Chapter Twenty
Emily
There were a few houseguests still milling about the dining room and spilling over into the adjoining breakfast room. Wylder and Simon, however, had departed for a horseback ride into the village of Thorne Park only an hour before. The two men were not expected back until late afternoon.
Emily swallowed her disappointment, but Penelope was surprisingly vocal with her dismay.
“I wore my prettiest dress for this, Emily,” she said while pouring herself a cup of tea from the sideboard.
Glancing around the room to make sure no one overheard their conversation, she placed a piece of toast on a plate and sat down at the far end of the enormous dining room table.
“Your brother is not even here to take notice.”
Emily smiled, encouraged by Penelope’s show of irritation.
“He may not be here now, but no doubt by teatime he will be. Neither he nor Wyldewood will miss Ashcroft’s arrival.
If you like, we could change into our riding habits and look for them in the village.
I know Simon enjoys an ale or two at the inn whenever we visit here. ”
Penelope laughed. “You know that would not be my first choice.”
“I know… I continue to hope that you will grow fond of riding. It can be so exhilarating riding a fast horse through an open field.”
“This is because you crave risk in all its various forms,” Penelope replied in a low voice. “That includes pursuing the earl when you know very well your brother will never allow the relationship.”
Emily ducked her head, hating that Penelope’s words rang so true.
“Simon has been very stubborn on the subject, but then, so has Wylder. I’ve determined the best course of action is to neither chase the man’s attention nor reject it.
” Sipping her cup of tea, she meant it when she said, “Whatever happens between us will occur because of destiny.” But then, in teasing contradiction to her own avowal, she winked at Penelope.
“But it must be said that destiny needs a little boost now and then.”
*
“Lady Blackthorne instructed that I inform you of Lord and Lady Ashcroft’s arrival,” Thorne Park’s butler said from the door of the library two hours later.
The elderly man was as cool and collected as could be, even though Emily knew the entire house would be in an uproar with the new couple’s imminent arrival.
“Thank you, Seaver,” Emily said, closing her book. “Miss True and I will be along in a moment.”
Penelope laid her own book aside, eyes wide with sudden apprehension. “I thought they were expected later this afternoon?”
Emily gathered the stacks of books so they could be returned to the appropriate shelves. Penelope jumped up to help.
“Blast, Mother did not think they would arrive by supper, to be honest. Hurry, Pen. We can meet the new countess without a huge gathering vying for her attention.”
Once all of the books were put away, the two girls quickly checked each other’s dresses and made sure their hair was tidy. Once certain of their presentability, they hurried out of the library, racing down the numerous corridors with arms linked until they finally reached the front terrace.
The Ashcroft coach had just arrived, and Emily breathlessly admired the smartness of the vehicle with its lacquered black color and blue and gold shield on the doors.
A team of perfectly matched bays pulled the coach, and a groom leaped forward to secure the reins at the bit.
The man struggled to hold them as the driver set the brake.
“Ah, there you are, girls,” Chelsea Blackthorne said with a smile.
Sliding an arm around her daughter’s waist, she gave Emily a peck on the cheek before addressing the other young lady.
“Penelope, dear, thank you for accompanying Emily to assist us in greeting the new couple at Thorne Park.” She glanced in the direction of the stables and tsked under her breath.
“I do wish Simon were here as well, but I suppose he and Wyldewood have yet to return from their trip into the village.”
Lord Blackthorne patted his waistcoat before waving a hand at a second groom trotting up the gravel drive. “Jamie, my good man, take the other horse by the bit at once. They are a spirited pair, aren’t they? Ashcroft has always possessed an eye for excellent horseflesh.”
Emily had to agree as she sidled away to stand behind her parents alongside Penelope.
Being an avid rider, she appreciated the sleek beauty of the carriage horses and wondered what treasures the earl’s stables might hold when it came to thoroughbreds.
Perhaps an invitation to the new couple’s country home could be wrangled at some point.
Surely, his new countess would welcome the opportunity to form lasting friendships with other young ladies, given her relatively unknown status in society.
Lord Lucien Westley, Earl of Ashcroft, emerged from the coach, his broad-shouldered form clad in a dark-blue coat and black breeches.
His thick, black hair was tousled as if someone’s fingers had recently ruffled it.
He quickly straightened his snowy-white cravat with a rakish grin before reaching a hand into the interior of the coach.
Lady Charlotte Westley, the new Countess of Ashcroft, stepped down from the coach with her husband’s assistance.
Sunlight caught on her blonde hair, turning the gleaming strands visible beneath the stylish hat she wore into molten shades of golden honey.
Large blue eyes framed by dark lashes and brows looked around in curious wonder.
“Oh! Isn’t she just lovely?” Penelope murmured beside Emily.
“She’s stunning,” Emily said when Charlotte caught sight of them and gave them a shy, but friendly smile. “And Ashcroft is a man besotted with his bride. Look at how he holds her elbow… it’s the perfect blend of possessiveness and adoration.”
“It’s beyond romantic,” Penelope sighed with envy. “They are obviously very much in love.”
“Welcome, welcome, Lord and Lady Ashcroft!” Emily’s father boomed, descending the terrace steps to shake Lucien’s hand and bow to the countess.
The young lady blushed at the exuberant greeting but did not shrink away from it.
Next, Emily’s mother warmly greeted the couple and then turned to motion for Emily and Penelope to come forward.
“Lady Ashcroft, this is our daughter, Emily, and her dearest friend, Miss Penelope True,” Chelsea said, beaming with pride.
“I’m so pleased to meet you both,” Charlotte said, nodding her head in greeting, her smile growing even wider as both Emily and Penelope crowded around her.
“I do hope you enjoy your time here at Thorne Park, Lady Ashcroft.” Emily cast a teasing grin at Lucien and said, “And you as well, Lord Ashcroft. You’ll be happy to know the key to the library is safely held by our housekeeper.”
Lucien groaned dramatically, leaning his shoulder into his wife’s with a rueful smile.
“That is a subtle reminder that during my last visit, I somehow ended up locked inside the library. An unfortunate incident which kept Lady Emily from her beloved books. It was all her inebriated brother’s fault, of course.
He thought to teach me a lesson for some imagined slight. ”
“It was all in good fun,” Simon injected behind them from the terrace steps.
“And well deserved,” Wylder added as the two men bounded down to the gravel drive.
His gaze briefly caught Emily’s, the look in the deep-gray orbs unreadable, before it shifted to his friend.
“It is good to see you, Ashcroft.” He and Simon both vigorously shook Lucien’s hand, then turned to Charlotte.
Wylder took her gloved hand and kissed it.
“Lady Ashcroft, you are as lovely today as you were at the wedding. I do hope this husband of yours is taking good care of you.”
“Hello, Lord Wyldewood. Lord Camden,” Charlotte replied, her smile affectionate and warm.
“You know full well that Lucien does nothing in half-measures. Indeed, some days I wonder if he will even allow me to brush my own hair, he is so focused on caring for me. It takes a reminder that I am fully capable of taking care of myself… although I do admit to requesting his help when it comes to the procurement of pineapple ice.” And then she tsked at them, “I hope we may dispense with the use of all these titles. Please call me by my given name.” She glanced at Emily and Penelope. “If that is all right with you.”
Emily laughed in appreciation. She immediately liked Lucien’s new wife, sensing she shared a kindred spirit with the beautiful girl.
“I much prefer it… keeping up with all these titles is most vexing.” She gave the new countess an encouraging grin of solidarity while Penelope shyly returned Charlotte’s smile.
Only Emily noticed when Penelope’s gaze drifted to Lucien for a brief moment before darting away, her bottom lip tugged between her teeth as if she wished to say something but could not.
While Wylder and Simon were both still clad in their riding breeches and boots, they were no less elegant and attractive beside the immaculately dressed Lucien.
The men standing together were definitely an eye-catching trio of male power and good breeding.
As the women discussed the guests who had already arrived for the house party and the upcoming ball, the men gathered off to the side to watch the unloading of a second coach carrying the earl and countess’s trunks and their valet and lady’s maid.