Page 46 of The Marquess's Scandalous Game
“Good morning, my lord. Please come in.” Ernest ushered him into his workshop. There was a table and two chairs, which Leopold knew Ernest had made himself. His craftsmanship was excellent. Leopold pulled out a chair and sat. Ernest joined him.
Ernest flashed him a wide smile. “What can I do for you, my lord?”
“I would like you to craft some furniture for a nursery.” Leopold took a satisfied breath. He would ensure everything was ready for his child. He would not give the orders to his staff. He would do it personally and with love.
“Congratulations, my lord. What furniture did you have in mind?” Ernest asked.
Leopold had given it a great deal of thought. “Thank you, Ernest. I will need everything. The cot, crib, washstand, an enclosed cupboard, table and chairs, and a rocking chair. The nursemaid will sleep in the same room with the child, which means I need a bed, a dressing chest, a swing dressing glass, and a drying horse.
Ernest nodded. “What type of wood did you have in mind, my lord?”
Leopold was uncertain. “What would you suggest?”
“Dark wood such as mahogany, rosewood, and walnut could be used, my lord, but I will suggest oak. It stains and polishes well, and it is durable,” Ernest said.
Leopold and Ernest agreed on the furniture and the approximate completion date. Ernest agreed to send word to Hardwick Hall as soon as the items were ready to be collected. Ernest would be busy because Leopold commissioned furniture for Adlington and Hardwick Hall. A replica would ensure hislittle one would see familiar items wherever he was. It was possible that Emma would want additional items, and she would have all the freedom to choose.
Leopold was satisfied with what he had chosen. Of course, he had gotten advice about the non-furnished items. Orders were placed for muslin, silk from China, lace, canopies to match, blankets, quilts, horsehair mattresses, feather bolsters and pillows, a Dutch carpet, and rugs.
As Leopold rode back to Hardwick Hall, he felt much more relaxed. It had taken a lot for him to tell Emma that he wanted to live apart. The decision was not an easy one, and it took a toll on his mind and body. Emma was prepared to put their family first, which he always wanted. His relief was palpable. His muscles were slack, and his limbs were loose. The tension and stress in his body were replaced with a feeling of loose nothingness. Leopold was riding alone, yet he found himself smiling and grinning. He whistled and hummed and only stopped short of singing because he was terrible with his notes.
Emma was right that she needed to rebuild trust. It would not be easy. At some point, he would have to show his willingness to trust her again. He wondered if he was ready.
CHAPTER 20
Leopold used his newfound energy to attend to business matters at Hardwick Hall. He could not have given them his full attention when he was thinking about the disaster of his marriage. Over the past three days, he had ridden out to meet with the tenant farmers to discuss the diversification of crops. They discussed how farming could be more efficient, and he was not surprised to learn that they had similar suggestions. They formed a farmers’ association of sorts, and Leopold encouraged their discourse.
He met with his steward and attorney and was pleasantly surprised by all he had achieved in three days. He was in the library opening his correspondence when there was a knock on his door.
“Come in,” he said.
The butler entered with a bouquet of roses, partially obscuring his face.
“What the devil is that?” Leopold asked. A silly question since he could clearly see what they were. “I did not order roses.”
“They are for you, my lord,” the butler replied.
“For me?” Nobody had ever sent him roses. He was sure there was a twinkle in the butler’s eyes as he walked toward the desk and placed the vase on it.
“There is a letter addressed to you, my lord.” The butler handed it to him.
“Thank you,” Leopold said as he accepted it. He waited until he was alone to break the seal.
Leopold did not believe his eyes. Poetry from Emma? He gave a bemused smile as he read it for the second time. She was as bad at poetry as he was at singing, but he loved all her imperfections. He chuckled and tears misted his eyes. Heat radiated through his chest. It was time to go home. His family needed him, and he wanted to be with the woman he loved.
Leopold thought about all that he had done thus far. He had sent word to Adlington Hall to have the nursery opened. The staff were to see to any repairs that needed to be done to the room. It was to be painted and cleaned. New curtains and drapes were to be ordered.
He needed to see Emma. She would have seen Leopold’s actions and known he was thinking of her. That was only a fraction of what he wanted to say.
The following morning, Leopold departed after breakfast. As the equipage rolled down the road, leaving Hardwick Hall behind, he thought of everything he would say to her. Leopold had a restless night, and the gentle sway of the carriage made him sleepy. He decided to rest for a short while.
Leopold was jolted awake when the equipage came to a sudden stop. He had slid down in his seat as he slept, and he was almost dislodged when it came to a halt. He pulled himself upright. He was wide awake. Leopold pulled back the curtains to reveal another carriage with the Adlington family color and crest across from his. He would recognize the coachman’s liveryanywhere for the fabric matched the interior of the equipage. This could only mean one thing.
Damn it!
Why did Emma choose to take this risk? He was sure it was her. He could not tell why her carriage had stopped under the large redwood tree. He instructed the coachman to approach it. Leopold exited his carriage and opened the door to the next. His heart was racing and his skin tingled. Emma had just popped the last bit of pastry into her mouth, and her lips were covered with cream. She had never looked more beautiful, and he had never been so happy to see her.
She gave him a dazed look. “Emma, what a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?”
