Always Come Home (Emerson 1) (5 page)

Colin wanted to punch his host. But, unfortunately,
he needed a favor. “I am forced to ask for a loan, Clayton. I’m going to see
about hiring a private coach to speed my journey along. I would not want to
miss Christmas when I have promised my sisters to be there.”

“A loan, you say? A loan implies repayment. And
there’s not much chance of that, is there old boy?”

“Unfortunately, no. Not in the near future. But I
will repay you.”

“Only if you find the right bride.”

“No,” said Colin, gritting his teeth. “I promise
that I will find a way to repay you, with interest.” If by “interest” he meant
planting the man a facer.

“Since I am all but certain you have a long list of
creditors and I have no wish to be added to the bottom of that list, I will simply
give you the blunt.”

“Thank you. Though I intend to repay you.”

“There will be no need, since I plan to exact
payment tonight.”

“In what way?”

“There are any number of things I could ask you to
do. You could muck out my stables. Or shovel the snow from the drive. I
imagine you’d do a bang up job of washing dishes.” At this point, all his
other guests were laughing. And Clayton dearly loved an audience. “Now, what
shall I do?”

Colin looked at his nemesis, feigning indifference,
as he refilled his glass of port. The simple truth was that Clayton could ask
him to do any or all of those things and Colin would be forced to go along.
He’d happily do them if it meant getting out of there even one minute quicker.
And, more importantly, home to his sisters.

“I think I have it,” said Clayton. “You always delighted
in having your head in a book at school. Put your knowledge to the test. I’d
like you to do the balcony scene from ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ As Juliet. Dressed
as a woman.”

Clayton’s friends howled with laughter.

“I cannot wait to see this,” said Maplewhite. “I do
hope he wears one of Miss Conway’s gowns.”

“What an excellent idea,” said Clayton. “What say
you, Ridgeway? Are you up for a spot of Shakespeare?”

Ava was relieved that dinner was finally over and
one more day of Lord Clayton’s house party had almost passed. His guests would
depart before Christmas and the arrival of his parents. She only had to be on
her guard for just a few more days.

She was in her room, which was on the nursery
floor. The girls’ bedchambers were on the floor below and Ava was thankful she
was not within shouting distance of them. Normally she liked the seclusion,
though it was unnerving at times with so many drunken houseguests.

She tidied her room in anticipation of Maude’s
arrival. During house parties, the two shared a bed as a means of protecting
each other. Maude’s usual roommate often kicked her out to entertain lords as
a means of collecting extra vales. Ava and Maude had become good friends, so
the arrangement was pleasant for both of them.

But Maude still had a few hours of work left, giving
Ava time to curl up with a book. And to try not to think of Lord Ridgeway.

She’d been thoroughly disconcerted to meet the man
in the portrait gallery earlier. It had been a foolish thing for her to do,
venting to the portraits. And if he’d said anything to Clayton, she would have
been sacked for certain. She’d been wondering if he would try to extract
payment from her for his silence. Clayton’s other guests would have. Or at
least they would have tried. For she would not give payment of any kind to
useless lordlings who went about their lives bothering people.

But instead, Lord Ridgeway had thoroughly
entertained her both then and in his conversation at dinner. She’d felt sorry
for him the way Clayton had continually reminded him of his lack of funds.
She’d also been bothered by the cruelty of the other men when hinting at what
must be an illegitimate brother. Yet, Ridgeway took their taunts in stride. She
liked the way he kept himself above the fray. She would have liked to have
seen them all at school, for she got the impression Ridgeway didn’t suffer
fools gladly. And there was no doubt Clayton and his friends were fools.

A knock on the door put her senses on edge. It was
too early for Maude, who would have announced herself. It might be the
insufferable Ferguson. Even worse, it could be Clayton, back with another of
his indecent suggestions.

She put down the book and picked up a lead figurine
she’d acquired on her travels with her father. She went to the door. “Who is
it?” she asked without opening it.

“Ridgeway. I have come on an errand and request an
audience with you.”

She opened the door cautiously. “My lord?” she
asked.

“Miss Conway,” he bowed. “I have an unusual
request. It was something instigated by Clayton, which means it is also
asinine.”

Her lips quivered from laughter. “I am almost
afraid to ask what it is.”

“What is in your hand?”

She held up the figurine, a lead statue of a bird.
“A precautionary measure.”

In an instant, all signs of the affable earl
disappeared. “Are you unsafe in this house, Miss Conway?”

“I am not complaining, sir.”

“I asked you a question. Do you fear Clayton or his
guests?”

“I can defend myself, sir.”

“Unfortunately, women are rarely assured of being
able to do that, Miss Conway. I am glad to see you take precautions, though a
weapon such as that could also be used against you.”

“I am aware of that. On nights such as these, my
friend Maude stays with me. Fortunately, I am also armed with wit and good
sense.”

“That makes you unique in this house.”

She smiled. “What was your unusual request, Lord
Ridgeway?”

“You still have not answered my question about your
safety.”

“No, I have not. How may I assist you?”

He must have realized she would not be more
forthcoming because he frowned at her before continuing. “Miss Conway, as you
have heard, I have no money.”

“Have you come here for a loan?”

He snorted his laughter. “Do you have money to lend
me? Because it may come to that. But in the meantime, Clayton has said he
will give me enough money to travel to my estate if I recite the balcony scene
from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ wearing one of your gowns.”

“I am surprised by his request.”

“That he would wish to humiliate me in such a
manner?”

“No. That he would know of the balcony scene in
‘Romeo and Juliet.’”

Lord Ridgeway laughed a gratifyingly long amount of
time. “Ah, Miss Conway, you are the only bright spot in this entire
misadventure. Might I prevail upon you? I have, obviously, nothing to offer
in payment other than my profound gratitude.”

“Of course,” said Ava, as she opened the door
further. “Do come in. I am afraid to say I do not have a wide selection of
gowns from which to choose, nor do I think they will fit very well.”

“I am sure they will do nicely,” he said, as he
entered the room.

She had no wardrobe, only four hooks on the wall.
Her few other things were in a small bureau. “I am afraid I have only one
other brown gown as well as one that is grey. I do have my dark green, but I
save that for church.”

“The brown or the grey would work nicely, thank
you.”

She held both gowns up to him. “I do not think
either will fit you.” Especially since he was well over six feet tall, which
made him a good five inches taller than she. He had a lean muscled physique,
which meant he could probably fit the gown over him, but not come even close to
fastening it.

“I will have to remove my jacket and waistcoat.
Should I go elsewhere to do that?”

“I believe my sensibilities are such that I will not
faint if you do so here.”

She might have spoken too soon. For as Ridgeway
shrugged out of his jacket and waistcoat, she could see how the well-tailored
shirt fit him as if a second skin. Suddenly she was in need of a glass of
water.

“You must want to return home very badly,” she said
as she turned toward the pitcher and away from the prime physique in front of
her. During her trips to her father’s archaeological digs, she’d seen men
without shirts. But somehow this man fully clothed was doing odd things to
her.

“My sisters mean the world to me, Miss Conway. I
have already failed them in so many ways. But I promised I would be home for
Christmas and will not go back on my word. I will play whatever game Clayton
devises if it means I can be on my way.”

“They are fortunate to have you as a brother.”

“Are they? Sometimes I am not so sure,” he said as
he pulled the dress over his head, careful not to tear it.

“I have no brothers or sisters. But I know that I
would certainly appreciate a brother who would go to such lengths to see me.”

The gown barely stretched over his frame and was wide
open in back. It was also several inches off the floor.

“How do I look?” he asked with a grin.

“Like a brother who truly loves his sisters.”

There was another knock at the door. Ava opened it
partway to find Maude standing there. “I’m glad they did not keep you so late
working tonight,” she told the cook’s assistant.

“Actually,” said Maude from the hall, “I’m not done
with my work, yet. But I was wondering if you knew which bedchamber was Lord Ridgeway’s.”
Then her eyes went wide.

Ava turned to see Ridgeway at her shoulder. “Are
you looking for me?” he asked.

Maude could only stare at the man in Ava’s dress.

“Lord Ridgeway,” said Ava, “may I present my friend
Maude Anderson? Maude, this is Lord Ridgeway.”

Maude curtsied to him, but was still regarding him
cautiously.

“I am participating in Lord Clayton’s entertainment
this evening,” said Ridgeway. “Or, rather, I am the entertainment. Was there
a reason you needed to find my room?” Then he had a moment of panic. “You’re
not going to tell the twins, are you?”

“Of course not, your lordship,” said Maude, bobbing
another curtsey for good measure. “I have something for your man. Some salve
I made up.”

“Has he been injured?”

“No, my lord. It’s for his scars. My sister had
similar burns and this salve used to help her. I made some up for your journey
tomorrow.”

“That is very kind of you. I must say I am
surprised he discussed his condition with you. Stemple speaks to very few
people about his scars.”

“We was eating in the pot room and it just came up.”

“Why were you eating in the pot room?” asked Ava.

Maude scowled. “On account of those useless gits
didn’t want their appetites spoiled.”

Lord Ridgeway drew himself up. “Are you saying the
other servants banished Stemple to another room?”

“Yes, sir. They’re like that, my lord. I pay them
no mind, but they act like that to anyone different. But I took Victor his
dinner and we had a nice chat. He’s a much better man than the others. I wanted
to give him the salve to show that. And Ava…I mean, Miss Conway, I told him I
would have you write down the ingredients so he can get some made up for when
he goes home. Can you do that for me, please?”

“Of course, Maude. This is very kind of you.”

Maude shrugged. “It was the least I could do for a
man who fought for King and country.”

They were then interrupted by the appearance of
Ferguson.

“What are you doing up here?” he asked Maude.

“I asked for a snack,” said Ava quickly. “Maude was
kind enough to bring it up to me.”

The butler scowled. “It is not her place to do so.
She should be doing dishes.”

“Actually, Ferguson,” said Ridgeway. “I need
Maude’s assistance for a few moments, but will send her back to the kitchen
when I am through. Is there something you needed?”

“Lord Clayton is growing impatient.”

“I will be down directly.”

“He also requests the presence of Miss Conway. She
will be playing Romeo in your impromptu theatrical.”

“I do not believe this concerns Miss Conway,” said
Ridgeway.

“But I believe what matters is Lord Clayton’s
desire. You are both to report downstairs as soon as possible,” said Ferguson
with a smirk. He turned to leave.

“I am an earl, Ferguson. An impoverished one to be
sure. But an earl nonetheless. I believe there should have been a ‘my lord’
at the end of that order.”

Ferguson lost some – but not all – of his attitude.
“As you say, my lord. Maude, get to the kitchen.”

“When I am done with her. That will be all,
Ferguson.”

The butler bristled at being dismissed, but he did
leave.

“He’s not going to like that,” said Maude under her
breath.

“I am glad to hear it,” said Ridgeway. “Now, shall
we repair to my bedchamber so Maude can deliver the salve to Stemple? I am most
grateful for your kindness. He is not just an invaluable valet, but also my
friend.

When they arrived at Lord Ridgeway’s room it was to
find Stemple in a chair reading. Ava had not yet seen him and her heart
immediately went out to the man. The burns must have been terribly painful.

Lord Ridgeway introduced them, then Stemple turned
with some curiosity to Maude.

“I brought some of the salve,” she said, as she
presented the small jar to him shyly.

For a moment, it looked like he would not take it.
But it became apparent he was simply overwhelmed.

He cleared his throat. “Thank you, Maude. This is
very kind of you.”

Maude grinned, while also blushing. Whatever they’d
discussed at dinner in the pot room must have been interesting, indeed.

“A word, Stemple, if you please?” asked Lord
Ridgeway.

They moved a few feet away, but Ava’s hearing had
always been keen so she did not hesitate to eavesdrop.

“Stemple, I am about to perform what I believe will
be a series of humiliating tasks in order to obtain the blunt to get us out of
here.”

“It is not worth it, my lord. We can leave in the
morning and find another way.”

“I appreciate your optimism, but the money will help
and I care not what they think of me. However, I am quite concerned about the
unsavory goings on in this household, particularly as they pertain to Maude and
Miss Conway.”

Stemple stiffened. “Are the ladies in danger?”

“I believe they might be. Miss Conway will be
coming downstairs with me. But I would ask that you accompany Maude to the
kitchen, then when she is done with work for the night I would like you to
escort her to Miss Conway’s room in the nursery. I will need you to stand a
post until I can relieve you.”

“I would do that even if you did not ask me to.”

“Good man.”

Ava moved away so it was not as apparent that she’d
been listening.