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“I underestimated your French.”
Emma smiled. “They do teach us a thing or two in the Colonies.”
“In the United States,” Alex corrected.
“Touche. I’ve been in England too long.”
Alex rose and wrapped his arms around her, dropping a chaste kiss on her nose. “Yes, well, you’re English now.”
She sighed contentedly, enjoying the warmth of his embrace. “Alex?” she said against his chest.
“Hmmm?”
“I’ve been thinking. I’ve spent the last three weeks getting to know all of the servants and learning how to manage the household, but now that I’ve done all that there really isn’t much for me to do.”
Alex tipped her face up to his. “Don’t I keep you busy?” he asked in a husky voice.
Emma blushed. Their passion still embarrassed her a little when he discussed it in the light of day. “You keep my nights busy. And my meals. And our daily ride, of course. But I really don’t have anything to do while you’re in here working.”
“I see. Well, I don’t see why you shouldn’t take over the bookkeeping for the household. After all, you handled that for your father’s company. I’m sure you are up to the task. Norwood has been doing it for years, but I don’t think he enjoys it very much. He much prefers being a stuffy old butler.”
Emma brightened considerably. “That would be lovely, Alex. I’ll go seek him out right away.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll have Mrs. Goode see to that picnic basket. Why don’t we meet in the great hall at one o’clock?”
At Alex’s nod, she exited the study and went off in search of Norwood. She found him in a small dining parlor, inspecting some silver that had been recently polished by a newly hired maid. “Oh Norwood!” she called out to the top of his balding head from the next room.
He straightened immediately. “Yes, your grace?”
“I plan to take over the bookkeeping for the household accounts. His grace has indicated to me that you don’t really enjoy doing it, and I must admit, I rather like working with numbers.”
“Yes, your grace. And pardon me for being so forward, but I must offer you my thanks. My eyes are not quite what they used to be, and all those small numbers are a bit of a strain.”
Emma offered him a sunny smile. “Then everything has worked out perfectly! And you needn’t beg my pardon. I wasn’t raised here in England and am not accustomed to so much formality. You shouldn’t feel the least hesitation about approaching me if there is some sort of problem.”
“Thank you, your grace.”
“And you should have told his grace about your eyesight,” Emma added, shaking her head. “He would have given the bookkeeping over to someone else.”
Norwood cracked a smile—the first one Emma had ever seen touch his solemn demeanor. “That may be true, your grace, but his grace has not always been quite so, shall we say, approachable.”
Emma grimaced. “No, I suppose not. But don’t let that bother you. It’s really all an act. Just look how much he cares for his tenants. Still, it’s not very pleasant to be on the receiving end of his temper.”
Norwood, who was unused to conversations with the Quality which lasted more than three sentences, wisely did not inquire how her grace knew so much about his grace’s temper.
“Anyway, I’ve very much enjoyed our chat,” Emma continued. “Why don’t we go and get that bookkeeping? I’d very much like to learn how you’ve been doing it.”
Norwood led Emma to a small office near the kitchens. It took her only a few minutes to figure out that while Norwood had been extremely scrupulous in his calculations, he was using quite the most convoluted bookkeeping system she had ever seen. After thanking him profusely for the excellent job he had done, Emma quickly attacked the books, carefully examining all of the accounts so that she might figure out the most efficient way to keep track of expenses. Before she realized it, however, it was nearly one o’clock, and she hurried over to the great hall to meet Alex for their picnic.
“I really can’t take too long to eat,” she said without preamble. “Norwood is a dear, but he’s made quite a mess of the books and I’m eager to clean them up.”
Alex smiled, pleased by her interest in his home. “I thought we’d head over to the grove on the other side of the stream today.”
Emma frowned. “It will take us at least twenty minutes to walk there, and another twenty back. I really cannot spare that much time if we are to go for our ride today at four o’clock. Why don’t we just eat out in one of the courtyards?”
“I was hoping for a more secluded spot.”
Emma’s cheeks burned red. “I’m sure that would be, ah, interesting, but I really do want to get back to the books.”
Alex sighed in defeat as he turned around and headed for the door that led out to the north courtyard. “We’re going to have to do something about this fear of daylight you have,” he said. “People can make babies when the sun shines, too, you know.”
Emma did not think it was possible, but her face grew even warmer. “There is just something about taking all of one’s clothes off in the middle of the— Oh, I don’t know!”
“Is that the problem?” Alex asked mildly, a devilish gleam in his eye. “Well, it certainly isn’t necessary to take off all of one’s clothes, although it would be rather fun.”