. Ottoway, for you always permitted me to dirty Mrs. Imogen’s kitchen with my recipes.”
“Do you enjoy cooking, my lord?” Emma asked.
“Not well,” Lord Graham declared as Mrs. Ottoway said, “Very well,” at the same time. “In the beginning,” the housekeeper continued her tale, “Lord Graham created more than one disaster, but he soon learned not every food requires a few pinches of salt.”
“You were fortunate, my lord, to have someone with whom to share your memories,” Emma said.
“Pardon, my lords. Might you be prepared for the meal?” the hotel’s footman asked.
Lord Graham answered, “We will all have the same. That is, if it is acceptable to you, Orson.”
“I am happy for the company,” Richard responded. “The ladies wish to experience a few dishes they do not often encounter in England.”
“I understand, my lord. Such is the request of quite a few of our clients to date.” The man nodded to Emma. “Where should we begin, my lady?”
“Bisque de momard,” Emma declared, happier than she had been in a long time. “Followed bypoisson a la deppoise, Parisienne mussels in a white wine sauce.”
“Excellent choices, my lady,” the man announced, although she noted how his lips twitched in amusement.
“Sole florentine and whitebait,” she instructed. “Two of each, rather than four preparations. We shall share. For the main entrée, salmonpolonaise. For therôtis,we shall leave the fish choices behind and have the roasted grouse, and, finally, fresh berries incrème Fraîche epaisse.”
“Interesting choices, my lady,” Lord Graham said with a smile.
