CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“It’s so good to finally see you again,” said Grace, for perhaps the tenth time as she and Emma sat in the sitting room devouring tea. “There is nothing like another lady who is enceinte to know how to serve a proper tea.”
“Mrs. Deakins and Cook have been wonderful at coming up with meals which both fill me up and then stay down, if you’ll pardon me for being so indelicate. You look beautiful, though you always do. Being a mother-to-be suits you.”
“It certainly suits you, as well,” said Grace. “How do you find marriage?”
Emma thought she could disguise her fear, but figured she hadn’t been successful when her sister pulled her into her arms. “Dearest, what is wrong?”
“I think Audsley is in love with someone else.”
“Impossible! He loves you so much!”
“He has never admitted it and I think I would be the one he’d tell.”
“He has loved you for years, I’m sure of it. Now, why do you think such a silly thing?”
Emma told her sister about his connection with Lady Embry and his frequent absences. Grace listened carefully and from her somber expression, Emma was sure she’d convinced her sister that she was right. Emma’s heart sank when Grace took her hand in preparation for a serious discussion.
“I have some bad news and some wonderful news. The bad news is Audsley has been surrounded by elegant, beautiful women most of his life, many of whom very much wanted to be his countess. The even worse news…”
“You said there was bad news and wonderful news.”
“Unfortunately, the news gets worse before it gets wonderful. The worse news is that there will always be any number of ladies who will wish to have an affair with your husband, just as there will be any number who will wish to do the same with mine. That is the world we have joined.”
“I don’t care much for it if that is what awaits us. Where is this wonderful news you spoke of?”
“The wonderful news is that Audsley and Carter are good, honorable men. They would never betray us.”
“But Carter loves you and I have no idea how Audsley feels about me. Besides, even if he doesn’t physically betray me, it would be even worse if his heart were elsewhere and he was only faithful because of who he is.”
“I don’t think you give either him or yourself enough credit. He loves you Emma. I’m just sure of it.”
* * *
Amelia took a look around her downstairs sitting room to ensure everything looked as it should. She’d had to sell a silver salver, as well as two of her Oriental vases, but she believed only she would know they were missing. She’d done an excellent job of keeping her money problems from being widely known, and if she was successful today, perhaps it wouldn’t be a problem in the future.
She heard the door knocker, then quickly took her place in a chair by the window as she pretended to read a book she didn’t care a fig about.
A moment later, her butler entered, then bowed low.
“Lady Embry is here to see you,” he said.
“Pray show her in,” said Amelia, as she rose to greet her guest.
A moment later Lady Embry entered the room and curtsied prettily. Amelia was glad to see the woman’s figure was even better than it had been when Audsley had been interested in her. Childbirth had added a fullness to her breasts and hips which men found very attractive.
“Thank you for your invitation, my lady.”
“I’m so glad you were able to join me,” said Amelia, gesturing for her to take a seat as she set aside her book. “I wanted to thank you for the wonderful ball you hosted.”
“We were so happy you could join us.”
“It was especially nice of you to invite Audsley and his new wife. She is not used to going out in public, which you probably already deduced, after the contretemps she was involved in.”
“We all must find our way in time,” said Lady Embry diplomatically.
“I hope it did not cause you any embarrassment.”
“Of course not.”
“I cannot help but think….” Amelia paused, then said, “Pardon me, I should not continue.”
“But you must continue. We have known each other for several years now and at one point I even thought we might one day be related.”
This was going to be easier than Amelia had anticipated if Lady Embry was actually bringing up their previous association. “I confess I hoped I would one day be able to call you a daughter.”
Lady Embry smiled humbly at her. “If only Embry hadn’t come along, who knows what would have happened?”
Amelia had often wondered why Penelope had chosen Embry over Audsley. It was true that Audsley could be rather boring and bookish, but he was wealthier than Embry, though that might not be readily apparent to the outside world. Perhaps Embry’s age had attracted her. There was a certain appeal to older men if for no other reason than they generally left young rich widows. “All I know is that it was good to see you the other night, and I was not the only one to think so.”
“Oh?” asked Lady Embry carefully. “Did Lady Audsley say something to that effect?”
“Emma? She could think of little else other than her argument with Lady Carleton’s spotty daughter. No, Audsley enjoyed seeing you again. When I looked at the two of you it was like no time at all had passed. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say things were as they always had been. As the way they should have been, if you don’t mind my saying.”
From the looks of it, Lady Embry didn’t mind a bit. “They are so newly married, I’m certain Emma will adjust to London eventually.”
“Not fast enough for my son’s sake. Quite frankly, I’m worried about his reputation. He’ll be a laughingstock if his wife keeps acting like such a harridan. His reputation will be ruined. I’m trying to get her to return to the country for both their sakes. Don’t you think that would be advisable?”
Lady Embry nodded. “The country can be most enjoyable at this time of year. She spent most of her life there, did she not?”
“She did. I believe she misses it a great deal.”
“Then we wouldn’t like her to suffer needlessly in London, would we? I didn’t want to say anything earlier, but there was quite a lot of talk about her actions at my ball. I’m afraid if she does anything else out of the ordinary it could ruin her and, by extension, Audsley.”
“Just as I feared,” said Amelia, making a big show of shaking her head from side to side. “I must confess I have another fear, as well.”
“Pray tell me.”
“I believe Audsley will feel an obligation to join her, which would be disastrous for them both. He is needed in the House of Lords.”
Lady Embry nodded. “He is a leader of men, with serious responsibilities to Queen and country.”
“Very much so. If he leaves now, they both will fall out of favor completely with good society.”
“I fear you might be right.” Lady Embry was anticipating the next request and, if Amelia was not very much mistaken, was already planning her former suitor’s seduction.
“I was hoping, dear Penelope, that you might find a way to persuade my son to stay in London while his wife returns to the country.”
A slow smile curved Lady Embry’s perfectly rouged lips. “I would be delighted to do so.”