Always Come Home (Emerson 1) (28 page)

James considered the question. “It has been quite
some time since I was in the dower house and I remember it only vaguely. I
care little for where I will sleep, but would like my daughter close to me, not
in any type of nursery.”

“Currently four of the bedchambers are occupied.
But the two at the end of the hall are vacant, if you and Miss Emerson would
like to stay there. If I might suggest it, your daughter may also wish to
share a bedchamber with Lady Leticia.”

James and Colin looked over to where Letty was in
alt chattering. This time she’d made it all the way to next Christmas, where
she was talking about making snow angels. Anna had not said much, but at least
she did not look frightened, a sight James had seen all too often in the past.
He turned back to the butler. “Thank you, Stemple. I believe my daughter
would like that, as long as it pleases Letty, as well.”

“Very good, my lord, I shall see to the arrangements
straight away.”

Colin approached Anna carefully, bending to greet
her. “I cannot imagine a better day than the one in which I get to meet my
niece. I’m your uncle Colin and I am so happy you’ve come home.”

Anna smiled shyly at him as she clutched Ava’s shawl
about her. She wore her black hair in two long braids. James’s heart warmed
at the way his entire family – as well as Colin’s betrothed – had taken to Anna
right away. But he’d expected nothing less. For, despite the bad example of
their parents, his brothers and sisters were good people and tolerant of those
who were different.

He didn’t have the heart to tell his brother that
they had not truly come home. Home was an ocean away where he still had the
dream of being his own man. But he would not spoil the day with such a
comment. Especially because he feared he would still cry – actually cry – with
the joy of seeing his family again.

He cleared his throat, instead.

“Ava,” said Colin, “please allow me to introduce you
to my brother the prodigal.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord James. I have
heard so much about you.”

“Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to
learn about you from Colin, so I look forward to doing it firsthand.” James
could see Colin watching him warily. “But please allow me to give you a
brotherly kiss.” He kissed Ava’s cheek. Approximately one second into it,
Colin inserted his arm between them.

“That’s enough of that,” he said.

James almost laughed with relief. Colin had found
himself a love match after all.

The wedding of Colin Emerson, Earl of Ridgeway to
Miss Ava Conway was unusual in many respects. Some said he was marrying
beneath him in wedding the daughter of a university professor. Lord Ridgeway
refused to dignify that remark with a comment, though in private he said he
liked having the new Countess of Ridgeway beneath him, atop him and any other
way he found her.

Another unusual aspect of the wedding was that the
ceremony itself was shared with their two servants – the only two servants
employed at the dower house. It was simply unheard of for an earl to do such a
thing. But since Ridgeway hardly had enough funds for a special license, he
and his bride had had no choice but to wait for the banns to be called. It was
rumored that he’d suggested the double wedding to his servants, who’d then
postponed their own vows for another week to accommodate them.

Miss Conway had no relations at the wedding, though
she had both Lady Leticia and Miss Anna Emerson as her attendants. That alone
had scandalized the village, to have not one but two children who were all but
bastards, even if the family did treat them as if they were, well, family.

Very few members of the
ton
were in
attendance. That was to be expected, it was noted by some of the more vicious
gossips, since it was hardly like the Emersons would be able to accommodate
guests in the dower house.

Lord James was there, of course, with his little
girl from America, whose skin was a most embarrassing tan color. Of course Lady
Rosemary and the new Lady Ridgeway had been treating the little girl like a
princess, even going so far as to tell everyone they encountered just how
beautiful she was.

The oldest Emerson sister, Mrs. Pierce, had sent her
regrets. But that was to be expected since it had been an age since she’d
traveled to the estate. She hadn’t even come for the old earl’s funeral.

As for the
ton
, it was rumored that the
former Lady Evelyn Williams, who’d rather scandalously married a Bow Street Inspector
and even more peculiarly preferred to be called Mrs. Stapleton, had sent their
congratulations, along with a present. None other than the Duke of Lynwood and
his family, the Kellingtons, had also sent their congratulations. Apparently,
Ridgeway had done some sort of service for that Bow Street chap, who happened
to be friends with Lynwood. And it was well known that the Kellingtons were
loyal to a fault.

The one attendee from London did create a scandal.
Nicholas Chilcott, the Earl of Layton, was there. While it had never been formally
acknowledged, everyone knew he was the family’s half brother. The old Earl of
Ridgeway had made one too many visits to the Layton family estate one county
over. The handsome earl, with the Ridgeway dark looks, was even the same age
as Colin Emerson.

Given the family’s scandals which were all on
display in the church and the fact that there would be no wedding breakfast
since Ridgeway’s cook and butler were also getting married, it was speculated
no one from the village would even attend the wedding.

Of course, everyone did.

Everyone except for the Babcock family.

But it was said those Americans always did have
ideas above their station.

*

The two happy couples, along with the rest of the
Emersons, arrived back at the house immediately following the ceremony. Maude
had baked a cake the day before. And Colin raided the wine cellar for
champagne.

“If there’s one thing we can thank the old earl for,
it was his love of wine,” said Colin, as he poured everyone a drink.

Nicholas, the Earl of Layton, kissed Maude on the
cheek and congratulated Stemple. Then he moved on to Ava. “Welcome to the
family, my dear,” he said as he kissed her cheek.

“And that’s enough of that,” said Colin as he
inserted himself between them.

“If I’m playing host to Anna, Letty and Rose for the
next month to give you and the other happy couple time alone here the least you
can do is let me kiss the bride,” said Nicholas.

“Where will I be?” asked James.

“The stables,” said Colin and Nicholas at the same
time.

“My love,” said Ava, as she kissed her husband, “why
don’t you enjoy some time alone with your brothers while I help Anna, Letty and
Rose pack?”

The three men took her suggestion, grabbing a
decanter of brandy and retiring to the library where they opened the French
doors to mask the cigar smoke they were about to indulge in. The three of them
sat in chairs with their feet up, looking for all the world like the brothers
they were.

“You chose well, Colin,” said Nicholas. “I like
her.”

“She’s a very good woman,” said James. “I’ve come
to like her very much in the past three weeks.”

“James, I’m warning you…”

“In a brotherly fashion, of course,” said James.

“Colin,” said Nicholas. “If there’s anything you
need, do not hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you, but I cannot take money from you.”

“I don’t see why not. You’re my brother. You have
the care of two of my sisters and now my niece. I would do anything for you
and James. I’m already frustrated enough that I can’t do anything for Win.”

“How often do you see her?” asked Colin. “I was
turned away at the door each time I tried. I was on the verge of breaking in
when I learned she and that bastard she’s married to were on the continent.
Damn father to hell for making her marry that man.”

“I’ve tried time and time again. I’m not giving up,
but I do have to spend some time at the estate. Simon is doing everything he
can to make it seem like I’m neglecting my duties.”

Simon Chilcott was Nicholas’s cousin and heir.

“Simon Chilcott is a horse’s arse,” said James.
“Unless he has changed a great deal since I last saw him.”

“He has not,” said Nicholas as he blew a smoke ring.

They sat in companionable silence for a moment.

“Nick,” said James. “I may need help with
something.”

Both of his brothers looked at him in surprise.
James was a fiercely independent man. It was what had driven him to America in
the first place.

“I have a deed to some land. It’s not a large
parcel, but it is important. It’s being contested in London since the other
man claiming ownership is a peer. I need a good solicitor and was hoping you
could help me find one.”

“Of course.”

“But if you have land in America,” said Colin
slowly, “does that mean you’ll be returning?”

“Yes,” James said quietly. “As long as I settle
this deed there is every reason for me to return.”

“But you’ve just come home,” said Colin.

“But I must do what is best for Anna.”

Colin wanted to object. He wanted to chain his
brother to a post to keep him from leaving. But in the end, the three of them
simply sat in silence. And he prayed that the future would take care of itself.

Colin and Ava had been married almost one month.
They’d spent that time alone in the dower house, other than for Stemple and
Maude, who spent most of their time in Stemple’s rooms.

Colin had just finished drawing up a plan for the
spring planting, when Ava entered the library. She was wearing her brown
dress, a gown he’d seen countless times before. She had an apron over it and
there was a bit of dirt on her cheek from whatever she’d been cleaning.

No other countess would spend part of her day
cleaning. No other countess would ever look this beautiful doing so.

“Something arrived for you in the post,” she said,
as she gave him the missive.

“Perhaps it is an inquiry about leasing the manor
house.” They’d told their solicitor to look for another tenant.

“I do not believe it is,” said Ava.

Colin looked at the return address. “It’s another
publisher, no doubt to reject me. If I did not have you, dear Ava, to tell me
what a splendid husband I am, I do believe these rejections would make a humble
man of me.”

“I have my doubts about that,” said Ava as she
kissed him.

“Minx,” said Colin, as he opened the letter and
began to read. Then re-read. Then he sat up and read it again.

“What does it say?”

“It’s from an old friend from Eton days. Clayton
and his gang used to beat him regularly until I put an end to it. And he says
he wants to publish my book.” He shook his head in disbelief. “He wants to
publish my book. He wants to publish my book!”

He hugged Ava and spun her around, then kissed her.

“That is wonderful! And wholly unsurprising. I
knew someone would have the good sense to do it.”

Colin continued reading. “It says I shall get an
advance of £100 and upon its publication I will receive…” Here he looked
decidedly dejected. “…£1000. More if the book does well.”

“But of course it will do well.”

“£1000 for an entire book! That’s not much.”

“It is much more than we have now.”

“But how will I ever be able to shower you with the
presents I want to give you with only £1000? Rose needs a Season. And I’d
like to take Letty and Anna to London and…”

“Lord Ridgeway!” said the stern governess.

“Yes, Miss Conway?”

“Do not make me complain of you to your ancestors’
portraits. That is enough money to live on and we can even pay Maude and
Stemple their back wages.”

“Do you not want your back wages?”

“My love, all I want is you.”

They kissed.

And all was well.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As always, my heartfelt thanks to the amazing
Melanie Friedman at Bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com for being the first to
believe in me and for giving me the encouragement to keep going. And she did a
great deal to make this book better. Anabel Vazquez dropped everything to
assure me she liked Colin. And thank you, always, to Terree Nelson Lyman,
Linda Thurmond DeCristofaro, Amal Chaaban, and Janice Minsberg. Janice doesn’t
even like romance novels, but she always reads mine.

Jennifer Omner at Allpublications.com did another
amazing cover and makes this so much fun.

As always, thank you to my mom, who made me a reader
and a writer. She has given me a lifetime of love and encouragement.

I hope you liked the first installment of the
Emerson series. James is up next as we find out just what he’ll do for the
love of family. (Answer: a lot.)

Thank you to all of you for being so supportive.
Please take the time to pursue your own dreams. They are within reach. You
just have to keep moving forward.