Always Come Home (Emerson 1) (7 page)

Someone was at his door. Colin had somehow pushed
away thoughts of the delightful Miss Conway long enough to fall asleep so that
he might relieve Stemple at the appointed time. But just as the war had given
him the ability to awaken when needed, so too had it given him the ability to
detect even the quietest movements.

His first thought – his first hope – was that it was
Miss Conway come to give him a real kiss. But as he shook the sleep from his
brain, he realized that was unlikely. What was likely, however, was that she
needed his help. Perhaps Clayton or one of his friends had come to importune
her.

The very thought had him reaching for his dressing
gown and striding across his bedchamber. The door opened just as he reached
it.

One of the twins entered. Angelique, he assumed,
since the other one had seemed rather offended by his lack of funds.

She was wearing a dressing gown and little else. He
averted his eyes.

“Lady Angelique, what are you doing here?”

“I have come to see you, my lord.”

“I can only assume an emergency has brought you to
my door. There can be no other reason for you to be here.”

“It is an emergency,” she said. “I fear I cannot
live without you.”

She approached him slowly. Colin turned to her just
in time to see her begin to undo the sash that held her dressing gown closed.
He grabbed a blanket from the bed and threw it over her, just as she was about
to reveal all.

The blanket landed on her head, covering everything
down to her feet. For a moment there was no movement, no sound.

Then everything changed.

Colin had never heard as loud of a scream, despite
being muffled beneath a large quilt. He might admire the power of her lungs,
had he not wanted her gone from his room quite so much.

*

It had taken Ava a long while to fall asleep because
thoughts of Lord Ridgeway had filled her mind. She’d met any number of
gentlemen because of Lord Clayton’s incessant parties and she’d been ready to
condemn the entire peerage because of their behavior. But Lord Ridgeway was
different. Honorable. Interesting. Intelligent.

She’d stayed awake for two hours after retiring.
Maude had still not come to bed, but Ava had no doubt her friend was safe with
Mr. Stemple. It was some time after three in the morning when there was a
knock at the door. Perhaps Ava had accidentally locked Maude out.

She went to the door to find Ferguson there, but no
sign of Maude. The butler looked her up and down and Ava wished she’d taken
the time to don her dressing gown.

“Why are you here, Mr. Ferguson?”

“It is Lady Angelique. She is in need of you.”

Ava reached for her dressing gown. “Is she sick?
Shall we send for a doctor?”

“I do not know the details, Miss Conway. I was only
told to fetch you at once.”

As Ava emerged from her room, Stemple came out of
the nursery. “What’s going on?” he asked.

Ferguson was shocked. “What the devil are you doing
here?”

“Lord Ridgeway asked me to sleep here. Where are
you taking Miss Conway?”

“Not that it’s any business of yours, but she is to
tend to Lady Angelique.”

Stemple’s eyes darted back to the darkened recess of
the nursery, where Ava suspected Maude was. Ava could tell Stemple was torn
between wanting to accompany her and not wanting to leave Maude alone.

“Mr. Stemple,” said Ava. “Mr. Ferguson will escort
me to Lady Angelique’s room, then back here again. I shall be perfectly safe.”

“I should come with you,” he replied.

“Nonsense. I will be fine. Besides, I believe Lord
Ridgeway would not wish you to leave.”

Stemple hesitated, but finally nodded, though he
looked far from satisfied by the turn of events. “Very well, Miss Conway. But
I expect to see you back here again shortly.”

“I am sure you will, Mr. Stemple.” She smiled at him,
before leaving with Ferguson, who’d already begun the journey to the family
wing.

It was too bad Lord Ridgeway was leaving
so soon
, mused Ava as she followed Ferguson through the
dark halls. It seemed that Stemple and Maude had formed an attachment. Maude
worked very hard and had too few diversions. But at least she would have the
memory of talking to a good man.

Much like the memories Ava would cherish of Lord
Ridgeway. Colin. She’d learned his Christian name was Colin. It suited him,
too.

“You are to go in there,” said Ferguson, as he
opened the door to a dark room.

“But this is not Lady Angelique’s bedchamber,” said
Ava.

She was rewarded with a light shove into the room.

*

Colin needed to get Lady Angelique out of his
bedchamber before anyone knew she was there. He did not know how much her
desire to be a countess extended, but he had a feeling he could not depend on
the lady’s honor to not trap him into a proposal.

Fortunately, judging from the sounds beneath the
blanket, it appeared the chit was none too pleased with him at the moment. Of
course, that also meant she might try getting him in trouble with Clayton.

“Lady Angelique,” he began, as he watched the girl
try to emerge from beneath the blanket. “As much as I am honored by your visit
tonight, I should tell you that by allying yourself with me, you would be
marrying into a family with an illegitimate sibling.” Technically, there were
two siblings with questionable parentage, but he wasn’t about to betray that
secret, though it was all but common knowledge. “Not only am I as poor as the
proverbial church mouse, but any and all money I do obtain will go to ensure my
sisters’ well-being and to shore up the estate for future generations. I
expect my own life to be lived in modest circumstances, mostly on my estate and
only going to London as often as required for my responsibilities in the House
of Lords. Further, I….”

But he was cut off by the wrath of Lady Angelique
who’d finally fought her way out from under the blanket and was now furiously
tying up her dressing gown. “I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last earl
standing and all the princes, dukes and marquesses were dead. Even if I had to
choose between you and a viscount. A baronet even. You threw a blanket over
my head. A blanket! My head! And I wanted to marry you even though I knew
about your brother and your sister. It’s one thing to have an earl for a
bastard brother. But if you think I would have allowed that bastard sister of
yours to remain under our roof, you…”

“Enough!” Colin could withstand any humiliation
regarding himself, but never his family. “Leave my room now and I shan’t tell
your brother of your deplorable behavior.”

“I don’t know what that means!” shouted Angelique.
“But you have been a beast. In fact….”

Her tirade was interrupted by Stemple entering the
room in a hurry, followed by the kitchen maid Maude.

“My lord,” said Stemple, barely glancing at Lady
Angelique. “Have you seen Miss Conway?”

Colin’s attention was immediately captured. “I
thought she was in her room.”

“The butler came to fetch her a moment ago. He said
Lady Angelique needed her.”

“What would I want with her?” asked Angelique.

“It’s Lord Clayton, sir. It’s got to be,” said
Maude. “He’s had his eye on Ava and means to have her. I know he does.”

Colin was out the door before Maude had even
finished her sentence. He thought his warning to Clayton had been sufficient.
But evidently it had not been.

*

The door slammed behind her and Ava heard a key
turning. Ferguson had evidently locked her in. All of her senses were on
alert, even as her eyes were adjusting to the dim light. She was in the
sitting room of one of the empty bedchambers in the family wing. She could see
candlelight approach from the adjoining bedchamber. Then the person holding
the candle came into view.

Lord Clayton.

“How happy I am you could join me, my dear,” he
said, as he lit a large candelabra.

Ava did not give in to panic. That was what Clayton
wanted.

“I was told Lady Angelique was in need of my
services. If you will unlock this door I shall go in search of her.”

“Did Ferguson lock you in? I am sure that was quite
unnecessary.” Yet he made no move to unlock the door. “You were very clever
tonight. At first, I must admit I was a little irritated by your disobeying my
command. But once I thought about it, I understood. You had no desire to kiss
Ridgeway. I cannot blame you. The man is hardly a proper earl. But you did
look quite fetching performing for all of us. Perhaps you should consider a
career on the stage.”

“I am happy with the one I have chosen. Now, if you
will allow me to do my job and attend to your sister.”

“I believe you know by now that my sister does not
require your services. Indeed, I have heard countless times how neither of
them wants you around. It is only through my intercession with Mama that you
still have a position in this household. What would you do, dear Ava, if you
lost your job?”

Ava tried to control her breathing as best she
could. If she lost her job, she would be in dire straits for she felt sure she
would not get a character reference from Clayton. How would she support
herself if that were to happen?

“I can see I distressed you,” said Clayton. “I did
not mean to do that. Pray, have a seat. I have taken the liberty of pouring
you a glass of wine.”

Ava looked at the glass, but did not touch it. She
would not put it past this man to drug her. He was not the gentleman Lord Ridgeway
was.

“Sit down, Ava.”

It was a command, rather than an invitation.

She sat in a chair.

He chuckled. “I was hoping we might sit next to
each other on the settee. But please be seated wherever you feel comfortable.”

She waited for him to speak again.

“Will you not have any wine?”

She picked up the glass from the table in front of
her.

“Ava, it is not enough to pick up the glass. You
must also drink from it.”

“I have not given you leave to use my Christian
name, my lord.”

“There are a great many things you have not yet given
me leave to do, though I like to think that will all change. It must be such
drudgery for a spirited woman like yourself to have to work as a governess.
For one thing, the clothing is horrid, though you look most enticing tonight in
your prim flannel nightrail. How would you like a silk one, my dear? That
could be arranged. As could a new position. Several positions. All under
me.”

She stood. “My lord, your innuendo becomes
tiresome. I have no intention of becoming your mistress tonight or ever. You
will unlock that door at once.”

“Or what?” he asked with amusement.

“Or you shall regret it.”

He was on his feet in an instant, but instead of
moving to the door, he swept her into his arms. She stomped on his foot, but since
she was not wearing shoes and he was in boots, it hurt her much more than him.

“So you like it rough, do you?” Clayton pulled her
hair back, exposing her neck, which he began to nuzzle.

Ava swung the heavy crystal wine glass in the
direction of his head but was only able to land a glancing blow before she
dropped it. It was, however, enough to get him to loosen his hold. She
screamed, then ran toward the door. However, he was able to grab her dressing
gown.

“You’ll pay for that. But you’ll enjoy it just the
same.”

Someone in the hall tried the lock, then pounded on
the door. “Miss Conway!”

It sounded like Lord Ridgeway.

“Let go of me, Lord Clayton!”

“Not yet, my dear,” he said as he pulled her toward
him again.

Then two things happened simultaneously. The door
came crashing open and Ava brought her knee up to Lord Clayton’s groin.

Lord Ridgeway was by her side in an instant, then he
pushed her toward Maude. Just as Clayton was able to stand upright Lord
Ridgeway planted him a facer that sent him sprawling across the room.

Lord Ridgeway advanced on Clayton. Ava went to
Ridgeway and physically pulled him back. “No, my lord. It is not worth it.”

“He had you locked in here against your will! I
heard your cry for help.”

“Yes. But, thanks to you, I am no longer in need of
assistance.”

“In truth, you were doing quite well for yourself.
Did you really knee him in the bal….painful area?”

She smiled just a bit. “Yes, my lord. My father
taught me that.”

“Ridgeway!” Clayton was still on the floor. “I
think you broke my nose, you bastard.”

“I’m considering calling you out, Clayton. If the
worst you end up with is a crooked nose to remember me by, consider yourself
lucky.”