Always Come Home (Emerson 1) (6 page)

He was an interesting man, Lord Ridgeway.
Flirtatious, but protective. Poor in funds, but rich in honor. He did not
hesitate to pull rank on the insufferable butler, but was so concerned about
the safety of a cook’s assistant that he set his man to look after her.

“Are you ready, Miss Conway?” Lord Ridgeway held
out his arm.

“I am not sure how to prepare for such an evening,
my lord,” she said, putting her arm through his.

“Picturing our host and his guests devoured by
jackals helps.”

She laughed, as they headed for the door.

When Colin and Miss Conway arrived in the sitting
room, it was obvious that Clayton and his guests had spent the intervening time
drinking. They were singing a lewd song which Colin quickly put an end to.

“Clayton, there is no reason for Miss Conway to be
dragged into this sordid mess,” he said. “Can we not send her back to her
room?”

“And have her miss all the fun? I would never dream
of it. Besides, according to my sisters’ complaints, Miss Conway is forever
trying to get them to read. I suspect she would like nothing more than to
expand our horizons, as well.”

“My horizon is expanding just looking at her,” said
Raffington with a leer.

“That will be enough of that!” snapped Colin.

“I say old boy, you’re becoming positively missish,”
said Clayton. “Must be the gown.” The others laughed, as expected. “I
daresay Miss Conway is not so easily offended, are you, my dear?”

She stood even straighter, which was impressive
given her usual ramrod posture. “As a governess, I am pleased any time one’s
horizons are expanded, though I daresay in Viscount Raffington’s case, it was a
barely noticeable enlargement.”

That set the entire room into gales of laughter –
save Raffington, of course.

Clayton looked at his sisters’ governess as if
seeing her anew. Colin inwardly groaned. Miss Conway’s excellent setdown of
Raffington only made her more attractive to their host. Though Colin could not
comprehend how Clayton thought he could escape being the object of Miss
Conway’s most excellent wit. And he was most certainly a man who did not like
being the butt of anyone’s joke.

Clayton took another sip of his drink, then cleared
his throat. “Now, I think it is high time for the two of you to begin the
scene. I believe you are in the balcony.” He motioned to a table on which
Colin could stand. “Romeo, you may address Juliet from where you stand. I
trust the two of you know the scene and do not need the lines?”

“I know it well enough,” said Colin.

“As do I,” said Miss Conway.

“Then have at it,” said Clayton. “We are all
atwitter with anticipation.”

Miss Conway moved closer to the table and began the
scene.

“’But soft, what light through yonder window
breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun.’”

“A son of a bitch,” said Hemsworth, eliciting
laughter.

“There is a lady present!” said Colin.

“Ridgeway has the right of it,” said Clayton. “And
besides, Hemsworth, I believe the son of the…person…to whom you referred is Layton,
not Ridgeway.”

That set the room howling with laughter once again,
save for Miss Conway who was perplexed. Colin sometimes forgot that not
everyone knew his family’s story.

“You go too far, sir,” said Colin. He would take
any amount of abuse, but he would not allow others to speak ill of his family.
Even the unacknowledged sibling.

Clayton bowed his head in fake contrition. “Pray
forgive me, please continue.”

“I believe I will skip ahead,” said Miss Conway. “’O
that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!’”

Colin responded. “’Aye, me!’”

“Not like that, Ridgeway,” said Clayton. “Your
voice should be higher. Give it another go.”

Colin raised the pitch of his voice and repeated the
line.

Laughter ensued.

“Kiss her, already!” yelled Maplewhite. That was
seconded by all the men present.

“Out of the question,” said Colin. “I will not
sully Miss Conway’s reputation in such a way.”

“I don’t remember you having such high morals at
school,” said Raffington. “I seem to recall you having your way with any
number of barmaids.”

“Miss Conway is not a barmaid.”

“More the pity,” declared Clayton. “Tell you what,
old boy. If you kiss our Miss Conway, I shall call an end to tonight’s
festivities and give you your blunt.”

“No,” said Colin. “Not when it comes at the expense
of Miss Conway’s reputation.”

“But we’ll never tell,” said Hemsworth. That was
seconded by the others, all of whom would bandy it about as soon as they
returned to town.

“Out of the question,” said Colin.

“I will do it,” said Miss Conway.

That elicited cheers and whistles from the men.

Colin shook his head. “Miss Conway, you cannot
trust these men.”

“I thank you for your counsel, sir. But I am
determined to proceed. However, I would like Lord Clayton to pay Lord Ridgeway
before I do so.”

“Don’t you trust me, my dear?” asked Clayton.

“No, my lord, I do not.”

“Smart girl,” replied Clayton.

“Further,” she continued. “I would like your word that
Lord Ridgeway will have no other tasks to perform.”

Clayton studied her. “Aren’t you the saucy minx?
Ferguson, get a few notes for Ridgeway. However much it would take to rent a
carriage for his ride home. Not a first class conveyance, of course. Just one
sound enough to make the trip.”

Colin turned to Miss Clayton. “I will not allow you
to do this.”

“You sir, are neither father nor husband to me. Or
even employer. You have no say in my actions.”

He stepped closer to her and lowered his voice.
“They’ll tell everyone. Your reputation will be ruined.”

“I will not allow them to make sport of you all
evening. And, hopefully, no one will take the word of men in their cups.”

“Everyone will believe them.”

“My reputation is not your concern.”

Ferguson returned with the money.

“Give it to Ridgeway,” said Clayton.

The butler did as instructed.

Colin surveyed it before putting it in his pocket.
As Clayton had instructed, it was barely enough to make the journey. But it
would enable Colin and Stemple to leave the next day. Yet he could not take
the money without trying to dissuade Miss Conway one more time.

“Please, Miss Conway, do not do this.”

“But I must,” she said. “Are you ready, Lord
Clayton?”

“I assure you I am always ready.”

Colin wanted to plant the smug man a facer. He was
laying claim to Miss Conway and everyone knew it. Except the lady in question.

“Then I shall kiss Lord Ridgeway.” She then went up
on tiptoe and kissed Colin…on the cheek.

There was stunned silence for a moment before
everyone broke out into laughter. Everyone except Clayton.

“That was not a real kiss,” he said.

“I believe it was,” she replied. “Lord Ridgeway,
did you consider that to be a real kiss?”

“Absolutely,” he said, not bothering to disguise his
glee. “And one of the best I have ever received.”

“Only one of the best? I am gravely insulted, sir.”

“The best kiss was bestowed upon me by my dear
grandmama on the occasion of my sixth birthday. She also gave me a pony, so
you can understand why such an occasion would live on in my esteem. However,
that was a very close second.”

Miss Conway had a lovely smile that was very much in
evidence.

Colin continued. “Now that I have fulfilled
Clayton’s conditions, I bid you all good night. Miss Conway, may I escort you
to your room?”

“That would be very kind of you, sir.”

“I didn’t say you were excused, Miss Conway,” said
Clayton.

“But you were about to,” said Ridgeway. Then he
lowered his voice so only Clayton could hear. “Do not push me on this. I am
still a fearsome opponent in a fight.”

Clayton considered the matter for a moment, then
tersely waived them off. “Good night, Ridgeway. Adieu, Miss Conway.”

*

Colin was uneasy as he escorted Miss Conway to her
room. Clayton didn’t like to be thwarted. Nor did he like being made a fool.
Colin and Miss Conway had neatly done both. And while Colin didn’t care that
he’d made an enemy of Clayton – it’s not like they had ever been friends – he
was concerned for Miss Conway. She would have to remain in Clayton’s house.
And Colin was beginning to have grave fears for her safety.

They arrived at her room only to hear whispers in
the nearby nursery. Instinctively Colin placed her behind him as he went to
investigate. He entered the nursery only to find Stemple and Maude talking
quietly in the far corner. Both jumped to their feet when Colin and Miss
Conway entered. And, though it was hard to tell in the dim light, both
appeared to be blushing.

“How may I be of assistance, my lord?” asked
Stemple.

“I do not need anything. I was simply escorting
Miss Conway back to her room.”

“Does that mean the night’s entertainment has
concluded?” asked Stemple.

“Yes, thankfully. But do not let me disturb you. I
believe we should take turns sleeping outside the ladies’ bedchamber.”

“Surely that is not necessary,” said Miss Conway.

“I am not willing to take any chances. Stemple,
would you like the first shift or the second?”

Stemple looked at Maude, who’d made no move to
retire to her chamber. “Might I take the first?” he asked.

“Of course,” said Colin. “I shall see you in four
hours.” Colin was thankful that his time at war had given him the ability to
awaken when needed.

He walked Miss Conway to her door.

“Mr. Stemple and Maude seem to get along well,” said
Miss Conway.

“Yes. And I am glad to see it. Too often Stemple
withdraws from the world, though I do not blame him. People can be cruel, as
the servants in this house already demonstrated, save your friend Maude.”

“I am afraid Maude is often the target of their
cruelty, as well. Life can be especially harsh to unprotected women.”

“Do you speak from experience, Miss Conway?”

“I have been fortunate in many ways, my lord. I
have never known hunger or homelessness. And while my father was alive, I knew
I was loved. We didn’t have many material possessions, but my life was rich in
other ways.”

“Then you have been very fortunate indeed, Miss
Conway. You are already well aware of my financial situation, but I am also
fortunate to have the love of my family – as unconventional as it is.” He
realized even as he spoke the words that they were true. He and James hadn’t
seen each other for years, but he knew they still shared a deep bond. Even he
and Layton had a bond that was stronger than one might expect of two half
brothers who’d never lived in the same house. As for his sisters, words could
not describe how much he loved them.

For some reason, he wanted to tell all of that to
this woman he’d met only hours before and would never see again. There was
something about her that drew him. Part of it was her wit, her intelligence.
Her outsmarting Clayton certainly hadn’t worked against her in his esteem. And
in the soft light, the features he’d considered merely pleasant before became
quite pretty. Beautiful, even.

He shook himself. She was gently bred, the daughter
of a loving father. He couldn’t flirt with the lady when he was leaving the
next day. And he certainly couldn’t consider her for a dalliance. So it was
best to say good night now. He took off the dress and gave it to her.

“I shall be leaving on the morrow, Miss Conway. But
I wanted to thank you for what you did for me tonight.”

“Playing Romeo?” she asked with a smile.

“Outwitting Clayton so well.”

“I am afraid that is not a task which requires much
skill.”

He laughed. He really liked this woman. “True.
Although I must warn you. He is a man for whom appearance means a great deal.
He does not like playing the fool, so I suggest taking care with his bruised
ego over the next few days. At least until his guests leave.”

“Thank you for your advice, sir. I shall try my
hardest to refrain from embarrassing him again.”

“Good luck. Because I fear he will inadvertently
give you any number of opportunities to show him up.” He wanted to say more. Do
more. What he really wanted was to obtain a kiss from her and not just on the
cheek. But, alas, there would be none of that. And it wasn’t because he was
an impoverished earl in search of a rich wife. It was because he was still a
gentleman. “Good night, Miss Conway. And farewell.”

“Godspeed, my lord. I hope you are able to make it
home in time for Christmas.”

There was nothing else to do, but leave her.

Reluctantly.