She smiled, finding that she might actually be coming to like him. “I can manage that, Grandfather.” As matters were settled between them and they were in complete accord she felt emboldened to enquire after Lady Althea. “Where is my mother, Grandfather? Did your reunion not go well?”
“It went wonderfully. She forgave me and we embraced fondly.” He paused, his face concerned. “Why she is so thin and poorly? I pray that she has not got the wasting sickness.”
“No. It's that after Papa's death she was unable to cope with the grief and fell ill. I believe she is like you in that respect. Her appetite all but vanished and I sincerely believe that without the doses of laudanum to give her release from her pain she would not still be with us.”
“She has grieved long enough. I know, I have wasted half my life doing the same. It is hoped the change of circumstances will start the healing process. She has retired to her rooms, the emotion of the occasion, plus the fatigue of the journey, have exhausted her.”
“I'm sure that she will start to recover here. She has been much more like herself ever since she received your letter. It has been a difficult two years, Grandfather. I cannot tell you how glad I am to be here and to no longer have the responsibility of running Glebe House on my shoulders.”
The Earl sat back and studied her critically. He did not like what he saw. “Are you ailing, too, Emily? You are stick thin, almost as wasted as my poor Althea.”
“No, Grandfather, I'm as well as I could be. I'm sure now that I am here, I shall soon recover.”
“Are you telling me that your appearance is solely caused by lack of sustenance? That you have been unable to put enough food on the table?”
Emily blushed; it was not something she was proud of. “I made sure that Millie and Serena, and the staff, never went without, Grandfather.”
“God dammit!” The Earl exploded, forgetting his manners in his anger. “I shall never forgive myself for this, child. I promise I'll make it up to you. Never, never, will you want for anything again. My purse is deep and its contents are entirely at your disposal. Whatever you require, it is yours.”
“Do you mean that, grandfather? Anything at all?”
“Yes, of course. I do not make idle promises. What do you want? Name it?”
She sighed happily. “I wish you to wave a magic wand so that I become so beautiful my obnoxious cousin falls under my spell and then I can turn him away with a broken heart. That is what I want.” She sat back, waiting for his laughter.
“Then that is what you shall have. With the right garments and decent food inside you we will turn you into the most beautiful girl in Surrey. And if you break that jackanapes heart, it would do no more than serve him right.”
“Please, grandfather, I was only funning. I didn't mean it.”
“You did, my dear girl. I saw how he insulted you; you shall have your revenge. It's high time that young man was taught a lesson. He has had things his own way ever since he was in leading strings.”
Emily giggled, her wild idea now seemed a possibility. “I put myself in your knowledgeable hands, Grandfather. By the by, I do not really wish to be married at the moment. It was merely a ploy to gain some money for the family.”
“Excellent! I do not wish to lose you yet, my dear. I feel we are going to be the best of friends. We are two of a kind; you remind me of myself at your age.”
Neither of them mentioned that Sebastian was even more like his great-grandfather but they both thought it.
Emily decided to dine in her sitting-room, with the girls, that night. As she had no other dress, changing for dinner was an impossibility. Her mother was too exhausted, after all the excitement, and had retired to bed. She had no desire to eat on her own with her grandfather. Although cordial relations were now established, Emily was still finding it difficult to reconcile the two sides of the Earl of Westerham, irascible tyrant one moment and benevolent old gentleman the next. It was small wonder, she thought, Viscount Yardley had turned out so pompous.
Millie and Serena had gone off with Mary to explore their new home. They had already investigated the school rooms upstairs and found them admirable. Emily supposed a governess would have to be employed to continue their education. She intended to be far too busy learning how to be a polished lady of the ton instead of a country mouse.
Becoming bored with her book Emily rang for Jenny. “I'm going out for a walk; I wish to change into my brown walking dress and pelisse.”
“But that's so old, miss. You cannot wear such an outfit here.” Jenny was shocked to the core by such a suggestion.
“Fustian, Jenny. I have no other suitable for a long walk in the grounds. A mantua maker has been sent for from London but, until she arrives, and starts refurbishing our wardrobes, we must wear what we have, or stay shut up in our rooms all day.”
Stoutly shod in scuffed black half boots, an old chip straw bonnet rammed on her head, she was ready to venture out. Jenny was left behind. Emily did not consider that walking about the garden warranted a maid to accompany her.
A series of attentive young footmen sprung to attention at her footsteps and doors were opened and closed like clock work. It was lucky that she, unlike most of her sex, had been blessed with good sense of direction and an excellent visual memory. She arrived in the Grand Hall without getting herself lost once. The frosty faced butler, Penfold, materialized beside her.
“Is, Miss Gibson, going outside might I enquire?”
Emily almost looked round to see if Miss Gibson was accompanying her and was forced to cover her involuntary snigger by diving into her reticule. “I am intending to take a walk around the park before it gets too dark.” She had to bite her tongue to stop herself from asking the self-important gentleman for permission to go out.
“Will, Miss Gibson, require an escort on her perambulations?”
“No, she will not.” Emily hurried to the front door and two footman opened it with a flourish and bowed her through, like royalty.
She ran down the steps and her tinkling laughter was clearly heard by Sebastian, just returning from his ride, and about to take his magnificent chestnut stallion, Sultan, back to the stable yard. Instead he sent the horse skittering around the corner, scattering gravel and dirt, to investigate.
The sound of a horse approaching made Emily pause and she turned to face the noise. Judging by the stamping and the jangling, the animal approaching was large and spirited. Exactly the kind of horse she liked to ride herself.
Sultan danced, snorting, around the corner of the building, arriving at exactly the same time as she did. The horse, startled by her sudden appearance, half reared, and Sebastian swore loudly, expecting to have a fainting female collapse under his horse's massive hooves.
Emily laughed again, stepped sideways, and reached up to take the horse's bit. “Steady, old fellow. Nothing to get so excited about.” She placed her free hand on the stallion's nose and brought it down to her level. “You're a handsome boy, are you not?” She breathed, open mouthed into the horse's flaring nostrils, the odd action establishing an instant rapport with the normally savage beast.
Up to that point she had quite forgotten that the horse had not arrived alone. She had been so occupied making friends she had not heard his rider dismount.
“What the hell do you think you are doing? Do you want to be killed, you stupid girl?”
Emily found herself nose to nose with a furious man with blazing blue eyes. “How dare you speak to me like that? I am not a serving maid.” They glared at each other, her huge hazel eyes glittered with righteous indignation.
Sultan, resenting the attention being taken from himself, lowered his head and nudged Emily firmly on the back. The unexpected push sent her flying into a solid wall of muscle. Sebastian, unprepared was unable to brace himself and he lost his balance and they tumbled backwards on to the ground.