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“I’ve been invited by Mr. Brownslow, the owner of one of the largest cider orchards in the country, to visit his facility in Wiltshire. It would be an unprecedented opportunity to see how a big operation is run.”
“That’s marvelous!”
“Yes,” Adam said. “And no.”
Emily looked at him quizzically. “Why no?”
“Because he’s returning to Wiltshire tomorrow and wishes me to go with him.” Adam grimaced. “I hate to leave Phoebe in her current condition, not to mention needing to be here to ward off any undesirable suitors you may acquire.”
“How long would you be gone?”
“The best part of a fortnight.”
Emily slipped her arm through his. “Mr. Brownslow is offering you a unique opportunity to learn from someone who has been in the cider-making business for a long time. You must go. Phoebe is doing remarkably well. She will be well taken care of in your absence. And I don’t think you need worry about expelling my suitors from Aunt Millward’s house. They have not exactly been beating down the door.”
“I did hear that Colonel Eastberry paid you a call recently.” He looked at her sternly. “And brought you flowers.”
Emily tried not to squirm. “Yes. Aunt Millward offered him tea, but he did not stay long.”
“And how did you feel about that?”
“Truthfully?”
Adam’s expression softened. “I always want you to be truthful with me, Em. You know that.”
“I was rather relieved. I was overdue to visit Phoebe, and I had run out of questions about monkeys and elephants.”
Adam’s laughter filled the air. “Perhaps I do not need to worry about poor Colonel Eastberry after all.”
“Not as far as I’m concerned,” she said. “But seeing as Aunt Millward is currently reading a book about India so as to be better prepared for their next encounter, you may yet need to be worried for the gentleman.”
Adam grinned and led her up the steps to the house. “Thank goodness for Lady Millward.”
The butler, Wakefield, opened the door. “Welcome back, my lord, Miss Norton,” he said.
“Thank you, Wakefield.” Adam handed him his hat and gloves before turning to Emily. “I think I should go and talk to Phoebe about Brownslow’s offer.”
Emily nodded. “I do too.” She tugged at the bonnet ribbons beneath her chin. “Tell her that I will spend extra time with her while you’re gone.”
Giving her a grateful smile, Adam disappeared up the stairs, and Emily handed Wakefield her redingote.
“You had a delivery whilst you were out, miss,” Wakefield said.
“A delivery?” Emily’s stomach knotted. If it was from Colonel Eastberry, she truly might need to enlist Aunt Millward’s assistance to discourage the gentleman.
“Yes, miss. Flowers and a note. A young lad brought them, and Lady Millward had Hannah take them to your bedchamber.”
Startled, Emily glanced up the stairs. Aunt Millward had never had any of the flowers she’d received sent directly to her room. She’d always had them set in the drawing room until Emily had read the accompanying notes and determined where she would like them placed. “Where is Lady Millward now?” she asked.
“I believe she is catching up on her correspondence in her chambers, miss.”
Not readily available for questioning, then. She’d best go upstairs and see the mystery delivery for herself.
“Thank you, Wakefield.”
By the time Emily reached the door of her bedchamber, her curiosity was bubbling. She turned the knob and entered.
At first glance, nothing in the room appeared any different from the way it had looked when she’d left about an hour before. The bed, covered in a pale-yellow eiderdown quilt, was tidily made. The two chairs with light-blue upholstery and yellow cushions sat empty on either side of the fireplace. The door of the large wooden wardrobe at her left was closed, as were the drawers beneath the dressing table. A quill and a few sheets of paper were the only things lying on the writing desk beneath the window, and the mantel bore the same two candlesticks and china figurines that had been there since the day Emily had arrived.
