Emilia brought a hand to her forehead. “Why didn’t my mother say anything?”
“I do believe she thought she was doing right by you,” Mr. Rymer responded. “As far as everyone knew, you were the legitimate daughter of Captain Hembry.”
“Did my mother lie about being married to Captain Hembry?”
“Your mother did go through the pretense of marrying Captain Hembry before you were born, but it was not a valid marriage,” Mr. Rymer said. “I know this is a lot to take in, but there is no mistake in it. You are Sir Charles’ true heir and he wanted you to have what was rightfully yours.”
Emilia couldn’t quite believe her change of fortune. But where did she go from here? It just seemed too overwhelming, and she was afraid to make a misstep.
“Would you care to meet your staff?” Mr. Rymer asked.
She blinked. Her staff? No, she wasn’t ready to meet them. They would know that she didn’t belong here the moment they looked at her. What she needed was a moment alone to process this information.
“I would like to take a walk if you don’t mind,” Emilia said. She found great solace in a good walk. She always felt better after one.
If Mr. Rymer seemed surprised by her request, he didn’t show it. “Of course. Would you like to take along a maid or perhaps two footmen?”
“No, I would prefer to go alone.”
Mr. Rymer looked unsure. “It would be best if a maid accompanied you for propriety’s sake,” he said. “I’m afraid thefreedom that you have been accustomed to in the countryside is no longer an option afforded to you in London, given your circumstances.”
Emilia decided it was best to concede, knowing he spoke true. “Very well. Do I just ask a maid to accompany me?”
“I shall speak to Dalby, your butler, and he will see to collecting a maid for your walk,” Mr. Rymer said. “If you will wait here, I shall return shortly.”
After the solicitor left, Emilia’s eyes wandered over the room. A stately desk sat in the center and tall bookshelves lined one wall. She couldn’t quite believe it. Those books all now belonged to her. All of them. She had never owned a book of her own before now.
The realization hit her as she recognized that she didn’t just own everything in this room. But the entire townhouse. The portraits. The furniture. It was all hers.
Emilia was conflicted about how she should feel. On one hand, she was happy about her change of fortune, yet on the other, she felt overwhelmed. What did she know about managing a household, let alone an entire estate? When she had arrived here, she had never expected this outcome. Not in her wildest dreams.
But then distant shouts of disgruntlement reached her ears and she came to an abrupt stop. Her fortune came at a great expense to others and she was well aware of the bitterness and resentment that her newfound wealth might stir. It would be best if she contained her emotions until she was far away from the townhouse.
Fredrick sat on a bench in Hyde Park that overlooked the Serpentine River. He always came here with the same purpose- to find the solace that he once had. And he always left disappointed. He had done too many things he had come to regret during the war to ever think he would be free from these wretched memories.
There was one image that haunted him above the rest. It was the face of Timmy. His eyes were opened, staring up at him, telling him that he was to blame for his death. No matter how many times he tried to banish Timmy from his mind, he was always there. Lingering. A painful reminder that he could never go back to his old life.
“May I sit here?”
Fredrick looked up and saw a dark-haired young woman standing near the bench. Her face had delicate features, a pert nose, and rosy cheeks. Her eyes were perhaps her most striking feature, large and expressive, and a rich shade of green. Long, dark lashes added depth to her gaze and her lips held a subtle, graceful smile.
As irritatingly beautiful as she was, Fredrick had no desire for her scheming. No doubt she was here to cast coy smiles and bat her eyelashes at an eligible lord.
But he didn’t dare be rude.
Fredrick gestured towards the end of the bench. “You may,” he said as he went to angle away from her.
The young woman turned back and shouted, “I am going to sit here. You can remain where you are.”
He quickly glanced over his shoulder and saw a maid standing watch a short distance away. Why was she announcing her intentions to the maid?
She sat down and stared out over the Serpentine River. She made no attempt to speak to him or even glance his way. How odd. Perhaps she had no idea who he was. Which would be afirst. Every unattached young lady seemed to know of him and his family.
After a long moment, she asked, “Do you believe one should be happy when the cause of one’s happiness makes others so miserable?”
Fredrick had no desire to engage in a philosophical debate with a stranger. He just wanted to sit in silence and be miserable. But he couldn’t just ignore her question. He decided to be honest with the young woman and, hopefully, she would leave him be after that.
“I do believe happiness is a fleeting emotion and attempting to hold onto it is pointless,” he said, knowing how depressing he must sound.
