Chapter 18
Holding Simeon’s gloved hand in the moving coach, Emma couldn’t help but be nervous about meeting her grandfather for the first time. After all, she had so many questions that she needed answered.
“Cheer up, my dear,” her companion said, sitting across from her in the coach. “You are an engaged woman.”
“My apologies, Mrs. Morton,” Emma replied softly. “I am just anxious, I suppose.”
“Which is perfectly natural. I would be concerned if you weren’t nervous,” Simeon said lightly.
Emma smiled up at him. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me.”
“There is no place I’d rather be,” he declared, returning her smile.
Mrs. Morton sighed. “True love. It’s rather exciting, is it not?”
The carriage came to a stop in front of a three level, whitewashed townhouse in a fashionable part of town. An iron gate lined the property. A footman appeared and opened the carriage door.
As they walked up to the front door, Simeon offered one arm to her and the other to Mrs. Morton.
The door opened, and an imposing butler asked, “May I help you?”
“I am here to see Sir Alymer Blackmore,” Emma announced.
The butler glanced at her in surprise. “Do you have a calling card, miss?”
“No, but you can inform him that his granddaughter has called upon him.”
The butler’s eyes widened as he opened the door. “Please come in, Miss Pearson.” He escorted them to the drawing room. “I will inform Sir Alymer and Lady Blackmore of your arrival.”
She gasped. “My grandmother is alive, as well?”
“Yes, miss,” the butler answered with kind eyes. “They’ve been expecting you.”
Mrs. Morton walked up to her and placed her hand tenderly on her arm. “I think it would be best if I wait in the entry hall.”
Once her companion stepped out, Emma turned to face Simeon and looked up at him. “I have a grandfather and a grandmother.”
Simeon gave her a crooked smile. “Soon, you will have my side of the family to contend with, as well. You’ll have so many relations that you may grow tired of some.”
“I doubt that,” she replied.
The sound of clicking on the tile alerted them to someone approaching. They stepped apart, creating proper distance.
A man bearing a striking resemblance to her brother David walked into the room, followed by a petite woman with white hair pulled back in a high chignon. They stopped and stared at her.
The woman spoke first. “Emma,” she said softly, her eyes filling with tears, “you look just like your mother.”
“Thank you,” she responded, not knowing what else to say.
Her grandmother’s curious gaze landed on Simeon.
Emma stepped forward to provide the introductions. “Allow me to introduce Simeon, the Viscount of Wentworth, and my betrothed.”
Her grandfather humphed. “I think not.”
“Alymer… you promised,” her grandmother warned under her breath.
Unsure of her grandfather’s meaning, Emma was grateful when her grandmother pointed towards a maroon velvet settee. “Please sit down. I’ve ordered refreshment.”
Simeon led her over to the settee and waited until the ladies sat down before he claimed the seat next to her.
Her grandmother beamed over at her. “I’m so happy that you called upon us. We received the missive from Lord Downshire this morning, and our hearts practically burst with joy at the news.”
“Betsey is correct,” her grandfather said. “We were sickened to hear of Mr. Lockhart’s deceit, but we were relieved to know that he was shot while resisting arrest. Furthermore, we are most grateful that Lord Downshire took your safety seriously and hired a Bow Street Runner to guard you.”
“Yes, I was rather fortunate,” Emma agreed, sending Simeon a private smile.
“Please, tell me about yourself,” her grandmother encouraged, looking wistfully over at her.
Emma pressed her lips together as she debated what to say. She was caught off-guard when Simeon spoke up instead. “She is well-read, clever, and is passionate about helping other people.”
Sir Alymer huffed. “I understand you also enjoy drinking champagne at social gatherings, including your own ball.”
Emma stiffened. “I did drink one glass that evening.”
“Apparently, your body can’t handle the effects of alcohol,” her grandfather mused. “It would be best if you stayed away from champagne from here on.”
Simeon clenched his jaw. “Lockhart hired someone to poison Emma’s drink that evening. It was no fault of her own.”
“We read in the morning papers about the unfortunate debutante, but we did not make the connection that it was our dear Emma. Did we, Alymer?” Betsey asked with a forced smile.
“No, we did not,” he muttered.
“How did you become the ward of the Marquess of Downshire?” her grandmother inquired.
Emma felt the tension flow out of her at her grandmother’s sweet tone. “David was assigned to guard Lady Downshire while she was residing in Scotland. Unfortunately, she was attacked, and David was killed.”
“Good heavens, I hadn’t realized he’d been murdered,” Betsey proclaimed, her hand covering her mouth. “I’d only seen him on a few occasions when he was in between assignments. He stopped coming by a little over two years ago, and I feared the worst.”
“David never informed me about you,” Emma began hesitantly. “Do you know why that is?”
Betsey’s eyes darted nervously towards Alymer, but she remained silent.
Her grandfather spoke up. “Three years ago, David discovered the truth about us, and sought us out. Unfortunately, he forbade us to establish a relationship with you.”
“Did he state why?” she pressed.
Sir Alymer shrugged. “Most likely, he still held resentment about how we disowned Helena for running off with her louse of a husband. But you must understand that she had been betrothed to Viscount Rutgers at that time.”
“Please say that you are not referring to my father in such a shocking manner,” Emma contended.
Betsey let out a forced laugh. “Of course not. Alymer was just teasing. Weren’t you dear?” she pressed, shooting him a warning look.
“I suppose,” Sir Alymer said dismissively.
“You were telling us how Lord Downshire became your guardian,” her grandmother prodded.
“Lord Downshire became my guardian because he and David had become friends during that time in Scotland,” she explained vaguely. “David had also grown close to Rachel.”
“I see,” Sir Alymer murmured. “Has Lord Downshire treated you well?”
“Oh, yes!”
“Well, we will be forever grateful that he kept you away from that vile Peter Lockhart,” Sir Alymer said. “When I received the missive that you two had married, I felt sick to my stomach.”
“We were never married,” Emma assured him.
“That’s good,” her grandfather said. “We’ll send a carriage around to collect your trunks from Lord Downshire’s estate.”
“Pardon?”
Sir Alymer’s face grew expressionless. “I assume that you will want to live with us from now on, since we are your only family.”
“No, I prefer to stay at Lord and Lady Downshire’s townhouse,” Emma said politely, but firmly.
“I will grant that request… for now,” her grandfather responded. “Which brings us to a ticklish matter.”
“Alymer… don’t,” Betsey warned through clenched teeth.
Crossing his arms over his chest, her grandfather expressed, “I have no choice but to bring it up.” He lifted his brow at Emma. “You are betrothed to the Earl of Gunther.”
“Absolutely not,” she replied forcefully. “I am marrying Simeon.”
Sir Alymer shrugged. “The contract was signed years ago, which is why I was relieved to hear you didn’t elope with Lockhart. That would have surely negated the contract.”
Simeon started to respond, but she put her hand on his sleeve to stop him. This was her fight, not his.
“My answer is no. I am marrying Simeon.”
Sir Alymer looked at her like she was a fool. “Then I will be sued for breach of contract.”
“So be it,” she challenged.
His eyes narrowed. “You are an impertinent little thing…”
“Have you posted the banns yet?” her grandmother asked, speaking over her husband.
Simeon cleared his throat. “Yes, we have. We are having an engagement ball next week. You will receive an invitation shortly.”
“I can’t wait,” Betsey declared.
“The Duchess of Remington is hosting the ball,” Simeon informed the group.
Emma turned her astonished gaze towards him. “Truly?”
“Truly,” he repeated, nudging her shoulder with his. “The night will be full of surprises.”
“I can’t wait,” she replied, smiling over at him.
Her grandfather’s annoyed drawl broke up their private interlude. “Lord Wentworth, may I ask what your annual income is?”
Emma’s mouth dropped. How could her grandfather be so bold as to ask that question?
Unperturbed, Simeon answered, “I own Martin Trading Company, and I do not lack for income.”
“This could work.” Sir Alymer bobbed his head in approval. “I originally made my money in trade. I had hoped for my granddaughter to marry an earl, but…”
Hearing enough, Emma rose from her chair, forcing the men to rise, as well. “I do not care for titles or wealth. I only wanted to marry a man that loved me above all else.”
“Bah,” her grandfather said. “You sound just like your mother and look where she ended up!”
Emma tilted her chin determinedly. “I’ve heard enough. I now know why my mother left and my brother never informed me of your existence. They were both trying to protect me from you,” she proclaimed, directing her comment at her grandfather.
“How dare you!” Sir Alymer roared. “You have no right to come into my home and speak to me that way.”
“Please, Alymer calm down,” Betsey attempted, reaching out to touch his sleeve.
“No, she is just like our Helena,” Sir Alymer spat out.
“Good!” Boldly, Emma took a step closer to her grandfather. “I don’t need your money, Grandfather. Frankly, I don’t need you, either.” She saw his eyes grow wide. “But I’m willing to allow you to be in my life, assuming you let me live my life as I see fit.”
“But we are family…”