Page 25 of An Arranged Marriage with a Cruel Earl (Marriage Mart Scandals #2)

“I say,” Lady Rilendale declared. It was morning, and Emmeline was seated beside her in the breakfast room. Andrew was sitting opposite, and his gaze met hers warmly. The elderly lady had recovered seemingly overnight, and, two days after their adventure in the boathouse she sat, dressed in her pale grey gown, eating breakfast. “These pastries are decidedly better than the ones the cook used to make.”

Emmeline giggled. “They are rather nice, are they not?” she agreed. It was a pleasure to see Lady Rilendale enjoying her food. Emmeline lifted her own teacup—a blue Meissen Ware one that had been discovered in one of the condemned sections of the manor—and drank.

“Most enjoyable,” the older woman replied. “Andrew. You’re not eating any pastries.” She sounded reproachful.

“They’re lemon curd,” Andrew said, nose wrinkling. “I don’t like them.”

Lady Rilendale laughed, and Emmeline smiled at him. He was so proud, so quiet, that something as ordinary as likes and dislikes was endearing and even more delightful than it would ordinarily have been.

“There’s orange marmalade for the toast, though,” the dowager countess reminded him.

“Yes. I will be enjoying the toast today, not the pastries,” Andrew told her with a smile.

They all laughed.

Emmeline reached for a pastry, biting into it. Her mind wandered to the events ahead of them. Andrew was going to join them after breakfast, and Andrew had suggested they all go for a ride. Andrew had invited a seamstress from Rilendale village to the manor to make a new gown for Emmeline—he intended it to replace her ruined day dress.

Her mind drifted from the simple, pleasant day they had planned to the horror that they had just lived through a few days before. It hardly seemed possible that in such a short time one could go from being threatened with a pistol to sitting eating pastries and idly planning one’s day.

The Watch had taken both Ambrose and Lydia into custody, and they had likewise apprehended the physician, Wainwright, for his part in poisoning Lady Rilendale and perhaps the late earl as well. They had received no news of the outcome, though the three would be tried in London soon .

Emmeline pushed the thought away with a shudder. She did not wish to know, and nor did she care particularly. As long as they were far away from her and her loved ones, and their evil plans had been subverted, she did not need to know anything further about them. The important part was that they were gone from her world.

“...and I wondered if you would like to take a walk around the grounds later,” Andrew was saying to Lady Rilendale when she brought her thoughts back to the conversation.

“I would love to, Andrew dear,” Lady Rilendale murmured, dabbing her lips with her napkin and reaching for her teacup. “But don’t forget it’s my morning at Hadley Manor today. The ladies will be upset if I do not attend tea.”

“Of course. Yes, Grandma. I forgot,” Andrew said with a smile. Emmeline’s heart filled with warmth. It was a pleasure to see Lady Rilendale involved in simple everyday things again. Her illness had upset them all enormously, even though it had been mostly a sham. Her gaze moved admiringly to the older woman, amazed by her wily and observant brain.

She ate another pastry and glanced sideways at Andrew. He was sipping his tea, a distant expression on his face. He saw her watching him and smiled.

“Shall we go for a walk in the garden?” he asked.

“Yes. Let’s,” Emmeline agreed.

They excused themselves from Lady Rilendale and headed down to the garden together.

“A warm day,” Andrew murmured.

“Very warm,” Emmeline agreed. She had dressed in a pale blue day dress with short sleeves, and she was glad about the choice—the sun was blazing down, and the sky was vibrant blue. It looked as though it was going to be an unusually hot day.

“I wonder what you will think of the plans for a garden here,” Andrew asked her as they walked to a spot where the gardeners had already begun digging. The overgrown lawn was indented with flowerbeds filled with rich brown earth, and the lawn itself had been trimmed so that it was possible to imagine it as a proper lawn one day when the weeds and small bushes no longer encroached on it .

“I’m sure I will like it,” Emmeline began, wanting to ask what they planned to plant there. As she cleared her throat, however, the sound of horse’s hoofs interrupted them, and Andrew looked up.

“Must be Neville,” he commented. He was smiling.

“Indeed,” Emmeline agreed, and they both stood near the carriage path as the man approached on horseback. It was indeed Neville, and he saw them coming and lifted his hat somewhat recklessly, one hand remaining on the reins to guide his horse.

“I say! Lady Rilendale. Andrew! You two are out and about far too early.”

Andrew chuckled. “And you too, apparently. Good morning, Neville.”

“Good morning.” He bowed low, removing his top hat. His gaze was bright as he bowed to Emmeline. “My lady! A pleasure to see you so well.”

“Thank you,” Emmeline murmured. Gratitude flooded through her like a warm torrent. Without his having speedily done as Andrew had asked, they might both be dead.

“Andrew,” Neville said seriously, addressing his friend. “Are you sure you should both be riding today? I mean, you have both lived through a terrible ordeal. I would understand if you were still too tired.”

“Not at all,” Andrew said swiftly. “Emmeline? You are certain you wish to ride today?”

Emmeline nodded at once. “Very certain.”

Andrew smiled. “Well, then,” he said, turning to Neville. “If you come inside and take some tea in the drawing room, we will dress in our riding attire and join you.”

“Sounds delightful,” Neville said warmly. “How fares your grandmother?” His face was a picture of concern again. Emmeline found herself liking him. He was funny and caring.

“Grandma is well. She is very much herself again,” Andrew said warmly.

“Good. Good,” Neville answered sincerely.

They all walked into the drawing room together.

When they were dressed for riding, Andrew and Emmeline went to find Neville and they all went down to the stables. The groom saddled Starlight and Andrew’s horse, and then they all set out together. Emmeline leaned forward, and Starlight stepped briskly out, easily keeping pace with Andrew and Neville. Andrew fell into step beside her, and Neville rode a little ahead, though he kept on turning around to converse with them, which was a little disconcerting, since it meant he was not looking where he was going.

“I was in London yesterday,” Neville called to them as he rode. This time he was fortunately watching where he was going and talking with his back to them. “I stopped in at the courthouse. The trial will be soon.”

“Oh?” Andrew asked. Emmeline’s heart twisted. She did not want to think about Ambrose, Lydia or the physician ever again. She wanted to forget them—they were insignificant now.

“Yes. I had a chat with one of the solicitors. He shared the opinion that your cousins will be sent to the colonies. And that lying wretch, Doctor Wainwright, too.”

“Good,” Andrew said, though Emmeline could hear that he spoke without much emphasis. They were his cousins, and no matter how great their treachery, it must have been hard for him.

“Did you have a pleasant ride to London?” she asked, trying to lighten the topic.

“I did. I also had a talk to the fellows you wished me to meet with, Andrew,” Neville added. “They said they could not tell me the value directly, but they will communicate shortly with you in writing.”

“Oh. Thank you,” Andrew replied. His tone was neutral, and she could not guess his thoughts.

It was about the treasure. He had it valued by a goldsmith in London, but they both liked the idea of selling at least part of it to a museum. It was of historical worth, after all—if it really was gold from a Spanish galleon.

“I also called in at a tailor,” Neville commented. “My mother insisted,” he added with a wry face. “She said that I haven’t had a new evening suit in two Seasons, and I am quite disgraceful.”

Emmeline giggled. Neville struck her as a very respectable fellow, but she could well imagine that he did not pay much attention to his clothes. He was wearing a perfectly sensible riding outfit in black, his black top hat slightly worn here and there, but otherwise all most respectable.

“Out here in the country, you have no real need of something for the evening,” Andrew commented.

Emmeline tilted her head. “But I have an idea, Andrew,” she began, glancing over at him. Andrew frowned.

“You do? ”

“Yes.” She rode closer so that, just for a moment, she could speak to him without Neville’s hearing them.

“Neville!” Andrew yelled when they had decided what to say. “The countess has a suggestion.”

“We will be hosting a ball at Rilendale soon,” Emmeline declared. “To celebrate the renovating of the ballroom.” It was an idea that had dropped into her mind as they rode. “Will you attend?”

Neville blinked at her in surprise, then nodded. “Of course, my lady,” he said firmly. “It would be a delight.”

Andrew smiled and Emmeline grinned at him and the three of them rode on into the countryside.

It was a pleasant morning ride, but when she alighted from Starlight’s back, sudden weariness hit her, and she swayed where she stood. Andrew reached for her with concern.

“Are you all right?” he asked gently.

“I would like to rest awhile,” she said. “Perhaps you might join me in the drawing room?”

“Of course, my lady,” Andrew agreed at once. They had ridden with Neville back to his estate and so they had the house to themselves for the morning. Lady Rilendale had departed for tea, and the seamstress was only visiting at two o’clock in the afternoon. Emmeline’s heart thumped with joy. Despite the fact that she had lived in Rilendale for several weeks, it was one of the first times they had been alone in the house.

Andrew smiled at her, his eyes sparkling. Her heart thudded rapidly, and she could barely think as they made their way to the drawing room together.

Andrew settled on the chaise-longue, and Emmeline sat down beside him. He held her in his arms as he had that night when they were rescued, cradling her against him. She rested her head on his chest, hearing the reassuring thump of his heartbeat.

“It feels good to hold you thus,” Andrew murmured. His voice was resonant and low, and it burred under her ear. She smiled and nestled closer.

“It feels good to me,” she agreed, wrapping her arms around him, and holding him close.

Andrew kissed her hair, and she closed her eyes. “You know, I loved you from the moment I saw you,” he said softly. “I just didn’t know it for a long time.” She could hear he was smiling; his voice had a rich warmth .

“I was scared of you at first,” Emmeline admitted. “But it did not take me long to consider that I must be mistaken. You are very dear, you know. Aloof sometimes, but very dear.”

Andrew chuckled. “Aloof?”

“Yes,” Emmeline teased. “Very, sometimes. But I can’t help loving it.”

She saw his eyes widen with surprise and her heart lifted as he cleared his throat. “I cannot help loving you either, Lady Rilendale,” he told her warmly. “I love you so much. Your ready wit, your humour, your sharp tongue, and your wisdom. I love all of you.”

Emmeline squeezed her eyes against tears, recalling what her father had said—that the world needed her as she was. She had learned that; and had learned that only when she was truly herself was all of her world in perfect harmony. She nestled close to Andrew and kissed his cheek.

“I love you too, Andrew,” she murmured. “I love your quietness and your strength. Your aloofness,” she paused and grinned, “and your wisdom. I love all of you.”

He gazed into her eyes, and she smiled back, and he leaned forward and kissed her.

Longing surged through her, and she clung to him, and his grip grew harder on her and she smiled, knowing that not only did they have the house to themselves for a few hours, but they would have it to themselves for at least a few hours every day, for the rest of their lives. She would always be by Andrew’s side, and he would always be with her. She had found the love she had never even dreamed of, and it had all come to her when she found the courage to be herself at last.

She squeezed Andrew tight, and he held her close, and the sunlight shone warmly on them, bathing them in its radiant light.

She knew she had never been so happy.