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“You must look beyond the surface to see it, Olivia dear,” George played along, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Oh, flying carriages, your imagination is too wild, child,” Jane chided her niece gently.

“It doesn’t sound too impossible, auntie,” Olivia replied, her expression growing almost dreamy. “Think of what voyages we could make with our very own flying carriage,” she mused aloud.

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous, dear,” Jane dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand.

“You are too boring, auntie,” Olivia retorted, giving an exaggerated yawn.

“Of course. That is why I host the best parties in England,” Jane returned proudly, her tone one of playful superiority.

“Second only to the Prince Regent’s,” Alexander interjected with a mischievous wink in Olivia’s direction.

“No dinner for you tonight for that statement, Alex,” Jane admonished, her tone mock-stern, drawing echoes of laughter from everyone gathered in the foyer.

“You would starve an Earl, auntie?” Alex clutched at his chest, feigning disbelief and shock.

“Yes, I will,” Jane retorted, her voice laced with playful determination, eliciting another round of laughter.

George joined in their mirth, feeling a warmth spread through him. This was precisely why he needed his family. Their spirited banter and infectious joy were irreplaceable.

“Had a change of heart then?” Alexander prodded, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.

“And I decided to ride all the way,” George confirmed with a nod.

“I say, we must celebrate this change of heart,” Jane declared, clapping her hands together in excitement. “A dinner party would do perfectly,” she added, her enthusiasm palpable.

“Here we go again,” Alex muttered, earning a playful swat from Jane’s gloves.

“I agree. Hosting dinner sounds marvelous,” Olivia chimed in, bouncing on her feet with equal excitement.

“And we cannot have a party without our favorite guest, of course,” Jane continued, her excitement growing by the second.

“Pray tell, who is this guest of honor?” Alex inquired, his curiosity piqued.

“Why, Miss Lovell, of course,” Jane replied with a triumphant smile.

At that moment, George felt a sudden knot of dread tighten in his stomach. This was something he had not anticipated.

Not Emma. Of all people.

CHAPTER 23

Emma and Agnes had agreed to have tea at Frannie’s home that afternoon. It was a perfect opportunity to escape the oppressive atmosphere of her parents’ home for a while.

“Why, aren’t you the cutest little creature,” Emma cooed, cradling Frannie’s one-year-old baby, Caspian, in her lap.

“Is he growing more teeth?” she asked excitedly upon noticing two tiny white dots on his lower gums beside the teeth already there.

“Indeed, he is,” Frances replied, her voice brimming with maternal pride.

“And trying to eat everything in his path now, I see,” Aggie chuckled as the baby grabbed Emma’s handkerchief and began to nibble on it.

“You’re a hungry little one, aren’t you?” Emma tickled the baby, who responded with infectious giggles and babbles.

As the baby’s joyous sounds filled the drawing room, Emma felt an inexplicable heaviness settle within her. The realization struck hard and cold: this was a happiness she would never know. She would never have a household filled with such warmth and laughter. The love and pride Frances exuded seemed as unattainable to Emma as the Northern Star. Her heart ached with the bitter truth of it.

Yet, despite the turmoil inside her, Emma’s smile remained unwavering. She continued to play with the baby, her laughter joining his, and engaged in light-hearted conversation with her friends.