Always Come Home (Emerson 1) (10 page)

When the cart lurched off the path, it was a big
enough jolt to awaken both ladies. Colin wondered how long it would take Ava
to realize on whom she was lying. It turned out to be about a minute. She
jumped up and almost fell onto Maude in her haste to be away from him.

“From your reaction, I can only imagine you saw a
spider,” said Colin.

“A spider, my lord?”

“It would be too lowering to think you wanted to get
away from me with such haste, so I was hoping a spider had braved the cold and
given you a start.”

“I assure you that had a spider been as strong as
you….I mean, as big….I mean….”

“Yes?” asked Colin with a grin.

“I cannot be expected to make sense, my lord. I
have only just awakened.”

“You are welcome to sleep on me at any time, Ava.”

She was on the verge of some tart response when Carl
spoke to them. “This is where I have to turn, my lord. But I expect you
should be able to find some sort of wagon to take you the rest of the way
home.”

Colin moved stiffly out of the cart, helping Ava and
Maude after him. Stemple had already disembarked and was surveying the small
village.

Colin approached Carl. “I cannot thank you enough
for the service you have done us, sir. Please let me pay you something for
your efforts.”

“Think nothing of it, my lord. It’s nearly
Christmas, after all. Besides, how many farmers can brag that he had an earl
in his cart?”

“Only one that I know of,” said Colin with a grin.
“Then take this for your sisters, for I am sure you are a good brother.” He pressed
coins into the man’s hand before he could object again. “Your kindness will
not be forgotten, Carl.”

“Thank you, my lord. And a Happy Christmas to each
of you.”

They bid farewell to Carl as he left, then it was
time to learn how best to continue onward.

“Where are we?” asked Ava.

“We are but eight miles from my estate.”

“Will we walk there?” asked Ava.

“I certainly hope not,” said Colin. “But why don’t
we discuss our next steps at the tavern, in case anyone must use the
necessary.”

No one opposed the idea, not even Maude, who likely
had a keg of ale tucked away somewhere on her efficient person and would no
doubt protest the purchase of anything in a tavern. But twenty minutes later,
they were gathered around a small scratched table and Colin had ordered them
hot soup and bread.

“Before you protest, Maude,” said Colin, “we saved
enough by not renting a carriage that we can afford this small meal.”

“Yes, milord,” said Maude, who looked happy enough
to eat her soup.

“My lord,” said Stemple, “I took the liberty of
inquiring at the stable about possible conveyances to rent. Unfortunately,
they do not have any available.”

“Please do not tell me we’ll be walking,” said
Colin.

“I do not believe it will come to that. They had
two horses to rent.”

“Are you leaving Miss Conway and me behind?” asked
Maude.

“Maude, do have more confidence in me than that,”
said Colin. “Besides, I was looking forward to more of your meals. We can
double up two to a horse as long as we do not go above a trot.”

“I am not much of a rider,” said Ava.

“I promise to not let you fall off,” said Colin.
“Unless I grow too cold at the slow pace, then I shan’t hesitate to leave you
in a snowbank.”

“You, sir, are gallantry personified.”

Half an hour later, the four of them set off for the
last part of the journey.

Not two hours later, the horses started up the long,
familiar drive of the Ridgeway estate. Colin had mixed emotions as he
contemplated what lay ahead. This estate – his estate – was the source of many
nightmares. He’d hated growing up here. Eton and Oxford had been welcome
respites from the hell his life had been with an abusive father and a cruel,
distant mother. But both of them were gone now. They had been for years. Now
it was the place where his sisters lived.

His beloved sisters.

He hoped he would be able to do right by them. He
would do whatever it took to make it so. He also had an obligation to help
Ava, Maude and Stemple. There were times when his responsibilities seemed
almost overwhelming. But he couldn’t think that way now. Quite frankly, right
now he was most interested in seeing his sisters, followed by a hot bath and sleeping
in a soft bed.

He reined his horse to a halt in the grand circular
drive. He was a bit surprised his sisters weren’t there to greet him. But it
was a cold winter day. He hoped they were warm beside a fire.

However, he became even more curious when no footman
left the house to come to their aid. He knew they didn’t have many left. Most
had chosen to find employment elsewhere and he hadn’t blamed them. But he
thought at least one would be there.

Finally, the door opened and their longtime butler,
Marvins, came outside. Marvins had been at the estate for decades. He was in
his late fifties and had been a favorite of the old earl. The butler had even
held Colin down for more than a few beatings. When Colin’s father had died, he’d
wanted to dismiss the man. He’d looked forward to doing so for years. But,
when Marvins could not find other employment, Colin had kept him on for two
reasons. One was that he hadn’t wanted the man to starve – he didn’t want
anyone to starve – and the other was he wanted Marvins to see that Colin was
not his father.

“Marvins,” said Colin, still atop his horse. “As
you can see, I have brought guests. As soon as I’ve introduced them to my
sisters, do be so good as to send up hot baths and have dinner ready soon
thereafter.”

“My lord,” said Marvins with the smallest of bows.
“There is something…”

“Where are my sisters? I hope they are not from
home.”

“No, my lord. They are at home.”

“And they have not at least appeared at the window?
I would take this as a personal insult were I not too tired and frozen to be
affronted.”

“My lord,” said Marvins, raising his voice just a
bit. “As I was saying, they are at home. But not here.”

“I do not take your meaning.”

“They are at their new home. The dower house.”

“I do not understand. Are they to live there while
I take up residence here alone?”

“No, my lord. You and your sisters live at the
dower house. The new tenants now live in the manor.”

“But I did not arrange for tenants.”

“No, you did not. I suggest you speak with Lady
Rosemary.”

Colin stared at the butler, not comprehending what
was happening. Perhaps the cold had frozen his brain. But then he felt a
light touch on his arm.

“My lord,” said Ava, from in front of him. “Perhaps
we will get more answers at the dower house.”

Had it really come to this? Had his sister taken
matters into her own hands and now Ava was guiding him as if he were one of her
charges? He wouldn’t contemplate it further. He simply turned the horse
around and set out again.

His three companions were maddeningly silent for the
ten minutes it took to reach the dower house. And all the while Colin could
not quite comprehend what was happening. He had any number of questions he
wanted answers to. No, needed answers to.

But finally, the dower house came into view and even
before they’d reached the end of the drive, his two sisters had run outside,
gratifyingly excited by his arrival.

Rosemary was eighteen years old. She had the Emerson
black hair and dark brown eyes. Her hair was curly, and as a girl, it had been
impossible to tame. Now as a young woman she wore her hair up, but tendrils
were continually escaping to float about her face.

Leticia, known to everyone as Letty, was eight. And
unlike every other Emerson, she had bright red hair and dark blue eyes. She
was, as their mother had boasted to anyone who would listen, not the late earl’s
get. She had been conceived during a period when Colin’s parents had lived on different
continents. He believed his mother had deliberately chosen a lover so
different in looks from her husband that there would be no doubt as to the
child’s parentage. Indeed, the old earl had had little use for Letty, often
ignoring her existence all together. But their mother had neglected the girl,
as well. All she’d wanted was to use the child as a weapon against her
husband. Once that became boring, she simply moved on.

However, Colin loved Letty. Everyone did. He did
not know if she yet understood why she looked so different from her brothers
and sisters. But Colin and his siblings were resolved that she would never
know anything but love from them.

Colin had barely dismounted when Letty raced across
the drive to hug him.

“You’re finally here!” she said. “I was so afraid
you wouldn’t make it home in time for Christmas. Rose didn’t know what to do
with me because I kept running to the window searching for you. But you have
finally come and it shall be a happy Christmas because of it. Who are your
friends?”

“Dear Letty,” he said, as he bent to kiss his
sister. “You are a sight for sore eyes. But do let me greet Rose before you
ask too many questions.”

He hugged Rosemary, as Letty grinned at the
visitors.

Rosemary held on to him tightly. “I am so glad you
have come, dear brother. But let us get all of you inside before you freeze.”

Colin looked at his sister. She’d grown into a
beautiful young woman and he was gripped with guilt again because he knew she
should have a Season. But he just couldn’t afford it. He motioned to the door.
“Is there no footman to come help or groom to take our mounts?” He reached up
to help Ava dismount.

“Here are the grooms now,” said Rose, smiling at the
two servants on horseback, who must have followed Colin from the manor.
“Gordon and Miller, how nice of you to come take his lordship’s horses. Please
take them back to the main stables. I’m sure his lordship can give you
instructions on what should be done with them later.”

The two servants bowed, then took the horses from
Stemple.

“Rose?” asked Colin. “Where are the footmen? And
why did Gordon and Miller come from the manor stables and not the ones here?
For that matter, what are you doing in the dower house?”

“Let us all go inside. Then you can introduce us to
your guests.”

“Rose?”

“There are no footmen,” she said quietly. “And we
have no animals in the dower house stables.”

Colin’s heart fell. He’d left his sisters alone,
without even footmen to help them. He turned away, unable to face her. He
tried to find his luggage, only to see Stemple and the others had already taken
everything inside. He took Rose’s hand, then entered their new home.

The dower house was of Tudor design with eight
bedrooms on the upper floor and a sitting room, dining room and library on the
first floor, with the kitchen and servants’ quarters in the back. It had been
unoccupied since Colin’s grandmother had passed away when he was ten. He had
often taken refuge there after one of the earl’s beatings. It had always been
a welcome sanctuary.

As he looked around, he saw that much of the
furniture was still under Holland covers.

“Rosemary, what is going on?” asked Colin.

His sister hesitated, not knowing where to begin.

Ava broke the silence. “My lord, perhaps you would
like to introduce us to your sisters, lest they think their home has been
invaded by wrinkled travelers. I mean, it has been. But, at least they will
know what to call us.”

“Of course,” said Colin. “Forgive my rag manners.
Lady Rosemary, Lady Leticia, please allow me to present Miss Ava Conway,
formerly a governess for Viscount Clayton’s sisters.”

“Welcome to our home,” said Rosemary, as she and
Letty made their curtsies.

“Thank you. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady
Rosemary and Lady Leticia.”

Colin turned to the others. “This is Maude
Anderson, formerly a cook’s assistant in Lord Clayton’s household and my valet,
Victor Stemple.”

It was obvious when Rose and Letty got their first
look at Stemple’s scars. Colin wanted to kick himself for not preparing them.

Rosemary quickly averted her eyes from where she’d
been staring, while Letty took her sister’s hand and moved closer to her
skirts. It was a reminder of just how young she was.

Stemple bowed, turning his scarred half away from
them.

“Welcome to our home,” said Rose with a smile.

“Thank you, my lady.”

“Stemple served in the war,” said Colin quietly.

Rose regarded the man for a moment, then extended
her hand to him. “Thank you for what you did for King and country, sir.”

Stemple hesitated before extending his right hand –
the scarred one. But Rose took it tenderly and shook it, smiling gloriously.
Then Letty stepped forward and did the same thing. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Colin had never been so proud of anyone as he was of
his sisters at that moment.

He cleared his throat. “It has been a long journey
– a tale I’ll tell you as soon as I’ve changed. I believe there are one or two
things you have to tell me, as well. All in all, there should be no shortage
of conversation. Can you please have Cook prepare a meal for us?”

Letty looked at her sister.

“Colin,” said Rose. “There is no Cook.”

“Pardon me?”

“There is no Cook. Just as there are no other
servants. We let out the manor house to an American family and all of the
servants chose to remain there.”

“Do you mean to tell me you have no one in this
house, save yourselves?”

“We do not.”

Colin was hit with intense anger at his servants for
deserting his sisters. For would it not have been possible for even one of
them to remain? He would have done anything to make it up to the man. He was
also angry at his forbears for being so careless with the family fortune. But
most of the anger was directed at himself for not realizing it had come to
this.

“What about your governess?” he asked. “Surely she
did not go to the manor.”

“I dismissed her,” said Rose.

“Why would you do that?”

Rose darted her eyes at Letty, who was occupied with
their cat, Jasper. “I do not need a governess since I am eighteen. Letty and
I get along quite well on our own.”

“How long has it been this way?”

“For a week.”

“Have you been eating at the manor house all this
time?”

“No, I have been cooking, though I confess I am not very
good at it. It has mostly been meat and cheese.”

“I think she’s a wonderful cook,” said Letty
loyally.

“I am sure she is,” said Colin with a smile for
Letty. Well, at least this was one problem for which he had a ready solution.
“Maude, I have no money to pay you now, nor do I know when that will change.
But I would be even more indebted to you than I already am if you would
consider being the new cook here, even if it is only until you find a better paying
position. Which I assume would be anywhere else.”

Maude’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “My lord,
I cannot be your cook. A cook needs to know how to read.”

“Maude, a cook needs to know how to cook. And you
are learning to read, are you not?”

“Yes, sir, but I have much to learn.”

“As do we all. Miss Conway, you will help her, will
you not?”

She smiled. “As long as I remain in this house, I
will.”

“I should also like to be of service,” said Rose.

“Excellent,” said Colin. “And Stemple, I assume
you’d be willing to step in when necessary?”

“Of course, my lord,” said the valet, who looked,
frankly, elated by the thought that Maude would remain at the house. “Perhaps,
Maude and I should go to the kitchen now to see what we can make for a meal.”

“An excellent suggestion,” said Colin.

Rose smiled at them. “Letty, can you please show
them where everything is?”

“Are we really going to have a cook again?” asked an
excited Letty. “Not that your meals aren’t good,” she quickly added.

“It looks like we shall have a cook at last, thanks
to Maude,” replied Rose. “And I shan’t be that disappointed to relinquish the
task.”

As Letty led the two servants to the back of the
house, Ava spoke. “I should leave you two alone. Perhaps I can be of
assistance in the kitchen, as well.”