The butler’s expression remained stoic, seemingly unaffected by Fredrick’s indecision. “Very well.”
Emilia appeared in the doorway of the drawing room, wearing a puzzled expression. “Do you not wish to at least say hello?” she asked.
Fredrick felt like an utter fool. What was he doing here? But he already knew the answer. He had wanted to see Emilia.
He bowed. “I apologize for the intrusion, but I forgot that I must tend to the accounts immediately,” he explained.
Emilia approached him and smiled. And that one simple smile seemed to brighten his very soul. “Well, it was good to see you, even if only for a brief moment.”
Fredrick knew that he should leave, but he remained rooted in his spot. What if he just tarried for a moment? That one thought had great appeal, but he had already given the pitiful excuse that he had to leave to work on the accounts.
“Have you heard how Caleb is faring?” Emilia asked.
“I just came from his townhouse and he is in bad shape,” Fredrick responded. “But he will recover.”
Emilia’s expression revealed her concern. “When Anette sent word, I will admit that I have thought of little else,” she said. “To think he was attacked by ruffians. What a senseless act.”
“It was,” he agreed. “Did you have a chance to visit your boarding school yesterday?”
The smile returned to Emilia’s lips. “Yes, and everything was just perfect. Even the headmistress, Mrs. Anderson, exceeded my expectations.”
“Did Clarissa accompany you?”
“She did,” Emilia confirmed, but her words trailed off. “However, Clarissa was rather quiet after we left the boarding school. I’m not sure what happened, but something about the tour seemed to affect her.”
Fredrick wasn’t quite convinced of that. Clarissa was not known for her selfless actions. But what she hoped to obtain from Emilia, he couldn’t say.
Emilia put her hand up. “I know what you are going to say,” she said. “I am being cautious around Clarissa. Although, I hope she is being genuine.”
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt,” Fredrick remarked.
“That is kind of you, but I can take care of myself,” Emilia said. “I have been on my own for so long that I sometimes forget what it is like to be cared for.”
Fredrick could hear the sadness in her voice, and it tugged at his heartstrings. He understood her feelings all too well, but he didn’t want her to experience even a hint of sadness.
He took a step closer to her, though he still maintained a proper distance. “You aren’t alone, not anymore. I am here.”
She held his gaze, her eyes searching his. “For that, I am most grateful,” she said in a soft voice.
As they stared at one another, Fredrick found himself entranced by her gaze. Her eyes were green, with intriguing brown flecks within them. They were unique, just as Emilia was.
Realizing the silence had gone on long enough, Fredrick blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. “Have you been to the Royal Menagerie yet?”
A slight furrow appeared between Emilia’s brows. “No, I haven’t.”
“We should go together,” Fredrick suggested. “I haven’t been in quite some time, and you must go now that you are in London.”
“I would like that, very much,” Emilia stated.
Fredrick nodded. “This afternoon, then?” he asked as he took a step back.
“Yes, that would work nicely.”
“Good, good,” Fredrick muttered. Why couldn’t he stop talking? He prided himself on maintaining his composure even in the most challenging situations, yet a simple conversation with Emilia seemed to reduce him to a blathering idiot. “I should go.”
Emilia grinned and he marveled at how effortlessly she could smile. “I shall see you later today, my lord.”
“Yes, you most assuredly will.”
