Always Come Home (Emerson 1) (8 page)

“Call me out? I was only having a bit of fun with
that lightskirt.”

Lord Ridgeway took two steps toward Clayton, though
Ava was doing everything in her power to hold him in place. “Say that again
and you’ll meet me at dawn.”

“Gentlemen, please!” said Ava. “I will not have
this on my conscience. And you are attracting an audience.”

Most of the houseguests – at least the ones who
weren’t passed out drunk – were in the hall gawking at the two men. A few were
laying wagers about the outcome of a prospective duel.

Then Lady Angelique stepped into the room, followed
by her sister. “Clayton,” said Angelique. “Make Ridgeway leave this house at
once! He is poor! And ungrateful! He is ungratefully poor!”

“Get out of my house, Ridgeway,” said Clayton from
the floor. “Immediately.”

“I will not leave Miss Conway unguarded.”

“That is none of your concern,” said Clayton.

“Get rid of Conway, while you’re at it,” said
Anastasia. “And the next time you hire a governess, make sure you get one with
better fashion sense. I cannot bear those dreary gowns of hers.”

“Miss Conway will leave when I want her to go,” said
Clayton. “And at the moment I very much want her to stay.”

Lord Ridgeway was still breathing hard. Ava
suddenly realized she had been holding him. She stepped away. He caught her
arm.

“You will not be safe here, Miss Conway,” he said.

“I managed him once. I can do so, again.”

“Even if that were true, do you really want this
constant battle?”

She didn’t. She was terrified as to what would
happen. Sooner or later Clayton would catch her. Sooner or later he would
have his way. She had to find the means to leave as soon as possible. In the
morning, she would send inquiries to employment agencies in London.

She looked at Ridgeway. “I will find a way to
persevere.”

“Miss Conway, once again I regretfully must inform
you of the obvious. I have no money other than the blunt Clayton gave me last
night.”

“And I would like that back,” said Clayton, still
from the floor.

Ridgeway ignored him. “I cannot offer you
employment at my estate since my sisters already have a governess. Even the
invaluable Stemple is working without wages. But I can offer you safe passage
with us and you can remain at the estate until you find another position. I
will help in any way I can. It will not be luxurious by any means, but it will
be better than remaining here. I am sure of it.”

Ava was sure of it, too. “I am not in the practice
of asking for favors.”

“By coming with us now, you would be granting a
favor. Your removal from this house is the only thing that will prevent me
from beating Clayton to a pulp. Though there is a part of me that believes I
should do it anyway.”

Ava had to smile. “Thank you, my lord. I would
like to come with you.”

And suddenly, it was as if a weight had been lifted
from her.

Clayton laughed mirthlessly. “If given a choice
between watching that touching scene and being kneed in the bollocks again, I’d
choose the latter.”

“And I would be happy to oblige,” said Ridgeway.

Ava turned to see Maude looking at her, stricken.
Maude. Her only friend. Maude, who would now be completely unprotected in
this house.

Perhaps Lord Ridgeway saw the sadness on Ava’s
face. Or the devastation on Maude’s. Or his valet’s despair. Whatever the
reason, it made him speak again. “Miss Maude, I do not believe I need to
mention yet again my dismal financial affairs. But if you would like to
accompany us, I will do what I can to find you a position.”

Maude’s eyes filled with tears and her lips trembled
as she bobbed a curtsey. “Thank you, milord. I would like to come with you.”

Ridgeway turned back to Clayton. “I trust you will
pay the ladies their wages. You have a house full of witnesses. You wouldn’t
want it spread about town that you don’t pay your debts.”

“Well, you would know what that’s like,” replied
Clayton. “I will pay them their wages. However, I shall send their earnings
to your estate. After all, I wouldn’t want you to rob them on your journey
home. Now, if you will all four leave the premises with some haste. I expect
you to be gone within the hour.”

“With pleasure, my lord,” said Ava.

She had no idea what her future would bring. But it
had to be better than working for Clayton.

Not quite an hour later, Colin and Stemple, along
with the two ladies, stepped out of the manor. This was about as far from a
successful conclusion to his overall mission that Colin could imagine. Not
only had he failed to secure a rich bride during the last few months in town,
but he was now bringing home three additional mouths to feed. But he couldn’t
have left either of the women behind. He had a feeling Stemple was especially
pleased that Maude was accompanying them.

It wasn’t yet five in the morning when they set out
from the manor toward the village. Clayton had made it clear that his carriage
would not be available to take them to town. Thank God the viscount hadn’t
insisted on having his blunt returned from the night before. At least they
would be able to rent a carriage once they reached the village.

“Might I take your valise?” Colin asked Miss
Conway. Stemple had already packed Maude’s sack into his own bag. The two of
them were now walking behind Colin and Miss Conway.

“Thank you, my lord, but is it not heavy and I am
well able to carry it.”

“Yet it is not very gentlemanly of me to expect you
to do so.”

“While I thank you for the offer, you are an earl
and I am a servant, my lord.”

“By some error of birth, that is a correct
assessment. But the next day of travel could be difficult. I am better able
to bear the physical burden of carrying the bags. And will you not call me Colin?
We will be spending a great deal of time together.”

“It would not be proper, my lord.”

“I am not suggesting an elopement to Gretna Green,
Miss Conway. Only that we dispense with formalities, especially since your
reputation would still be in peril if people found you were travelling with me,
regardless of Maude’s presence. So, please call me Colin. You can ‘my lord’
me to your heart’s desire once we reach my estate.”

“All right, Colin,” she said, as if trying out the
name to see if it fit. “My name is Ava.”

“Thank you, Ava. Now, how much longer is it until
we reach the village?”

“About two miles, sir.”

“No ‘sirs,’ Ava. A sir is simply an abbreviated ‘my
lord.’”

“Will there be many more rules, my…Colin?”

“If there are, I shan’t hesitate to let you know.
Part of me is very earl-like. If only I had the corresponding purse.”

They walked along in silence. Colin could hear the
quiet murmurings of Stemple and Maude behind them. He and Stemple hadn’t had
much of a chance to speak as they packed, since Clayton’s guests had come in to
regale him with their drunken wit. But Colin had a feeling Stemple would be
willing to walk across England if he could do so with Maude beside him. And
just from a few glances at her face, it appeared the cook’s assistant was not
at all unhappy with the arrangement, either.

The light pink of dawn was just beginning to brighten
the sky when they reached the village. Though warmed somewhat by the walk,
Colin still felt chilled to the bone. His boots had apparently been made for
fashion and not long walks in the snow.

“Maude said the inn rents carriages,” said Stemple,
pointing to a ramshackle business in the lane. It was still early, but there
was smoke coming from a fireplace.

The four of them walked to the inn and Colin asked a
sleepy stable lad to fetch the owner. Several minutes passed before the man
appeared before them, looking none too happy to be called out into the cold.

“I would like to rent a carriage,” said Colin.

The innkeeper surveyed them, taking note of the cut
of Colin’s coat. “I got none to rent you.”

Colin looked at the stable before them. “It appears
that you have plenty of horses and more than a few carriages.”

“That I do. But I got none to rent to you.”

Colin could not understand the man’s reticence. He
even had coin to pay him. But then he recalled the sound of a rider setting
out from the manor as he’d been packing. What had Clayton done?

“I must return to my estate. Surely you have some
conveyance to rent me?”

The innkeeper looked truly conflicted. “But you’re
the Earl of Ridgeway, ain’t you?”

Damn Clayton
.
“I am.”

“Then I can’t do nothing. Viscount Clayton’s orders.
He told everyone in the village the same thing.”

“I can pay you.”

“Not much from what I hear. And if I take your coin
now, Clayton will see to it that I never get any business from his estate ever
again. He’s got a long memory, he has. Can’t afford to make him angry.”

“He would never know.”

“He would. Got spies everywhere, he does.”

Colin considered going door to door, hoping to find
someone willing to help them. But the innkeeper had the right of it. Clayton
was vindictive. Anyone who defied him would suffer, and Colin had no wish to
be the cause of someone’s punishment at the hands of his old school chum.

“How far is it to the next village?” asked Colin.

“Ten miles or so. But that’s just a small one.
If’n you want to get to a town of any size, it’s another six miles after that.”

Colin wanted to groan aloud. He wanted to go back
to the manor and break Clayton’s nose again. But he couldn’t do either of
those things because he had to find a way to get everyone to his estate in time
for Christmas, whereupon he would retire to his nice warm suite and sleep for a
good week.

Speaking of sleep, he realized neither Stemple nor,
he suspected, Maude had slept at all the previous night. He and Ava had only
slept a few hours. It was imperative that he find a carriage to rent. But
even before that, they needed food.

“Can you serve us breakfast?” he asked the
innkeeper.

The man considered it for a moment. “Well, his
lordship’s man didn’t say nothing against it.”

“Excellent.”

“But he didn’t say that I could, neither. And I
have a feeling Lord Clayton would prefer it if I didn’t serve you.”

“We shall not tell him if you don’t,” said Colin.

“I guess I can give you breakfast. For a price.”

Maude timidly approached Colin. “Yer lordship?”

“Yes?”

“I don’t think we should do it.”

“Lord Clayton cannot hurt us anymore, Maude.”

“It’s not just that.” She looked around as if not
wanting to be overheard. “I just think we should move along down the road a
bit. Please, sir.”

There was nothing Colin wanted more than to have
something to eat while warming himself at the inn. But Maude seemed adamant
and he hardly wished to reward the innkeeper by paying what he was certain
would be an exorbitant price. Perhaps they would find a tavern further down
the road. It was doubtful, but worth a try.

The innkeeper looked disappointed to be denied a
chance to cheat them but he also looked anxious to go back to bed.

Colin and the others continued their journey down
the lane.

“We’ve but a little more to walk, milord,” said
Maude.

Colin hoped the girl knew something he didn’t
because if the next village was truly ten miles away, he didn’t consider that
“a little more to walk.”

They continued onward half a mile past the village,
then Maude turned onto a path that took them up a hill.

“Maude, where are we going?” asked Colin, hoping she
knew of a shortcut.

“There’s a place to make a fire up here. It’s where
the farm lads often stop when they take their animals to town. I saw it once
from a wagon. I thought it was right curious at the time. But it also gives
you a view down the road. I reckon it’s a good place to eat and warm ourselves
while we wait for a cart to pass.”

Too many delectable words assailed Colin’s head at
once: eat, warm, cart.

“But we have no food, Maude.”

The girl smiled before pulling back her cape and
displaying a veritable pantry of items.

Stemple grinned at her. “I thought I was carrying
all your things.”

“You’re carrying all my clothing. But I have the
food and this.” She pulled out a small cast iron pot. “I always wanted to be
a cook. So whenever the gypsies come through I look for items to buy. I’ve
had this pot for almost a year.” She placed the pot on the iron grill over the
fire pit dug into the hill.

“Maude, you’re brilliant!” said Ava.

“I also took scones this morning for the four of
us. ‘Twasn’t stealing,” she quickly added with a look toward Colin. “I reckon
his lordship and Victor was guests, while Ava and I worked there. We was all
entitled to breakfast. I would’ve taken more, but this was all there was.”

“This is much more than I expected,” said Colin.
“Thank you.”

“I’m not done yet,” said Maude. “And if one of you
was to start the fire, we could warm ourselves as we wait.”

“An excellent suggestion,” said Colin. “And one I
should have thought of.” From her look, it seemed Maude quite agreed on both
counts, though she said not a word. “Stemple, do you have any tinder to start
a fire?”

“I am afraid not, my lord. But perhaps when the sun
comes up we can use my reading spectacles to reflect the rays to light some
dried sticks, if we can find any.”

“I have a tinderbox,” said Ava, pulling out the
small silver box. “In my travels with father, we had to be prepared for all
eventualities.”

Colin had to grin. “Stemple, we are being quite shown
up by the ladies and I thank God for it.”

Stemple grinned, as well, as he took the tinderbox
from Ava. After gathering as many bits of wood as he could, he pulled open the
box, then shielded it from wind as the flint lit the tinder within. He
carefully transferred the flame to the wood, which readily caught fire. Colin
added a few more pieces of dried peat that he found nearby.

“I also have two flagons of cold cider,” said Maude,
as she lifted two animal skins from around her neck. She timidly gave one to
Colin. “Here’s one for you, milord. Then Miss Conway and Victor and I can
share this one.”

“That hardly seems fair, Maude,” said Colin.

The girl’s eyes widened. “Are you saying you want
both?”

“No, Maude. And if I ever become such a tyrant, I
hope one or all of you will give me a swift kick in the rear. No, I thank you
for the cider, but will share it with Ava, if that is all right with you, Miss Conway.”

Ava blushed delightfully and Colin felt a
corresponding heat. For he had to admit he wanted to share the drink with her,
if only to have the opportunity to place his lips where hers had been. He knew
he shouldn’t be having such thoughts. She and the others were under his
protection and he would be the worst blackguard to even think of seducing her.
Yet, he was freezing cold and losing hope that they would reach his estate with
any speed. Could it hurt all that much to warm himself with passionate
thoughts of Ava?

Yes. Yes, it could.

He cleared his throat. “Maude, you are the savior
of us all.”

“There’s more,” she said. She pulled out two more
bags that had been hanging around her waist. “This will likely have to last us
at least a day, so we can’t have all of it now. But I have bread, cheese and
roast beef.”

The other three stared at her in astonishment.

“Maude,” said Colin, “how were you able to come up
with such a feast?”

“It was set aside for the dogs.”

That was not the answer Colin had been expecting.
“Excuse me?”

Ava laughed. “Do not be alarmed, sir. Lord
Clayton’s dogs eat very well. The food is kept in the cleanest condition. And
do not fear that they will not have enough to eat. I assure you the hounds
will not suffer.”

“My fear was not for the hounds, Ava.”

“There,” said Stemple, pointing to the blaze which
was growing in intensity. “Thanks to Miss Conway, the fire is coming along
rather well.”

The others gathered around the warmth and watched as
Maude cut off a portion of meat and cheese. She placed them in the pot, then stirred
it with a wooden spoon that she had also pulled out from under her cloak.

“You do not happen to have a carriage under there,
do you?” asked Colin. “It would seem you have everything else.”

It took only another ten minutes of Maude’s
expertise to create a warm breakfast for them all. While it was the most
rudimentary of ingredients, Colin swore he’d never tasted anything better.
After the meal, Ava helped Maude clean her pot, as Stemple stoked the fire and
Colin looked for more wood – a tall order in the midst of snow.

By that time, it was light and they had a good view
of the road in both directions.

“How long shall we wait, my lord?” asked Stemple.

“Perhaps another half hour would give us a chance to
take maximum advantage of this fire, while at the same time ensuring the
morning is just a bit warmer before we begin our trek. Do you really believe
we shall encounter a farmer and a cart, Maude?”