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Emmeline let out a huff. “I am most assuredly running away from Oliver.”
“Is that wise?”
Wringing her hands in her lap, Emmeline remarked, “I need to tour Lockhart Manor anyway, and this situation is providing me with the perfect opportunity to do so.”
“If you say so, milady.”
Rising, Emmeline said, “I shall go inform Pratt of my decision to depart tomorrow morning.”
“Do you suppose Lord Oliver will object?”
“I don’t know, but I will explain that I need to tour the property.” Emmeline walked to the door and opened it. “I shall be back shortly.”
As she walked down the hall, she stopped at Oliver’s portrait and stared up at it. His eyes held so many secrets, but he would never share them with her. Why is that, she wondered. What was so important that he couldn’t share with his own wife?
Emmeline continued down the hall and descended the stairs. She was fortunate enough to see Pratt at the base of them.
The butler acknowledged her with a tip of his head. “Good evening, milady.”
Coming to stop in front of him, she said, “I would like to travel to Whitstable tomorrow morning at first light. I intend to tour my property, Lockhart Manor.”
“I will see to the transportation, then,” he replied. “Will Lord Oliver be accompanying you?”
“He will not, but my lady’s maid will be traveling with me.”
Keeping his face expressionless, Pratt remarked, “If you do not object, I shall send along additional footmen to ensure your protection.”
“I am not sure how long I will be staying in Whitstable,” she revealed. “Will you inform the driver and footmen of this?”
“But you will be returning to Hawthorne House?”
“Of course,” she said, hoping her words were in earnest.
Pratt gave her a brief smile. “If you will excuse me, I will start on the preparations for your journey.”
“Thank you, Pratt,” she acknowledged.
The words had hardly left her mouth when the main door opened and Harriet and Jane stepped into the entry hall.
When Jane saw her, she rushed over and embraced her. “I was so worried about you,” she declared as she leaned back. “Madalene informed me that you weren’t feeling well and had gone home.”
Harriet removed her gloves and placed them on the table. “I do hope you didn’t let those gossips get to you,” she remarked. “You need not concern yourself with them.”
“That was not the reason I left,” Emmeline admitted.
Jane looked at her expectantly. “Then why did you leave?”
Not ready to reveal the real reason, Emmeline replied, “The ball was overly warm, and I felt faint.”
Jane gave her a look that implied she didn’t believe her. “I see,” she muttered.
Harriet walked over and placed a hand on her sleeve. “After you left, Oliver was quite despondent,” she shared, lowering her hand. “He adjourned to the card room, and we did not see him for the rest of the evening.”
“It was delightful,” Jane whispered.
A giggle escaped her lips, and Emmeline brought her hand up to cover her mouth.
Harriet gave her daughter a disapproving look. “That is awful of you to say.”
