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Emotion clogged her throat as Rob held out his arms. Tears blinding her now, she came into them.
After a moment he released her. Emily looked up—into the face of Rob's wife. From the unhappy expression on her pale countenance, Emily knew she had witnessed their embrace.
Rob casually draped an arm over his wife's shoulder. "Nat, I've been telling Ari she and Drew must make their home with us now."
Was there a moment of hesitation? "Yes, of course. Blood relations—" Rob's wife stressed the word "—belong together."
And Emily was a connection, linked to them only by marriage—was that what her sister-in-law was implying? Tempting as it was to accept Rob's offer, she'd not do so at the cost of his wife's hostility.
"Natalie, you must make him see that a shopkeeper—a former shopkeeper," she acknowledged, at Rob's immediate protest, "does not belong in the household of an earl. 'Twould cause no end of comment and embarrassment."
Her sister-in-law opened her lips, then closed them. "I'm sure Robert knows what he wants," she said at last.
"I cannot impose so disgracefully on your kindness. Besides, I rather enjoy running the shop, and my house in London is perfectly charming."
"Keep the shop—you can still design," Rob offered. "Or go back to painting portraits—you've a dab hand at that. But here or London, with us you stay."
He gave his wife's shoulder a shake. "Come, Nat, you must help me convince her. We'll see you established among the ton, never fear. Nat's not yet been formally presented as my countess, but—ah, I have it! We must give a grand ball and introduce you both together!"
Emily's jaw dropped and Natalie looked stricken. "Present me? Rob, you've taken leave of your senses!"
Perhaps the devil-may-care soldier hadn't been entirely tamed, for that dangerous sparkle that in times past had heralded some act of recklessness was gleaming in his eyes. "I'm Earl of Maxwell now. You are my sister-in-law, widow of a soldier who died fighting for England. Who has better right to mingle with society's elite?"
"And what of the London matrons I waited on, who bought my hats? You think they will invite me into their drawing rooms or call in mine? I'd be a laughingstock, Rob. They would never—"
"Maxwells have defended England since the days of the Conqueror. I may be new to the title, but I daresay none will dare snub me."
Emily clamped her lips shut, realizing too late that deferring to the opinions of the ton leadership, contemporaries of his detested father, was the last thing Rob was likely to do. No, he'd relish forcing them to meet him on his own terms. Which perhaps he now had the power and influence to effect—though she'd as lief not be cannon fodder in that battle. Nor watch her innocent sister-in-law suffer for choices she herself had made.
"Of course they will welcome you," she soothed. " 'Madame Emilie,' who painted portraits in Spain and sells hats in London, is quite a different matter. I'd certainly not be invited anywhere upon my own account. And the whole business must excite gossip and speculation that cannot help but be painful to Natalie. You cannot ask it of her."
"Ah, my Natalie's game for anything, aren't you, sweet?"
Her sister-in-law was twisting one pale blond lock. Her glance darted from Emily to her husband and back. Moistening her lips, she said in a colorless voice, "I'll do whatever Robert wishes."
"That's my girl." Dropping a quick kiss on his wife's cheek, Rob walked to the door. "So, there are no objections. You must excuse me—some bloody papers to sign. I've brought Hampstead—you remember him, Ari, my aide-de-camp who lost an arm at Vittoria?—to be my secretary. Dashed good business, this being an earl. I've found positions for half a dozen men from the old regiment. As for the presentation, I'll get Ned cracking on logistics and invitations and such. Everybody who is anybody in London will be there."
Rob clapped his hands, his expression gleeful. "Tear it, wouldn't I love for Andrew to be here when we welcome all our rackety army friends to Papa's marble mausoleum of a town house?"
Still chuckling, he left the room. Natalie made as if to follow, but Emily reached out to stop her.
Despite Rob's insistence, 'twas all too apparent her sister-in-law was less than thrilled with her presence. Family for Drew or no, she'd not stay unless Natalie was able to accept them. Better to settle the matter forthwith, before the industrious Rob got his plans too far in train.
"Please, will you not stay for tea? We've had little chance to chat, and I'd very much like to know you better."
Natalie looked as if she wished to refuse, but was too polite to do so. With obvious reluctance she replied, "Certainly," and took the chair Emily indicated.
"First, I wanted again to extend my good wishes on your marriage," Emily said a few moments later as she handed her a cup. "The Rob I knew was ever a charming rascal, but absolutely adamant about wishing never to wed. You must be a very special lady to have changed his mind."
Surprise widened Natalie's china blue eyes. Obviously taken aback, she fumbled, "Th-thank you, I suppose. Though I must protest I am not in any way out of the ordinary."
“On the contrary. Rob described your journey, and I assure you I know exactly what sort of amenities an English lady can find in the villages you passed through. To have survived that odyssey with sanity intact you must be both resourceful and possessed of an excellent sense of humor."
Natalie's stiffness thawed a trifle. "It was indeed an...adventure," she allowed with a slight smile.
Impulsively Emily reached over to clasp Natalie's hands. "I'm so happy for you both! Rob is very special to me, one of my dearest friends, and I always wished he would find the right lady to love."
Natalie's smile faded. "He certainly cares for you. I heard nothing for months but stories of beautiful, intrepid, resourceful Auriana."
Emily groaned. No wonder her sister-in-law suspected her a rival. What a great dolt Rob was!
“Oh dear, how very tiresome of him. Military gentlemen, as you've doubtless discovered, like nothing better than to prattle on about comrades and campaigns. I suppose because with death all around, the bonds one forms with one's companions become particularly strong."
Natalie merely nodded. Emily paused, considering. The lady obviously resented Emily's hold on her husband, which was only natural. How to convince her now of what time would prove—that Emily posed her no threat?
Again, perhaps 'twas best to speak frankly.
"Forgive me for being direct, but I know you must be concerned about my relationship with Rob. I can only pray you believe that, though he is Andrew's brother and the two are somewhat alike, my feelings for him—and his for me— are entirely fraternal."
For the first time, Natalie looked at Emily squarely, her eyes searching Emily's as if trying to assess the veracity of that claim. "I should like to believe it."
"Another fact about military men I'm sure you already know—once they determine a course of action they are devilish difficult to dissuade! But despite Rob's intention to take us in, I shall not permit it unless I feel you genuinely agree, not just acquiesce to Rob's persuasion."
For the first time Natalie gave a genuine smile. "He does tend to order one about, as if one were a soldier in need of direction."
Emily laughed. "Indeed! I suspect you've already discovered wifely ways to deflect those commands. If necessary, we shall stand firm together on this. I'll not dissemble— more than anything, I wish my son welcome here. But I'll not intrude myself—not at the cost of your comfort."
There, she had said it. What happened next depended on the coolly lovely lady sitting opposite.
Emily made herself wait patiently as Natalie silently gazed at her, apparently pondering her answer.
'Twould be sufficient if Rob acknowledged Drew, Emily thought, invited him to Maxwell's Rook or the London house upon occasion. She could manage alone—had she not done so all these years?
She closed her eyes and tried to squelch the hope Rob's rash invitation had engendered that the child-bride who'd been cast off at sixteen might finally come home.
"Auriana—Ari." She opened her eyes to find her sister-in-law smiling. "I may call you Ari, may I not? Since it seems you will be living with us permanently. And not just to please Robert. Perhaps 'tis foolish for me to welcome into my home a lady so highly esteemed by my husband—and so beautiful into the bargain. But he is right. You are family, you and your son, and with us you must stay." Natalie held out a hand.
Smiling back tremulously, Emily took it. "Thank you. I hope we will be friends as well. But 'tis enough for you both to acknowledge me quietly. This plan of Rob's to introduce me—'tis madness! You must help me talk him out of it. You've been in society. You know my gaining acceptance would be nowhere as easy as Rob envisions."
Natalie sighed. "No, not easy. Robert told me your parents are dead. Have you any other family?"
Emily shook her head. "No one else. Since Mama died a year after my marriage, and Papa never relented, he went to his grave leaving any more distant relations thinking I'd died. 'Twas what he told everyone, apparently, after I ran away with Andrew."
"You have none who could vouch for you, then? Stand with Robert as your sponsor at a presentation?''
