Always Come Home (Emerson 1) (25 page)

Colin was growing used to the clean country air, so
unlike London. And he appreciated how quiet the mornings were without noise
from the streets below. But on this morning, he awoke with a sense of dread.
With his rejected inquiries fresh in his mind, he’d spent the evening going
through the estate’s financial ledgers. Unfortunately, they were much as they
had been the last time he’d perused them. Grim.

He was supposed to take Miss Babcock for a walk that
morning and was dreading it. He was glad he no longer had Stemple helping him
dress. He didn’t want to see the look of disappointment on the man’s face as
Colin prepared to escort Miss Babcock. He was disappointed in himself, as
well. But he could see no other way out of his predicament, barring a miracle.

He broke his fast and was regaled by Letty’s
recitation of what she’d been learning from Ava’s expert instruction.

“Miss Conway has been to Italy, Colin. Can you
imagine? Her papa was a great professor and he took her there once and she
learned ever so much and she’s even seen paintings in person that I’ve only
seen in books. Have you been to Italy, Colin? I know you were in France and
Belgium in the war, but did you go to Italy?”

“No, pet, I have never been to Italy.”

“I think it would be brilliant if we all could go,
Maude and Stemple, too. Maybe we’ll go when you and Miss Conway get married.”

Ava knocked over her water glass. Colin almost
dropped his fork. “Unfortunately, we won’t be going to Italy in the near
future, though I would love to look at those art books with you so you can show
me what you learned.”

“Where will you and Miss Conway go when you do get
married?” asked Letty.

Colin looked at Rose, hoping she would intercede.
However, she was completely engrossed in her breakfast, as were Maude and
Stemple. A quick glance at Ava showed that she, too, was inordinately
interested in her meal, though her blush had turned her face a delightful shade
of red.

“Letty, why do you think Miss Conway and I should
get married? This is the second time you have brought it up. And don’t say
it’s about maths.”

“Well, if you get married, she could live here
forever and Stemple wouldn’t have to keep hiding those letters Miss Conway has
been writing.”

“Lady Leticia, what are you talking about?” asked
Ava.

“This is my fault,” said Rose quickly. “Completely
and utterly my fault. I told Stemple I would dismiss him if he did not refrain
from posting Miss Conway’s letters.”

“Lady Rosemary did no such thing,” said Stemple.
“She asked if I would do it. I could have refused. The fault is mine. I am
sorry, my lord and Miss Conway.”

“The fault is mine!” said Rose. “Stemple never
would have done such a thing on his own. It was my idea. I told him to do
it. I am the one who owes an apology. I am terribly sorry, Stemple, for
placing you in such a difficult position.”

Colin was trying to take everything in. Had his
household conspired to keep Ava from leaving? “Do you not also owe Miss Conway
an apology?”

“Yes, I do,” said Rose. “Ava, I am sorry I deceived
you. I want you to stay and this was the only way I could think to do that.”

“But I must go,” said Ava.

“Please stay, Miss Conway,” said Letty. “We have so
much fun together and you’ve taught me so much and who will help us decorate
for Christmas next year if you leave?”

Ava looked at a loss for words. Colin thought it was
likely the first time in history such a thing had happened. “Well, Miss
Conway? What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I certainly do not wish to leave…” she began.

“So you’re staying?” said Letty.

“I would like to….”

“You’re going to stay!”

“Poppet, I do not know if I can.”

“Please say you’ll consider staying,” said Rose.

“I will consider it,” said Ava softly, though not with
as much conviction as Colin would have liked.

But the day was looking brighter because of it.
Until Colin remembered the task ahead of him. “I must be off.”

“Can’t you stay here instead?” asked Letty. “We’re
holding lessons outside and Rose is coming even though she doesn’t need to
learn anything anymore.”

Colin kissed his youngest sister as he prepared to
leave. “I think perhaps Rose needs to learn to mind her own business a bit
more, even if her heart is in the right place.” Then he kissed Rose to take
the sting out of his words.

But as Colin walked to the manor house, he was
heartened by how much his family loved Ava.

*

“I thought it was time for you and me to have a
talk,” said Mr. Babcock from behind the desk in the study. It was the same
desk that Colin’s father had occupied whenever he’d called his children into
account. And that desk was the same one Colin and James would have to grip as
they bent over for their canings. Looking at it now, Colin wondered why he
hadn’t burned the damned thing the moment he became the earl.

“Are you listening to me, Ridgeway?”

“Of course, sir. It is time for a talk.”

“As I’m sure you know, Nora’s marriage portion is
significant. In your case it would have to be in order to cover your
significant debts, even if most of them were incurred by your father.”

“If I might ask, how do you know how the debts were
incurred?”

“I had you investigated, of course. You don’t
really think I’d come to England without knowing about the peers who were in
want of a wife? I had my man of business look into the lot of you. You’re a
good deal more impoverished than most of them. But you don’t have a gaming
problem, a love of drink or opium, and you’re even discreet enough with your
mistresses that my man couldn’t figure out who you have set up in town. Of
course, your finances are so bad you might not be able to afford any of those
things, up to and including the girl. But plenty of your peers are poor, yet
are still able to be miscreants and deviants.”

“I am flattered to be found guilty of poverty but
cleared of the miscreant and deviant charges.” If Colin didn’t punch this man
before the end of the interview, he would surely have apoplexy from the
thwarted desire.

“I am willing to give you £75,000 when you marry
Nora, then I can gift you £25,000 more
per annum
. Assuming you keep my little
girl happy, of course, as well as help me in my business endeavors.”

It was all Colin could do not to let his jaw drop
inelegantly to the floor. £75,000? That was more than enough to settle all
the debts, restore the estate and give his sisters the future they deserved.

“Are those terms agreeable, Ridgeway?”

If all that had been at stake was money, they would
have been more than agreeable. But there was more, even if Colin did not wish
to think of it. “I have not yet spoken to your daughter, sir. And, in truth,
I have not decided to propose.”

“I’ll raise it to £30,000
per annum
, but I’ll
expect you to introduce me to all your rich friends.” Colin realized that in
marrying Nora, he would also be subjecting himself to a lifetime of doing her
father’s bidding.

But £75,000. Then £30,000
per annum
.

“That is a most generous offer, sir. But as I said,
I have not yet made up my mind.”

Mr. Babcock had a rather thunderous look on his
face, reminding Colin even more of his father. But, fortunately, the beautiful
Miss Babcock chose that moment to enter the study.

“Papa, you cannot mean to keep Lord Ridgeway to
yourself. He has come to take me for a walk on his beautiful estate.”

“I suppose you can go,” said her father. “But
Ridgeway, I don’t intend to wait forever.”

“Of course, sir,” said Colin, as he escorted Nora
from the room, grateful for the escape.

She looked remarkably beautiful with a pink woolen
cloak and a matching fur hat, muff and collar.

“You’re certain you will not mind the cold?” he
asked her.

“Not when I am on your arm, I am sure,” she said
smiling.

And, indeed, Miss Babcock’s perfect looks were only
enhanced by the brisk weather that brought a pretty pink glow to her skin.

“Your estate is magical in winter,” she said. “I
can only imagine how beautiful it is in spring.”

“It is lovely.” He should add a compliment like
“but not as lovely as you.” But he didn’t.

“I have not yet been to London, because Papa felt we
should celebrate Christmas at a true English estate. But I confess I look
forward to visiting the capital. I understand you spend a good portion of the
year there.”

“Until recently I spent a great deal of time there,
though now I believe I will only be going back when Lords is in session.”

“So you would wish to spend more time here?”

Colin couldn’t tell for certain, but Miss Babcock
sounded a bit disappointed.

“My sisters are here and while Rose will have her
come-out, I wouldn’t want Letty to spend all her time in town.”

“Your sisters are both such dear girls. I so look
forward to getting to know them better, especially dear Letty.”

“Speaking of my sisters, there they are now, along
with Miss Conway.”

“Yes, the interesting Miss Conway. But what are
they doing?”

“Making snow angels.”

Colin hadn’t consciously walked in the direction of
the dower house, the direction of Ava. But he was there now. And Miss
Conway’s lesson seemed to be about the making of snow angels.

“Hello, Miss Babcock!” said Letty from the ground.
“You and Colin must join us!”

“Join you how, Lady Leticia?”

“Make angels with us!”

“Yes, Miss Babcock,” called Rose from beside Letty,
“do join us. We’re having ever so much fun.”

Colin had to cough to cover his laugh. While he
knew Letty’s invitation had been innocent, he had a feeling Rose knew damned
well the last thing Miss Babcock would do was lie down in the snow.

But she did smile prettily at the two sisters.
“Thank you so much for the invitation, but I am afraid my cloak would be
ruined.”

“You could go change,” said Letty. “We’ll wait.”

Colin looked at the beautiful Miss Babcock, dressed
in the first stare of fashion. Even if she were to ruin her cloak and hat, he
had no doubt she had a wardrobe filled with replacements. Then he looked at
Miss Conway lying in the snow, flailing her limbs, wearing her old cloak and the
mismatched scarves and mittens that Rose had found in the attic that had
probably last been worn some twenty years earlier. One of these ladies would
make him an excellent wife and be an incredible mother to his children.

It was not the woman on his arm.

“I think,” said Colin, “that perhaps angel making is
not something Miss Babcock wishes to do today.

“Thank you for understanding,” said Nora, as she tugged
on his arm.

“However,” continued Colin, “I believe I must
partake of this exercise. They are in desperate need of a male angel.”

“We are!” said Letty.

So Colin fell back into the snow next to Ava and
began to make his angel. He looked to his right to see that Ava was enjoying
herself just as much as Letty and Rose. He knew what he should do. But even
more so, he knew what he wanted to do. And he didn’t want to fight his heart
any longer. He found himself laughing, even as he knew he would never receive
a £75,000 dowry nor £30,000
per annum.

*

“What do you mean, my lord?” asked Nora.

After returning to the house Colin had requested a
moment alone with Nora, which Mrs. Babcock had been only too happy to grant.
He believed she would have escorted them to a bedchamber if asked, but instead,
had deposited them in the sitting room, then closed the door. Colin had just
told Nora that he regretfully would be ending his courtship of her.

“While it has been a delight spending time with you
and your family, I believe we would not suit. I am afraid that my years in
London have made me quite unfit for polite company such as your family’s.”

Nora frowned. “I do not understand.”

“I have been alone for too long and have a great
deal of work ahead of me as head of the family. I am afraid I could not give
you the attention you deserve.” But he looked forward to showering Ava with
it, even as he would have to redouble his efforts to earn money.

“Am I to understand that you are rejecting me?”

“Not at all. I am recognizing my particular
weaknesses that would not make this a good match. The fault is wholly mine.”

“Well, of course it is. But you cannot be serious.
You cannot reject me.”

“I am not rejecting you, Miss Babcock. It is only
my own…”

“Stubble it! Is it that Miss Conway baggage?”