15. Chapter 15
The following week felt like a whirlwind of social events. Emma could scarcely keep her head on straight with all the different people they had met. She hadn’t any time at all to do reconnaissance for the job she had decided to pursue. The diamond necklace had proven to be too tempting.
The proceeds from the necklace would pay for the expense of this social season and allow them to have a nice Christmas.
She’d written to a contact of hers who, for a small fee, passed on the information that the mistress of Mr. John C.
Caldwell was a woman named Esmerelda Hunt.
The lady lived in a modest townhome in a fashionable area just on the edge of Mayfair.
She lived alone with a small staff of three.
He had provided the address, and today Emma sat on a bench in the small park across from the row of homes.
She dressed conservatively, as would a lady’s companion or governess.
She pretended to cross-stitch as she watched the house in an effort to learn the schedule of the lady.
No one had come or gone from the house all afternoon.
In addition to finding the right time to break in, it was necessary to figure out the best way to enter and exit the house.
Miss Hunt’s home had an ornately carved wooden door which stood at least ten feet high.
This indicated a high ceiling height for the rooms on the main level and most likely a long staircase to the second level.
The upstairs windows were all open, letting the cool fall air into the bedrooms, no doubt.
If Ms. Hunt preferred fresh air, it would make it all the easier for Emma to gain access to the house.
Sky-blue curtains fluttered in the windows at the front.
Generally, she preferred to skip the trouble of picking door locks and instead climb down from the roof by way of the drainpipe and in through an upstairs window.
Most people kept their jewelry lying around in drawers in their bedroom or dressing room.
But figuring out alternate exits was essential, just in case.
Next time, Emma would wear her maid’s outfit, and when the lady exited the house, she would take a look around the back.
She could always pretend she was delivering a letter if she was caught snooping around.
Emma sighed and set her stitching on her lap. If she owned anything of worth, she would keep it in a safe. She expected that a lady who lived alone like Miss Hunt probably didn’t bother to lock their valuables away. Her negligence would be Emma’s gain.
The front door opened across the street, and Miss Hunt appeared with her maid.
They turned left and headed toward Bond Street.
Hmm…four o’clock. Emma noted it down in her little notebook.
This first opportunity to observe the household had been frustrating.
She’d gleaned only a small amount of information.
Normally, she would have time aplenty, after she tucked the children into their rooms at bedtime, to figure out her plan of attack.
But her evenings of late were filled with dinner parties and musicales. Perhaps Lucy was right; she should set this aside and concentrate on finding her sister a good husband this season. She could always revisit the job later in the year. She didn’t want to attempt it ill-prepared.
She glanced again at the watch pinned to her jacket.
She needed to get home. Tonight they were going to dinner at Gilchrest House, and she looked forward to seeing Andrew.
She hadn’t seen him this week at any of the gatherings they’d attended.
The highlight of her week had been when she received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from him the night after the opera.
Where had he been? It had been very hard to keep herself from visiting him at night.
She hated to admit it, but she missed him, their conversations, and their laughter.
Emma tucked away her stitching and rose from the bench.
It was no good to continue to moon about him.
She must be practical. Pursuing a friendship with him would just lead her right back into his bed again.
She couldn’t risk letting him get too close.
Straightening her shoulders, she headed home.
Later, after she dressed for dinner, Emma went to see how her sister was getting on. Francine was just finishing curling Lucy’s hair when Emma walked into the room.
“What in God’s name are you wearing?” Lucy exclaimed from her seat in front of the mirror.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Emma looked down at her gray silk dress. It was a bit plain, but the fabric and trimmings were expensive.
“Emma, you look like you are entering a nunnery! That neckline has been out of fashion for five years at least. I know for a fact that was one of your mourning dresses from when Mother died. You absolutely cannot wear that dress to Gilchrest House.”
“Whyever not? It’s maybe a little out of fashion, but I have worn all my other dresses already. It seemed the best choice,” Emma argued.
She was not entirely being honest with Lucy. She chose the unassuming dress because she didn’t want to give the duke any cause to notice her tonight. She needed to keep her distance from him if she had any hope of keeping her wits about her.
“What about the mauve dress? It’s the perfect shade of pink to complement your complexion. And I have the perfect ribbon to tie in your hair.” Lucy stood and took Emma’s arm. “Come along, Francine, and bring the dark pink velvet ribbon from my drawer.”
“But we will be late.” Emma tried again to protest. But Lucy was having none of it and pulled her back to her room. Her sister went straight to the wardrobe to pull out the dress she had chosen. With a shrug, Emma gave up and let Francine unbutton her gray dress.
They were twenty minutes late. Andrew checked the clock on the mantel. He had been watching the door to the drawing room and trying to pay attention to the conversation around him at the same time.
“Don’t you think so, Gilchrest?”
“Pardon? I missed that,” Andrew apologized to his friend, Ethan Davenport.
“You are very distracted tonight,” Davenport said.
“Yes, well, truth be told, I am looking forward to seeing a certain lady this evening. But she has not arrived yet,” Andrew confessed.
A slow smile spread across Davenport’s face. “Really? No wonder you have been staring at the door. And who might I ask is this mystery lady?”
Just then, the door opened, and Miss Whittingham and Miss Lucy were ushered into the room by Rhodes.
She looked lovely in a gown of deep pink, her hair a shining bronze with a pink ribbon woven through her coiffeur. As usual, there was no necklace marring the exquisite skin above the lace of her neckline. But she did have tiny pink earrings dangling from her ears.
Andrew gestured to the new arrivals. “Come with me, and I will introduce you to her and her lovely sister.”
Lord Davenport glanced over at the two beautiful ladies and then clapped him on the shoulder with a grin. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Good evening, ladies.” Andrew bowed over each of their hands. “May I introduce my good friend, Lord Davenport? Davenport, this is Miss Whittingham and her sister Miss Lucy Whittingham.”
Davenport smiled at Lucy. “I had the distinct pleasure of sharing a dance with Miss Lucy at the Lansdowne ball.” Taking her hand, he gave a smart bow. “It is a pleasure to see you again.” He turned to Emma. “And you as well, Miss Whittingham. You both look lovely this evening,” he said smoothly.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Davenport.” Emma gave him a wide smile.
Andrew narrowed his eyes at his friend, jealousy clawing at his insides. He let out a soft chuckle. “That was going to be my line, Davenport. Ladies, please come in. Dinner will be served shortly.” He gestured them farther into the room.
“We apologize for being late.” Emma gave her sister a pointed look.
Caroline came over to them as they crossed the room. “I am so glad you could come.” She kissed each lady on the cheek. “Gilchrest, have you offered them anything to drink?”
“Not yet, Caro, they’ve just walked in the door.”
Lord Davenport held out his elbow to Lucy. “May I get you a glass of punch, Miss Lucy?”
“Yes, thank you, Lord Davenport.” Lucy laid a hand on his arm, and they walked toward the refreshment table.
“It certainly didn’t take him long to claim her. I just knew they would like each other,” Caroline said.
“And who do you like, Caroline?” Vivian asked as she and Jack strolled up to join them.
“Oh, none here tonight, love. You know me, I just like to flirt. Gilchrest, don’t give me that look.
The season has barely begun. Perhaps someone new to the scene will show up and save me from my boredom.
” She laid one hand dramatically on her brow, and Emma laughed behind her hand. Vivian just rolled her eyes.
Andrew wrinkled his brow as he observed his sister.
Caroline was far too blasé about the season for a girl her age.
Shouldn’t she be all atwitter to find some bloke to shackle?
She had turned down six perfectly good offers in the last two years.
He had no intention of forcing her to marry someone she didn’t want.
He knew all too well the pain of being in a bad marriage.
But he made a mental note to have a serious talk with her about choosing a husband already.
Jack changed the subject. “Miss Whittingham, how goes the dog training? Andrew told me he was helping teach your siblings some simple commands.”
“Fairly well, I guess. They have been practicing of sorts. But I think they did better when His Grace was there to organize them.”
“Yes, well, Andrew always was good at telling people what to do,” Jack teased good-naturedly.
Annoyed with his siblings, Andrew shot them a frown.
Why wouldn’t they go away and leave him a moment with Emma alone?
She’d barely even glanced at him since her arrival.
Had she liked the flowers he’d sent? Had she thought about him?
He’d missed her this week. Andrew sent his brother a glower over the ladies’ heads, hoping his unspoken message to go away was expressed clearly.
Thankfully, Jack understood. “Vivian, let’s go find Mother. Come along, Caro.” He grabbed Caroline’s elbow and ushered both women away.
Andrew let out a breath of relief. Turning to Emma, he began with a compliment. “You look beautiful in pink.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Instead of meeting his eyes, she looked down at her hands.
Andrew tried again. “Did you receive the flowers I sent?”
This time Emma did look up at him with a smile. “Yes, they were beautiful, thank you.”
Pleased, he returned her smile. “I had to attend to some business at my estate in Kent. A dispute among tenants. I was gone for most of the week.” He lowered his voice. “I missed you,” he confessed.
Emma’s lips parted in surprise at his soft words, but damn if he was going to hold back how he felt now that he knew her real identity.
He’d thought all week about how bloody lucky he was that both women who had consumed his thoughts for the past three weeks had turned out to be one and the same.
He would pursue this woman to the ends of the earth if that’s what it would take to return her to his bed.
And once she was there, he would convince her to stop thieving and instead let him take care of her and her family.
“I missed you too.” Her quiet reply sent warmth spreading through his chest.
Rhodes appeared at his elbow. “Dinner is served, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, Mr. Rhodes. Ring the gong,” he said, without taking his eyes off Emma. “If you will excuse me?”
She nodded, and Andrew reluctantly tore himself away to go escort his mother into dinner.