Chapter 26 #2
Owen knew the way well now that he’d been a guest in the house so frequently over the previous few weeks.
The last time he had eagerly made his way into the house, though, he had collided with Emma, so he slowed his gait, tempering his excitement.
When he opened the door to the parlor, he searched the room, but it only held one woman.
“Aunt Clara.” He dipped in a bow.
“You’re home.” She set aside her book and rose to greet him. “I trust your journey was successful.”
“In more ways than one, yes.” He swept the room again, but it was small and there was nowhere for a grown woman to hide.
“Emma is not home at present.”
“Oh. I wasn’t—that is, I was only—”
“You needn’t attempt to hide your thoughts from me, Owen. It was quite obvious you were looking for her.” Aunt Clara sat again, gesturing to the sofa for him to sit as well. “She’s in Briarstead visiting at the rectory.”
Owen remained standing. “I’m covered in dirt, so I don’t want to spoil your sofa. I’ll stand if you don’t mind.”
“Was your visit with your friend pleasant?”
“Yes, I…” He bit his tongue. “When did Miss Darling leave for the rectory?”
“An hour past. She should be along shortly if you’d like to wait.”
“I have no particular business with her.” He removed his gloves, focusing on the end of each finger as he tugged at them.
Simon had mentioned visiting Emma here, had he not?
But if she wasn’t home, that meant the man had been lying.
Or…had he only implied seeing her? Owen’s mind was in a muddle.
“I only wanted to see whether you were prepared for the ball.”
“You should see the gown Emma made for me. It is just delightful.”
“I look forward to it.” Owen walked toward the window, looking out over the grass. “Mr. Yardley is considering investing in a port vineyard, so I thought to purchase some for the ball. What do you think?”
Aunt Clara’s forehead wrinkled. She moved aside a gray curl. “Port? If you think so.”
“Have you tried his variety yet?”
She shook her head. “But I support your decision if that’s what you would like to do.”
Something was most definitely wrong with this situation. Owen needed to question her without raising any alarm, especially before he knew whether there was any alarm to raise. Would she not mention Simon’s visit now that he had mentioned the man? “How has your afternoon been?”
“Pleasant.”
“I’m glad my absence hasn’t caused you any loneliness.”
Aunt Clara chuckled. “My afternoon has been blessedly quiet, but I’m finding I like the solitude. I will admit when I first moved into this cottage I worried over some of the changes my life would be forced to endure, but a certain added quietness has been rather pleasant.”
“You still have Miss Darling.”
“Yes, but she is not forever at my side, which suits both of us well. She feels responsible for Mrs. Clifton, you know.”
“How so?”
“She was the housekeeper at Thornbrook Hall for Emma’s entire childhood.
The woman is blind from contracting scarlet fever after helping to care for Emma’s parents, and Emma has always felt a particular fondness for her.
I don’t begrudge her the visits to the rectory to see Mrs. Clifton, of course, or her lengthy walks.
She is young, despite what she may say about spinsterhood and white caps. ”
“Caps!” Owen said, startled.
“Can you believe it? She told me only this morning at breakfast she believes it is time she begins wearing them. And before reaching the age of thirty. I cannot stomach the notion.”
“It is absurd.”
“I knew you would agree with me,” Aunt Clara said with feeling.
Owen glanced at her sharply. “Miss Darling is young. I’m merely stating a fact.”
“Yes. Of course.” She looked past him to the window. “I assume, because you refuse to sit, that you came here before returning home?”
“I did.”
She nodded, getting to her feet. “Then I will send you home with a small warning.”
He pulled the gloves through his hand, waiting for her to continue. “You are beginning to make me nervous.”
“No, it’s nothing like that. Only…I wish to be mindful. It is a delicate matter.”
“I hope you know you can speak plainly with me.”
Aunt Clara crossed the room and stood in front of him, looking through the window toward Buckley Place.
“Your parents have begun to instigate small changes in the household. Not anything concerning, of course, but it is an old house and the servants are used to having things done a certain way. If they are offended—which I am not saying they are, of course—but if they are, a gentle nudge from you toward the new ways might convince them that you are happy with the changes and ease some of the staff’s unpleasant feelings. ”
Owen’s stomach dropped.
“Not that I am telling you there are any unpleasant feelings, of course. Only that it is possible. As the man of the house and Edward’s choice in heir, your opinion might go a long way in convincing some of the older retainers to accept the new ways.”
“What the devil have my parents done now?” he asked.
“Owen, be reasonable. They only wish to modernize.”
“You are too charitable. I’d better go.” He leaned forward and kissed his aunt’s cheek.
Her kindness was a balm. He’d missed her, and though it must have pained her to see changes at Buckley Place, and the servants certainly had complained for her to hear of them, she was attempting to broker peace.
“Will you dine with us tonight?” she asked.
He fought the temptation to agree. After a week away, his parents might take offense to an immediate absence. “I had probably better dine with my parents tonight. Would you like to eat with us at Buckley Place? There is something I’ve been meaning to show you in the house.”
Aunt Clara looked again toward the large estate, emotion clouding her expression. “Soon, Owen. We are busy just now, I’m afraid. Too much to do to prepare—oh, that reminds me. Tomorrow we are having a dinner party, if you find yourself available. It will be small, only a handful of friends.”
His smile widened, eager already to see Miss Darling. Even Catherine could not find fault in him attending a dinner party of friends at Primrose End.
Not that he would care if she had.
He swallowed the disappointment that he could not entice Aunt Clara to the house sooner, but he knew she would come for the ball, and that was only two more days. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”