Page 29 of The Mister I Married

“I know you’ve been rather underwhelmed by your marital prospects thus far,” Emmy said slowly, sharing a nod of greeting with Mrs. Graves as she walked by. “But there are still several eligible young men you have yet to meet, so I thought we could compose a list and invite…”

She trailed off at the first sniffle.

“Tess?”

Misty brown eyes met hers.

“What’s wrong?” Emmy asked, keeping her voice low so as not to alarm Alex and her mother.

Tess sighed. “You’ve been so good to me, and I feel so guilty because I do not deserve it.”

“What? Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you do!”

“No,” Tess said, shaking her head vigorously. “I don’t.”

Emmy frowned. “I don’t understand. What is making you say that?”

But Tess only shook her head again, still reluctant to share what was weighing on her mind.

“We haven’t known each other very long,” Emmy said gently, “but we have become rather good friends, I think, and I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything. However, if you do not wish to confide in me, I will understand.”

She wouldn’t like it, of course, but she would understand.

Tess pressed her lips together for a long moment, as if debating with herself, and then she drew in a deep breath and, on its release, blurted out, “I don’t like London. I want to go home. I miss Bristlewood, I miss my father and my dogs and my own bed.”

Emmy blinked in surprise but otherwise did not move, her brain working to decipher the information it had just been fed. “I thought you were enjoying your time here.”

“I was, at first, but—” She broke off, her brow knitting. “London isn’t what I thought it would be, and I do not think I belong here. I feel out of place, and the people are so superficial and insincere.” She flashed a sheepish smile. “Excluding you and your mother, of course.”

Emmy returned her smile, though her mind raced with questions. “Have you discussed this with your brother yet?”

Tess shook her head, her eyes dimming with worry. “I’m afraid he’ll be angry with me,” she said softly. “I begged him to take me to London and now I want to leave, and the Season isn’t even half over and I…” She sighed, the breeze rustling her auburn curls. “I’m afraid he’ll think me an ungrateful brat.”

“You know your brother would never think that of you,” Emmy assured her.

“No, I suppose not. Still, I do not wish to disappoint him. Or you.”

She looked at Emmy, her gaze tentative, guilty, and Emmy tipped her head to one side, perplexed. “Why would I be disappointed in you?”

Tess shrugged. “Because you’ve helped me so much during these last two weeks, and if I leave now without a husband, it will all have been for naught.”

“Nonsense. I’ve enjoyed helping you,” Emmy said, reaching out with a reassuring touch to her arm. “It’s given me the chance to be useful, and to get to know you better, and I will never regret that.”

Tess smiled. “Thank you, Emmy.”

“You realize, of course, that you must tell your brother how you feel,” she said quietly. “He would not want you to stay where you are unhappy.”

“You’re right. He wouldn’t.” Tess drew in a deep breath. “I’ll tell him tonight.”

Emmy gave her an approving smile then looked up at the sound of her mother’s voice.

“Is anything the matter, dears?” Lady Keswick asked, her gaze flicking back and forth between Tess and Emmy.

“No, nothing at all, Mother,” Emmy said, moments before they reached the steps to their townhouse. “We were only chatting about the wedding.”

Their little party entered the house and headed for the drawing room, and all the while Emmy’s mind whirled with everything she’d just learned and what it all might mean for her.

Alex was a kind man and a devoted brother. He wouldn’t have the heart to keep his sister here if she did not wish to stay, and Emmy was glad of that. She, too, wouldn’t want Tess to remain where she was not happy.

That being said, this news could complicate matters.

They were supposed to spend the rest of the Season in London, have the banns read in July then marry in August. This was the course of action they had agreed upon, but that was three days ago, before Tess’s surprise confession.

Emmy frowned, questions swarming her mind. It was a foregone conclusion that Alex would take his sister back to Berkshire, but would he escort her home then return to London straightaway, or would he wish to stay in Berkshire for good?

Would he ask her to go with them?

And if he did, what would her answer be?