Page 11 of A Winter By the Sea
He bowed. “Miss Summers.” He turned to Emily and nodded to her as well, his gaze lingering on her a moment before abruptly shifting away again.
Sarah placed the register on the high top of the library desk and turned it to face him.
Setting down his valise and a long, narrow case, he signedJames Thomson, Esq.in an elegant hand.
“We are giving you a room with a view of the sea.” She handed him the key to the room named Maple, which had been Emily’s own room before they started the guest house.
“A view sounds excellent. Thank you.”
“If you will wait while I hand round the other keys, I might explain mealtimes, et cetera, at one time.”
“Of course.” He stepped to the side.
Emily spoke up. “That’s all right, Sarah. No need to make Mr. Thomson wait. I can show him to his room and explain the mealtimes and all that. I can recite your speech word for word after hearing it so often.” She smiled winsomely at the man and then back at her sister.
Sarah managed a tight smile in return. “Very well, Emily.”
Ignoring her sister’s annoyance, Emily looked again at the tall, striking man, picked up an extra candle lamp, and gestured toward the door. “Shall we?”
“Yes, please.”
She glanced swiftly at him, fearing to see a hint of innuendo, but his expression remained serious and inscrutable.
Mr. Gwilt offered to carry the man’s valise.
“Thank you.” Mr. Thomson handed it over with a polite nod.
Emily led the way upstairs. “I hope you will enjoy your time in Sidmouth, although I doubt it can compare to London. How long were you there?”
“About eight months. Before that we were in Germany, where the duke lived before his return to England.”
“Germany? How fascinating.”
“Yes, Bavaria is beautiful.”
“Do you speak German?”
“Enough to get by.”
“Impressive.”
At the top of the stairs, she turned left and felt an odd hitch in her chest as they approached the first room. It had been Mr. Stanley’s room during his stay. That young man had seemed to admire her, but later she’d learned he was engaged to marryanother. She pushed thoughts of him from her mind as she opened the bedchamber door and led the way inside.
The room had large windows overlooking the sea, as well as a convenient dressing room.
He glanced around the interior. “Very nice.”
Then he offered Mr. Gwilt a coin for carrying his bag.
Mr. Gwilt hesitated and glanced at her in question. He was still growing accustomed to some aspects of his job.
She nodded encouragingly, and he accepted the coin.
“Thank you, sir.” With that, Mr. Gwilt hurried away to help the other guests.
Emily tarried. “May I ask, what does a private secretary do?”
“Take dictation, answer letters, sort through correspondence. I also have oversight of charities, reviewing the many requests for His Royal Highness’s patronage. That part interests me the most.”
