Page 46 of Tempting a Gentleman
Her mum gave him a kiss on the cheek, which made her dad smile. Her dad’s eyes twinkled at the loving gesture. She had seen a similar twinkle in Christopher’s gaze when he held her close.
Sinking to the floor, Emma curled her feet under her and waited for her parents to sit on the couch. Once they were seated, she looked to her mum and said, “I don’t understand the reasoning for the council’s requests. I don’t want to leave London.”
“Luv, we discussed this earlier. Ye’re goin’ to marry a bloomin’ PORF.” With watery eyes, her mum continued, “I’ve never struggled with being a council member until today. Choosin’ wot was best for our organization over wot I want was not easy.” Her mum reached out to cup Emma’s face. “Ye’re a smart, strong-willed girl. I’m ever so proud of ye.”
Emma sat back, pulling away from her mum’s touch. If she was so smart, why wasn’t she able to figure out the logic in leaving her shop, her family, her friends; all for the unknown. Yes, she could set up shop in a new town, but the council’s request precluded her from doing so by limiting her to designing for the stranger, Miss Suttingham. “Explain why Miss Suttingham’s name was the only one on the list, then?”
“My, my. I can’t believe Mr. Neale has shared that with ye.”
Emma rarely saw her mum in a state of surprise. Was her mum’s reaction due to Christopher having openly shared the information prior to their union or because he had informed her at all? He was a brilliant barrister, and he could have kept the details a secret if he wished. Happiness spread through her chest. Christopher trusted her, and he’d given her the option to stay or leave. As a husband, he’d have every right to order her to journey with him. Lifting her gaze to her parents, Emma replied. “He did. He said I could decide if I want to stay or go.”
Her dad’s lips finally broke into a smile. “See, luv, I told ye he wouldn’t force her.” He leaned back and wrapped an arm about his wife’s shoulders. “He’ll go get things done and come home to Em.”
Rounding on her dad, her mum said, “That is not wot the council intended. We explained it all to him.”
The subtle movements of give and take between her parents were intriguing. Emma hadn’t paid close attention to her parents’ actions before. But the gentle stroke of her dad’s thumb, her mum’s tendency to lean into her dad, struck Emma to the core. It was the same with her and Christopher. Her body sought to be closer to Christopher whenever he was near, and whenever possible, Christopher would gently caress her or provide soothing touches.
Her dad’s booming,“Ha!”brought her attention back to her parents.
With a smirk, her dad said, “Then ye must have left somethin’ out. Mr. Neale is a fine barrister—”
Her mum rounded on Emma. “Why would ye even consider letting yer husband leave ye behind?”
Emma snapped back, “Why would I leave my family? The Network needs me here.”
Her mum sank back and leaned into Emma’s dad. The woman Emma loved and admired most sat unmoving with a look of disappointment upon her delicate features. Recoiling on the inside, Emma admitted she’d been rude and disrespectful. “I’m sorry, Mum.”
With a nod, her mum acknowledged her apology. “I’m not gonna say this again, so listen carefully, child. Ye marry Mr. Neale, ye become a PORF, and yer priorities and responsibilities change. The Network will support ye. Yer family will always be yer family. But yer future… well, only ye get to decide upon that. No one else, ye understand?”
Emma shook her head. She was stubborn. But as usual, her mum was right—her future was within her control. “Aye.” Christopher was her future. She cared for the man deeply, more than she thought herself capable of. Just thinking of him eased some of the ache in her heart.
Her dad leaned forward and hauled Emma into his lap like she was five all over again. He had the same serious set to his features that he’d worn the day he asked Emma for her permission to marry her mum. “Girl, I’ve never known ye to back down from a challenge, and no matter wot ye decide, I’ll support ye.” He placed a kiss upon her forehead and then set Emma on her feet. “Ye want to walk back to yer shop or ride in a hack?”
Her dad hated cramped quarters. She gave him a smile and walked to the door. Hand on the latch, Emma said, “I fink I’ll take a hack…alone. Simon and the boys will follow—no need for ye to be traipsing about town at this hour.” She closed the door behind her, but not before she caught a glimpse at her dad’s broad grin and her mum’s sad but proud, watery eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Aligning the sheets of parchment in his hands, Christopher tapped the bottoms to his desk. Four damn days of meetings and discussions with Lord Weathersbee and Landon had worn Christopher’s patience thin. He hadn’t managed to escape to spend a single moment with Emma. He’d tried to listen to the staff’s whispers, but none gave Christopher any clue what had been preoccupying his betrothed’s time. He had drafted a note explaining his absence, which had also included some rather intimate details of what he wanted and had been dreaming of doing with Emma, but thought better of sending it, knowing someone would have to read it to her. He’d thrown the love letter into the fire, and as it turned to ashes, so had Christopher’s hopes of her accompanying him. Instead, he relayed messages to Emma via her guard, Simon, hoping Emma understood how time intensive it was to prepare for his departure.
Christopher froze at the rap at his office door. “Enter.” It was Simon. A breath trapped in his chest, Christopher waited for the man to approach.
Bent at the waist so Weathersbee and Landon wouldn’t be able to hear, Simon said softly, “Mr. Neale, Miss Lennox wants ye to know she fully understands.Andto let ye know she’s too busy to keep responding to yer messages. She asks ye to stop sending me back and forth for no reason.”
Christopher concentrated on relaxing every clenched muscle in his body. He calmly placed the papers flat upon the desk and turned to address Simon. “Tell Miss Lennox…”
“Mr. Neale, if ye don’t mind, may I give ye some advice?”
The bold request had Christopher narrowing his gaze at the man.
Simon’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Me mistress is no’ lying. She’s been running about faster than a hare. Don’t ask me wot she’s about cuz I don’t know, and she ain’t talkin’ to no one. If ye want answers, ye best figure out a way to go see her yerself.”
The fear that Emma would simply tell him to go to the New World alone had kept him hiding in his offices. He released a sigh. He could no longer avoid the discussion. “Please inform Miss Lennox to expect me later this eve.”
The relief that washed over Simon’s features was clear for all the men in the room to see. Simon nodded and rushed out of the office.
Weathersbee rose and tapped his knuckles on Christopher’s desk twice. “I believe I’ve accomplished all I wish for the day. I shall return tomorrow.”
Christopher raised his eyes to the man, who was proving to be rather resourceful and extremely proficient at learning the operations of the office. In less than a week, Weathersbee had managed to set the employees at ease regarding Christopher’s pending departure for an unspecified time period. They all believed Christopher to be planning an extravagantly romantic adventure for his bride.
