Page 15 of Tempting a Gentleman
The coach rattled along the cobbled streets mimicking Emma’s thoughts. “It is an honor, not a burden.”
“And is that the sentiment you hold towards being born into a Network that serves PORFs?”
“What has Lord Hadfield shared with you about the Network?”
“Child, you could have been my own daughter, answering questions with a question just like my boys.” Aunt Henri smiled and answered, “Naught. But I sense he has ruffled a few feathers amongst the Network.”
“In choosing Bronwyn for wife, he stirred a pot that had been simmerin’ for a long while. Lord Hadfield is astute and has a way about him that we are comin’ to understand. He’s nothing like his brother.”
“Oh, I think you might have underestimated my younger son. Christopher is, in fact, more akin to his papa—unassuming but extremely hard to deter once they’ve set their course.”
Hmph. Christopher appeared quite happy to adhere to his older brother’s wishes and happily run the family business. Yet there had been a time or two when Emma noted the extra moment Christopher took to answer particular questions and sensed the silent sighs when he was torn between his own desires and those he cared for and respected. Christopher might not be the man she had initially assumed him to be.
“I don’t think Christopher has decided upon a future.”
Aunt Henri burst into laughter. “Oh my dear child, he most definitely has already chosen a path on which to venture. And in typical Christopher fashion, it is not an easy route.”
She patted Emma on the knee and promptly closed her eyes, leaving Emma a tad befuddled. Emma ran her sweaty hands over her skirts, pausing at the spot where Aunt Henri had touched her in a motherly fashion. Emma refrained from poking the woman to demand what in the blazes she believed her son was up to. Aunt Henri was a PORF, and Emma needed to remember that fact, irrespective of how the woman treated her. From the very first time they met, Aunt Henri had treated Emma as family. A bond Emma valued and did not wish to risk.
The corner of Aunt Henri’s lips remained curved in a slight grin. What was so amusing? The woman’s smile disappeared, her eyes popped wide open as she righted herself straight as a pole. “Hereford and Landon have been rather cozy lately. If my intuition is correct, you won’t be able to continue hiding from Lord Hereford. Your half-nephew is an extremely honorable and determined young fellow. I suspect he will figure some way to claim you as family.”
“I’ve been thinkin’ upon it…and just this eve your son brought up another matter I need to seek Theo’s counsel on.”
“Oh?”
“Do ye fink it wise for Bronwyn to be associated with me in front of her new peers? Will me presence harm her chances of formin’ strong and good bonds with the ladies of the ton?”
“I was disowned by my own papa, a duke no less, for marrying a second son. Yet the women I once called friends have once again welcomed me back into their fold. Bronwyn will have to be brave and learn how to navigate the social whirl, and she has wonderful instincts in whom to trust.”
“Ye mean she doesn’t trust anyone.”
“Exactly. But I will defer to my wise young niece as to your question. I wish it were a simple matter and I could advise you that the views and opinions of the ton do not matter, but in reality, not only is Bronwyn now a countess, she is also the wife to the Head PORF, which means there are far more implications to consider.”
“Aye. I’d not want to embarrass or bring scandal upon Bronwyn.” The plush squabs of the Hadfield coach beneath her thighs were reminders of her best friend’s new life as Countess Hadfield.
“Let’s wait to discuss with Theo. She has a mind for considering all the consequences.”
“Will you be accompanyin’ her to her fitting?”
“I hadn’t planned on doing so, but perhaps I should. Would you like me to be there?”
Emma tensed every muscle. She was to do the bidding of PORFs, not the other way around. “Only if it is yer wish.”
Clack. Aunt Henri struck the heel of her foot hard against the coach floor. “Child, you’d best become comfortable speaking your mind with me, or I’ll not have you for a daughter-in-law.”
Emma whipped her head to face Aunt Henri. “Why would ye say something so half-cocked?”
“I saw the way Christopher looked at you tonight. He’s already half in love with you.”
“Nay. He’s not. Christopher’s in love with Lady Arabelle, and sometimes he gets us mixed up, is all.”
“Are you certain?” Aunt Henri’s eyebrows arched upwards. “I’ve seen him dance with Lady Arabelle on a number of occasions, and I can attest it was not at all the same.”
“Yer son is a gentleman, and as soon as he weds, he’ll become an official PORF. I’ll be honor-bound to serve.”
The coach swayed to the right as they made a turn. Emma righted herself as Aunt Henri mumbled, “Oh, you’ll be bound to honor him if he has anything to do with it.”
Egad. Emma adored the woman, but Aunt Henri was delusional—Christopher wasn’t in love or plotting to wed her. Her heart raced a little faster. Aunt Henri was no fool and seldom wrong.
