There wasn’t a cloud in the Devonshire sky as the carriage whirred past at a moderate pace. Three horses followed along behind, keeping up a steady, but quick pace. A woman in blue, flanked by two men dressed in livery of the same color, trimmed with silver. A few tendrils of hair were escaping the knot at the base of her head, and flew behind her in flaming disregard of any sort of proper order. Her hat, which had been previously set at a jaunty angle, was now dangerously leaning to one side, and ready to fly at a moment’s notice.
The three of them rode along the carriage route set before them, following the ribbon of brown along the fields and into the town of BrambleBriar, then out again without stopping or slowing, urging their horses onward toward the manor house that the town was named for, just three miles down the road. The lady leaned forward in anticipation, happy at last to reach her destination. Her horse surged ahead of her two companions with little urging, feeling the happiness from his mistress and wishing also to be able to at last rest.
With that one urging, the hat, so precariously perched, now launched itself across the field and into a nearby bramble patch. The woman didn’t notice, too intent upon the vision now in front of her – the manor was brought into view as she reached the summit of a hill, and she looked down upon a lovely visage of it. A pond was off to one side, just peaking out from behind it, and there was a large stand of trees framing a beautiful garden on the other side of it. The front of the house was protected from any winds by a stand of tall trees, which stood sentinel on either side of the main driveway and down into the turnaround.
Riding up the drive, she was struck by the sudden realization that, while beautiful, this was a very lonely spot – sunken into a bowl with hills all around it, and no other houses in sight. The fields were terraced, and seemed to be filled with a number of different crops. She had stopped at the top of the hill, and shaded her eyes, looking down onto the scene below. All seemed very quiet and normal – quaint, even. Very different from the last time she’d been here… When she’d been forced to ride like the very hounds of hell had been after her. So long ago… So very, very long ago. She shuddered, then headed down the hill toward BrambleBriar once more.
Several hands came up to grasp the horse’s heads as she rode up to the front door. The carriage had already been drawn around to the side of the house, and she urged her horse toward the servants’ entrance as well. A hand on the reins stopped her from moving forward. She looked down and saw a large, firm fist filled with leather, leading up to strong shoulders, set under a handsome head.
She blinked, then attempted half-heartedly to wrestle the reins back from him. He grinned up at her, then deftly took the reins completely away from her. She sat there, helpless as he led the horse to the dismounting steps by the front of the house, then held his hand out for her to grasp as she dismounted from her side-saddle.
“It was good of you to come, Miss Campbell,” he said, his voice rolling over her like warmed chocolate, rich and dark.
“I hardly felt as though I had a choice, my lord. You said it was most urgent, that my great-aunt needed me most desperately.” She glanced up at him, trying to gauge whether he’d been serious, or if it had been a rouse to get her there, alone.
“I was not exaggerating. She is most unwell, and will most likely not be able to live out the rest of this month, if Doctor Wellesly is any judge. I’m… grateful that you came. You’re presence here will ease her until she goes.” He looked into her eyes, capturing her gaze for a moment before she looked down quickly.
“Lord Emberton, I will be here for as long as is needed – however, I feel that I must let you know immediately that I am not here willingly. Nor will I stay here beyond my great-aunt’s passing. It was good of you to take her in after - everything. You were very kind, and I feel that I will never truly be able to repay you for your generosity. However, I cannot forget what happened here five years past, and I will not remain.”
“Of course, I… understand completely. Have you a chaperone with you, Miss Campbell?”
“No, my lord. One was not available to take with me on such short notice. I shall be staying in the bedroom next to my great-aunt, if that is acceptable to you.”
“Indeed. I took the liberty of having the rooms aired out for your arrival. I received your response several days ago. I will have a runner head to the village and meet with the vicar’s wife. She is of a matronly age, and can set well the duties of a chaperone for you during your visit. If that is acceptable to you, of course?”
“If it will make you feel more comfortable, then by all means. I do not plan to venture out of the suite you’ve made available to Aunt Sophie and me during my stay here.”
“You will dine at least once a day outside of those rooms, Miss Campbell. Please consider it a – request, if not an order. I do not wish to see you cooped up forever, and I have found that the life of a country lord is rather dull most days.” He smiled at her, hoping to find one in kind. She pursed her lips together in annoyance, instead.
“Fine, my lord.” She turned toward the door abruptly and started up the stairs. “If I may please be escorted to my rooms.”
He bowed, and held out his arm to her. Placing her arm under his, he led her into the darkness that was the front hallway, and into her immediate future, as unknown as the deepest depths of the sea.
She smelled beeswax and lemon, and as her eyes adjusted to the gloom of the front room, she saw a huge stained glass window at the top of the stairs, dominating the hall. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered that the last time she’d been here, the window had been plain – but broken completely through. She rapidly blinked her eyes and focused again on the subject matter, to find that it was a mermaid on a rock – completely nude from the waist up, covered only by her long, wavy red curls. She could feel the blush start under her chemise, and tried to cover it up by looking at other parts of the front room.
Lord Emberton led her up the stairs and toward the west side of the house, overlooking the pond. Down the hallway filled with antiques she recognized from when she’d lived there, she followed quietly until they reached the room with a ewer and basin setting out front.
He quietly knocked on the door, and a somber-faced woman answered the door. Backing away, she allowed the both of them into a cheery-looking room. Flowers were everywhere, and the windows were open to let in the warm spring breeze. An old woman, graceful even at her advanced age, lay in the bed, sitting up and sipping broth quietly. She looked up and saw the two standing there, and broke into a smile.
“Dearest Emily! I’m so glad you were able to make it here,” she said quietly, her arms outstretched to greet the red-headed visitor.
Emily quickly disengaged herself from his lordship and hurried forward, eyes only for her aunt. Settling down gently next to her, she was hugged gently, then her hands were held in paper-dry, thin ones.
“My dear aunt. I hope that I find you well,” she said, looking worriedly into her aunt’s laughing green-gray eyes. “Are you well?”
Chuckling, her aunt sighed, then sipped daintily again from her soup. “According to the doctor, I’m to have strict bed-rest. I had a dizzy spell a few weeks ago. Wellesly thinks it’s my heart. I told him my heart was fine, and I need more exercise, but he won’t hear of it. Thinks that I need to be kept calm. Ha!” She plunked her spoon down and gazed at her niece. “Still, I’m glad that you came. You need to put to rest the ghosts that still walk here – the memories in your head. Emmy, dear, you need to move on and find yourself someone to be with, and not be alone.”
Emily caught her breath in her throat, and swallowed. “I shan’t be alone now. I have you.” She smiled softly, and cupped a hand in hers.
“Anthony, have you ever heard such nonsense – a young woman, of marriageable age, preferring the company of an old, dried out woman to a desirable young man?” She looked past Emily’s shoulder at his lordship, who smiled.
“My dear lady, who would ever want the company of someone other than yourself, when you’re so incredibly engaging?” She tittered, and he smiled at her. Looking over at Emily, his smiled faded. “I shall leave the two of you alone, then. I’m glad you came, Miss Campbell. It means the world.” He closed the door slowly, catching one last glimpse of Emily’s red head bent forward to listen intently to Sophie’s words.
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