Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
I glanced at Alice whose expression softened. Emma had a way of doing that even to the stern Alice. It was why Alice hadn’t been sent running from the house already. Emma had been a test to her patience from day one. However, there were these small moments when she made it worth it. I bent down to give Emma a proper hug. “Goodnight, Emma. Dream of the best things,” I told her.
She nodded. “I shall.”
Alice didn’t toss out anymore stern orders and Emma walked over to her slowly and reached up to take Alice’s hand in hers. “Twas a good day wasn’t it, Alice?” she said, tilting her head back to look up at the governess as they retreated to the staircase.
“Yes, Miss Emma, I do believe it was,” Alice agreed.
The drive over to 18 Mayfair was short and I had little time to prepare for exactly what I would say to Miss Bathurst once we had some privacy. When I sent the invitation for her and her aunt to join me in my box at the opera, I hadn’t been sure of her acceptance. However, I was sure she had accepted due to her aunt, not because she truly wanted to. It was clear that Miss Bathurst wasn’t fond of me or my brother. I was going to do my best to rectify her dislike for me. As for Nicholas, I thought she was wise to keep her distance.
Emma had been so full of questions it had distracted me for a time. Now that I was pulling up to Wellington’s home, I was fully aware I might be in for a rather unfriendly female by my side this evening. Why this made me smile I wasn’t sure. What man wanted a surly women to entertain? Had I gone mad of late?
As the carriage came to a stop, I straightened myself and stepped down onto the footpath. With every step I took closer to the door, I reminded myself that I was doing this for Emma. I needed to spend time with Miss Bathurst to see if she was the fit we needed. Not just as countess but as Emma’s mother. It was a good thing Miriam Bathurst wasn’t meek and quiet, for if she were, Emma would send her running within a day. There was strength and confidence in Miriam Bathurst that Emma would require in a mother and that would be expected from a countess, especially when the ton began the murmuring and gossip about Emma. No matter my rank and power, Emma’s legitimacy would be in question. The lie I had in place was a strong one, but it would take a stronger female to pull it off.
The butler escorted me to the drawing room, assuring me the ladies would be down in but a moment. A maid had offered me tea while I waited but before I could respond, the loud American voice of Lady Wellington rang down the hallway. I smiled thinking of how she would be entertaining for Emma and how Alice wouldn’t approve.
Lady Wellington came swishing hastily through the door. “Lord Ashington, I would have had Alfred greet you, but he’s out for the evening. I do hope you haven’t waited long. Miriam will be down in just a moment. Would you like tea? Or perhaps a glass of brandy? I can send for some of Alfred’s best.”
Brandy did sound appealing right about now but I shook my head. “That won’t be necessary,” I assured her with a grateful smile.
My response seemed to make her nervous as she began fidgeting with her hands and her smile failed a bit. Perhaps I should have said yes. I didn’t mean to cause her undue stress.
“We are looking forward to this evening,” she said smiling. “We’ve talked of little else all day. Thank you so much for the invitation.”
I returned her smile knowing full well Miriam Bathurst had not spent her day gushing over the evening in my box at the opera. However, it was an amusing thought. I doubted Miss Bathurst gushed about much. She was not easily impressed or perhaps she was. There was very little about her that I did know. Nicholas had been right about that. I knew only what I had been told and the little time I had been around her to witness. Nicholas had more knowledge of Miriam and he seemed to find pleasure in that. Tonight I would seek my own information. Starting with conversation with Lady Wellington. She would be a well of information where her niece was concerned.
I started to speak, but whatever words had been on my tongue were lost as Miriam Bathurst entered the room. I wasn’t sure there were words to describe her. Every time I had seen Miss Bathurst, she had been breathtaking. She was blessed with the natural beauty that couldn’t be fabricated. It was unparalleled. However, the pearl almost iridescent color of her silk evening gown made her appear more angelic than real. The dark red curls piled high upon her head accentuated the smooth perfect skin of her neck and shoulders.